SB0263 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 05785 NHT 15860 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB0263

Introduced 2/4/2009, by Sen. Michael W. Frerichs

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 305/8

from Ch. 144, par. 29

Amends the University of Illinois Act. Lowers the age at which a student may be admitted to the University from 15 to 14 years. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

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 University of Illinois Act is amended by changing Section 8 as follows:

(110 ILCS 305/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 29)

Sec. 8. Admissions.

(a) No student shall be admitted to instruction in any of the departments of the University who shall not have attained to the age of 14 fifteen (15) years, and who shall not previously undergo a satisfactory examination in each of the branches ordinarily taught in the common schools of the state.

(b) In addition, commencing in the fall of 1993, no new student shall then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in any of the departments or colleges of the University unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from the following 5 categories:

(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and oral communications and literature), of which up to 2 years may be collegiate level instruction;

(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history and government);

(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or fundamentals of computer programming);

(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and

(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language, music, vocational education or art;

(2) except that institutions may admit individual applicants if the institution determines through assessment or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational education courses and courses taken in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the high school courses required for admission. The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois shall not discriminate in the University's admissions process against an applicant for admission because of the applicant's enrollment in a charter school established under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may also admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, providing that in either case, the institution incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and

(3) except that up to 3 of the 15 units of coursework required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5 categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

(c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall recognize their obligation to their students to offer the coursework required by subsection (b).

(d) A student who has graduated from high school and has scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT shall not be required to take the high school level General Educational Development (GED) Test as a prerequisite to admission.

(Source: P.A. 91-374, eff. 7-30-99.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.