HB5024eng 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5024 Engrossed LRB103 36139 RJT 66230 b

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 5. The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act is amended by changing Sections 15, 20, 25, and 30 as follows:

(110 ILCS 28/15)

Sec. 15. Creation of Consortium; purpose; administrative support.

(a) The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall create and establish the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity.

(b) The purpose of the Consortium is to serve the needs of the incumbent early childhood workforce and the employers of early childhood educators and to advance racial equity while meeting the needs of employers by streamlining, coordinating, and improving the accessibility of degree completion pathways for upskilling and the sustained expansion of educational pipelines at Illinois institutions of higher education.

(c) The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall convene the member institutions by July 1, 2021 or within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall provide administrative support for the start up and operation of the Consortium until a permanent governance structure is developed and implemented. The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall work with member institutions to establish geographic regional hubs, including public universities and the proximate community colleges responsible for serving each regional hub.

(Source: P.A. 102-174, eff. 7-28-21.)

(110 ILCS 28/20)

Sec. 20. Membership; functions.

(a) Membership in the Consortium shall include all public universities and community colleges in this State that offer early childhood programs. Membership by private, not-for-profit universities is optional and conditional on the acceptance of the terms adopted by the public members, the related administrative rules, and the provisions of this Act. For-profit institutions of higher education are not eligible for membership in the Consortium. Participating institutions must be accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and entitled to offer Gateways Credentials.

(b) The members of the Consortium shall operate jointly and in cooperation through regional hubs to provide streamlined paths for students to attain associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, certificates, and Gateways Credentials and other licensure endorsements in early childhood education. The priority shall be to focus on the incumbent workforce, which includes working adults who require programs of study that offer flexibility in the times courses are offered, location, and format. The Consortium shall cooperate in all of the following:

(1) Providing course offerings within each regional hub in online, hybrid, and in-person formats that are available to any student enrolled in a member institution in that hub for occasions in which a particular course is not available at the student's home institution. In this paragraph (1), "not available" may mean the course is not offered during a term, at a time, or in a format that works best for the student. Courses taken at any member institution shall be accepted toward the student's degree at any other member institution. Course offerings across institutions regional hubs may also be provided by an agreement between Consortium members. All course registration shall take place in consultation with a student's academic advisor.

(2) Shared responsibilities through the Consortium and within and across the State regional hubs to expand access for students.

(3) Transfers in accordance with Section 130-10 of the Transitions in Education Act.

(4) The development of standardized methods for awarding credit for prior learning.

(5) The support necessary for student access, persistence, and completion shall be provided by the home institution, unless otherwise provided by agreement between Consortium members.

(6) Admissions, financial arrangements, registration, and advising services shall be functions of the home institution but shall be honored across the Consortium.

(7) Member institutions working with their regional pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and early childhood employer partners to determine demand throughout the region.

(8) Data-sharing agreements.

(9) An agreement that students enrolled in associate degree programs are encouraged to complete the associate degree program prior to transferring to a bachelor's degree program.

(10) Development of other shared agreements and terms necessary to implement the Consortium and its responsibilities.

By January 31, 2022, the Consortium shall decide how to assign college credit for the incumbent workers who have a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and for future workers obtaining a CDA.

(c) The Consortium may facilitate or implement the following if deemed beneficial and feasible:

(1) the creation of an open education resource library;

(2) support and training for program coaches and cross-institutional navigators; and

(3) support for the development, implementation, and participation in a statewide registry system through the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) to provide tracking and data capabilities for students across the system as they attain competency through coursework.

(Source: P.A. 102-174, eff. 7-28-21.)

(110 ILCS 28/25)

Sec. 25. Advisory committee; membership.

(a) The Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, the State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development shall jointly convene a Consortium advisory committee to provide guidance on the operation of the Consortium.

(b) Membership on the advisory committee shall be comprised of employers and experts appointed by the Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development, and the State Board of Education. Membership shall also include all of the following members:

(1) An employer from a community-based child care provider, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.

(2) An employer from a for-profit child care provider, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.

(3) An employer from a nonprofit child care provider, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.

(4) A provider of family child care, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.

(5) An employer located in southern Illinois, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.

(6) An employer located in central Illinois, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.

(7) At least one member who represents an urban school district, appointed by the State Board of Education.

(8) At least one member who represents a suburban school district, appointed by the State Board of Education.

(9) At least one member who represents a rural school district, appointed by the State Board of Education.

(10) At least one member who represents a school district in a city with a population of 500,000 or more, appointed by the State Board of Education.

(11) Two early childhood advocates with statewide expertise in early childhood workforce issues, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.

(12) The Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson and the Minority Spokesperson or a designee of the Senate Committee on Higher Education.

