SB3698 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 19769 LNS 33219 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3698

Introduced 2/5/2026, by Sen. Graciela Guzmán

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 405/2-4	from Ch. 122, par. 202-4
105 ILCS 405/3-1	from Ch. 122, par. 203-1
110 ILCS 805/2-12	from Ch. 122, par. 102-12
110 ILCS 805/2-12.5

Amends the Adult Education Act and the Public Community College Act. With respect to the annual report on adult education for the preceding school year by the Illinois Community College Board, removes the requirement to include a summary of State reimbursement for adult basic education, adult secondary education, English language acquisition, high school credit, integrated English literacy and civics education, and bridge and integrated education and training programs in coordination with vocational skills training. Provides that any public community college district maintaining adult educations classes for the instruction of those persons who, among other requirements, are 17 (rather than 16) years of age or older are entitled to claim an apportionment of State reimbursement. Allows classes in adult education to include digital literacy. Removes language providing that the maximum generation rate for reimbursement per credit hour or per unit of instruction shall be equal to the community college system reimbursement rate for adult education divided by one-third. Provides that State adult education funds, other than matching funds, are not subject to the authorizing federal law. Removes language providing that approved programs for adult education may assess students up to $6 per credit hour or unit of instruction per semester per student. Removes language requiring an education plan to be established for each adult learning participating in the instructional programs. Requires each adult learner participating in the instructional programs to complete an assessment of foundational skills to appropriately place the adult learner in an instructional program. Makes other and conforming changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Adult Education Act is amended by changing Sections 2-4 and 3-1 as follows:

(105 ILCS 405/2-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 202-4)

Sec. 2-4. Area Planning Councils. An Area Planning Council shall be established within the boundaries of each community college district. A representative of each approved adult education provider is required to participate on the Area Planning Council. Other members may include:

(1) regional superintendents of schools;

(2) representatives of school districts;

(3) representatives of the community college district's career and technical education program;

(4) representatives of the community college district's financial aid office;

(5) representatives of the community college district's student services office;

(6) representatives of local workforce boards under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;

(7) persons with an interest in adult education services provided within the community college district; and

(8) persons with an interest in adult education services provided within the Area Planning Council district, including, but not limited to, representatives of social service agencies, businesses and employers, vocational rehabilitation services of the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Employment Security. Each Area Planning Council must elect officers and develop bylaws that indicate the membership of the Council. The Area Planning Council chairperson must be a representative of an adult education provider approved by the Board. In areas where large multiple-provider Area Planning Councils exist, the Board may designate sub-areas within an Area Planning Council district to ensure maximum representation of need. The Board shall determine the guidelines for the bylaws and operation of the Area Planning Council.

On or before March 1 of each year each Area Planning Council shall submit an annual Adult Education Plan for the area. The Area Adult Education Plan shall provide for the development and coordination of adult education programs in the area as prescribed by the Board. The Area Adult Education Plan must be aligned with Title II of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the State Unified Plan, local workforce boards, and one-stop activities and must include involvement of the local Board-approved adult education workforce board representative. The local adult education workforce board representative is responsible for convening Area Planning Council chairpersons in a local workforce area to provide information regarding the development of the Area Adult Education Plans and related federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act activities. If the Board finds that the annual Area Adult Education Plan submitted by the Area Planning Council meets the requirements of this amendatory Act of 1982 and the established standards and guidelines, the Board shall approve the Plan. The approval of adult education programs by the Board for reimbursement under Section 2-12.5 of the Public Community College Act shall be based on the Adult Education Plan approved for the Area. The Area Adult Education Plan must be approved prior to funding being made available to an Area Planning Council district.

On or before March 1, 2002 and each year thereafter, the Board shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly for adult education for the preceding school year. The annual report shall include a summary of adult education needs and programs; the number of students served, federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act activities, high school equivalency information, credit hours or units of instruction, performance data, and total adult education allocations, and State reimbursement for adult basic education, adult secondary education, English language acquisition, high school credit, integrated English literacy and civics education, and bridge and integrated education and training programs in coordination with vocational skills training; the criteria used for program approval; and any recommendations.

(Source: P.A. 101-289, eff. 8-9-19.)

(105 ILCS 405/3-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 203-1)

Sec. 3-1. Apportionment for adult education courses. Any school district maintaining adult education classes for the instruction of persons over 21 years of age and youths under 21 years of age whose schooling has been interrupted shall be entitled to claim an apportionment in accordance with the provisions of Section 10-22.20 of the School Code and Section 2-4 of this Act. Any public community college district maintaining adult education classes for the instruction of those persons who (i) are 17 16 years of age or older, are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in a secondary school under State law, and are basic-skills deficient, (ii) do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and have not achieved an equivalent level of education, or (iii) are an English language learner shall be entitled to claim an apportionment in accordance with the provisions of Section 2-16.02 of the Public Community College Act.

