093_HB3143

 
                                     LRB093 04735 NHT 04791 b

 1        AN ACT in relation to 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 adding  Section
 5    2-3.131 as follows:

 6        (105 ILCS 5/2-3.131 new)
 7        Sec. 2-3.131.  K-3 class size reduction grant program.  A
 8    class  size  reduction  grant program is hereby created.  The
 9    program shall be implemented and administered  by  the  State
10    Board  of  Education,  which  shall  award  grants  to school
11    districts that meet the criteria established by this  Section
12    for  the  award of those grants. The State Board of Education
13    shall award grants from appropriations made for the  purposes
14    of this Section.
15        Grants  shall  be  awarded  pursuant to application.  The
16    form and manner of applications  and  the  criteria  for  the
17    award  of  grants  shall  be prescribed by the State Board of
18    Education.  However, the  grant  criteria  as  so  prescribed
19    shall  provide  that  (i)  only those districts that maintain
20    grades kindergarten through 3 shall be grant  eligible,  (ii)
21    no   grant   funds  shall  be  used  for  grades  other  than
22    kindergarten through 3, (iii) no grant funds shall be awarded
23    to  a  district  if  the  average  class   size   in   grades
24    kindergarten  through  3  is  already 18 pupils or fewer, and
25    (iv) where feasible, districts must target these grant  funds
26    to  the  grade  level where class sizes are highest or to the
27    school or schools where class sizes are highest.
28        Grants awarded to eligible districts under  this  Section
29    shall  be  used  and  applied  by the districts to defray the
30    costs and expenses of operating and  maintaining  classes  in
31    grades  kindergarten  through 3 that are directly impacted by
 
                            -2-      LRB093 04735 NHT 04791 b
 1    these grant funds.
 2        The State Board  of  Education  shall  adopt  any  rules,
 3    consistent  with  the  requirements of this Section, that are
 4    necessary to implement and  administer  the  K-3  class  size
 5    reduction grant program.

 6        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect July
 7    1, 2003.