State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

   [ Search ]   [ Legislation ]   [ Bill Summary ]
[ Home ]   [ Back ]   [ Bottom ]


[ Introduced ][ House Amendment 001 ][ Senate Amendment 001 ]

90_HB1685eng

      105 ILCS 5/26-1           from Ch. 122, par. 26-1
          Amends the School Code.  Makes changes of  style  in  the
      provisions relating to compulsory school age.
                                                     LRB9004886THpk
HB1685 Engrossed                               LRB9004886THpk
 1        AN  ACT  to  amend  the  School Code by changing Sections
 2    2-3.64, 14-3.01, and 22-23 and adding Section 14-8.02b.
 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section  5.   The  School  Code  is  amended  by changing
 6    Sections  2-3.64,  14-3.01,  and  22-23  and  adding  Section
 7    14-8.02b as follows:
 8        (105 ILCS 5/2-3.64) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.64)
 9        Sec. 2-3.64.  State goals and assessment.
10        (a)  Beginning in the  1992-93  school  year,  the  State
11    Board  of  Education  shall establish standards and annually,
12    through the 1997-1998 school year,   assess  the  performance
13    of:   (i)  all pupils enrolled in the 3rd, 6th, 8th, and 10th
14    grades  in  language   arts   (reading   and   writing)   and
15    mathematics;  and  (ii)  all pupils enrolled in the 4th, 7th,
16    and 11th grades  in  the  biological,  physical,  and  social
17    sciences.    Beginning  in the 1998-1999 1995-96 school year,
18    the State Board of Education shall  establish  standards  and
19    periodically,  in  collaboration with local school districts,
20    conduct,  through  the  1997-1998  school  year,  studies  of
21    student performance in the learning areas of  fine  arts  and
22    physical  development/health.    Beginning with the 1998-1999
23    school year, the State  Board  of  Education  shall  annually
24    assess  the  performance  of:  (i) all pupils enrolled in the
25    3rd, and 5th, 8th, and 10th grades in English  language  arts
26    (reading and writing) the basic subjects of reading, writing,
27    and  mathematics;  and  (ii)  all pupils enrolled in the 4th,
28    7th, and 11th grades in the biological and physical  sciences
29    and  the  social sciences. The State Board of Education shall
30    establish, in final  form  and  within  one  year  after  the
31    effective  date  of this amendatory Act of 1996, the academic
HB1685 Engrossed            -2-                LRB9004886THpk
 1    standards that are to be applicable to pupils who are subject
 2    to State assessment under this  Section  beginning  with  the
 3    1998-1999 school year.  However, the State Board of Education
 4    shall  not establish any such standards in final form without
 5    first providing opportunities for  public  participation  and
 6    local   input  in  the  development  of  the  final  academic
 7    standards.    Those    opportunities    shall    include    a
 8    well-publicized  period  of  public  comment, public hearings
 9    throughout the  State,  and  opportunities  to  file  written
10    comments.   Beginning   with  the  1998-99  school  year  and
11    thereafter, the State assessment will identify pupils in  the
12    3rd  grade  or 5th grade who do not meet the State standards.
13    If, by performance on the State  assessment  tests  or  local
14    assessments  or  by teacher judgment, a student's performance
15    is determined to  be  judgement,  demonstrate  a  proficiency
16    level  comparable  to the average pupil performance 2 or more
17    grades below current placement, the student shall be provided
18    a  remediation  program  developed   by   the   district   in
19    consultation  with  a  parent  or  guardian. Such remediation
20    programs may include, but shall not be limited to,  increased
21    or  concentrated instructional time, a remedial summer school
22    program of not less than  90  hours,  improved  instructional
23    approaches,   tutorial  sessions,  retention  in  grade,  and
24    modifications to instructional materials. Each pupil for whom
25    a remediation program  is  developed  under  this  subsection
26    shall  be  required  to enroll in and attend whatever program
27    the  district  determines  is  appropriate  for  the   pupil.