Reimbursement as herein provided shall be limited to adult basic education, adult secondary and high school equivalency testing education, high school credit, literacy, including digital literacy, English language acquisition, integrated English literacy and civics education, integrated education and training in coordination with vocational skills training, and any other activities that are approved by the Board.

If the amount appropriated for this purpose is less than the amount required under the provisions of this Section, the apportionment for local districts shall be proportionately reduced.

(Source: P.A. 101-289, eff. 8-9-19.)

Section 10. The Public Community College Act is amended by changing Sections 2-12 and 2-12.5 as follows:

(110 ILCS 805/2-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 102-12)

Sec. 2-12. The State Board shall have the power and it shall be its duty:

(a) To provide statewide planning for community colleges as institutions of higher education and to coordinate the programs, services and activities of all community colleges in the State so as to encourage and establish a system of locally initiated and administered comprehensive community colleges.

(b) To organize and conduct feasibility surveys for new community colleges or for the inclusion of existing institutions as community colleges and the locating of new institutions.

(c) (Blank).

(c-5) In collaboration with the community colleges, to furnish information for State and federal accountability purposes, promote student and institutional improvement, and meet research needs.

(d) To cooperate with the community colleges in collecting and maintaining student characteristics, enrollment and completion data, faculty and staff characteristics, financial data, admission standards, facility data, and any other issues facing community colleges.

(e) To enter into contracts with other governmental agencies and eligible providers, such as local educational agencies, community-based organizations of demonstrated effectiveness, volunteer literacy organizations of demonstrated effectiveness, institutions of higher education, public and private nonprofit agencies, libraries, and public housing authorities; to accept federal funds and to plan with other State agencies when appropriate for the allocation of such federal funds for instructional programs and student services including such funds for adult education and literacy, vocational and career and technical education, and retraining as may be allocated by state and federal agencies for the aid of community colleges. To receive, receipt for, hold in trust, expend and administer, for all purposes of this Act, funds and other aid made available by the federal government or by other agencies public or private, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. The changes to this subdivision (e) made by Public Act 91-830 apply on and after July 1, 2001.

(f) To determine efficient and adequate standards for community colleges for the physical plant, heating, lighting, ventilation, sanitation, safety, equipment and supplies, instruction and teaching, curriculum, library, operation, maintenance, and administration and supervision.

(g) To determine the standards for establishment of community colleges and the proper location of the site in relation to existing institutions of higher education offering academic, occupational and technical training curricula, possible enrollment, assessed valuation, industrial, business, agricultural, and other conditions reflecting educational needs in the area to be served; however, no community college may be considered as being recognized nor may the establishment of any community college be authorized in any district which shall be deemed inadequate for the maintenance, in accordance with the desirable standards thus determined, of a community college offering the basic subjects of general education and suitable vocational and semiprofessional and technical curricula.

(h) To approve or disapprove new units of instruction, research or public service as defined in Section 3-25.1 of this Act submitted by the boards of trustees of the respective community college districts of this State. The State Board may discontinue programs which fail to reflect the educational needs of the area being served. The community college district shall be granted 60 days following the State Board staff recommendation and prior to the State Board's action to respond to concerns regarding the program in question. If the State Board acts to abolish a community college program, the community college district has a right to appeal the decision in accordance with administrative rules promulgated by the State Board under the provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(i) To review and approve or disapprove any contract or agreement that community colleges enter into with any organization, association, educational institution, or government agency to provide educational services for academic credit. The State Board is authorized to monitor performance under any contract or agreement that is approved by the State Board. If the State Board does not approve a particular contract or agreement, the community college district has a right to appeal the decision in accordance with administrative rules promulgated by the State Board under the provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Nothing in this subdivision (i) shall be interpreted as applying to collective bargaining agreements with any labor organization.

(j) To establish guidelines regarding sabbatical leaves.

(k) (Blank).

(l) (Blank).

(m) (Blank).

(n) To create and participate in the conduct and operation of any corporation, joint venture, partnership, association, or other organizational entity that has the power: (i) to acquire land, buildings, and other capital equipment for the use and benefit of the community colleges or their students; (ii) to accept gifts and make grants for the use and benefit of the community colleges or their students; (iii) to aid in the instruction and education of students of community colleges; and (iv) to promote activities to acquaint members of the community with the facilities of the various community colleges.

