093_HB2908

 
                                     LRB093 09773 NHT 10018 b

 1        AN ACT regarding education.

 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section  5.   The  School  Code  is  amended  by changing
 5    Section 10-20.9a 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
 9    system  or other approved means of evaluating pupil progress.
10    The teacher shall maintain the responsibility  and  right  to
11    determine grades and other evaluations of students within the
12    grading  policies  of  the  district  based  upon  his or her
13    professional judgment of available criteria pertinent to  any
14    given  subject  area  or  activity  for  which  he  or she is
15    responsible.  District policy shall provide the procedure and
16    reasons by and for which a grade  may  be  changed;  provided
17    that   no  grade  or  evaluation  shall  be  changed  without
18    notification to the teacher concerning the nature and reasons
19    for such change. If such a change is made, the person  making
20    the  change  shall assume such responsibility for determining
21    the grade or evaluation, and shall initial such change.
22        (b)  School districts shall not promote students  to  the
23    next  higher  grade  level based upon age or any other social
24    reasons not  related  to  the  academic  performance  of  the
25    students.   On  or  before  September  1, 1998, school boards
26    shall adopt and enforce a policy on promotion  as  they  deem
27    necessary  to  ensure  that  students  meet  local  goals and
28    objectives and can perform at the expected grade level  prior
29    to  promotion. Decisions to promote or retain students in any
30    classes shall  be  based  on  successful  completion  of  the
31    curriculum,  attendance,  performance based on Illinois Goals
 
                            -2-      LRB093 09773 NHT 10018 b
 1    and Assessment Program tests, the Iowa Test of Basic  Skills,
 2    or  other  testing  or  any other criteria established by the
 3    school  board.   Students  determined  by  the  school  local
 4    district to not qualify for  promotion  to  the  next  higher
 5    grade  shall  be  provided  remedial  assistance,  which  may
 6    include, but shall not be limited to, a summer bridge program
 7    of  no  less  than  90 hours, tutorial sessions, increased or
 8    concentrated    instructional    time,    modifications    to
 9    instructional materials, and retention in grade.
10    (Source: P.A. 89-610, eff. 8-6-96; 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)