28    Districts  may combine students in remediation programs where
29    appropriate and may cooperate with  other  districts  in  the
30    design  and  delivery  of  those  programs.   The  parent  or
31    guardian  of  a  student  required  to  attend  a remediation
32    program under this Section shall be given written  notice  of
33    that  requirement  by  the  school district a reasonable time
34    prior to commencement of the  remediation  program  that  the
HB1685 Engrossed            -3-                LRB9004886THpk
 1    student  is  to  attend.  The  State shall be responsible for
 2    providing  school  districts  with  the  new  and  additional
 3    funding, under Section 2-3.51.5 or  by  other  or  additional
 4    means,  that  is  required to enable the districts to operate
 5    remediation programs for  the  pupils  who  are  required  to
 6    enroll in and attend those programs under this Section. Every
 7    individualized educational program as described in Article 14
 8    shall  identify  if  the State test or components thereof are
 9    appropriate for that student.  For those pupils for whom  the
10    State  test  or  components  thereof are not appropriate, the
11    State Board of Education shall develop rules and  regulations
12    governing   the  administration  of  alternative  assessments
13    prescribed within each student's  individualized  educational
14    program  which  are  appropriate  to  the  disability of each
15    student.  All pupils who are in a State approved transitional
16    bilingual  education  program  or  transitional  program   of
17    instruction  shall  participate in the State assessment.  Any
18    student who has been enrolled in a State  approved  bilingual
19    education  program  less  than  3  academic  years  shall  be
20    exempted if the student's lack of English as determined by an
21    English language proficiency test would keep the student from
22    understanding  the  test,  and  that student's district shall
23    have an alternative assessment  program  in  place  for  that
24    student.  The  State  Board of Education shall appoint a task
25    force of concerned parents, teachers,  school  administrators
26    and   other  professionals  to  assist  in  identifying  such
27    alternative assessment programs. Reasonable accommodations as
28    prescribed by the State Board of Education shall be  provided
29    for  individual  students  in  the assessment procedure.  All
30    assessment  procedures  prescribed  by  the  State  Board  of
31    Education shall require: (i) that each test  used  for  State
32    and  local  student  assessment  testing  under  this Section
33    identify by name the pupil taking the  test;  (ii)  that  the
34    name  of  the  pupil taking the test be placed on the test at
HB1685 Engrossed            -4-                LRB9004886THpk
 1    the time the test is taken; (iii) that the results or  scores
 2    of  each  test  taken  under  this  Section by a pupil of the
 3    school district be reported to that district and identify  by
 4    name  the  pupil  who  received  the  reported  results or of
 5    scores; and (iv) that the results  or  scores  of  each  test
 6    taken  under this Section be made available to the parents of
 7    the pupil.  In addition, beginning with the 1998-1999  school
 8    year  and in each school year thereafter, all scores received
 9    by a student on the Illinois  Goals  and  Assessment  Program
10    tests  administered in grades 10 and 11 by the State Board of
11    Education  under  this  Section  and,  beginning   with   the
12    1999-2000 school year and in each school year thereafter, the
13    scores received by a student on the Prairie State Achievement
14    Examination administered under subsection (c) of this Section
15    shall become part of the student's permanent record and shall
16    be  entered  therein  pursuant  to regulations that the State
17    Board of Education  shall  promulgate  for  that  purpose  in
18    accordance  with Section 3 and subsection (e) of Section 2 of
19    the Illinois School Student Records Act. Scores  received  by
20    students  on  the Illinois Goals and Assessment Program tests
21    administered in other grades shall be placed  into  students'
22    temporary  records.   Except as provided in subsection (c) of
23    this Section, the State Board of Education shall establish  a
24    common  month  in  each  school  year for which State testing
25    shall occur to meet the objectives of this Section.  However,
26    if the schools of a district are closed and classes  are  not
27    scheduled  during  any  week that is established by the State
28    Board of Education as  the  week  of  the  month  when  State
29    testing  under  this Section shall occur, the school district
30    may administer the required State testing at any time up to 2
31    weeks following the week established by the  State  Board  of
32    Education  for  the  testing,  so long as the school district
33    gives the State Board of  Education  written  notice  of  its
34    intention to deviate from the established schedule by January
HB1685 Engrossed            -5-                LRB9004886THpk
 1    2  of  the  year  in  which falls the week established by the
 2    State Board of Education for the testing.  The  maximum  time
 3    allowed for all actual testing required under this subsection
 4    during the school year shall not exceed 25 hours as allocated
 5    among the required tests by the State Board of Education.
 6        (a-5)  The  State  Board  of  Education  shall review the
 7    current  assessment   testing   schedule   applicable   under
 8    subsection  (a)  on the effective date of this amendatory Act
 9    of 1996 and submit a plan to  the  General  Assembly,  on  or
10    before  December  31,  1996, to increase the effectiveness of
11    the State assessment tests administered under that subsection
12    with respect to student diagnosis and to reduce the amount of
13    classroom time spent administering those tests.  The  General
14    Assembly  may  enact  the  recommendations  made by the State
15    Board of Education to maximize effectiveness and minimize the
16    hours and grade levels of testing.
