Sen. Christine Radogno

Filed: 11/9/2004

 

 


 

 


 
09300HB0757sam002 LRB093 05403 NHT 54000 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 757

2     AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 757 by replacing the
3 title with the following:
4     "AN ACT concerning education, which may be referred to as
5 Brittany's Law."; and
 
6 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the
7 following:
 
8     "Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
9 14-16 as follows:
 
10     (105 ILCS 5/14-16 new)
11     Sec. 14-16. Participation in graduation ceremony.
12     (a) The General Assembly finds the following:
13         (1) Each year, school districts across this State
14     celebrate their students' accomplishments through
15     graduation ceremonies at which high school diplomas are
16     bestowed upon students who have completed their high school
17     requirements.
18         (2) There are children with disabilities in this State
19     who have finished 4 years of high school, but whose
20     individualized education programs prescribe the
21     continuation of special education, transition planning,
22     transition services, or related services beyond the
23     completion of 4 years of high school.

 

 

09300HB0757sam002 - 2 - LRB093 05403 NHT 54000 a

1         (3) It is well-established that the awarding of a high
2     school diploma to and the high school graduation of a child
3     with a disability is tantamount to the termination of
4     eligibility for special education and related services for
5     the student under applicable federal law.
6         (4) Many children with disabilities who will continue
7     their public education in accordance with their
8     individualized education programs after finishing 4 years
9     of high school wish to celebrate their accomplishments by
10     participating in a graduation ceremony with their
11     classmates.
12         (5) The opportunity for classmates with disabilities
13     and those without disabilities to celebrate their
14     accomplishments together only occurs once, and the
15     opportunity to celebrate the receipt of a diploma several
16     years after one's classmates have graduated diminishes the
17     experience for students whose age peers have left high
18     school several years earlier.
19     (b) Beginning March 1, 2005, each school district that
20 operates a high school must have a policy and procedures that
21 allow a child with a disability who will have completed 4 years
22 of high school at the end of a school year to participate in
23 the graduation ceremony of the student's high school graduating
24 class and receive a certificate of completion if the student's
25 individualized education program prescribes special education,
26 transition planning, transition services, or related services
27 beyond the student's 4 years of high school. The policy and
28 procedures must require timely and meaningful written notice to
29 children with disabilities and their parents or guardians about
30 the school district's policy and procedures adopted in
31 accordance with this Section.
32     (c) The State Board of Education shall monitor and enforce
33 compliance with the provisions of this Section and is
34 authorized to adopt rules for that purpose.
 

 

 

09300HB0757sam002 - 3 - LRB093 05403 NHT 54000 a

1     Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding
2 Section 8.28 as follows:
 
3     (30 ILCS 805/8.28 new)
4     Sec. 8.28. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8
5 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the
6 implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of
7 the 93rd General Assembly.
 
8     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
9 becoming law.".