Sen. Heather A. Steans

Filed: 4/15/2013

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2340

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2340 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
52-3.25d, 2-3.25f, 2-3.25g, 2-3.25h, and 10-10 and by adding
6Section 2-3.25f-5 as follows:
 
7    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25d)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25d)
8    Sec. 2-3.25d. Academic early warning and watch status.
9    (a) Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, unless the
10federal government formally disapproves of such policy through
11the submission and review process for the Illinois
12Accountability Workbook, those schools that do not meet
13adequate yearly progress criteria for 2 consecutive annual
14calculations in the same subject or in their participation
15rate, attendance rate, or graduation rate shall be placed on
16academic early warning status for the next school year. Schools

 

 

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1on academic early warning status that do not meet adequate
2yearly progress criteria for a third annual calculation in the
3same subject or in their participation rate, attendance rate,
4or graduation rate shall remain on academic early warning
5status. Schools on academic early warning status that do not
6meet adequate yearly progress criteria for a fourth annual
7calculation in the same subject or in their participation rate,
8attendance rate, or graduation rate shall be placed on initial
9academic watch status. Schools on academic watch status that do
10not meet adequate yearly progress criteria for a fifth or
11subsequent annual calculation in the same subject or in their
12participation rate, attendance rate, or graduation rate shall
13remain on academic watch status. Schools on academic early
14warning or academic watch status that meet adequate yearly
15progress criteria for 2 consecutive calculations shall be
16considered as having met expectations and shall be removed from
17any status designation.
18    The school district of a school placed on either academic
19early warning status or academic watch status may appeal the
20status to the State Board of Education in accordance with
21Section 2-3.25m of this Code.
22    A school district that has one or more schools on academic
23early warning or academic watch status shall prepare a revised
24School Improvement Plan or amendments thereto setting forth the
25district's expectations for removing each school from academic
26early warning or academic watch status and for improving

 

 

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1student performance in the affected school or schools.
2Districts operating under Article 34 of this Code may prepare
3the School Improvement Plan required under Section 34-2.4 of
4this Code.
5    The revised School Improvement Plan for a school that is
6initially placed on academic early warning status or that
7remains on academic early warning status after a third annual
8calculation must be approved by the school board (and by the
9school's local school council in a district operating under
10Article 34 of this Code, unless the school is on probation
11pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code).
12    The revised School Improvement Plan for a school that is
13initially placed on academic watch status after a fourth annual
14calculation must be approved by the school board (and by the
15school's local school council in a district operating under
16Article 34 of this Code, unless the school is on probation
17pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code).
18    The revised School Improvement Plan for a school that
19remains on academic watch status after a fifth annual
20calculation must be approved by the school board (and by the
21school's local school council in a district operating under
22Article 34 of this Code, unless the school is on probation
23pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code). In
24addition, the district must develop a school restructuring plan
25for the school that must be approved by the school board (and
26by the school's local school council in a district operating

 

 

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1under Article 34 of this Code).
2    A school on academic watch status that does not meet
3adequate yearly progress criteria for a sixth annual
4calculation shall implement its approved school restructuring
5plan beginning with the next school year, subject to the State
6interventions specified in Sections Section 2-3.25f and
72-3.25f-5 of this Code.
8    (b) Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, unless the
9federal government formally disapproves of such policy through
10the submission and review process for the Illinois
11Accountability Workbook, those school districts that do not
12meet adequate yearly progress criteria for 2 consecutive annual
13calculations in the same subject or in their participation
14rate, attendance rate, or graduation rate shall be placed on
15academic early warning status for the next school year.
16Districts on academic early warning status that do not meet
17adequate yearly progress criteria for a third annual
18calculation in the same subject or in their participation rate,
19attendance rate, or graduation rate shall remain on academic
20early warning status. Districts on academic early warning
21status that do not meet adequate yearly progress criteria for a
22fourth annual calculation in the same subject or in their
23participation rate, attendance rate, or graduation rate shall
24be placed on initial academic watch status. Districts on
25academic watch status that do not meet adequate yearly progress
26criteria for a fifth or subsequent annual calculation in the

 

 

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1same subject or in their participation rate, attendance rate,
2or graduation rate shall remain on academic watch status.
3Districts on academic early warning or academic watch status
4that meet adequate yearly progress criteria for one annual
5calculation shall be considered as having met expectations and
6shall be removed from any status designation.
7    A district placed on either academic early warning status
8or academic watch status may appeal the status to the State
9Board of Education in accordance with Section 2-3.25m of this
10Code.
11    Districts on academic early warning or academic watch
12status shall prepare a District Improvement Plan or amendments
13thereto setting forth the district's expectations for removing
14the district from academic early warning or academic watch
15status and for improving student performance in the district.
16    All District Improvement Plans must be approved by the
17school board.
18    (c) All revised School and District Improvement Plans shall
19be developed in collaboration with parents, staff in the
20affected school or school district, and outside experts. All
21revised School and District Improvement Plans shall be
22developed, submitted, and monitored pursuant to rules adopted
23by the State Board of Education. The revised Improvement Plan
24shall address measurable outcomes for improving student
25performance so that such performance meets adequate yearly
26progress criteria as specified by the State Board of Education.