17        (b)  It shall be the policy of  the  State  to  encourage
18    school  districts to continuously assess pupil proficiency in
19    the fundamental learning areas  in  order  to:   (i)  provide
20    timely   information   on  individual  students'  performance
21    relative  to  State  standards  that  is  adequate  to  guide
22    instructional strategies; (ii)  improve  future  instruction;
23    and  (iii)  complement  the information provided by the State
24    assessment system described in this Section.  Each district's
25    school improvement plan must address specific activities  the
26    district intends to implement to assist pupils who by teacher
27    judgment  judgement  and  assessment results as prescribed in
28    subsection (a) of this Section demonstrate that they are  not
29    meeting  State goals or local objectives. Such activities may
30    include, but shall not be limited to, summer school, extended
31    school day, special  homework,  tutorial  sessions,  modified
32    instructional   materials,   other   modifications   in   the
33    instructional  program,  reduced  class  size or retention in
34    grade.    To  assist  school  districts  in  assessing  pupil
HB1685 Engrossed            -6-                LRB9004886THpk
 1    proficiency in reading in the primary grades, the State Board
 2    shall   make  optional  reading  inventories  for  diagnostic
 3    purposes available to each school district that requests such
 4    assistance.    Districts   that   administer   the    reading
 5    inventories may develop remediation programs for students who
 6    perform  in the bottom half of the student population.  Those
 7    remediation programs may be funded by moneys  provided  under
 8    the  School  Safety  and  Educational Improvement Block Grant
 9    Program established under Section 2-3.51.5. Nothing  in  this
10    Section  shall  prevent  school  districts  from implementing
11    testing and remediation  policies  for  grades  not  required
12    under this Section.
13        (c)  Beginning  with  the  1999-2000  school  year,  each
14    school  district  that  operates  a  high  school program for
15    students in grades 9 through 12 shall annually administer the
16    a Prairie State  Achievement  Examination  established  under
17    this subsection to its 12th grade students as set forth below
18    each  year  to  its  12th  grade students.  The Prairie State
19    Achievement Examination shall be developed by the State Board
20    of  Education  to  measure  student  performance  in  the   5
21    fundamental  academic areas of reading, writing, mathematics,
22    science, and social sciences studies.   The  State  Board  of
23    Education  shall establish the academic standards that are to
24    apply in measuring student performance on the  Prairie  State
25    Achievement  Examination  in  those  5  fundamental  academic
26    areas,  including the minimum composite examination score and
27    the minimum score in each area  that,  taken  together,  will
28    qualify  a student to for purposes of this Section as a score
29    that is excellent. A student whose score on the Prairie State
30    Achievement Examination is determined to be excellent by  the
31    State  Board  of  Education  shall receive  the Prairie State
32    Achievement Award  from  the  State  in  recognition  of  the
33    student's excellent performance. Each school district that is
34    subject  to  the  requirements  of  this subsection (c) shall
HB1685 Engrossed            -7-                LRB9004886THpk
 1    afford a graduating  student  2  opportunities  to  take  the
 2    Prairie  State Achievement Examination during the semester in
 3    which  the  student  will  graduate.    The  State  Board  of
 4    Education shall annually notify districts of the weeks during
 5    which these test administrations shall be required to  occur.
 6    Each  12th  grade  student,  exclusive  of  a  student  whose
 7    individualized educational program developed under Article 14
 8    identifies  does  not  identify the Prairie State Achievement
 9    Examination as inappropriate  appropriate  for  the  student,
10    shall  be  required  to  take  the  examination  in the final
11    semester before his or her graduation.    Score  reports  for
12    each  fundamental academic area shall indicate the score that
13    qualifies as an  excellent  score  on  that  portion  of  the
14    examination.    Any   student   who  attains  a  satisfactory
15    composite score but who fails to earn a qualifying  score  in
16    any  one  or  more  of  the fundamental academic areas on the
17    initial test administration for the semester during which the
18    student will graduate from high school shall be permitted  to
19    retake such portion or portions of the examination during the
20    second  test  of that semester.  Districts shall inform their
21    students of the timelines and procedures applicable to  their
22    optional  participation in such additional administrations of
23    the Prairie State Achievement Examination., which each school
24    district shall administer  to  its  12th  grade  students  in
25    January  of  each school year.  The Prairie State Achievement
26    Examination shall be administered by each school  district  a
27    second  time,  in  March  of each school year, for those 12th
28    grade students who fail to receive a  score  on  the  January
29    examination  that  would  qualify them to receive the Prairie
30    State Achievement Award and  who  elect  to  take  the  March
31    examination  for  the  purpose  of attempting to earn a score
32    that will qualify them to receive that  award.  Students  who
33    will graduate from high school before entering grade 12 shall
34    take  the  Prairie  State  Achievement Examination during the
HB1685 Engrossed            -8-                LRB9004886THpk
 1    school year in which they will  graduate  from  high  school.
