State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

   [ Search ]   [ PDF text ]   [ Legislation ]   
[ Home ]   [ Back ]   [ Bottom ]


[ Introduced ][ Engrossed ][ Enrolled ]
[ House Amendment 001 ][ House Amendment 002 ][ Senate Amendment 001 ]
[ Conference Committee Report 001 ]


92_SB1983ham003

 










                                           LRB9216031NTpkam08

 1                    AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1983

 2        AMENDMENT NO.     .  Amend Senate Bill 1983, AS  AMENDED,
 3    in  Section  5, in the introductory clause, by replacing "and
 4    14C-4" with "14C-4, 27A-4, 27A-5, 27A-6, and 27A-10"; and

 5    in Section 5, immediately below Sec. 14C-4, by inserting  the
 6    following:

 7        "(105 ILCS 5/27A-4)
 8        Sec. 27A-4.  General Provisions.
 9        (a)  The  General  Assembly  does  not intend to alter or
10    amend the provisions of any court-ordered desegregation  plan
11    in effect for any school district.  A charter school shall be
12    subject  to  all  federal  and  State laws and constitutional
13    provisions  prohibiting  discrimination  on  the   basis   of
14    disability,  race,  creed,  color,  gender,  national origin,
15    religion, ancestry,  marital  status,  or  need  for  special
16    education services.
17        (b)  The  total number of charter schools operating under
18    this Article at any one time shall not  exceed  60  45.   Not
19    more than 30 15 charter schools shall operate at any one time
20    in  any  city having a population exceeding 500,000; not more
21    than 15 charter schools shall operate at any one time in  the
22    counties  of  DuPage,  Kane,  Lake,  McHenry,  Will, and that
 
                            -2-            LRB9216031NTpkam08
 1    portion of Cook County that is located outside a city  having
 2    a  population  exceeding  500,000,  with  not  more  than one
 3    charter  school  that  has  been  initiated  by  a  board  of
 4    education, or by an intergovernmental  agreement  between  or
 5    among  boards  of education, operating at any one time in the
 6    school district where the charter school is located; and  not
 7    more than 15 charter schools shall operate at any one time in
 8    the  remainder  of  the State, with not more than one charter
 9    school that has been initiated by a board of education, or by
10    an intergovernmental agreement between  or  among  boards  of
11    education,  operating  at any one time in the school district
12    where the charter school is located.
13        For purposes of  implementing  this  Section,  the  State
14    Board  shall  assign  a  number to each charter submission it
15    receives   under   Section   27A-6   for   its   review   and
16    certification, based on the chronological order in which  the
17    submission is received by it.  The State Board shall promptly
18    notify  local  school  boards  when  the  maximum  numbers of
19    certified charter schools authorized  to  operate  have  been
20    reached.
21        (c)  No  charter shall be granted under this Article that
22    would convert any existing private, parochial, or  non-public
23    school to a charter school.
24        (d)  Enrollment  in a charter school shall be open to any
25    pupil who resides within the  geographic  boundaries  of  the
26    area served by the local school board.
27        (e)  Nothing  in  this  Article  shall  prevent 2 or more
28    local school boards from  jointly  issuing  a  charter  to  a
29    single  shared  charter  school,  provided  that  all  of the
30    provisions of this Article are met as to those  local  school
31    boards.
32        (f)  No  local school board shall require any employee of
33    the school district to be employed in a charter school.
34        (g)  No  local  school  board  shall  require  any  pupil
 