 

 

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1All school districts required to revise a School Improvement
2Plan in accordance with this Section shall establish a peer
3review process for the evaluation of School Improvement Plans.
4    (d) All federal requirements apply to schools and school
5districts utilizing federal funds under Title I, Part A of the
6federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
7    (e) The State Board of Education, from any moneys it may
8have available for this purpose, must implement and administer
9a grant program that provides 2-year grants to school districts
10on the academic watch list and other school districts that have
11the lowest achieving students, as determined by the State Board
12of Education, to be used to improve student achievement. In
13order to receive a grant under this program, a school district
14must establish an accountability program. The accountability
15program must involve the use of statewide testing standards and
16local evaluation measures. A grant shall be automatically
17renewed when achievement goals are met. The Board may adopt any
18rules necessary to implement and administer this grant program.
19(Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)
 
20    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25f)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25f)
21    Sec. 2-3.25f. State interventions.
22    (a) The State Board of Education shall provide technical
23assistance to assist with the development and implementation of
24School and District Improvement Plans.
25    Schools or school districts that fail to make reasonable

 

 

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1efforts to implement an approved Improvement Plan may suffer
2loss of State funds by school district, attendance center, or
3program as the State Board of Education deems appropriate.
4    (a-5) In this subsection (a-5), "school" means any of the
5following named public schools or their successor name:
6        (1) Dirksen Middle School in Dolton School District
7    149.
8        (2) Diekman Elementary School in Dolton School
9    District 149.
10        (3) Caroline Sibley Elementary School in Dolton School
11    District 149.
12        (4) Berger-Vandenberg Elementary School in Dolton
13    School District 149.
14        (5) Carol Moseley Braun School in Dolton School
15    District 149.
16        (6) New Beginnings Learning Academy in Dolton School
17    District 149.
18        (7) McKinley Junior High School in South Holland School
19    District 150.
20        (8) Greenwood Elementary School in South Holland
21    School District 150.
22        (9) McKinley Elementary School in South Holland School
23    District 150.
24        (10) Eisenhower School in South Holland School
25    District 151.
26        (11) Madison School in South Holland School District

 

 

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1    151.
2        (12) Taft School in South Holland School District 151.
3        (13) Wolcott School in Thornton School District 154.
4        (14) Memorial Junior High School in Lansing School
5    District 158.
6        (15) Oak Glen Elementary School in Lansing School
7    District 158.
8        (16) Lester Crawl Primary Center in Lansing School
9    District 158.
10        (17) Brookwood Junior High School in Brookwood School
11    District 167.
12        (18) Brookwood Middle School in Brookwood School
13    District 167.
14        (19) Hickory Bend Elementary School in Brookwood
15    School District 167.
16        (20) Medgar Evers Primary Academic Center in Ford
17    Heights School District 169.
18        (21) Nathan Hale Elementary School in Sunnybrook
19    School District 171.
20        (22) Ira F. Aldridge Elementary School in City of
21    Chicago School District 299.
22        (23) William E.B. DuBois Elementary School in City of
23    Chicago School District 299.
24    If, after 2 years following its placement on academic watch
25status, a school remains on academic watch status, then,
26subject to federal appropriation money being available, the

 

 

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1State Board of Education shall allow the school board to opt in
2the process of operating that school on a pilot full-year
3school plan approved by the State Board of Education upon
4expiration of its teachers' current collective bargaining
5agreement until the expiration of the next collective
6bargaining agreement. A school board must notify the State
7Board of Education of its intent to opt in the process of
8operating a school on a pilot full-year school plan.
9    (b) In addition, if after 3 years following its placement
10on academic watch status a school district or school remains on
11academic watch status, the State Board of Education may shall
12take one of the following actions for the district specified
13under Section 2-3.25f-5 of this Code or school: (1) The State
14Board of Education may authorize the State Superintendent of
15Education to direct the regional superintendent of schools to
16remove school board members pursuant to Section 3-14.28 of this
17Code. Prior to such direction the State Board of Education
18shall permit members of the local board of education to present
19written and oral comments to the State Board of Education. The
20State Board of Education may direct the State Superintendent of
21Education to appoint an Independent Authority that shall
22exercise such powers and duties as may be necessary to operate
23a school or school district for purposes of improving pupil
24performance and school improvement. The State Superintendent
25of Education shall designate one member of the Independent
26Authority to serve as chairman. The Independent Authority shall

 

 

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1serve for a period of time specified by the State Board of
2Education upon the recommendation of the State Superintendent
3of Education. (2) The State Board of Education may (i) (A)
4change the recognition status of the school district or school
5to nonrecognized, or (ii) (B) authorize the State
6Superintendent of Education to direct the reassignment of
7pupils or direct the reassignment or replacement of school
8district personnel who are relevant to the failure to meet
9adequate yearly progress criteria. If a school district is
10nonrecognized in its entirety, it shall automatically be
11dissolved on July 1 following that nonrecognition and its
12territory realigned with another school district or districts
13by the regional board of school trustees in accordance with the
14procedures set forth in Section 7-11 of the School Code. The
15effective date of the nonrecognition of a school shall be July
161 following the nonrecognition.
17    (c) All federal requirements apply to schools and school
18districts utilizing federal funds under Title I, Part A of the
19federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
20(Source: P.A. 97-370, eff. 1-1-12.)
 