(13) The Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson and the Minority Spokesperson or a designee of the House Committee on Higher Education.

(14) One member representing the Illinois Community College Board, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.

(15) One member representing the Board of Higher Education, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the Board of Higher Education.

(16) One member representing the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, appointed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission Board of Higher Education.

(17) One member representing the State Board of Education, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the State Board of Education.

(18) One member representing the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.

(19) One member representing the Department of Human Services, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.

(20) One member representing INCCRRA, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.

(21) One member representing the Department of Children and Family Services, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.

(22) One member representing an organization that advocates on behalf of community college trustees, appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.

(23) One member of a union representing child care and early childhood providers, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.

(24) Two members of unions representing higher education faculty, appointed by the Board of Higher Education.

(25) A representative from the College of Education of an urban public university, appointed by the Board of Higher Education.

(26) A representative from the College of Education of a suburban public university, appointed by the Board of Higher Education.

(27) A representative from the College of Education of a rural public university, appointed by the Board of Higher Education.

(28) A representative from the College of Education of a private university, appointed by the Board of Higher Education.

(29) A representative of an urban community college, appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.

(30) A representative of a suburban community college, appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.

(31) A representative of rural community college, appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.

(c) The advisory committee shall meet at least twice a year quarterly. The committee meetings shall be open to the public in accordance with the provisions of the Open Meetings Act.

(d) Except for the co-chairpersons of the advisory committee, the initial terms for advisory committee members after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly shall be set by lottery at the first meeting after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly as follows:

(1) One-third of members shall serve a 1-year term.

(2) One-third of members shall serve a 2-year term.

(3) One-third of members shall serve a 3-year term.

(e) The initial term of co-chairpersons of the advisory committee shall be for 3 years.

(f) After the initial term, each subsequent term for the members of the advisory committee shall be for 3 years or until a successor is appointed.

(g) The members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the advisory committee from funds appropriated for that purpose.

(Source: P.A. 102-174, eff. 7-28-21.)

(110 ILCS 28/30)

Sec. 30. Reporting. The Consortium shall report to the General Assembly, to the Senate and House Committees with oversight over higher education, to the Governor, and to the advisory committee on the progress made by the Consortium. A report must include, but is not limited to, all of the following information:

(1) Student enrollment numbers by academic year for the fall and spring terms or semesters, retention rates, persistence, and completion in relevant associate, baccalaureate, and credential programs, including demographic data that is disaggregated by race, ethnicity, geography, higher education sector, and federal Pell Grant status, reported annually twice per year. Completion numbers and rates, employer type, and years worked shall be reported annually.

(2) For students enrolled in early childhood programs, average assessed tuition, average Tuition rates charged and net price, number of students receiving student loans, and average loan amount prices paid, reported both as including and excluding student loans, by enrolled members of the incumbent workforce, reported annually.

(3) Outreach plans to recruit and enroll incumbent workforce members, reported annually twice per year.

(4) Participation of the incumbent workforce in outreach programs, which may include participation in an informational session, social media engagement, or other activities, reported annually twice per year.

(5) Student academic and holistic support plans to help the enrolled incumbent workforce persist in their education, reported annually.

(6) Evidence of engagement and responsiveness to the needs of employer partners, reported annually.

(7) The Consortium budget including the use of federal funds, reported annually.

(8) Member contributions, including financial, physical, or in-kind contributions, provided to the Consortium, reported annually.

(9) Information on Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarships awarded under the Higher Education Student Assistance Act, including demographic data that is disaggregated by race and ethnicity, federal Pell Grant eligibility status, geography, age, gender, and higher education sector, reported annually. Employer type and years worked, as provided by students via the scholarship application, reported annually. To the extent possible given available data and resources, information on scholarship recipients' subsequent employment in the early childhood care and education field in this State.

(Source: P.A. 102-174, eff. 7-28-21.)

Section 15. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.125 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.125 new)

Sec. 65.125. Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program.

(a) As used in this Section, "incumbent workforce" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act.

(b) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall implement and administer an early childhood educator scholarship program, to be known as the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program. Under the Program, the Commission shall annually award scholarships to early childhood education students enrolled in institutions of higher education participating in the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity under the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act with preference given to members of the incumbent workforce.

(c) To ensure alignment with Consortium goals and changing workforce needs, the Commission shall work in partnership with the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board in program design, and the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall solicit feedback from the Consortium advisory committee established under Section 25 of the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Act.

(d) In awarding a scholarship under this Section, the Commission may give preference to applicants who received a scholarship under this Section during the prior academic year, to applicants with financial need, or both.

(e) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges to continue or return to teaching or direct services in the early childhood care and education field in this State after they complete their program of study.

(f) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to implement and administer the Program.

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