                            -3-            LRB9216031NTpkam08
 1    residing within the geographic boundary of  its  district  to
 2    enroll in a charter school.
 3        (h)  If there are more eligible applicants for enrollment
 4    in   a  charter  school  than  there  are  spaces  available,
 5    successful applicants shall be selected by lottery.  However,
 6    priority shall be given to siblings of pupils enrolled in the
 7    charter school and to pupils who were enrolled in the charter
 8    school the previous school year, unless expelled  for  cause.
 9    Dual  enrollment at both a charter school and a public school
10    or non-public school shall not be allowed.  A  pupil  who  is
11    suspended  or  expelled from a charter school shall be deemed
12    to be suspended or expelled from the public  schools  of  the
13    school district in which the pupil resides.
14        (i)  (Blank).
15    (Source:  P.A.  91-357,  eff.  7-29-99;  91-405, eff. 8-3-99;
16    91-407, eff. 8-3-99; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

17        (105 ILCS 5/27A-5)
18        Sec. 27A-5.  Charter school; legal entity; requirements.
19        (a)  A charter school shall be  a  public,  nonsectarian,
20    nonreligious,  non-home  based,  and  non-profit  school.   A
21    charter school shall be organized and operated as a nonprofit
22    corporation   or  other  discrete,  legal,  nonprofit  entity
23    authorized under the laws of the State of Illinois.
24        (b)  A charter  school  may  be  established  under  this
25    Article by creating a new school or by converting an existing
26    public  school or attendance center to charter school status.
27       Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act  of
28    the  92nd General Assembly, in all new applications submitted
29    to the State Board or a local school  board  to  establish  a
30    charter  school,  operation  of  a  charter  school  shall be
31    limited to one campus. The changes made to  this  Section  by
32    this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly do not apply
33    to  charter  schools  existing  or  approved on or before the
 
                            -4-            LRB9216031NTpkam08
 1    effective date of this amendatory Act.
 2        (c)  A charter school shall be administered and  governed
 3    by  its  board  of  directors  or other governing body in the
 4    manner provided in its charter.   The  governing  body  of  a
 5    charter school shall be subject to the Freedom of Information
 6    Act and the Open Meetings Act.
 7        (d)  A  charter  school  shall comply with all applicable
 8    health and safety requirements applicable to  public  schools
 9    under the laws of the State of Illinois.
10        (e)  Except  as  otherwise provided in the School Code, a
11    charter school shall not  charge  tuition;  provided  that  a
12    charter  school  may  charge  reasonable  fees for textbooks,
13    instructional materials, and student activities.
14        (f)  A  charter  school  shall  be  responsible  for  the
15    management and operation of its fiscal affairs including, but
16    not limited to, the preparation of its budget.  An  audit  of
17    each charter school's finances shall be conducted annually by
18    an  outside,  independent  contractor retained by the charter
19    school.
20        (g)  A charter school shall comply with all provisions of
21    this Article and its charter.  A  charter  school  is  exempt
22    from  all other State laws and regulations in the School Code
23    governing public schools and  local  school  board  policies,
24    except the following:
25             (1)  Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5 of the School Code
26        regarding    criminal    background   investigations   of
27        applicants for employment;
28             (2)  Sections 24-24 and 34-84A of  the  School  Code
29        regarding discipline of students;
30             (3)  The   Local   Governmental   and   Governmental
31        Employees Tort Immunity Act;
32             (4)  Section  108.75  of  the General Not For Profit
33        Corporation Act  of  1986  regarding  indemnification  of
34        officers, directors, employees, and agents;
 