21    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25f-5 new)
22    Sec. 2-3.25f-5. Independent Authority.
23    (a) The General Assembly finds all of the following:
24        (1) A fundamental goal of the people of this State, as
25    expressed in Section 1 of Article X of the Illinois

 

 

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1    Constitution, is the educational development of all
2    persons to the limits of their capacities. When a school
3    board faces governance difficulties, continued operation
4    of the public school system is threatened.
5        (2) Sound school board governance, academic
6    achievement, and sound financial structure are essential
7    to the continued operation of any school system. It is
8    vital to commercial, educational, and cultural interests
9    that public schools remain in operation. To achieve that
10    goal, public school systems must have effective
11    leadership.
12        (3) To promote the sound operation of districts, as
13    defined in this Section, it is necessary to provide for the
14    creation of independent authorities with the powers
15    necessary to promote sound governance, sound academic
16    planning, and sound financial management and to ensure the
17    continued operation of the public schools.
18        (4) It is the purpose of this Section to provide for a
19    sound basis for the continued operation of public schools.
20    The intention of the General Assembly, in creating this
21    Section, is to establish procedures, provide powers, and
22    impose restrictions to ensure the educational integrity of
23    public school districts.
24    (b) As used in this Section:
25    "Board" means a school board of a district.
26    "Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Independent

 

 

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1Authority.
2    "District" means any school district having a population of
3not more than 500,000.
4    "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
5    "State Superintendent" means the State Superintendent of
6Education.
7    (c) The State Board has the power to direct the State
8Superintendent to remove a board. boards may be removed when
9the criteria provided for in subsection (d) of this Section are
10met.
11    If the State Board proposes to direct the State
12Superintendent to remove a board from a district, board members
13shall receive individual written notice of the intended
14removal. Written notice must be provided at least 30 calendar
15days before a hearing is held by the State Board. This notice
16shall identify the basis for proposed removal.
17    Board members are entitled to a hearing, during which time
18each board member shall have the opportunity to respond
19individually, both orally and through written comments, to the
20basis laid out in the notice. Written comments must be
21submitted to the State Board on or before the hearing.
22    Board members are entitled to be represented by counsel at
23the hearing, but counsel must not be paid with district funds.
24    The State Board shall make a final decision on removal
25immediately following the hearing or at its next regularly
26scheduled or special meeting. In no event may the decision be

 

 

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1made later than the next regularly scheduled meeting.
2    The State Board shall issue a final written decision. If
3the State Board directs the State Superintendent to remove the
4board, the State Superintendent shall do so within 30 days
5after the written decision. Following the removal of the board,
6the State Superintendent shall establish an Independent
7Authority pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section.
8    If there is a financial oversight panel operating in the
9district pursuant to Article 1B or 1H of this Code, the State
10Board may, at its discretion, abolish the panel.
11    (d) The State Board shall require districts that have been
12on academic watch status for 3 years or more and that are
13within the lowest 5% in terms of performance in this State, as
14determined by the State Superintendent, to seek accreditation
15through a national accreditation organization chosen by the
16State Board and paid for by the State. The State Board may
17direct the State Superintendent to remove board members
18pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section in any district in
19which the district is unable to obtain accreditation in whole
20or in part due to reasons related to school board governance.
21When determining if a district has failed to meet the standards
22for accreditation related to school board governance, the
23accreditation entity shall take into account the overall
24academic, fiscal, and operational condition of the district and
25consider whether the board has failed to protect district
26assets, to direct sound administrative and academic policy, to

 

 

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1abide by basic governance principles, including those set forth
2in district policies, and to conduct itself with
3professionalism and care and in a legally, ethically, and
4financially responsible manner.
5    (e) Upon removal of the board, the State Superintendent
6shall establish an Independent Authority. Upon establishment
7of an Independent Authority, there is established a body both
8corporate and politic to be known as the "(Name of the School
9District) Independent Authority", which in this name shall
10exercise all of the authority vested in an Independent
11Authority by this Section and by the name may sue and be sued
12in all courts and places where judicial proceedings are had.
13    (f) Upon establishment of an Independent Authority under
14subsection (e) of this Section, the State Superintendent shall,
15within 30 working days thereafter, appoint 5 members to serve
16on an Independent Authority for the district. Members appointed
17to the Independent Authority shall serve at the pleasure of the
18State Superintendent. The State Superintendent shall designate
19one of the members of the Independent Authority to serve as its
20chairperson. In the event of vacancy or resignation, the State
21Superintendent shall, within 15 workings days after receiving
22notice, appoint a successor to serve out that member's term. If
23the State Board has abolished a financial oversight panel
24pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, the State
25Superintendent may appoint former members of the panel to the
26Independent Authority. These members may serve as part of the 5

 

 

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1members or may be appointed in addition to the 5 members, with
2the Independent Authority not to exceed 9 members in total.
3    Members of the Independent Authority must be selected
4primarily on the basis of their experience and knowledge in
5education policy, with consideration given to persons
6knowledgeable in the operation of a school district. A member
7of the Independent Authority must be a registered voter as
8provided in the general election law, must not be a school
9trustee, and must not be a child sex offender as defined in
10Section 11-9.3 of the Criminal Code of 2012. Two members of the
11Independent Authority must be residents of the district that
12the Independent Authority serves. A member of the Independent
13Authority may not be an employee of the district, nor may a
14member have a direct financial interest in the district.
15    Independent Authority members may be reimbursed by the
16district for travel and other necessary expenses incurred in
17the performance of their official duties. The amount reimbursed
18members for their expenses must be charged to the school
19district.
20    With the exception of the Chairperson, the Independent
21Authority may elect such officers as it deems appropriate.
22    The first meeting of the Independent Authority must be held
23at the call of the Chairperson. The Independent Authority shall
24prescribe the times and places for its meetings and the manner
25in which regular and special meetings may be called and shall
26comply with the Open Meetings Act.

