Bill Status of SB0144  104th General Assembly

Short Description:  SCHOOL CODE-CHARTER SCHOOLS

Senate Sponsors
Sen. Celina Villanueva - Ram Villivalam - Graciela Guzmán and Laura M. Murphy

Last Action
DateChamber Action
  4/10/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 11, 2025

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
105 ILCS 5/27A-3
105 ILCS 5/27A-4
105 ILCS 5/27A-5
105 ILCS 5/27A-10.10
105 ILCS 5/34-18.69


Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the School Code. Prohibits a charter from being granted to an organization that operates a private, parochial, or non-public school or child care facility. Provides that a charter school shall spend no less than 90% of its budget on direct-service costs for students. Removes provisions regarding the closure of charter schools, the use of unspent public funds, and the procedures for disposition of property and assets. Requires the governing body of a charter school that is the subject of a school action to work collaboratively with local school educators and families of students attending the charter school to ensure successful integration of affected students into new learning environments. Requires, for a charter school closure, the governing body of the charter school to ensure that all students of the charter school at the time of the closure will be guaranteed a seat at a receiving school and that all teachers of the charter school at the time of the closure will be guaranteed a job at a receiving school. Sets forth requirements for school transition plans. Requires the governing body of the charter school to designate at least 3 opportunities for public comment at a hearing or meeting on the proposed school action.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
105 ILCS 5/27A-3
105 ILCS 5/27A-4
105 ILCS 5/27A-5
105 ILCS 5/34-18.69

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that for charter schools located in the Chicago school district, if a charter school proposes to close one or more campuses during the term of its contract, then (i) the charter school shall announce the proposal no later than September 1 of the year prior to the effective date of the closure, (ii) the charter school is subject to specified procedures in the Chicago School District Article, and (iii) the school board retains authority to approve or deny the closure. Provides that if the school board approves the closure, the governing body of the charter school shall work collaboratively with the school board, educators, and the families of students attending the campus of the charter school that is the subject of the closure to ensure successful integration of affected students into new learning environments. Provides that affected students who reside in the district shall be guaranteed a seat at a district school. Provides that upon the closing of a charter school located in the Chicago school district, the charter school's licensed teachers shall be guaranteed a similar position for which they are qualified at a district school with full recognition of prior service if they choose to work in the district. Provides that teachers in the closed charter school without an educator license shall be provided a pathway to a short-term license and preference in receiving a job at a district school.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  1/17/2025SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Celina Villanueva
  1/17/2025SenateFirst Reading
  1/17/2025SenateReferred to Assignments
  2/26/2025SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Ram Villivalam
  3/4/2025SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Graciela Guzmán
  3/12/2025SenateAssigned to Executive
  3/20/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura M. Murphy
  3/21/2025SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 4, 2025
  3/25/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Celina Villanueva
  3/25/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
  4/1/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Executive
  4/4/2025SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 11, 2025
  4/9/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted
  4/9/2025SenateDo Pass as Amended Executive; 009-004-000
  4/9/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 10, 2025
  4/10/2025SenateSecond Reading
  4/10/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 11, 2025
  4/11/2025SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 9, 2025