093_HB2491eng

 
HB2491 Engrossed                     LRB093 10478 NHT 10732 b

 1        AN ACT concerning schools.

 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  changing
 5    Section 2-3.25d as follows:

 6        (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25d) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25d)
 7        Sec. 2-3.25d.  Academic watch list.
 8        (a)  Those schools that are not meeting the standards  of
 9    academic  performance  measured  by  the  State assessment of
10    student performance  as  specified  by  the  State  Board  of
11    Education may be placed on an academic watch list established
12    by  the State Superintendent of Education after serving for 2
13    years on the State Board of Education Early Academic  Warning
14    List  and  shall  be  subject  to  an  on-site  visitation to
15    determine whether extenuating circumstances exist as to why a
16    school or schools should not be placed on an  academic  watch
17    list by the State Superintendent of Education.
18        A  school  district  that  has one or more schools on the
19    academic watch list shall submit a revised School Improvement
20    Plan or  amendments  thereto  setting  forth  the  district's
21    expectations  for  removing  each school in the district from
22    the academic watch list and for improving student performance
23    in that school. Districts operating under Article 34  of  the
24    School  Code  may submit the School Improvement Plan required
25    under Section 34-2.4.   If  any  district  submits  a  School
26    Improvement  Plan which exceeds 2 years in duration, the Plan
27    shall contain provisions for evaluation and determination  as
28    to   the   improvement   of  student  performance  or  school
29    improvement after no later than 2 years. The  revised  School
30    Improvement  Plan or amendments thereto shall be developed in
31    consultation with the staff of the affected school  and  must
 
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 1    be  approved by the local board of education and the school's
 2    local school council for districts operating under Article 34
 3    of the School Code. Revised School Improvement Plans must  be
 4    submitted   for  approval  to  the  State  Superintendent  of
 5    Education pursuant to rules and  regulations  promulgated  by
 6    the State Board of Education.  The revised School Improvement
 7    Plan   shall   address   specific,  measurable  outcomes  for
 8    improving student performance so that such performance equals
 9    or exceeds standards set for the school by the State Board of
10    Education.
11        A school or schools shall remain on  the  academic  watch
12    list  for  at  least  one  full  academic  year.  During each
13    academic year for which a school is  on  the  academic  watch
14    list  it  shall  continue to be evaluated and assessed by the
15    State Board of Education as to whether it is meeting outcomes
16    identified in its revised School Improvement Plan.
17        The  provisions  of  this  Section  are  subject  to  the
18    provisions of Section 2-3.25k.
19        (b)  The State Board of  Education  shall  implement  and
20    administer  a  grant  program  that provides 2-year grants to
21    school districts on the academic watch list and other  school
22    districts   that  have  the  lowest  achieving  students,  as
23    determined by the State Board of Education,  to  be  used  to
24    improve  student  achievement.    In order to receive a grant
25    under this program,  a  school  district  must  establish  an
26    accountability  program.   The  accountability  program  must
27    involve  the  use  of  statewide  testing standards and local
28    evaluation measures.  A grant shall be automatically  renewed
29    when  achievement  goals  are  met.   The Board may adopt any
30    rules  necessary  to  implement  and  administer  this  grant
31    program.
32    (Source: P.A. 89-398, eff. 8-20-95; 89-698, eff. 1-14-97.)

33        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
 
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 1    becoming law.