 

 

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1    All Independent Authority members must complete the
2training required of school board members under Section 10-16a
3of this Code.
4    (g) The purpose of the Independent Authority is to operate
5the district. The Independent Authority shall have all of the
6powers and duties of a board and all other powers necessary to
7meet its responsibilities and to carry out its purpose and the
8purposes of this Section and that may be requisite or proper
9for the maintenance, operation, and development of any school
10or schools under the jurisdiction of the Independent Authority.
11This grant of powers does not release an Independent Authority
12from any duty imposed upon it by this Code or any other law.
13    The Independent Authority shall have no power to
14unilaterally cancel or modify any collective bargaining
15agreement in force upon the date of creation of the Independent
16Authority.
17    (h) The Independent Authority may prepare and file with the
18State Superintendent a proposal for emergency financial
19assistance for the school district and for the operations
20budget of the Independent Authority, in accordance with Section
211B-8 of this Code. A district may receive both a loan and a
22grant.
23    (i) A district with an Independent Authority shall receive
24its full general State aid payment, based on the foundation
25level of support set forth in Section 18-8.05 of this Code of
26$6,119 or such greater amount as may be established by law by

 

 

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1the General Assembly. In the event that the General Assembly
2does not appropriate sufficient funds to fully fund the general
3State aid claims of all districts, a district with an
4Independent Authority established pursuant to subsection (e)
5of this Section shall get its claim fully funded. In the event
6that the foundation level of support set forth in Section
718-8.05 of this Code is set below $6,119, a district with an
8Independent Authority established pursuant to subsection (e)
9of this Section shall receive general State aid based on a
10foundation level of support of $6,119. When the Independent
11Authority is abolished pursuant to subsection (m) of this
12Section, the district shall receive general State aid payments
13pursuant to Section 18-8.05 of this Code in the same manner as
14all other districts.
15    (j) An election for board members must not be held in a
16district upon the establishment of an Independent Authority and
17is suspended until the next regularly scheduled school board
18election that takes place no less than 2 years following the
19establishment of the Independent Authority. For this first
20election, 3 school board members must be elected to serve out
21terms of 4 years and until successors are elected and have
22qualified. Members of the Independent Authority are eligible to
23run for election in the district, provided that they meet all
24other eligibility requirements of Section 10-10 of this Code.
25Following this election, the school board shall consist of the
26newly elected members and any remaining members of the

 

 

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1Independent Authority. At the next school board election, 4
2school board members must be elected to serve out terms of 4
3years and until successors are elected and have qualified.
4Following this election, any remaining Independent Authority
5members shall serve in the district as an oversight panel until
6such time as the district reaches full accreditation status.
7The school board shall get approval of all actions by the
8Independent Authority during the time the Independent
9Authority serves as an oversight panel.
10    Board members who were removed pursuant to subsection (c)
11of this Section are ineligible to run for school board in this
12State. However, board members who were removed pursuant to
13subsection (c) of this Section and were appointed to the
14Independent Authority by the State Superintendent are eligible
15to run for school board in the district.
16    (k) The Independent Authority, upon its members taking
17office and annually thereafter and upon request, shall prepare
18and submit to the State Superintendent a report on the state of
19the district, including without limitation the academic
20improvement and financial situation of the district. This
21report must be submitted annually on or before March 1 of each
22year.
23    (l) The district shall render such services to and permit
24the use of its facilities and resources by the Independent
25Authority at no charge as may be requested by the Independent
26Authority. Any State agency, unit of local government, or

 

 

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1school district may, within its lawful powers and duties,
2render such services to the Independent Authority as may be
3requested by the Independent Authority.
4    (m) An Independent Authority must be abolished when the
5district has achieved full accreditation status by a national
6accreditation agency chosen by the State Board.
7    Upon abolition of the Independent Authority, all powers and
8duties allowed by this Code to be exercised by a school board
9shall be transferred to the elected school board.
10    (n) The Independent Authority must be indemnified through
11insurance purchased by the district. The district shall
12purchase insurance through which the Independent Authority is
13to be indemnified.
14    The district retains the duty to represent and to indemnify
15Independent Authority members following the abolition of the
16Independent Authority for any cause of action or remedy
17available against the Independent Authority, its members, its
18employees, or its agents for any right or claim existing or any
19liability incurred prior to the abolition.
20    The insurance shall indemnify and protect districts,
21Independent Authority members, employees, volunteer personnel
22authorized in Sections 10-22.34, 10-22.34a, and 10-22.34b of
23this Code, mentors of certified or licensed staff as authorized
24in Article 21A and Sections 2-3.53a, 2-3.53b, and 34-18.33 of
25this Code, and student teachers against civil rights damage
26claims and suits, constitutional rights damage claims and

 

 

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1suits, and death and bodily injury and property damage claims
2and suits, including defense thereof, when damages are sought
3for negligent or wrongful acts alleged to have been committed
4in the scope of employment, under the direction of the
5Independent Authority, or related to any mentoring services
6provided to certified or licensed staff of the district. Such
7indemnification and protection shall extend to persons who were
8members of an Independent Authority, employees of an
9Independent Authority, authorized volunteer personnel, mentors
10of certified or licensed staff, or student teachers at the time
11of the incident from which a claim arises. No agent may be
12afforded indemnification or protection unless he or she was a
13member of an Independent Authority, an employee of an
14Independent Authority, an authorized volunteer, a mentor of
15certified or licenses staff, or a student teacher at the time
16of the incident from which the claim arises.
 