 2    Students   receiving   special   education   services   whose
 3    individualized  educational  programs  do  not  identify  the
 4    Prairie   State   Achievement  Examination  as  inappropriate
 5    appropriate for them nevertheless shall have  the  option  of
 6    taking  the examination, which shall be administered to those
 7    students in accordance with standards adopted  by  the  State
 8    Board of Education to accommodate the respective disabilities
 9    of  those students.  A student who successfully completes all
10    other applicable  high  school  graduation  requirements  but
11    fails  to  receive  a  score on the Prairie State Achievement
12    Examination that qualifies the student  for  receipt  of  the
13    Prairie  State  Achievement  Award shall nevertheless qualify
14    for the receipt of a regular high school diploma.
15    (Source:  P.A. 88-192; 88-227; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94;  88-686,
16    eff. 1-24-95; 89-610, eff. 8-6-96.)
17        (105 ILCS 5/14-3.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-3.01)
18        Sec. 14-3.01.  Advisory Council.  There is hereby created
19    an  a  special education Advisory Council on the Education of
20    Children with  Disabilities  for  the  purpose  of  providing
21    advice  and policy guidance to the Governor, General Assembly
22    and the State Board of  Education  with  respect  to  special
23    education    and   related   services   for   children   with
24    disabilities.  The State Board of Education  shall  seek  the
25    advice  of  the  Advisory  Council  regarding  all  rules and
26    regulations  related  to  the  education  of  children   with
27    disabilities   to  be  promulgated  by  the  State  Board  of
28    Education.  The State Board shall  seek  the  advice  of  the
29    Advisory   Council   on   modifications   or   additions   to
30    comprehensive  plans  submitted  under  Section  14-4.01. The
31    Council shall  consider  any  rule  or  regulations  or  plan
32    submitted  to  it  by  the State Board of Education within 60
33    days after its receipt by the chairman.
HB1685 Engrossed            -9-                LRB9004886THpk
 1        Additionally, the Advisory Council shall:  (a) advise the
 2    General Assembly,  the  Governor,  and  the  State  Board  of
 3    Education  on  unmet  needs in the education of children with
 4    disabilities;  (b) assist the State  Board  of  Education  in
 5    developing  evaluations  and reporting on data  to the United
 6    States Secretary of Education;  (c) advise the State Board of
 7    Education relative to  qualifications  for  hearing  officers
 8    and  the  rules  and procedures for hearings conducted  under
 9    Section 14-8.02;   (d)  comment  publicly  on  any  rules  or
10    regulations  proposed by the State regarding the education of
11    children   with   disabilities   and   the   procedures   for
12    distribution  of funds under this Act;   (e) advise the State
13    Board of  Education in developing corrective action plans  to
14    address  findings  identified  in federal  monitoring reports
15    pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education  Act;
16    (f)  advise    State  and  local education agencies regarding
17    educational programs and materials that  may be  provided  to
18    children  with  disabilities to enable them to fully exercise
19    their  constitutional and legal rights  and  entitlements  as
20    citizens,   including  those  afforded    under  the  Federal
21    Rehabilitation Act of 1973,  as  amended,  and  the  Illinois
22    Human    Rights  Act;  and  (g)  advise  the  State  Board of
23    Education in developing and  implementing  policies  relating
24    to   the   coordination   of   services   for  children  with
25    disabilities.
