SB4023 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 22441 CMG 73520 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB4023

Introduced 1/4/2021, by Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/2-3.164

Amends the School Code. Requires the Attendance Commission to include in its annual recommendations made to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education mechanisms to facilitate a statewide, cross-sector study and analysis of prekindergarten through grade 12 student attendance and absenteeism rates occurring throughout the duration of the use of remote learning as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Requires the study and analysis to focus on the ensuing impact that remote learning has had on students, schools, and communities while also examining the disparities in the equity of accessibility and availability of learning resources that have impeded the attendance and academic success of students and that have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Extends the date that the Commission is abolished to December 16, 2022 (from December 16, 2020). Effective immediately.

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 School Code is amended by changing Section 2-3.164 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.164)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on December 16, 2020)

Sec. 2-3.164. Attendance Commission.

(a) The Attendance Commission is created within the State Board of Education to study the issue of chronic absenteeism in this State and make recommendations for strategies to prevent chronic absenteeism. The Commission shall consist of all of the following members:

(1) The Director of the Department of Children and Family Services or his or her designee.

(2) The Chairperson of the State Board of Education or his or her designee.

(3) The Chairperson of the Board of Higher Education or his or her designee.

(4) The Secretary of the Department of Human Services or his or her designee.

(5) The Director of the Department of Public Health or his or her designee.

(6) The Chairperson of the Illinois Community College Board or his or her designee.

(7) The Chairperson of the State Charter School Commission or his or her designee.

(8) An individual that deals with children's disabilities, impairments, and social emotional issues, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(9) One member from each of the following organizations, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education:

(A) A non-profit organization that advocates for students in temporary living situations.

(B) An Illinois-focused, non-profit organization that advocates for the well-being of all children and families in this State.

(C) An Illinois non-profit, anti-crime organization of law enforcement that researches and recommends early learning and youth development strategies to reduce crime.

(D) An Illinois non-profit organization that conducts community-organizing around family issues.

(E) A statewide professional teachers' organization.

(F) A different statewide professional teachers' organization.

(G) A professional teachers' organization in a city having a population exceeding 500,000.

(H) An association representing school administrators.

(I) An association representing school board members.

(J) An association representing school principals.

(K) An association representing regional superintendents of schools.

(L) An association representing parents.

(M) An association representing high school districts.

(N) An association representing large unit districts.

(O) An organization that advocates for healthier school environments in Illinois.

(P) An organization that advocates for the health and safety of Illinois youth and families by providing capacity building services.

(Q) A statewide association of local philanthropic organizations that advocates for effective educational, health, and human service policies to improve this State's communities.

(R) A statewide organization that advocates for partnerships among schools, families, and the community that provide access to support and remove barriers to learning and development, using schools as hubs.

(S) An organization representing statewide programs actively involved in truancy intervention.

Attendance Commission members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their travel expenses from appropriations to the State Board of Education available for that purpose and subject to the rules of the appropriate travel control board.

(b) The Attendance Commission shall meet initially at the call of the State Superintendent of Education. The members shall elect a chairperson at their initial meeting. Thereafter, the Attendance Commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson. The Attendance Commission shall hold hearings on a periodic basis to receive testimony from the public regarding attendance.

(c) The Attendance Commission shall identify strategies, mechanisms, and approaches to help parents, educators, principals, superintendents, and the State Board of Education address and prevent chronic absenteeism and shall recommend to the General Assembly and State Board of Education:

(1) a standard for attendance and chronic absenteeism, defining attendance as a calculation of standard clock hours in a day that equal a full day based on instructional minutes for both a half day and a full day per learning environment;

(2) mechanisms to improve data systems to monitor and track chronic absenteeism across this State in a way that identifies trends from prekindergarten through grade 12 and allows the identification of students who need individualized chronic absenteeism prevention plans;

(3) mechanisms for reporting and accountability for schools and districts across this State, including creating multiple measure indexes for reporting;

(4) best practices for utilizing attendance and chronic absenteeism data to create multi-tiered systems of support and prevention that will result in students being ready for college and career; and

(5) new initiatives and responses to ongoing challenges presented by chronic absenteeism; and .

(6) mechanisms to facilitate a statewide, cross-sector study and analysis of prekindergarten through grade 12 student attendance and absenteeism rates occurring throughout the duration of the use of remote learning under Sections 10-30 and 34-18.66 and initially implemented during the spring term of the 2019-2020 school year as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The study and analysis must focus on the ensuing impact that remote learning has had on students, schools, and communities while also examining the disparities in the equity of accessibility and availability of learning resources that have impeded the attendance and academic success of students and that have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

(d) The State Board of Education shall provide administrative support to the Commission. The Attendance Commission shall submit an initial report to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education no later than March 15, 2016. The Attendance Commission shall submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education no later than December 15, 2016 and each December 15 thereafter.

(e) The Attendance Commission is abolished and this Section is repealed on December 16, 2022 2020.

(Source: P.A. 99-432, eff. 8-21-15; 99-601, eff. 7-22-16; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)

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