HB4860 EnrolledLRB100 18649 AXK 33876 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
510-20.56 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.56)
7    Sec. 10-20.56. E-learning days.
8    (a) The State Board of Education shall establish and
9maintain, for implementation in selected school districts a
10during the 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 school years, a
11pilot program for use of electronic-learning (e-learning)
12days, as described in this Section. The State Superintendent of
13Education shall select up to 3 school districts for this
14program, at least one of which may be an elementary or unit
15school district. The use of e-learning days may not begin until
16the second semester of the 2015-2016 school year, and the pilot
17program shall conclude with the end of the 2017-2018 school
18year. On or before June 1, 2019, the State Board shall report
19its recommendation for expansion, revision, or discontinuation
20of the program to the Governor and General Assembly.
21    (b) The school board of a school district selected by the
22State Superintendent of Education under subsection (a) of this
23Section may, by resolution, adopt a research-based program or

 

 

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1research-based programs for e-learning days district-wide that
2shall permit student instruction to be received electronically
3while students are not physically present in lieu of the
4district's scheduled emergency days as required by Section
510-19 of this Code. The research-based program or programs may
6not exceed the minimum number of emergency days in the approved
7school calendar and must be submitted to the State
8Superintendent for approval on or before September 1st annually
9to ensure access for all students. The State Superintendent
10shall approve programs that ensure that the specific needs of
11all students are met, including special education students and
12English learners, and that all mandates are still met using the
13proposed research-based program. The e-learning program may
14utilize the Internet, telephones, texts, chat rooms, or other
15similar means of electronic communication for instruction and
16interaction between teachers and students that meet the needs
17of all learners.
18    (c) Before its adoption by a school board, a school
19district's initial proposal for an e-learning program or for
20renewal of such a program must be approved by the State Board
21of Education and shall follow a public hearing, at a regular or
22special meeting of the school board, in which the terms of the
23proposal must be substantially presented and an opportunity for
24allowing public comments must be provided. Notice of such
25public hearing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the
26hearing by:

 

 

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1        (1) publication in a newspaper of general circulation
2    in the school district;
3        (2) written or electronic notice designed to reach the
4    parents or guardians of all students enrolled in the school
5    district; and
6        (3) written or electronic notice designed to reach any
7    exclusive collective bargaining representatives of school
8    district employees and all those employees not in a
9    collective bargaining unit.
10    (d) A proposal for an e-learning program must be timely
11approved by the State Board of Education if the requirements
12specified in this Section have been met and if, in the view of
13the State Board of Education, the proposal contains provisions
14designed to reasonably and practicably accomplish the
15following:
16        (1) to ensure and verify at least 5 clock hours of
17    instruction or school work for each student participating
18    in an e-learning day;
19        (2) to ensure access from home or other appropriate
20    remote facility for all students participating, including
21    computers, the Internet, and other forms of electronic
22    communication that must be utilized in the proposed
23    program;
24        (3) to ensure appropriate learning opportunities for
25    students with special needs;
26        (4) to monitor and verify each student's electronic

 

 

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1    participation;
2        (5) to address the extent to which student
3    participation is within the student's control as to the
4    time, pace, and means of learning;
5        (6) to provide effective notice to students and their
6    parents or guardians of the use of particular days for
7    e-learning;
8        (7) to provide staff and students with adequate
9    training for e-learning days' participation;
10        (8) to ensure an opportunity for any collective
11    bargaining negotiations with representatives of the school
12    district's employees that would be legally required; and
13        (9) to review and revise the program as implemented to
14    address difficulties confronted.
15    The State Board of Education's approval of a school
16district's initial e-learning program and renewal of the
17e-learning program shall be for a term of 3 years.
18    (e) The State Board of Education may adopt rules governing
19its supervision and review of e-learning programs consistent
20with the provision of this Section. However, in the absence of
21such rules, school districts may submit proposals for State
22Board of Education consideration under the authority of this
23Section.
24(Source: P.A. 99-194, eff. 7-30-15; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)
 
25    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
26becoming law.