(105 ILCS 405/2-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 202-4)

Sec. 2-4. Area Planning Councils. An Area Planning Council shall be established within the boundaries of each community college district. A representative of each approved adult education provider is required to participate on the Area Planning Council. Other members may include:

(1) regional superintendents of schools;

(2) representatives of school districts;

(3) representatives of the community college district's career and technical education program;

(4) representatives of the community college district's financial aid office;

(5) representatives of the community college district's student services office;

(6) representatives of local workforce boards under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;

(7) persons with an interest in adult education services provided within the community college district; and

(8) persons with an interest in adult education services provided within the Area Planning Council district, including, but not limited to, representatives of social service agencies, businesses and employers, vocational rehabilitation services of the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Employment Security.

Each Area Planning Council must elect officers and develop bylaws that indicate the membership of the Council. The Area Planning Council chairperson must be a representative of an adult education provider approved by the Board. In areas where large multiple-provider Area Planning Councils exist, the Board may designate sub-areas within an Area Planning Council district to ensure maximum representation of need. The Board shall determine the guidelines for the bylaws and operation of the Area Planning Council.

On or before March 1 of each year each Area Planning Council shall submit an annual Adult Education Plan for the area. The Area Adult Education Plan shall provide for the development and coordination of adult education programs in the area as prescribed by the Board. The Area Adult Education Plan must be aligned with Title II of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the State Unified Plan, local workforce boards, and one-stop activities and must include involvement of the local Board-approved adult education workforce board representative. The local adult education workforce board representative is responsible for convening Area Planning Council chairpersons in a local workforce area to provide information regarding the development of the Area Adult Education Plans and related federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act activities. If the Board finds that the annual Area Adult Education Plan submitted by the Area Planning Council meets the requirements of this amendatory Act of 1982 and the established standards and guidelines, the Board shall approve the Plan. The approval of adult education programs by the Board for reimbursement under Section 2-12.5 of the Public Community College Act shall be based on the Adult Education Plan approved for the Area. The Area Adult Education Plan must be approved prior to funding being made available to an Area Planning Council district.

On or before March 1, 2002 and each year thereafter, the Board shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly for adult education for the preceding school year. The annual report shall include a summary of adult education needs and programs; the number of students served, federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act activities, high school equivalency information, credit hours or units of instruction, performance data, total adult education allocations, and State reimbursement for adult basic education, adult secondary education, English language acquisition, high school credit, integrated English literacy and civics education, and bridge and integrated education and training programs in coordination with vocational skills training; the criteria used for program approval; and any recommendations.

(Source: P.A. 101-289, eff. 8-9-19.)