101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB3900

 

Introduced 10/17/2019, by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.71b new

    Amends the School Code. Requires each school district maintaining elementary grades to ensure that a developmentally appropriate half-day preschool education program that helps children with their interpersonal and socialization skills is provided for (i) each child in the district who has been identified as a child with a disability in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and who is 3 or 4 years of age by August 1 and (ii) each child in the district who is at risk of educational failure and who is 4 years of age by August 1. Provides that all other 4-year-old children shall be served to the extent placements are available. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules establishing guidelines for the program and to receive and review proposals from school districts for grants to operate or oversee the operation of programs. Sets forth program proposal and funding requirements. Effective July 1, 2020.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
52-3.71b as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.71b new)
7    Sec. 2-3.71b. Preschool for children with disabilities and
8children at risk of educational failure; grants.
9    (a) In this Section, "developmentally appropriate" means a
10focus on the physical, intellectual, social, and emotional
11development of young children.
12    (b) Each school district maintaining elementary grades
13shall ensure that a developmentally appropriate half-day
14preschool education program that helps children with their
15interpersonal and socialization skills is provided for (i) each
16child in the district who has been identified as a child with a
17disability in accordance with the federal Individuals with
18Disabilities Education Act and who is 3 or 4 years of age by
19August 1 and (ii) each child in the district who is at risk of
20educational failure and who is 4 years of age by August 1.
21Children who are at risk of educational failure shall be
22identified based on the National School Lunch Program's
23eligibility criteria for a free lunch. All other 4-year-old

 

 

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1children shall be served to the extent placements are
2available. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
3establishing the guidelines for the program. The rules shall
4establish eligibility criteria, program guidelines, and
5standards for personnel.
6    (c) In addition to grants administered under Section
72-3.71, the State Board of Education shall receive and review
8proposals from school districts for grants to operate or
9oversee the operation of developmentally appropriate preschool
10education programs under this Section. Districts may submit
11proposals for implementing new services, enhancing existing
12preschool education services, or contracting for services. In
13designing a program, a district shall work with existing
14preschool programs to avoid duplication of programs and
15services, to avoid supplanting federal funds, and to maximize
16Head Start program funds in order to serve as many 4-year-old
17children as possible. School districts may develop cooperative
18arrangements with other school districts or organizations for
19the purposes of this Section.
20    (d) Each program proposal under this Section shall include,
21at a minimum, all of the following:
22        (1) A description of the process conducted by the
23    school district to ensure that the parents or guardians of
24    all eligible participants have been made aware of the
25    program and of their right to participate.
26        (2) A description of the planned educational

 

 

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1    programming and related services.
2        (3) The estimated number of children participating in
3    the program.
4        (4) Strategies for involving children with
5    disabilities.
6        (5) The estimated ratio of staff to children, with the
7    maximum being one adult for each 10 children.
8        (6) The estimated percentage of children participating
9    in the program who are at risk of educational failure.
10        (7) Information on the training and qualifications of
11    program staff and documentation that the staff meet
12    required standards.
13        (8) A budget and per-child expenditure estimate.
14        (9) A plan to facilitate active parental involvement in
15    the program, including provisions for complementary parent
16    education, if appropriate.
17        (10) The facilities and equipment that are appropriate
18    for young children.
19        (11) The days of the week and hours of a day during
20    which the program shall operate.
21        (12) A plan for coordinating the program with existing
22    medical and social services, including a child development
23    and health screening component.
24        (13) Assurances that participants shall receive
25    breakfast or lunch.
26        (14) A program site that meets State and local

 

 

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1    licensure requirements.
2        (15) A plan for coordinating program philosophy and
3    activities with the district's elementary school program.
4        (16) An evaluation component.
5        (17) Certification from the Head Start program
6    director that the Head Start program is fully utilized
7    pursuant to subsection (c).
8    (e) Funds appropriated by the General Assembly for
9preschool education programs under this Section shall be
10granted to school districts according to a grant allotment
11system approved by the State Board of Education. Appropriations
12for the purposes of this Section shall be separate from all
13other funds appropriated to the State Board of Education and
14shall be administered in accordance with applicable federal and
15State statutes and rules. Eligible school districts shall
16receive funds based on the average number of preschool children
17being served on December 1 and March 1 of the prior school year
18who are appropriately identified as (i) 3 or 4 years of age
19with disabilities, in which case the child is eligible for a
20free and appropriate preschool education and related services,
21or (ii) 4 years of age and at risk of educational failure.
22    (f) Programs funded under this Section shall reflect an
23equitable geographic distribution representative of all areas
24of this State.
 
25    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
262020.