House Sponsors: WINKEL-NOVAK-COWLISHAW-TURNER,ART-HOEFT, LANG, BASSI, KOSEL, MOFFITT, OSTERMAN, CROTTY, MEYER, BERNS AND DELGADO. Senate Sponsors: BURZYNSKI-WEAVER Short description: SCH CD-ALTERNATIVE LEARN OPPOR Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the School Code. Creates the Alternative Learning Opportunities Law. Allows school districts to establish alternative learning opportunities programs, which are programs that provide at-risk students in grades 4 through 12 with the education and support services needed to meet Illinois Learning Standards and to complete their education in an orderly, safe, and secure learning environment. Allows school districts to contract with other entities to establish programs and provide services. Includes provisions concerning funding, responsibilities of the State Board of Education, cooperative agreements and services, enrollment and attendance, teachers, truancy, subcontracts with educational entities, student credit, and the GED test. Effective July 1, 2001. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/13B-15.25 new 105 ILCS 5/13B-20.40 new 105 ILCS 5/13B-60.30 new 105 ILCS 5/13B-60.35 new 105 ILCS 5/13B-60.40 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.33a Makes changes to the definition of student at risk of academic failure and removes the definition of at-risk student. Provides that the Committee of Cooperative Services shall include child advocates designated by the State Superintendent of Education. Provides that students enrolled in the program must have the same access to academic resources as all other students. Removes provisions allowing a student to be administratively transferred to a program, and allows a student to be enrolled in a program only upon the request of the student or the student's parent or guardian. Prohibits a student from being enrolled without the consent of the student's parent or guardian. Provides that a student shall remain in the program only with the consent of the student's parent or guardian and shall be returned to the regular school program upon the request of the student's parent or guardian. Requires (instead of allows) a school district to grant academic credit to a student in a program if certain conditions are met. Further amends the School Code to prohibit the State Board of Education from making an audit adjustment to a general State aid claim paid in fiscal year 2003 based on certain acts of a claimant concerning students in an alternative education program. Changes the effective date from July 1, 2001 to January 1, 2002, and makes other changes. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Requires a school district to consider offering a program on-site in the regular school. Makes other changes concerning legislative findings and declarations, compliance with the law, the return of a student to the regular school program, and enrollment of special education students. Last action on Bill: PUBLIC ACT.............................. 92-0042 Last action date: JUN-29-2001 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 0 SENATE - 2 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status