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90_SB1560
105 ILCS 5/2-3.51 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51
Amends the School Code. Makes a change of style in the
provisions relating to the reading improvement block grant
program.
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1 AN ACT to amend the School Code by changing Section
2 2-3.51.
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 Section 2-3.51 as follows:
7 (105 ILCS 5/2-3.51) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51)
8 Sec. 2-3.51. Reading Improvement Block Grant Program.
9 To improve the reading and study skills of children from
10 kindergarten through sixth grade in school districts. The
11 State Board of Education is authorized to administer a
12 Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. As used in this
13 Section, "school district" includes shall include those
14 schools that are designated as "laboratory schools".
15 (a) Funds for the Reading Improvement Block Grant
16 Program shall be distributed to school districts on the
17 following basis: 70% of monies shall be awarded on the prior
18 year's best 3 months average daily attendance and 30% shall
19 be distributed on the number of economically disadvantaged
20 (E.C.I.A. Chapter I) pupils in the district, provided that
21 the State Board may distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of
22 the monies appropriated for the Reading Improvement Block
23 Grant Program for the purpose of providing teacher training
24 and re-training in the teaching of reading. Program funds
25 shall be distributed to school districts in 2 semi-annual
26 installments, one payment on or before October 30, and one
27 payment prior to April 30, of each year. The State Board
28 shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the
29 implementation of this program.
30 (a-5) Reading Improvement Block Grant Program funds
31 shall be used by school districts in the following manner:
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1 (1) to reduce class size in grades kindergarten
2 through 3 for the purpose of providing more intensified
3 reading instruction;
4 (2) to extend the time devoted in kindergarten
5 through third grade to intensified reading instruction,
6 including phonic instruction, either by lengthening the
7 school day or lengthening the school year;
8 (3) to create transitional grades for students
9 needing intensified reading instruction either between
10 the first and second grades or between the second and
11 third grades in accordance with the authority granted
12 school districts in Section 10-21.2 of this Code;
13 (4) to continue direct reading instruction for
14 grades 4 through 6;
15 (5) to establish reading academies in schools that
16 focus on the mechanics of reading, the application of
17 reading skills, and the reading of rich literature and
18 that reflect a commitment of time and resources to these
19 functions;
20 (6) to conduct intense vocabulary, spelling, and
21 related writing enrichment programs that promote better
22 understanding of language and words;
23 (7) to increase the availability of reading
24 specialists and teacher aides for reading; and
25 (8) to train and retrain teachers of kindergarten
26 through third grade to be proficient in the teaching of
27 reading, including phonic instruction.
28 (a-10) Reading Improvement Block Grant Program funds
29 shall be made available to each eligible school district
30 submitting a one-page application developed by the State
31 Board beginning with the 1998-99 school year. Applications
32 shall include existing Illinois Goals and Assessment Program
33 (IGAP) reading scores and the planned use for the funds. At
34 the end of each school year the school district shall report
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1 new IGAP results on the same form. Each application,
2 beginning with the 1998-99 school year, shall be for a 2-year
3 grant based on initial year qualification. Districts not
4 demonstrating performance progress using IGAP reading scores
5 as the basis of measure based on metrics of progress
6 established by the State Board shall not be eligible for
7 funding in the third or subsequent years thereafter until
8 such progress is established.
9 (a-15) The State Superintendent of Education, in
10 cooperation with the school districts participating in the
11 program, shall annually report to the leadership of the
12 General Assembly on the results of the Reading Improvement
13 Block Grant Program and the progress being made on improving
14 the reading skills of students in kindergarten through the
15 sixth grade.
16 (b) (Blank).
17 (c) (Blank).
18 (d) Grants under the Reading Improvement Program shall
19 be awarded provided there is an appropriation for the
20 program, and funding levels for each district shall be
21 prorated according to the amount of the appropriation.
22 (e) (Blank).
23 (f) (Blank).
24 (Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)