                            -5-            LRB9216031NTpkam08
 1             (5)  The Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act;
 2             (6)  The Illinois School Student Records Act; and
 3             (7)  Section  10-17a  of  the  School Code regarding
 4        school report cards.
 5        (h)  A charter school may negotiate and contract  with  a
 6    school  district,  the  governing  body of a State college or
 7    university or public community college, or any  other  public
 8    or for-profit or nonprofit private entity for: (i) the use of
 9    a  school  building and grounds or any other real property or
10    facilities that the charter school desires to use or  convert
11    for  use  as  a  charter  school site, (ii) the operation and
12    maintenance thereof, and (iii) the provision of any  service,
13    activity,  or undertaking that the charter school is required
14    to perform in order to carry out the terms  of  its  charter.
15    However,  a charter school may not contract with a for-profit
16    entity to manage or operate the school during the period that
17    commences on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
18    92nd General  Assembly  and  concludes  at  the  end  of  the
19    2003-2004  school  year.  The changes made to this Section by
20    this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly do not apply
21    to charter schools existing or  approved  on  or  before  the
22    effective  date of this amendatory Act. Except as provided in
23    subsection (i) of this Section, a school district may  charge
24    a   charter  school  reasonable  rent  for  the  use  of  the
25    district's buildings, grounds, and facilities.  Any  services
26    for  which  a charter school contracts with a school district
27    shall be provided by the district at cost.  Any services  for
28    which a charter school contracts with a local school board or
29    with  the  governing body of a State college or university or
30    public community college shall  be  provided  by  the  public
31    entity at cost.
32        (i)  In   no   event  shall  a  charter  school  that  is
33    established by converting an existing  school  or  attendance
34    center  to  charter school status be required to pay rent for
 
                            -6-            LRB9216031NTpkam08
 1    space that is deemed available, as negotiated and provided in
 2    the  charter  agreement,  in  school   district   facilities.
 3    However, all other costs for the operation and maintenance of
 4    school  district  facilities  that  are  used  by the charter
 5    school shall be subject to negotiation  between  the  charter
 6    school  and  the local school board and shall be set forth in
 7    the charter.
 8        (j)  A charter school may limit student enrollment by age
 9    or grade level.
10    (Source: P.A. 91-407, eff. 8-3-99.)

11        (105 ILCS 5/27A-6)
12        Sec. 27A-6.  Contract contents; applicability of laws and
13    regulations.
14        (a)  A  certified  charter  shall  constitute  a  binding
15    contract and agreement between the charter school and a local
16    school board under the terms of which the local school  board
17    authorizes  the  governing  body  of  the  charter  school to
18    operate the charter school on  the  terms  specified  in  the
19    contract.
20        (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article,
21    the  certified  charter  may not waive or release the charter
22    school from  the  State  goals,  standards,  and  assessments
23    established  pursuant  to  Section 2-3.64. Beginning with the
24    2002-2003 school year, the certified  charter  shall  require
25    the   charter  school  to  administer  any  other  nationally
26    recognized  standardized  tests  to  its  students  that  the
27    chartering entity administers  to  other  students,  and  the
28    results  on  such  tests  shall be included in the chartering
29    entity's assessment reports.
30        (c)  Subject to  the  provisions  of  subsection  (e),  a
31    material  revision  to  a  previously certified contract or a
32    renewal shall be made with the approval  of  both  the  local
33    school board and the governing body of the charter school.
 
                            -7-            LRB9216031NTpkam08
 1        (c-5)  The proposed contract shall include a provision on
 2    how  both  parties  will  address  minor  violations  of  the
 3    contract.
 4        (d)  The  proposed contract between the governing body of
 5    a proposed charter school  and  the  local  school  board  as
 6    described in Section 27A-7 must be submitted to and certified
 7    by  the  State Board before it can take effect.  If the State
 8    Board recommends that the proposed contract be  modified  for
 9    consistency with this Article before it can be certified, the
10    modifications must be consented to by both the governing body
11    of  the  charter  school  and  the  local  school  board, and
12    resubmitted to the State Board for its certification.  If the
13    proposed contract is  resubmitted  in  a  form  that  is  not
14    consistent  with  this Article, the State Board may refuse to
15    certify the charter.
16        The State Board shall assign a number to each  submission
17    or  resubmission in chronological order of receipt, and shall
18    determine whether the proposed contract  is  consistent  with
19    the  provisions  of  this  Article.  If the proposed contract
20    complies, the State Board shall so certify.
21        (e)  No  material  revision  to  a  previously  certified
22    contract or a renewal shall be effective unless and until the
23    State  Board  certifies  that  the  revision  or  renewal  is
24    consistent with the provisions of this Article.
25    (Source: P.A. 91-407, eff. 8-3-99.)