26        The Council as reconstituted under the provisions of this
27    amendatory Act  of  1997  shall  be  composed  of  25  voting
28    members.   The  Coalition of Citizens  with Disabilities (the
29    "Coalition") shall appoint 4 persons with disabilities.  Each
30    of the 4 Parent Information Centers shall appoint  2  parents
31    of  children  aged  birth through  21 with disabilities.  The
32    Executive  Director  of  the  Illinois  Planning  Council  on
33    Developmental Disabilities  (the  "Planning  Council")  shall
34    appoint  one  parent  of  a child  aged birth through 21 with
HB1685 Engrossed            -10-               LRB9004886THpk
 1    disabilities.   The  Governor  shall  appoint  one   regional
 2    superintendent   of   schools,   one   representative  of  an
 3    institution  of  higher  education    that  prepares  special
 4    education and related  services  personnel,  one  teacher  of
 5    students  with  disabilities,  one superintendent of a public
 6    school  district,  one  director  of  a    special  education
 7    cooperative or special education administrator from a  school
 8    district  of less than 500,000 population, one representative
 9    of  a public charter school, one  representative of a private
10    school serving disabled children, and one representative of a
11    vocational, community, or business organization that provides
12    transition services  to    children  with  disabilities.   In
13    addition,  the Secretary of the Department of Human  Services
14    or his or her designee, the Director of Children  and  Family
15    Services or his or  her designee, the Director of Corrections
16    or  his  or  her  designee,  and  the  Director  of   Special
17    Education for Chicago School District  #299  or  his  or  her
18    designee  shall  serve    as ex-officio voting members of the
19    Council. The terms of all members  serving  on  the  Advisory
20    Council  on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997
21    shall terminate when a majority of the voting members of  the
22    Council,  as  reconstituted  under  the  provisions  of  this
23    amendatory Act, have been appointed.  However, members of the
24    Council  whose  terms are so terminated on the effective date
25    of this  amendatory  Act  are  eligible  for  appointment  as
26    members  of the Council as reconstituted.
27        The   members  appointed  by  the  Governor,  the  Parent
28    Information Centers, the  Planning Council, and the Coalition
29    shall be appointed within 45 days of the effective   date  of
30    this  amendatory  Act  of  1997  and shall be citizens of the
31    United States and of this State and shall be    selected,  as
32    far  as  practicable,  on the basis of their knowledge of, or
33    experience in, the  education of children with  disabilities.
34    The  4  persons  with  disabilities and 9 parents of children
HB1685 Engrossed            -11-               LRB9004886THpk
 1    aged birth through 21  with  disabilities  appointed  to  the
 2    Council shall  be broadly representative of the population of
 3    those with developmental, mental, and  physical disabilities,
 4    and  shall  not  be  current  full  or part-time employees of
 5    school  districts, special education  cooperatives,  regional
 6    service   areas   or  centers,  or  any    agency  under  the
 7    jurisdiction of any elected state  official.   Members  shall
 8    serve  without    compensation,  but  shall  be reimbursed in
 9    accordance with  the  State  Board  of    Education's  Travel
10    Control   Policy  for  necessary  expenses  incurred  in  the
11    performance  of their duties.
12        The 4 ex-officio  members  of  the  Council  shall  serve
13    during  their  term  of  office.     Of  the 21 members first
14    appointed by the Governor, the  Parent  Information  Centers,
15    the   Planning Council, and the Coalition after the effective
16    date of this amendatory Act,  7 shall serve an  initial  term
17    of  2  years, 7 shall serve an initial term of 3 years, and 7
18    shall serve an initial term of 4 years. At the first  meeting
19    of the  newly-appointed Council, lots shall be drawn for 2, 3
20    and 4-year terms in order  to ensure staggered terms.   After
21    the initial appointments, members appointed by the  Governor,
22    the   Planning   Council,   the  Coalition,  and  the  Parent
23    Information Centers shall  hold office for a term of 4 years.
24    No  person  shall  be  appointed  to  serve  more  than     2
25    consecutive  terms  on the Advisory Council.  Vacancies shall
26    be filled in like manner  for the unexpired  balance  of  the
27    term.
28        The Council shall organize with a chairperson selected by
29    the  Council  members  and  shall  meet  at  the  call of the
30    chairperson upon 10 days written notice but not less  than  4
31    times  a  year.   The Council shall establish such committees
32    and procedures as it  deems  appropriate  to  carry  out  its
33    responsibilities  under this Act and the federal  Individuals
34    with Disabilities Education Act.
HB1685 Engrossed            -12-               LRB9004886THpk
 1        The State Board of Education shall designate an  employee
 2    to  act  as  executive    secretary  of the Council and shall
 3    furnish all professional and clerical assistance    necessary
 4    for  the  performance of its duties. to consist of 15 members
 5    appointed by the Governor, who shall hold office for 4 years.
