093_SB0066 LRB093 02025 NHT 02025 b 1 AN ACT concerning schools. 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 2-3.61a as follows: 6 (105 ILCS 5/2-3.61a new) 7 Sec. 2-3.61a. After-school program grant. 8 (a) From moneys appropriated for the purposes of this 9 Section, the State Board of Education shall provide 10 after-school program grants to qualifying school districts 11 for the purpose of providing academic assistance at the end 12 of the regular day of instruction or on non-school days for 13 students and their families at school sites in the qualifying 14 school district. 15 (b) A school district qualifies and may apply for a 16 grant under this Section if the district contains one or more 17 schools in which at least two-fifths of the students at the 18 school fail to meet State academic standards as determined 19 under Section 2-3.64 of this Code. 20 (c) If a school district receives a grant under this 21 Section, all students who are enrolled at the school where 22 the after-school program is administered may participate in 23 the after-school program. The school district must submit to 24 the State Board of Education a detailed plan summarizing its 25 strategy for recruiting students to and retaining students in 26 the after-school program who have failed to meet the academic 27 standards. 28 (d) The grants under this Section may be used without 29 limitation for the following purposes: 30 (1) homework assistance; 31 (2) supplemental educational and recreational -2- LRB093 02025 NHT 02025 b 1 programs; and 2 (3) family-centered education programs at the 3 school site in the qualifying school district. 4 (e) A school district may administer an after-school 5 program supported by a grant under this Section in any way 6 that it deems fit. However, the State Board of Education 7 shall strongly encourage the school district to establish 8 partnerships with not-for-profit organizations or businesses 9 for components of the after-school program's administration 10 at each school site. 11 (f) All applications for grants under this Section shall 12 be made on forms that the State Board of Education shall 13 provide. An application shall be filed by the school 14 district with the State Board of Education before the start 15 of the after-school program. The State Board of Education 16 shall adopt rules regarding the procedure by which 17 application may be made for the grants and shall establish 18 standards by which to evaluate the after-school programs 19 supported by the grants. The State Board of Education may 20 adopt any other rules necessary to carry out its 21 responsibilities under this Section. 22 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 23 becoming law.