17    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g)
18    Sec. 2-3.25g. Waiver or modification of mandates within the
19School Code and administrative rules and regulations.
20    (a) In this Section:
21        "Board" means a school board or the governing board or
22    administrative district, as the case may be, for a joint
23    agreement.
24        "Eligible applicant" means a school district, joint
25    agreement made up of school districts, or regional

 

 

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1    superintendent of schools on behalf of schools and programs
2    operated by the regional office of education.
3        "Implementation date" has the meaning set forth in
4    Section 24A-2.5 of this Code.
5        "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
6    (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this School
7Code or any other law of this State to the contrary, eligible
8applicants may petition the State Board of Education for the
9waiver or modification of the mandates of this School Code or
10of the administrative rules and regulations promulgated by the
11State Board of Education. Waivers or modifications of
12administrative rules and regulations and modifications of
13mandates of this School Code may be requested when an eligible
14applicant demonstrates that it can address the intent of the
15rule or mandate in a more effective, efficient, or economical
16manner or when necessary to stimulate innovation or improve
17student performance. Waivers of mandates of the School Code may
18be requested when the waivers are necessary to stimulate
19innovation or improve student performance. Waivers may not be
20requested from laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to
21special education, teacher certification, teacher tenure and
22seniority, or Section 5-2.1 of this Code or from compliance
23with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110).
24On and after the applicable implementation date, eligible
25applicants may not seek a waiver or seek a modification of a
26mandate regarding the requirements for (i) student performance

 

 

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1data to be a significant factor in teacher or principal
2evaluations or (ii) for teachers and principals to be rated
3using the 4 categories of "excellent", "proficient", "needs
4improvement", or "unsatisfactory". On the applicable
5implementation date, any previously authorized waiver or
6modification from such requirements shall terminate.
7    (c) Eligible applicants, as a matter of inherent managerial
8policy, and any Independent Authority established under
9Section 2-3.25f-5 of this Code 2-3.25f may submit an
10application for a waiver or modification authorized under this
11Section. Each application must include a written request by the
12eligible applicant or Independent Authority and must
13demonstrate that the intent of the mandate can be addressed in
14a more effective, efficient, or economical manner or be based
15upon a specific plan for improved student performance and
16school improvement. Any eligible applicant requesting a waiver
17or modification for the reason that intent of the mandate can
18be addressed in a more economical manner shall include in the
19application a fiscal analysis showing current expenditures on
20the mandate and projected savings resulting from the waiver or
21modification. Applications and plans developed by eligible
22applicants must be approved by the board or regional
23superintendent of schools applying on behalf of schools or
24programs operated by the regional office of education following
25a public hearing on the application and plan and the
26opportunity for the board or regional superintendent to hear

 

 

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1testimony from staff directly involved in its implementation,
2parents, and students. The time period for such testimony shall
3be separate from the time period established by the eligible
4applicant for public comment on other matters. If the applicant
5is a school district or joint agreement requesting a waiver or
6modification of Section 27-6 of this Code, the public hearing
7shall be held on a day other than the day on which a regular
8meeting of the board is held.
9    (c-5) If the applicant is a school district, then the
10district shall post information that sets forth the time, date,
11place, and general subject matter of the public hearing on its
12Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing. If the
13district is requesting to increase the fee charged for driver
14education authorized pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of this Code,
15the website information shall include the proposed amount of
16the fee the district will request. All school districts must
17publish a notice of the public hearing at least 7 days prior to
18the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the
19school district that sets forth the time, date, place, and
20general subject matter of the hearing. Districts requesting to
21increase the fee charged for driver education shall include in
22the published notice the proposed amount of the fee the
23district will request. If the applicant is a joint agreement or
24regional superintendent, then the joint agreement or regional
25superintendent shall post information that sets forth the time,
26date, place, and general subject matter of the public hearing

 

 

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1on its Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing.
2If the joint agreement or regional superintendent is requesting
3to increase the fee charged for driver education authorized
4pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of this Code, the website
5information shall include the proposed amount of the fee the
6applicant will request. All joint agreements and regional
7superintendents must publish a notice of the public hearing at
8least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general
9circulation in each school district that is a member of the
10joint agreement or that is served by the educational service
11region that sets forth the time, date, place, and general
12subject matter of the hearing, provided that a notice appearing
13in a newspaper generally circulated in more than one school
14district shall be deemed to fulfill this requirement with
15respect to all of the affected districts. Joint agreements or
16regional superintendents requesting to increase the fee
17charged for driver education shall include in the published
18notice the proposed amount of the fee the applicant will
19request. The eligible applicant must notify in writing the
20affected exclusive collective bargaining agent and those State
21legislators representing the eligible applicant's territory of
22its intent to seek approval of a waiver or modification and of
23the hearing to be held to take testimony from staff. The
24affected exclusive collective bargaining agents shall be
25notified of such public hearing at least 7 days prior to the
26date of the hearing and shall be allowed to attend such public

 

 

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1hearing. The eligible applicant shall attest to compliance with
2all of the notification and procedural requirements set forth
3in this Section.
4    (d) A request for a waiver or modification of
5administrative rules and regulations or for a modification of
6mandates contained in this School Code shall be submitted to
7the State Board of Education within 15 days after approval by
8the board or regional superintendent of schools. The
9application as submitted to the State Board of Education shall
10include a description of the public hearing. Except with
11respect to contracting for adaptive driver education, an
12eligible applicant wishing to request a modification or waiver
13of administrative rules of the State Board of Education
14regarding contracting with a commercial driver training school
15to provide the course of study authorized under Section 27-24.2
16of this Code must provide evidence with its application that
17the commercial driver training school with which it will
18contract holds a license issued by the Secretary of State under
19Article IV of Chapter 6 of the Illinois Vehicle Code and that
20each instructor employed by the commercial driver training
21school to provide instruction to students served by the school
22district holds a valid teaching certificate or teaching
23license, as applicable, issued under the requirements of this
24Code and rules of the State Board of Education. Such evidence
25must include, but need not be limited to, a list of each
26instructor assigned to teach students served by the school

 

 

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1district, which list shall include the instructor's name,
2personal identification number as required by the State Board
3of Education, birth date, and driver's license number. If the
4modification or waiver is granted, then the eligible applicant
5shall notify the State Board of Education of any changes in the
6personnel providing instruction within 15 calendar days after
7an instructor leaves the program or a new instructor is hired.
8Such notification shall include the instructor's name,
9personal identification number as required by the State Board
10of Education, birth date, and driver's license number. If a
11school district maintains an Internet website, then the
12district shall post a copy of the final contract between the
13district and the commercial driver training school on the
14district's Internet website. If no Internet website exists,
15then the district shall make available the contract upon
16request. A record of all materials in relation to the
17application for contracting must be maintained by the school
18district and made available to parents and guardians upon
19request. The instructor's date of birth and driver's license
20number and any other personally identifying information as
21deemed by the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994
22must be redacted from any public materials. Following receipt
23of the waiver or modification request, the State Board shall
24have 45 days to review the application and request. If the
25State Board fails to disapprove the application within that 45
26day period, the waiver or modification shall be deemed granted.

