94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB4974


 
Introduced 1/20/2006, by Rep. Michael K. Smith
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		














105 ILCS 5/2-3.136









    Amends the School Code.  Creates a pilot class size reduction grant program, to be implemented and administered by the State Board of Education. Provides that grants shall be awarded to schools to defray the costs and expenses of operating and maintaining classes of no more than 15 pupils per teacher per class. Effective July 1, 2006.
















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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











HB4974

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1
    AN ACT concerning education.

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


 
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    Section 5. The School Code is amended  by changing Section 
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2-3.136 as follows:
 
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    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.136)

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    Sec. 2-3.136. Class
K-3 class size reduction grant programs

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program. 
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    (a) A K-3 class size
reduction grant program is created.  
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The program shall be implemented
and
administered by the State 
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Board of Education.  From
appropriations made for purposes of 
12
this Section, the State Board shall award grants to schools 
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that meet
the criteria established by this subsection (a)

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Section for the award of those grants.

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    Grants shall be awarded pursuant to application.  The form 
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and manner of
applications and the criteria for the award of 
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grants shall be prescribed by
the State Board of Education.  The 
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grant criteria as so prescribed, however,
shall provide that 
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only those schools that are on the State
Board of Education 
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Early
Academic Warning List or the academic
watch list
under 
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Section 2-3.25d that maintain grades kindergarten through 3 are 
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grant eligible.

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    Grants awarded to eligible schools under this subsection 
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(a)
Section shall be used and
applied by the schools to defray 
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the costs and expenses of operating and
maintaining classes in 
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grades kindergarten through 3 with an average class size within 
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a specific grade of no more than 20 pupils. If a school's 
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facilities are inadequate to allow for this specified class 
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size, then a school may use the grant funds for teacher aides 
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instead.

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    (b) A pilot class size reduction grant program is created. 
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The program shall be implemented and administered by the State 
 


 






HB4974
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1
Board of Education. From appropriations made for purposes of 
2
this subsection (b), the State Board shall award grants to 
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schools that meet the criteria established by this Section for 
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the award of those grants.
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    Grants shall be awarded pursuant to application. The form 
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and manner of application and the criteria for the award of 
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grants shall be prescribed by the State Board of Education.
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    Grants awarded to eligible schools under this subsection 
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(b)  shall be used and applied by the schools to defray the 
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costs and expenses of operating and maintaining classes of no 
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more than 15 pupils per teacher per class. A teacher aide may 
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not be used to meet this requirement.

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    (c) If a school board determines that a school is using 
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funds awarded under this Section for purposes not authorized by 
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this Section, then the school board, rather than the school, 
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shall determine how the funds are used.

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    (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules, 
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consistent with the
requirements of this Section, that are 
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necessary to implement and administer
the K-3 class size 
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reduction grant programs
program.


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(Source: P.A. 93-814, eff. 7-27-04; 94-566, eff. 1-1-06.)
 

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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
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2006.