 6    No person shall be appointed to serve more than 2 consecutive
 7    terms on the Advisory Council.  The terms of members  serving
 8    at  the  time of this amendatory Act of 1978 are not affected
 9    by this amendatory Act.   The  membership  shall  include  an
10    adult   with  disabilities,    2  parents  of  children  with
11    disabilities, a consumer representative, a representative  of
12    a  private  provider,  a  teacher of the disabled, a regional
13    superintendent  of   an   educational   service   region,   a
14    superintendent  of  a  school district, a director of special
15    education from a district of less than 500,000 population,  a
16    professional   affiliated   with  an  institution  of  higher
17    education, and  a  member  of  the  general  public  and  the
18    Director  of  Special  Education  for  the  Chicago  Board of
19    Education, as an ex-officio voting member.   Of  the  members
20    appointed  after the effective date of this amendatory Act of
21    1978, the Governor shall appoint one  member  to  an  initial
22    term of 2 years, one member to an initial term of 3 years and
23    one  member to an initial term of 4 years. Vacancies shall be
24    filled in like manner for the unexpired balance of the  term.
25    The  changes made to this paragraph by this amendatory Act of
26    1995 (i) are made for purposes of changing the  name  of  the
27    Advisory  Council and the manner of referring to a portion of
28    its membership, and (ii) are not intended  to  create  a  new
29    Advisory  Council  or  to  change  its existing membership or
30    otherwise disqualify  any  current  member  of  the  Advisory
31    Council  from continued membership thereon in accordance with
32    the terms of his or her appointment.
33        Because of  the   responsibility  of  the  Department  of
34    Children  and  Family  Services  and  the Department of Human
HB1685 Engrossed            -13-               LRB9004886THpk
 1    Services for special education programs, the Director of  the
 2    Department  of Children and Family Services and the Secretary
 3    of Human Services or  their  designees  shall  be  ex-officio
 4    voting  members of the Council.  In addition, 2 other persons
 5    representing the Department of Human Services shall serve  on
 6    the  Council,  one as a voting member and one as a non-voting
 7    member.
 8        The members appointed shall be  citizens  of  the  United
 9    States  and  of  this  State and shall be selected, as far as
10    practicable,  on  the  basis  of  their  knowledge   of,   or
11    experience  in,  problems  of  the education of children with
12    disabilities.
13        The State Board of Education shall seek the advice of the
14    Advisory Council regarding  all rules or regulations  related
15    to   the  education  of  children  with  disabilities  to  be
16    promulgated by it. The State Board shall seek the  advice  of
17    the   Advisory  Council  on  modifications  or  additions  to
18    comprehensive  plans   submitted   under   Section   14-4.01.
19    Additionally,  the  Advisory  Council  shall;  (a) advise the
20    General Assembly, the Governor and the  State  Board  on  the
21    unmet  needs  in the education of children with disabilities,
22    (b)  assist the State Board in developing and reporting  data
23    and   evaluations   which   may   assist  the  United  States
24    Commissioner  of  Education  in  the   performance   of   his
25    responsibilities  under the Education of the Handicapped Act,
26    (c) advise the State Board  relative  to  qualifications  for
27    hearing  officers  and  the rules and procedures for hearings
28    conducted under Section 14-8.02  of  this  Act,  (d)  comment
29    publicly  on  any  rules or regulations proposed by the State
30    regarding the education of children with disabilities and the
31    procedures for distribution of funds under this Act, and  (e)
32    advise   State   and  local  educational  agencies  regarding
33    educational programs and materials that may  be  provided  to
34    children  with  disabilities to enable them to fully exercise
HB1685 Engrossed            -14-               LRB9004886THpk
 1    their Constitutional and legal  rights  and  entitlements  as
 2    citizens,   including   those   afforded  under  the  Federal
 3    Rehabilitation Act of 1973,  as  amended,  and  the  Illinois
 4    Human Rights Act.
 5        The  Council  shall  organize with a chairman selected by
 6    the Council members  and  shall  meet  at  the  call  of  the
 7    chairman  upon  10  days  written  notice but not less than 4
 8    times a year. The Council shall establish such sub-committees
 9    as it deems appropriate to review  special  education  issues
10    including,  but  not  limited  to  certification, finance and
11    bilingual education.  The Council shall consider any rule  or
12    regulation  or  plan  submitted  to  it by the State Board of
13    Education within 60 days after its receipt by  the  chairman.
14    Members  of  the Council shall serve without compensation but
15    shall  be  entitled  to  reasonable  amounts   for   expenses
16    necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.
17        The  State Board of Education shall designate an employee
18    to act as  executive  secretary  of  the  Council  and  shall
19    furnish  all  professional  and clerical assistance necessary
20    for the performance of its powers and duties.