 

 

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1The State Board may disapprove any request if it is not based
2upon sound educational practices, endangers the health or
3safety of students or staff, compromises equal opportunities
4for learning, or fails to demonstrate that the intent of the
5rule or mandate can be addressed in a more effective,
6efficient, or economical manner or have improved student
7performance as a primary goal. Any request disapproved by the
8State Board may be appealed to the General Assembly by the
9eligible applicant as outlined in this Section.
10    A request for a waiver from mandates contained in this
11School Code shall be submitted to the State Board within 15
12days after approval by the board or regional superintendent of
13schools. The application as submitted to the State Board of
14Education shall include a description of the public hearing.
15The description shall include, but need not be limited to, the
16means of notice, the number of people in attendance, the number
17of people who spoke as proponents or opponents of the waiver, a
18brief description of their comments, and whether there were any
19written statements submitted. The State Board shall review the
20applications and requests for completeness and shall compile
21the requests in reports to be filed with the General Assembly.
22The State Board shall file reports outlining the waivers
23requested by eligible applicants and appeals by eligible
24applicants of requests disapproved by the State Board with the
25Senate and the House of Representatives before each March 1 and
26October 1. The General Assembly may disapprove the report of

 

 

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1the State Board in whole or in part within 60 calendar days
2after each house of the General Assembly next convenes after
3the report is filed by adoption of a resolution by a record
4vote of the majority of members elected in each house. If the
5General Assembly fails to disapprove any waiver request or
6appealed request within such 60 day period, the waiver or
7modification shall be deemed granted. Any resolution adopted by
8the General Assembly disapproving a report of the State Board
9in whole or in part shall be binding on the State Board.
10    (e) An approved waiver or modification (except a waiver
11from or modification to a physical education mandate) may
12remain in effect for a period not to exceed 5 school years and
13may be renewed upon application by the eligible applicant.
14However, such waiver or modification may be changed within that
155-year period by a board or regional superintendent of schools
16applying on behalf of schools or programs operated by the
17regional office of education following the procedure as set
18forth in this Section for the initial waiver or modification
19request. If neither the State Board of Education nor the
20General Assembly disapproves, the change is deemed granted.
21    An approved waiver from or modification to a physical
22education mandate may remain in effect for a period not to
23exceed 2 school years and may be renewed no more than 2 times
24upon application by the eligible applicant. An approved waiver
25from or modification to a physical education mandate may be
26changed within the 2-year period by the board or regional

 

 

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1superintendent of schools, whichever is applicable, following
2the procedure set forth in this Section for the initial waiver
3or modification request. If neither the State Board of
4Education nor the General Assembly disapproves, the change is
5deemed granted.
6    (f) (Blank).
7(Source: P.A. 96-861, eff. 1-15-10; 96-1423, eff. 8-3-10;
897-1025, eff. 1-1-13.)
 
9    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25h)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25h)
10    Sec. 2-3.25h. Technical assistance; State support
11services. Schools, school districts, local school councils,
12school improvement panels, and any Independent Authority
13established under Section 2-3.25f-5 of this Code 2-3.25f may
14receive technical assistance that the State Board of Education
15shall make available. Such technical assistance shall include
16without limitation assistance in the areas of curriculum
17evaluation, the instructional process, student performance,
18school environment, staff effectiveness, school and community
19relations, parental involvement, resource management,
20leadership, data analysis processes and tools, school
21improvement plan guidance and feedback, information regarding
22scientifically based research-proven curriculum and
23instruction, and professional development opportunities for
24teachers and administrators.
25(Source: P.A. 93-470, eff. 8-8-03.)
 

 

 

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1    (105 ILCS 5/10-10)  (from Ch. 122, par. 10-10)
2    Sec. 10-10. Board of education; Term; Vacancy. All school
3districts having a population of not fewer than 1,000 and not
4more than 500,000 inhabitants, as ascertained by any special or
5general census, and not governed by special Acts, shall be
6governed by a board of education consisting of 7 members,
7serving without compensation except as herein provided. Each
8member shall be elected for a term of 4 years for the initial
9members of the board of education of a combined school district
10to which that subsection applies. If 5 members are elected in
111983 pursuant to the extension of terms provided by law for
12transition to the consolidated election schedule under the
13general election law, 2 of those members shall be elected to
14serve terms of 2 years and 3 shall be elected to serve terms of
154 years; their successors shall serve for a 4 year term. When
16the voters of a district have voted to elect members of the
17board of education for 6 year terms, as provided in Section
189-5, the terms of office of members of the board of education
19of that district expire when their successors assume office but
20not later than 7 days after such election. If at the regular
21school election held in the first odd-numbered year after the
22determination to elect members for 6 year terms 2 members are
23elected, they shall serve for a 6 year term; and of the members
24elected at the next regular school election 3 shall serve for a
25term of 6 years and 2 shall serve a term of 2 years. Thereafter

 

 

