093_HB3853

 
                                     LRB093 13335 RCE 18619 b

 1        AN ACT concerning education.

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

 4        Section  5.  The School Code is amended by adding Section
 5    2-3.25o as follows:

 6        (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25o)
 7        Sec. 2-3.25o.  Recognition of non-public  elementary  and
 8    secondary schools.
 9        (a)  Findings.  The  General  Assembly finds and declares
10    (i) that the Constitution of the State of  Illinois  provides
11    that  a  "fundamental  goal of the People of the State is the
12    educational development of all persons to the limits of their
13    capacities" and (ii)  that  the  educational  development  of
14    every school student serves the public purposes of the State.
15    In  order  to  ensure that all Illinois students and teachers
16    have the opportunity to enroll  and  work  in  State-approved
17    educational  institutions  and  programs,  the State Board of
18    Education shall provide for the  voluntary  registration  and
19    recognition of non-public elementary and secondary schools.
20        (b)  Registration.  All    non-public    elementary   and
21    secondary schools in the State of  Illinois  may  voluntarily
22    register  with  the  State  Board  of  Education on an annual
23    basis. Registration shall be completed  in  conformance  with
24    procedures  prescribed  by  the  State  Board  of  Education.
25    Information   required   for   registration   shall   include
26    assurances  of  compliance  (i)  with  federal and State laws
27    regarding health examination  and  immunization,  attendance,
28    length   of   term,   and  nondiscrimination  and  (ii)  with
29    applicable fire and health safety requirements.
30        (c)  Recognition.  All    non-public    elementary    and
31    secondary schools in the State of  Illinois  may  voluntarily
 
                            -2-      LRB093 13335 RCE 18619 b
 1    seek  the  status of "Non-public School Recognition" from the
 2    State Board of Education. This  status  may  be  obtained  by
 3    compliance   with   administrative   guidelines   and  review
 4    procedures as prescribed by the State Board of Education. The
 5    guidelines and procedures must recognize  that  some  of  the
 6    aims  and  the  financial  bases  of  non-public  schools are
 7    different from public schools and will not  be  identical  to
 8    those  for  public schools, nor will they be more burdensome.
 9    The  guidelines  and  procedures  must  also  recognize   the
10    diversity  of  non-public  schools and shall not impinge upon
11    the noneducational relationships between  those  schools  and
12    their clientele.
13        (d)  Public purposes.  The provisions of this Section are
14    in  the  public  interest,  for the public benefit, and serve
15    secular public purposes.
16        (e)  Definition.  For  purposes  of   this   Section,   a
17    non-public  school  means any non-profit, non-home-based, and
18    non-public  elementary  or  secondary  school  that   is   in
19    compliance  with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and
20    attendance at which satisfies  the  requirements  of  Section
21    26-1 of this Code.

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