21    (Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95; 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)
22        (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02b new)
23        Sec. 14-8.02b.   Expedited  Hearings.   Unless  otherwise
24    provided by this Section, the  provisions of Section 14-8.02a
25    are   applicable   to  this  Section.   The  State  Board  of
26    Education shall provide for the conduct of expedited hearings
27    in  accordance  with  the    Individuals  with   Disabilities
28    Education Act, Public Law 105-17, 20  USC  Sections  1400  et
29    seq. (hereafter IDEA).
30        An expedited hearing may be requested by:
31             (i)  a  parent or guardian or student if the student
32        is at least 18 years of age or emancipated, if there is a
33        disagreement with regard  to  a  determination  that  the
HB1685 Engrossed            -15-               LRB9004886THpk
 1        student's   behavior  was  not  a  manifestation  of  the
 2        student's disability,  or  if  there  is  a  disagreement
 3        regarding  the district's decision to move the student to
 4        an interim alternative educational setting for  a  weapon
 5        and drug violation as defined by IDEA pursuant to Section
 6        615 (k)(1)(A)(ii); and
 7             (ii) a school district, if school personnel maintain
 8        that it is dangerous for the student to be in the current
 9        placement (i.e. placement prior to removal to the interim
10        alternative  education  setting) during the pendency of a
11        due process hearing pursuant to    Section  615(K)(F)  of
12        IDEA.
13        A  school district shall make a request in writing to the
14    State Board of Education and promptly  mail  a  copy  of  the
15    request to the parents or guardian of the student at the last
16    known  address of the parents or guardian.  A request made by
17    the parent, guardian, or student shall be made in writing  to
18    the  superintendent  of  the  school  district  in  which the
19    student resides, who shall forward the request to  the  State
20    Board  of Education within one day of receipt of the request.
21    Upon receipt of the request, the  State  Board  of  Education
22    shall  appoint a due process hearing officer using a rotating
23    appointment system and shall notify the  hearing  officer  of
24    his or her appointment.
25        A  request  for  an  expedited  hearing  initiated  by  a
26    district for the sole purpose of moving a student from his or
27    her  current  placement to an interim alternative educational
28    setting because of dangerous misconduct must  be  accompanied
29    by   all  documentation  that  substantiates  the  district's
30    position that maintaining the student in his or  her  current
31    placement  is substantially likely to result in injury to the
32    student or to others.  Also, the documentation shall  include
33    (1)  whether  the district is represented by legal counsel or
34    intends  to  retain  legal  counsel;   (2)  the  matters  the
HB1685 Engrossed            -16-               LRB9004886THpk
 1    district believes to be  in  dispute  in  the  case  and  the
 2    specific  relief  being  sought;  and  (3)  the  names of all
 3    witnesses the district intends to  call  to  testify  at  the
 4    hearing.
 5        An expedited hearing requested by the student's parent or
 6    guardian  to challenge the removal of the student from his or
 7    her current placement to an interim  alternative  educational
 8    setting or a manifestation determination made by the district
 9    as  described in IDEA shall include a written statement as to
10    the reason the parent or guardian believes  that  the  action
11    taken  by  the  district  is  not  supported  by  substantial
12    evidence  and  all  relevant documentation in the parent's or
13    guardian's possession.  Also, the documentation shall include
14    (1) whether the parent or guardian is  represented  by  legal
15    counsel  or intends to retain legal counsel;  (2) the matters
16    the parent or guardian believes to be in dispute in the  case
17    and  the  specific  relief being sought; and (3) the names of
18    all witnesses the parent  or  guardian  intends  to  call  to
19    testify at the hearing.
20        The  hearing officer shall not initiate or participate in
21    any ex parte  communications  with  the  parties,  except  to
22    arrange  the  date,  time,  and  location  of  the  expedited
23    hearing.  The  hearing  officer shall contact the parties one
24    day after appointment and set a hearing date which  shall  be
25    no  later  than 4 days after contacting parties.  The hearing
26    officer shall disclose and provide to each party any evidence
27    which is intended to be submitted into the hearing record  no
28    later  than  2  days  before  the hearing.  The length of the
29    hearing shall not exceed 2 days unless good cause is shown.
