093_HB3853
LRB093 13335 RCE 18619 b
1 AN ACT concerning 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 adding Section
5 2-3.25o as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25o)
7 Sec. 2-3.25o. Recognition of non-public elementary and
8 secondary schools.
9 (a) Findings. The General Assembly finds and declares
10 (i) that the Constitution of the State of Illinois provides
11 that a "fundamental goal of the People of the State is the
12 educational development of all persons to the limits of their
13 capacities" and (ii) that the educational development of
14 every school student serves the public purposes of the State.
15 In order to ensure that all Illinois students and teachers
16 have the opportunity to enroll and work in State-approved
17 educational institutions and programs, the State Board of
18 Education shall provide for the voluntary registration and
19 recognition of non-public elementary and secondary schools.
20 (b) Registration. All non-public elementary and
21 secondary schools in the State of Illinois may voluntarily
22 register with the State Board of Education on an annual
23 basis. Registration shall be completed in conformance with
24 procedures prescribed by the State Board of Education.
25 Information required for registration shall include
26 assurances of compliance (i) with federal and State laws
27 regarding health examination and immunization, attendance,
28 length of term, and nondiscrimination and (ii) with
29 applicable fire and health safety requirements.
30 (c) Recognition. All non-public elementary and
31 secondary schools in the State of Illinois may voluntarily
-2- LRB093 13335 RCE 18619 b
1 seek the status of "Non-public School Recognition" from the
2 State Board of Education. This status may be obtained by
3 compliance with administrative guidelines and review
4 procedures as prescribed by the State Board of Education. The
5 guidelines and procedures must recognize that some of the
6 aims and the financial bases of non-public schools are
7 different from public schools and will not be identical to
8 those for public schools, nor will they be more burdensome.
9 The guidelines and procedures must also recognize the
10 diversity of non-public schools and shall not impinge upon
11 the noneducational relationships between those schools and
12 their clientele.
13 (d) Public purposes. The provisions of this Section are
14 in the public interest, for the public benefit, and serve
15 secular public purposes.
16 (e) Definition. For purposes of this Section, a
17 non-public school means any non-profit, non-home-based, and
18 non-public elementary or secondary school that is in
19 compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and
20 attendance at which satisfies the requirements of Section
21 26-1 of this Code.
22 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
23 becoming law.