325 ILCS 3/15-40

(325 ILCS 3/15-40)

Sec. 15-40. Restrictions on prekindergarten assessments.

(a) In this Section:

"Diagnostic and screening purposes" means for the purpose of determining if individual students need remedial instruction or to determine eligibility for special education, early intervention, bilingual education, dyslexia services, or other related educational services. Any assessment used to determine eligibility for special education or related services must be consistent with Section 614 of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. "Diagnostic and screening purposes" includes the identification and evaluation of students with disabilities. "Diagnostic and screening purposes" does not include any assessment in which student scores are used to rate or rank a classroom, program, teacher, school, school district, or jurisdiction.

"Standardized assessment" means an assessment that requires all student test takers to answer the same questions, or a selection of questions from a common bank of questions, in the same manner or substantially the same questions in the same manner. "Standardized assessment" does not include an observational assessment tool used to satisfy the requirements of Section 2-3.64a-10 of the School Code.

(b) Consistent with Section 2-3.64a-15 of the School Code, the Department of Early Childhood may not develop, purchase, or require a school district to administer, develop, or purchase a standardized assessment for students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten, other than for diagnostic and screening purposes.

(c) Consistent with Section 2-3.64a-15 of the School Code, the Department of Early Childhood may not provide funding for any standardized assessment of students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten, other than for diagnostic and screening purposes.

(d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit the ability of a classroom teacher or school district to develop, purchase, administer, or score an assessment for an individual classroom, grade level, or group of grade levels in any subject area in prekindergarten.

(e) Nothing in this Section limits procedures used by a school or school district for child find under 34 CFR 300.111(c) or evaluation under 34 CFR 300.304.

(f) Nothing in this Section restricts the use of an annual assessment of English proficiency of all English learners to comply with Section 1111(b)(2)(G) of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)