26        (105 ILCS 5/27A-10)
27        Sec. 27A-10. Employees.
28        (a)  A person shall be deemed to be employed by a charter
29    school  unless  a  collective  bargaining  agreement  or  the
30    charter school contract otherwise provides.
31        (b)  In all school districts, including  special  charter
32    districts and districts located in cities having a population
33    exceeding  500,000, the local school board shall determine by
 
                            -8-            LRB9216031NTpkam08
 1    policy  or  by  negotiated  agreement,  if  one  exists,  the
 2    employment status of any school district  employees  who  are
 3    employed  by  a  charter  school  and  who  seek to return to
 4    employment in the public schools of the district.  Each local
 5    school board shall grant, for a period of up to  5  years,  a
 6    leave  of  absence  to  those  of  its  teachers  who  accept
 7    employment  with  a  charter  school.   At  the  end  of  the
 8    authorized  leave  of absence, the teacher must return to the
 9    school district or resign; provided,  however,  that  if  the
10    teacher chooses to return to the school district, the teacher
11    must  be  assigned to a position which requires the teacher's
12    certification  and  legal  qualifications.   The  contractual
13    continued service status and retirement benefits of a teacher
14    of the district who is granted a leave of absence  to  accept
15    employment  with  a  charter  school shall not be affected by
16    that leave of absence.
17        (c)  Charter  schools  shall  employ   in   instructional
18    positions,  as  defined  in  the charter, individuals who are
19    certificated under Article 21 of this the School Code or  who
20    possess the following qualifications:
21             (i)  graduated  with  a  bachelor's  degree  from an
22        accredited institution of higher learning;
23             (ii)  been employed for a period of at least 5 years
24        in an area  requiring  application  of  the  individual's
25        education;
26             (iii)  passed  the tests of basic skills and subject
27        matter knowledge required by Section 21-1a of the  School
28        Code; and
29             (iv)  demonstrate     continuing     evidence     of
30        professional  growth  which  shall  include,  but  not be
31        limited to, successful teaching experience, attendance at
32        professional   meetings,   membership   in   professional
33        organizations, additional credits earned at  institutions
34        of  higher  learning, travel specifically for educational
 
                            -9-            LRB9216031NTpkam08
 1        purposes,  and  reading   of   professional   books   and
 2        periodicals.
 3        Charter    schools    employing    individuals    without
 4    certification  in  instructional positions shall provide such
 5    mentoring,  training,  and  staff   development   for   those
 6    individuals  as  the  charter schools determine necessary for
 7    satisfactory performance in the classroom.
 8        Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, at least 50% of
 9    the individuals employed  in  instructional  positions  by  a
10    charter  school established on or after the effective date of
11    this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly  shall  hold
12    teaching certificates issued under Article 21 of this Code.
13        Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year, at least 75% of
14    the  individuals  employed  in  instructional  positions by a
15    charter school established before the effective date of  this
16    amendatory  Act  of  the  92nd  General  Assembly  shall hold
17    teaching certificates issued under Article 21 of this Code.
18        Charter schools are exempt from any  annual  cap  on  new
19    participants  in  an  alternative  certification program. The
20    second and third  phases  of  the  alternative  certification
21    program may be conducted and completed at the charter school,
22    and the alternative teaching certificate is valid for 4 years
23    or  the  length  of  the  charter  (or  any  extension of the
24    charter), whichever is longer.
25        Notwithstanding any other provisions of the School  Code,
26    charter  schools  may  employ  non-certificated  staff in all
27    other positions.
28        (d)  A teacher at a charter school may resign his or  her
29    position  only  if the teacher gives notice of resignation to
30    the charter school's governing body at least 60  days  before
31    the  end  of  the  school term, and the resignation must take
32    effect immediately upon the end of the school term.
33    (Source: P.A. 89-450, eff. 4-10-96.)".

[ Top ]