093_HB3872

                                     LRB093 13682 NHT 19072 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.  Non-public   elementary   and   secondary
 8    schools; voluntary registration and recognition.
 9        (a)  Voluntary  program.  In  order  to  ensure  that all
10    Illinois students and teachers have the opportunity to enroll
11    and  work  in  State-approved  educational  institutions  and
12    programs, the State Board of Education shall provide for  the
13    voluntary   registration   and   recognition   of  non-public
14    elementary and secondary schools.
15        (b)  Registration.  All   non-public    elementary    and
16    secondary  schools  in  the State of Illinois may voluntarily
17    register with the State  Board  of  Education  on  an  annual
18    basis.  Registration  shall  be completed in conformance with
19    procedures  prescribed  by  the  State  Board  of  Education.
20    Information   required   for   registration   shall   include
21    assurances of compliance (i)  with  federal  and  State  laws
22    regarding  health  examination  and immunization, attendance,
23    length  of  term,  and  nondiscrimination   and   (ii)   with
24    applicable fire and health safety requirements.
25        (c)  Recognition.  All    non-public    elementary    and
26    secondary  schools  in  the State of Illinois may voluntarily
27    seek the status of "Non-public School Recognition"  from  the
28    State  Board  of  Education.  This  status may be obtained by
29    compliance  with   administrative   guidelines   and   review
30    procedures as prescribed by the State Board of Education. The
31    guidelines  and  procedures  must  recognize that some of the
 
                            -2-      LRB093 13682 NHT 19072 b
 1    aims and  the  financial  bases  of  non-public  schools  are
 2    different  from  public  schools and will not be identical to
 3    those for public schools, nor will they be  more  burdensome.
 4    The   guidelines  and  procedures  must  also  recognize  the
 5    diversity of non-public schools and shall  not  impinge  upon
 6    the  noneducational  relationships  between those schools and
 7    their clientele.
 8        (d)  Public purposes.  The provisions of this Section are
 9    in the public interest, for the  public  benefit,  and  serve
10    secular public purposes.
11        (e)  Definition.  For   purposes   of   this  Section,  a
12    non-public school means any non-profit,  non-home-based,  and
13    non-public   elementary   or  secondary  school  that  is  in
14    compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964  and
15    attendance  at  which  satisfies  the requirements of Section
16    26-1 of this Code.

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