09800SB2340sam001- 31 -LRB098 08200 NHT 44478 a

1members elected in such districts shall be elected to a 6 year
2term. If at the regular school election held in the first
3odd-numbered year after the determination to elect members for
46 year terms 3 members are elected, they shall serve for a 6
5year term; and of the members elected at the next regular
6school election 2 shall serve for a term of 2 years and 2 shall
7serve for a term of 6 years. Thereafter members elected in such
8districts shall be elected to a 6 year term. If at the regular
9school election held in the first odd-numbered year after the
10determination to elect members for 6 year terms 4 members are
11elected, 3 shall serve for a term of 6 years and one shall
12serve for a term of 2 years; and of the members elected at the
13next regular school election 2 shall serve for terms of 6 years
14and 2 shall serve for terms of 2 years. Thereafter members
15elected in such districts shall be elected to a 6 year term. If
16at the regular school election held in the first odd-numbered
17year after the determination to elect members for a 6 year term
185 members are elected, 3 shall serve for a term of 6 years and 2
19shall serve for a term of 2 years; and of the members elected
20at the next regular school election 2 shall serve for terms of
216 years and 2 shall serve for terms of 2 years. Thereafter
22members elected in such districts shall be elected to a 6 year
23term. An election for board members shall not be held in school
24districts which by consolidation, annexation or otherwise
25shall cease to exist as a school district within 6 months after
26the election date, and the term of all board members which

 

 

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1would otherwise terminate shall be continued until such
2district shall cease to exist. Each member, on the date of his
3or her election, shall be a citizen of the United States of the
4age of 18 years or over, shall be a resident of the State and
5the territory of the district for at least one year immediately
6preceding his or her election, shall be a registered voter as
7provided in the general election law, shall not be a school
8trustee, must not have been removed from a school board
9pursuant to Section 2-3.25f-5 of this Code unless subsequently
10appointed as a member of an Independent Authority, and shall
11not be a child sex offender as defined in Section 11-9.3 of the
12Criminal Code of 2012. When the board of education is the
13successor of the school directors, all rights of property, and
14all rights regarding causes of action existing or vested in
15such directors, shall vest in it as fully as they were vested
16in the school directors. Terms of members are subject to
17Section 2A-54 of the Election Code.
18    Nomination papers filed under this Section are not valid
19unless the candidate named therein files with the secretary of
20the board of education or with a person designated by the board
21to receive nominating petitions a receipt from the county clerk
22showing that the candidate has filed a statement of economic
23interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act.
24Such receipt shall be so filed either previously during the
25calendar year in which his nomination papers were filed or
26within the period for the filing of nomination papers in

 

 

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1accordance with the general election law.
2    Whenever a vacancy occurs, the remaining members shall
3notify the regional superintendent of that vacancy within 5
4days after its occurrence and shall proceed to fill the vacancy
5until the next regular school election, at which election a
6successor shall be elected to serve the remainder of the
7unexpired term. However, if the vacancy occurs with less than
8868 days remaining in the term, or if the vacancy occurs less
9than 88 days before the next regularly scheduled election for
10this office then the person so appointed shall serve the
11remainder of the unexpired term, and no election to fill the
12vacancy shall be held. Should they fail so to act, within 45
13days after the vacancy occurs, the regional superintendent of
14schools under whose supervision and control the district is
15operating, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Act, shall
16within 30 days after the remaining members have failed to fill
17the vacancy, fill the vacancy as provided for herein. Upon the
18regional superintendent's failure to fill the vacancy, the
19vacancy shall be filled at the next regularly scheduled
20election. Whether elected or appointed by the remaining members
21or regional superintendent, the successor shall be an
22inhabitant of the particular area from which his or her
23predecessor was elected if the residential requirements
24contained in Section 10-10.5 or 12-2 of this Code apply.
25    A board of education may appoint a student to the board to
26serve in an advisory capacity. The student member shall serve

 

 

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1for a term as determined by the board. The board may not grant
2the student member any voting privileges, but shall consider
3the student member as an advisor. The student member may not
4participate in or attend any executive session of the board.
5(Source: P.A. 96-538, eff. 8-14-09; 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)
 
6    Section 7. The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act is
7amended by changing Section 2 as follows:
 
8    (115 ILCS 5/2)  (from Ch. 48, par. 1702)
9    Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act:
10    (a) "Educational employer" or "employer" means the
11governing body of a public school district, including the
12governing body of a charter school established under Article
1327A of the School Code or of a contract school or contract
14turnaround school established under paragraph 30 of Section
1534-18 of the School Code, combination of public school
16districts, including the governing body of joint agreements of
17any type formed by 2 or more school districts, public community
18college district or State college or university, a
19subcontractor of instructional services of a school district
20(other than a school district organized under Article 34 of the
21School Code), combination of school districts, charter school
22established under Article 27A of the School Code, or contract
23school or contract turnaround school established under
24paragraph 30 of Section 34-18 of the School Code, an

 

 

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1Independent Authority created under Section 2-3.25f-5 of the
2School Code, and any State agency whose major function is
3providing educational services. "Educational employer" or
4"employer" does not include (1) a Financial Oversight Panel
5created pursuant to Section 1A-8 of the School Code due to a
6district violating a financial plan or (2) an approved
7nonpublic special education facility that contracts with a
8school district or combination of school districts to provide
9special education services pursuant to Section 14-7.02 of the
10School Code, but does include a School Finance Authority
11created under Article 1E or 1F of the School Code and a
12Financial Oversight Panel created under Article 1B or 1H of the
13School Code. The change made by this amendatory Act of the 96th
14General Assembly to this paragraph (a) to make clear that the
15governing body of a charter school is an "educational employer"
16is declaratory of existing law.
17    (b) "Educational employee" or "employee" means any
18individual, excluding supervisors, managerial, confidential,
19short term employees, student, and part-time academic
20employees of community colleges employed full or part time by
21an educational employer, but shall not include elected
22officials and appointees of the Governor with the advice and
23consent of the Senate, firefighters as defined by subsection
24(g-1) of Section 3 of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act,
25and peace officers employed by a State university. For the
26purposes of this Act, part-time academic employees of community

