101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB2806

 

Introduced , by Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/10-20.59
105 ILCS 5/34-18.52

    Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board shall (rather than may) appoint at least one employee to act as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of records of students in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services when enrolling in or changing schools.


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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 changing Sections
510-20.59 and 34-18.52 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.59)
7    Sec. 10-20.59. DCFS liaison.
8    (a) Each school board shall may appoint at least one
9employee to act as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and
10transfer of records of students in the legal custody of the
11Department of Children and Family Services when enrolling in or
12changing schools. The school board may appoint any employee of
13the school district who is licensed under Article 21B of this
14Code to act as a liaison; however, employees who meet any of
15the following criteria must be prioritized for appointment:
16        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student
17    populations or students in foster care.
18        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record
19    transfers, existing community services, and student
20    support services.
21        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
22        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience
23    with student counseling.

 

 

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1        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare
2    policies.
3        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
4    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build
5capacity and infrastructure within their school district to
6support students in the legal custody of the Department of
7Children and Family Services. Liaison responsibilities may
8include the following:
9        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students
10    in foster care;
11        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring
12    mechanisms;
13        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the
14    Department of Children and Family Services receive all
15    school nutrition and meal programs available;
16        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school,
17    record transfers, and credit recovery;
18        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and
19    State laws and policies in place that support children
20    under the legal custody of the Department of Children and
21    Family Services;
22        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;
23        (7) providing foster care-related information and
24    training to the school district;
25        (8) working with the Department of Children and Family
26    Services to help students maintain their school placement,

 

 

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1    if appropriate;
2        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that
3    students are on track to graduate;
4        (10) encouraging a successful transition into
5    adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
6        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular
7    activities; and
8        (12) knowing what support is available within the
9    school district and community for students in the legal
10    custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
11    (c) (Blank). A school district is encouraged to designate a
12liaison by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
13    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code
14acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties
15of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations.
16(Source: P.A. 99-781, eff. 8-12-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)
 
17    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.52)
18    Sec. 34-18.52. DCFS liaison.
19    (a) The board shall may appoint at least one employee to
20act as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of
21records of students in the legal custody of the Department of
22Children and Family Services when enrolling in or changing
23schools. The board may appoint any employee of the school
24district who is licensed under Article 21B of this Code to act
25as a liaison; however, employees who meet any of the following

 

 

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1criteria must be prioritized for appointment:
2        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student
3    populations or students in foster care.
4        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record
5    transfers, existing community services, and student
6    support services.
7        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
8        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience
9    with student counseling.
10        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare
11    policies.
12        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
13    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build
14capacity and infrastructure within the school district to
15support students in the legal custody of the Department of
16Children and Family Services. Liaison responsibilities may
17include the following:
18        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students
19    in foster care;
20        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring
21    mechanisms;
22        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the
23    Department of Children and Family Services receive all
24    school nutrition and meal programs available;
25        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school,
26    record transfers, and credit recovery;

 

 

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1        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and
2    State laws and policies in place that support children
3    under the legal custody of the Department of Children and
4    Family Services;
5        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;
6        (7) providing foster care-related information and
7    training to the school district;
8        (8) working with the Department of Children and Family
9    Services to help students maintain their school placement,
10    if appropriate;
11        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that
12    students are on track to graduate;
13        (10) encouraging a successful transition into
14    adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
15        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular
16    activities; and
17        (12) knowing what support is available within the
18    school district and community for students in the legal
19    custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
20    (c) (Blank). The school district is encouraged to designate
21a liaison by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
22    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code
23acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties
24of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations.
25(Source: P.A. 99-781, eff. 8-12-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)