30        Any party to the hearing shall have the right to  (1)  be
31    represented  by  counsel  and  be  accompanied and advised by
32    individuals with special knowledge or training  with  respect
33    to the problems of children with disabilities, at the party's
34    own   expense;    (2)   present  evidence  and  confront  and
HB1685 Engrossed            -17-               LRB9004886THpk
 1    cross-examine witnesses;   (3)  move  for  the  exclusion  of
 2    witnesses  from the hearing until they are called to testify,
 3    provided, however, that this provision may not be invoked  to
 4    exclude  the  individual designated by a party to assist that
 5    party or its representative in the presentation of the  case;
 6    (4)  in  accord  with  the  provisions  of  subsection (g) of
 7    Section 14-8.02a, obtain a  written  or  electronic  verbatim
 8    record of the proceedings; and (5) obtain a written decision,
 9    including  findings  of fact and conclusions of law, within 2
10    days after the conclusion of the hearing.
11        The State Board of  Education  and  the  school  district
12    shall  share  equally  the  costs  of  providing a written or
13    electronic verbatim record of the proceedings.  Any party may
14    request that the hearing officer issue a subpoena  to  compel
15    the  testimony  of  witnesses  or the production of documents
16    relevant to the resolution of the hearing.  Whenever a person
17    refuses  to  comply  with  any  subpoena  issued  under  this
18    Section, the circuit  court  of  the  county  in  which  that
19    hearing  is  pending, on application of the impartial hearing
20    officer or the party requesting the issuance of the subpoena,
21    may compel compliance through  the  contempt  powers  of  the
22    court in the same manner as if the requirements of a subpoena
23    issued by the court had been disobeyed.
24        The impartial hearing officer shall issue a final written
25    decision,  including findings of fact and conclusions of law,
26    within 2 days after the conclusion of the hearing and mail  a
27    copy of the decision to the parents, guardian, or student (if
28    the  student  requests the hearing), the school district, the
29    director of special education, legal representatives  of  the
30    parties, and the State Board of Education.
31        The  hearing officer presiding over the expedited hearing
32    shall hear only that issue or issues identified  by  IDEA  as
33    proper for expedited hearings, leaving all other issues to be
34    heard  under a separate request to be initiated and processed
HB1685 Engrossed            -18-               LRB9004886THpk
 1    in accordance with the hearing  procedures  provided  for  in
 2    this   Article   and  in  accordance  with  the  implementing
 3    regulations.
 4        (105 ILCS 5/22-23) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-23)
 5        Sec. 22-23. Sprinkler systems.
 6        (a)  The provisions of this Section apply to  the  school
 7    board,  board  of education, board of school directors, board
 8    of school inspectors or other governing body of  each  school
 9    district  in  this State, including special charter districts
10    and districts organized under Article 34.
11        (b)  As  used  in  this   Section,   the   term   "school
12    construction"  means  (1)  the  construction  of a new school
13    building, or addition to an  existing  building,  within  any
14    period  of  30  months,  having 7,200 or more square feet the
15    construction of an addition to a school building, and (2) any
16    alteration, as defined in 71  Illinois  Administrative  Code,
17    Section  400.210,  within any period of 30 months, that costs
18    more than 50%  of  the  reproduction  cost  of  the  existing
19    building  remodeling,  renovation  or  reconstruction project
20    affecting one or  more  areas  of  a  school  building  which
21    cumulatively  are  equal to 50% or more of the square footage
22    of the school building.
23        (c)  New areas or uses of buildings not  required  to  be
24    sprinklered  under  this  Section shall be protected with the
25    installation of an automatic fire detection system.
26        (d) (c)  Notwithstanding any  other  provisions  of  this
27    Act,  no school construction shall be commenced in any school
28    district on or after the effective date  of  this  amendatory
29    Act of 1991 unless sprinkler systems are required by, and are
30    installed    in    accordance   with   approved   plans   and
31    specifications in the school building,  addition  or  project
32    areas  which  constitute  school  construction  as defined in
33    subsection (b).  Plans and specifications shall  comply  with
HB1685 Engrossed            -19-               LRB9004886THpk
 1    rules  and  regulations  established  by  the  State Board of
 2    Education, and such rules and regulations shall be consistent
 3    so far as practicable with  nationally  recognized  standards
 4    such  as  those  established  by the National Fire Protection
 5    Association.
 6        (d)  Prior  to  the  award  of  any  contract   for,   or
 7    commencement  of any school construction, the school board or
 8    other governing body of  the  school  district  shall  submit
 9    plans   and  specifications  for  installation  of  sprinkler
10    systems as  required  by  this  Section  to  the  appropriate
11    regional  superintendent  of  schools,  who shall forward the
12    plans and specifications to the State Board of Education  for
13    review and approval.
14    (Source: P.A. 87-652.)
15        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
16    becoming a law.

[ Top ]