101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5173

 

Introduced , by Rep. Joyce Mason

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/10-20.9a  from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.9a

    Amends the School Code. Prohibits a school district from withholding a student's grades, transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance on the student's school account. Effective immediately.


LRB101 17255 CMG 66659 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5173LRB101 17255 CMG 66659 b

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 Section
510-20.9a as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.9a)  (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.9a)
7    Sec. 10-20.9a. Final grade; promotion.
8    (a) Teachers shall administer the approved marking system
9or other approved means of evaluating pupil progress. The
10teacher shall maintain the responsibility and right to
11determine grades and other evaluations of students within the
12grading policies of the district based upon his or her
13professional judgment of available criteria pertinent to any
14given subject area or activity for which he or she is
15responsible. District policy shall provide the procedure and
16reasons by and for which a grade may be changed; provided that
17no grade or evaluation shall be changed without notification to
18the teacher concerning the nature and reasons for such change.
19If such a change is made, the person making the change shall
20assume such responsibility for determining the grade or
21evaluation, and shall initial such change.
22    (b) School districts shall not promote students to the next
23higher grade level based upon age or any other social reasons

 

 

HB5173- 2 -LRB101 17255 CMG 66659 b

1not related to the academic performance of the students. On or
2before September 1, 1998, school boards shall adopt and enforce
3a policy on promotion as they deem necessary to ensure that
4students meet local goals and objectives and can perform at the
5expected grade level prior to promotion. Decisions to promote
6or retain students in any classes shall be based on successful
7completion of the curriculum, attendance, performance based on
8the assessments required under Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code,
9the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, or other testing or any other
10criteria established by the school board. Students determined
11by the local district to not qualify for promotion to the next
12higher grade shall be provided remedial assistance, which may
13include, but shall not be limited to, a summer bridge program
14of no less than 90 hours, tutorial sessions, increased or
15concentrated instructional time, modifications to
16instructional materials, and retention in grade.
17    (c) No school district shall withhold a student's grades,
18transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance on the
19student's school account.
20(Source: P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14.)
 
21    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22becoming law.