95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB1142

 

Introduced , by Rep. Charles E. Jefferson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.66   from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.66

    Amends the School Code. Provides that in the awarding of grants for truants' alternative and optional education programs, the chronic truant and dropout rates of the areas served by the projects as compared to State averages must be taken into consideration first, and the population of the areas served, striving to serve as many students as possible with the funds available, must be taken into consideration second. Effective July 1, 2007.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
5 2-3.66 as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/2-3.66)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.66)
7     Sec. 2-3.66. Truants' alternative and optional education
8 programs. To establish pilot projects to offer modified
9 instructional programs or other services designed to prevent
10 students from dropping out of school, including programs
11 pursuant to Section 2-3.41, and to serve as a part time or full
12 time option in lieu of regular school attendance and to award
13 grants to local school districts, educational service regions
14 or community college districts from appropriated funds to
15 assist districts in establishing such projects. In the awarding
16 of grants, the chronic truant and dropout rates of the areas
17 served by the projects as compared to State averages must be
18 taken into consideration first, and the population of the areas
19 served, striving to serve as many students as possible with the
20 funds available, must be taken into consideration second. The
21 education agency may operate its own program or enter into a
22 contract with another not-for-profit entity to implement the
23 program. The pilot projects shall allow dropouts, up to and

 

 

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1 including age 21, potential dropouts, including truants,
2 uninvolved, unmotivated and disaffected students, as defined
3 by State Board of Education rules and regulations, to enroll,
4 as an alternative to regular school attendance, in an optional
5 education program which may be established by school board
6 policy and is in conformance with rules adopted by the State
7 Board of Education. Truants' Alternative and Optional
8 Education programs funded pursuant to this Section shall be
9 planned by a student, the student's parents or legal guardians,
10 unless the student is 18 years or older, and school officials
11 and shall culminate in an individualized optional education
12 plan. Such plan shall focus on academic or vocational skills,
13 or both, and may include, but not be limited to, evening
14 school, summer school, community college courses, adult
15 education, preparation courses for the high school level test
16 of General Educational Development, vocational training, work
17 experience, programs to enhance self concept and parenting
18 courses. School districts which are awarded grants pursuant to
19 this Section shall be authorized to provide day care services
20 to children of students who are eligible and desire to enroll
21 in programs established and funded under this Section, but only
22 if and to the extent that such day care is necessary to enable
23 those eligible students to attend and participate in the
24 programs and courses which are conducted pursuant to this
25 Section. The Board shall report on the status of the pilot
26 projects pursuant to Section 1A-4. School districts and

 

 

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1 regional offices of education may claim general State aid under
2 Section 18-8.05 for students enrolled in truants' alternative
3 and optional education programs, provided that such students
4 are receiving services that are supplemental to a program
5 leading to a high school diploma and are otherwise eligible to
6 be claimed for general State aid under Section 18-8.05.
7 (Source: P.A. 90-802, eff. 12-15-98.)
 
8     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
9 2007.