093_SB0201enr SB201 Enrolled LRB093 07446 NHT 07611 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 Article 5 1G as follows: 6 (105 ILCS 5/Art. 1G heading new) 7 ARTICLE 1G. MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE 8 BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM 9 (105 ILCS 5/1G-1 new) 10 Sec. 1G-1. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to 11 permit greater flexibility and efficiency in the 12 distribution and use of certain State funds available to 13 local education agencies in order to ensure that students 14 meet or exceed the Illinois Learning Standards in mathematics 15 and science. The State Board of Education shall administer a 16 Mathematics and Science Block Grant Program and award Program 17 funds to eligible recipients upon application. As used in 18 this Section, "school district" shall include those schools 19 designated as "laboratory schools". 20 (105 ILCS 5/1G-5 new) 21 Sec. 1G-5. Authorized Uses. Mathematics and Science 22 Block Grant Program funds shall be used in the following 23 manner consistent with application requirements established 24 by the State Board of Education as provided in Section 1G-15 25 of this Article: 26 (1) To expand learning opportunities in grades 27 kindergarten through 8, to ensure that every student 28 meets the Illinois Learning Standards for mathematics, as 29 defined by the learning benchmarks and relevant SB201 Enrolled -2- LRB093 07446 NHT 07611 b 1 performance standards for middle and junior high schools, 2 by the end of eighth grade, including standards related 3 to number sense, estimation and measurement, algebra and 4 analytical methods, geometry, data analysis, and 5 probability; 6 (2) To expand learning opportunities in grades 7 kindergarten through 8, to ensure that every student 8 meets the Illinois Learning Standards for science, as 9 defined by the learning benchmarks and relevant 10 performance standards for middle and junior high schools, 11 by the end of eighth grade, including standards related 12 to inquiry and design; concepts and principles of 13 science; and science, technology, and society; 14 (3) To train and retrain teachers of grades 15 kindergarten through 12 to be more proficient in the 16 teaching of mathematics and science by providing 17 professional development opportunities; 18 (4) To improve curriculum, instruction, and 19 assessment relevant to the Illinois Learning Standards 20 for grades kindergarten through 12; and 21 (5) To supply classrooms with materials and 22 equipment related to the teaching and learning of 23 mathematics and science. 24 (105 ILCS 5/1G-10 new) 25 Sec. 1G-10. Allocation. Mathematics and Science Block 26 Grant Program funds shall be distributed to school districts, 27 subject to appropriation and based upon rules established by 28 the State Board of Education. Distribution of moneys to 29 school districts shall be made in semi-annual installment 30 payments, one payment to be made on or before October 30, and 31 one payment to be made prior to April 30 of each year. 32 (105 ILCS 5/1G-15 new) SB201 Enrolled -3- LRB093 07446 NHT 07611 b 1 Sec. 1G-15. Application. Mathematics and Science Block 2 Grant Program funds shall be made available to each eligible 3 school district upon completion of an application process 4 that is consistent with rules established by the State Board 5 of Education. The application shall include the planned use 6 of the funds. 7 (105 ILCS 5/1G-20 new) 8 Sec. 1G-20. Rules. The State Board of Education shall 9 adopt rules as may be necessary to implement the provisions 10 of this Article. 11 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 12 1, 2003.