(o) To ensure the effective teaching of adult learners and to prepare them for success in employment and lifelong learning by administering a network of providers, programs, and services to provide classes for the instruction of those individuals who (i) are 17 16 years of age or older, are not enrolled or required to be enrolled in a secondary school under State law, and are basic-skills deficient, (ii) do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent and have not achieved an equivalent level of education, or (iii) are an English language learner. Classes in adult education may include adult basic education, adult secondary and high school equivalency testing education, high school credit, literacy, including digital literacy, English language acquisition, integrated education and training in coordination with vocational skills training, and any other instruction designed to prepare adult students to function successfully in society and to experience success in postsecondary education and employment.

(p) To supervise the administration of adult education and literacy programs, to establish the standards for such courses of instruction and supervise the administration thereof, to contract with other State and local agencies and eligible providers of demonstrated effectiveness, such as local educational agencies, community-based organizations, volunteer literacy organizations, institutions of higher education, public and private nonprofit agencies, libraries, public housing authorities, and nonprofit institutions for the purpose of promoting and establishing classes for instruction under these programs, to contract with other State and local agencies to accept and expend appropriations for educational purposes to fund reimburse local eligible providers for the cost of these programs, and to establish an advisory council consisting of all categories of eligible providers; agency partners, such as the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Employment Security, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Secretary of State literacy program; and other stakeholders to identify, deliberate, and make recommendations to the State Board on adult education policy and priorities. The State Board shall support statewide geographic distribution; diversity of eligible providers; and the adequacy, stability, and predictability of funding so as not to disrupt or diminish, but rather to enhance, adult education and literacy services.

(Source: P.A. 103-940, eff. 8-9-24.)

(110 ILCS 805/2-12.5)

Sec. 2-12.5. Classes for adults and youths, 17 and older, who are not currently enrolled in secondary school whose schooling has been interrupted.

(a) The State Board shall distribute funds to reimburse adult education providers from funds appropriated for approved expenses that are established and determined by the State Board in compliance with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and other State and federal requirements. The State Board shall establish standards to determine the cost of instruction, including any other authorized incidental costs, which shall serve as the basis of State reimbursement in accordance with the provisions of this Section. In the approval of programs and the determination of the cost of instruction, the State Board shall provide for the maximum utilization of federal and State funds for those programs. The State Board shall also provide for:

(1) the method for allocating federal and State funds, including the development of an index of need for program planning and for area funding allocations, as defined by the State Board;

(2) the method for calculating hours of instruction, as defined by the State Board, claimable for reimbursement and a method to phase in the calculation and for adjusting the calculations in cases in which the services of a program are interrupted due to circumstances beyond the control of the program provider;

(3) a plan for the reallocation of funds to increase the amount allocated for grants based upon program performance; and

(4) the development of standards, programs, and guidelines consistent with the federal and State law Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

(b) (Blank). For adult education instruction as listed under subdivision (o) of Section 2-12, the maximum generation rate for reimbursement per credit hour or per unit of instruction shall be equal to the community college system reimbursement rate for adult education divided by one-third.

(c) Upon its annual approval, the State Board shall provide grants to eligible programs for activities to improve or expand services under the federal and State law Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Title II - Adult Education and Literacy. Eligible programs shall be determined based upon competitive processes and based on federal and State program considerations, as set by the State Board.

(c-5) State adult education funds, except for funds specifically provided as a match as required by federal law, are not subject to the authorizing federal law.

(d) Reimbursement under this Section may not exceed the actual costs of the approved program. Approved programs may assess students, except those students receiving public aid under the Illinois Public Aid Code, up to $6.00 per credit hour or unit of instruction, not to exceed $30.00 per semester per student, if needed to meet program costs.

(e) Each An education plan shall be established for each adult learner who is participating in the instructional programs provided under this Section shall complete an assessment of foundational skills to appropriately place the adult learner in an instructional program.

(f) Each adult education provider shall keep an accurate and detailed account of the students assigned to and receiving instruction under this Section who are enrolled in classroom instruction. Each adult education provider shall submit periodic reports of services provided as required by the State Board.

(g) For classes authorized under this Section, a credit hour or unit of instruction is equal to 15 hours of direct instruction for students enrolled in approved adult education programs at midterm and making satisfactory progress, in accordance with standards established by the State Board.

(h) If an approved adult education provider fails to provide or is providing unsatisfactory or insufficient classes under Section 2-12 and this Section, the State Board may enter into agreements with other eligible providers.

(Source: P.A. 101-289, eff. 8-9-19.)