 

 

09800SB2340sam001- 36 -LRB098 08200 NHT 44478 a

1colleges shall be defined as those employees who provide less
2than 3 credit hours of instruction per academic semester. In
3this subsection (b), the term "student" includes graduate
4students who are research assistants primarily performing
5duties that involve research or graduate assistants primarily
6performing duties that are pre-professional, but excludes
7graduate students who are teaching assistants primarily
8performing duties that involve the delivery and support of
9instruction and all other graduate assistants.
10    (c) "Employee organization" or "labor organization" means
11an organization of any kind in which membership includes
12educational employees, and which exists for the purpose, in
13whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning
14grievances, employee-employer disputes, wages, rates of pay,
15hours of employment, or conditions of work, but shall not
16include any organization which practices discrimination in
17membership because of race, color, creed, age, gender, national
18origin or political affiliation.
19    (d) "Exclusive representative" means the labor
20organization which has been designated by the Illinois
21Educational Labor Relations Board as the representative of the
22majority of educational employees in an appropriate unit, or
23recognized by an educational employer prior to January 1, 1984
24as the exclusive representative of the employees in an
25appropriate unit or, after January 1, 1984, recognized by an
26employer upon evidence that the employee organization has been

 

 

09800SB2340sam001- 37 -LRB098 08200 NHT 44478 a

1designated as the exclusive representative by a majority of the
2employees in an appropriate unit.
3    (e) "Board" means the Illinois Educational Labor Relations
4Board.
5    (f) "Regional Superintendent" means the regional
6superintendent of schools provided for in Articles 3 and 3A of
7The School Code.
8    (g) "Supervisor" means any individual having authority in
9the interests of the employer to hire, transfer, suspend, lay
10off, recall, promote, discharge, reward or discipline other
11employees within the appropriate bargaining unit and adjust
12their grievances, or to effectively recommend such action if
13the exercise of such authority is not of a merely routine or
14clerical nature but requires the use of independent judgment.
15The term "supervisor" includes only those individuals who
16devote a preponderance of their employment time to such
17exercising authority.
18    (h) "Unfair labor practice" or "unfair practice" means any
19practice prohibited by Section 14 of this Act.
20    (i) "Person" includes an individual, educational employee,
21educational employer, legal representative, or employee
22organization.
23    (j) "Wages" means salaries or other forms of compensation
24for services rendered.
25    (k) "Professional employee" means, in the case of a public
26community college, State college or university, State agency

 

 

09800SB2340sam001- 38 -LRB098 08200 NHT 44478 a

1whose major function is providing educational services, the
2Illinois School for the Deaf, and the Illinois School for the
3Visually Impaired, (1) any employee engaged in work (i)
4predominantly intellectual and varied in character as opposed
5to routine mental, manual, mechanical, or physical work; (ii)
6involving the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment in
7its performance; (iii) of such character that the output
8produced or the result accomplished cannot be standardized in
9relation to a given period of time; and (iv) requiring
10knowledge of an advanced type in a field of science or learning
11customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized
12intellectual instruction and study in an institution of higher
13learning or a hospital, as distinguished from a general
14academic education or from an apprenticeship or from training
15in the performance of routine mental, manual, or physical
16processes; or (2) any employee, who (i) has completed the
17courses of specialized intellectual instruction and study
18described in clause (iv) of paragraph (1) of this subsection,
19and (ii) is performing related work under the supervision of a
20professional person to qualify himself or herself to become a
21professional as defined in paragraph (l).
22    (l) "Professional employee" means, in the case of any
23public school district, or combination of school districts
24pursuant to joint agreement, any employee who has a certificate
25issued under Article 21 or Section 34-83 of the School Code, as
26now or hereafter amended.

 

 

09800SB2340sam001- 39 -LRB098 08200 NHT 44478 a

1    (m) "Unit" or "bargaining unit" means any group of
2employees for which an exclusive representative is selected.
3    (n) "Confidential employee" means an employee, who (i) in
4the regular course of his or her duties, assists and acts in a
5confidential capacity to persons who formulate, determine and
6effectuate management policies with regard to labor relations
7or who (ii) in the regular course of his or her duties has
8access to information relating to the effectuation or review of
9the employer's collective bargaining policies.
10    (o) "Managerial employee" means an individual who is
11engaged predominantly in executive and management functions
12and is charged with the responsibility of directing the
13effectuation of such management policies and practices.
14    (p) "Craft employee" means a skilled journeyman, craft
15person, and his or her apprentice or helper.
16    (q) "Short-term employee" is an employee who is employed
17for less than 2 consecutive calendar quarters during a calendar
18year and who does not have a reasonable expectation that he or
19she will be rehired by the same employer for the same service
20in a subsequent calendar year. Nothing in this subsection shall
21affect the employee status of individuals who were covered by a
22collective bargaining agreement on the effective date of this
23amendatory Act of 1991.
24(Source: P.A. 96-104, eff. 1-1-10; 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)
 
25    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.28 rep.)

 

 

09800SB2340sam001- 40 -LRB098 08200 NHT 44478 a

1    Section 10. The School Code is amended by repealing Section
23-14.28.
 
3    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
4becoming law.".