HB5481 Engrossed LRB096 17129 MJR 32454 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 changing Sections
5 14A-30 and 14A-45 as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/14A-30)
7     Sec. 14A-30. Funding of local gifted education programs
8 Local programs; requirements. A In order for a local program
9 for the education of gifted and talented children may to be
10 approved for funding by the State Board of Education, pursuant
11 to a request for proposals process in order to qualify for
12 State funding, if funds for that purpose are available and,
13 beginning with , as of the beginning of the 2010-2011 2006-2007
14 academic year, if the local program submits an application for
15 funds that includes a comprehensive plan (i) showing that the
16 applicant is capable of meeting a portion of must meet the
17 following minimum requirements, (ii) showing the program
18 elements currently in place and a timeline for implementation
19 of other elements, and (iii) demonstrating to the satisfaction
20 of the State Board of Education that the applicant is capable
21 of implementing a program of gifted education consistent with
22 this Article and demonstrate the fulfillment of these
23 requirements in a written program description submitted to the

 

 

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1 State Board of Education by the local educational agency
2 operating the program and modified if the program is
3 substantively altered:
4         (1) The use of a minimum of 3 assessment measures used
5     to identify gifted and talented children in each area in
6     which a program for gifted and talented children is
7     established, which may include without limitation scores
8     on standardized achievement tests, observation checklists,
9     portfolios, and currently-used district assessments.
10         (2) A priority emphasis on language arts and
11     mathematics.
12         (3) An identification method that uses the definition
13     of gifted and talented children as defined in Section
14     14A-20 of this Code.
15         (4) Assessment instruments sensitive to the inclusion
16     of underrepresented groups, including low-income students,
17     minority students, and English language learners.
18         (5) A process of identification of gifted and talented
19     children that is of equal rigor in each area of aptitude
20     addressed by the program.
21         (6) The use of identification procedures that
22     appropriately correspond with the planned programs,
23     curricula, and services.
24         (7) A fair and equitable decision-making process.
25         (8) The availability of a fair and impartial appeal
26     process within the school, school district, or cooperative

 

 

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1     of school districts operating a program for parents or
2     guardians whose children are aggrieved by a decision of the
3     school, school district, or cooperative of school
4     districts regarding eligibility for participation in a
5     program.
6         (9) Procedures for annually informing the community
7     at-large, including parents, about the program and the
8     methods used for the identification of gifted and talented
9     children.
10         (10) Procedures for notifying parents or guardians of a
11     child of a decision affecting that child's participation in
12     a program.
13         (11) A description of how gifted and talented children
14     will be grouped and instructed in order to maximize the
15     educational benefits the children derive from
16     participation in the program, including curriculum
17     modifications and options that accelerate and add depth and
18     complexity to the curriculum content.
19         (12) An explanation of how the program emphasizes
20     higher-level skills attainment, including problem-solving,
21     critical thinking, creative thinking, and research skills,
22     as embedded within relevant content areas.
23         (13) A methodology for measuring academic growth for
24     gifted and talented children and a procedure for
25     communicating a child's progress to his or her parents or
26     guardian, including, but not limited to, a report card.

 

 

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1         (14) The collection of data on growth in learning for
2     children in a program for gifted and talented children and
3     the reporting of the data to the State Board of Education.
4         (15) The designation of a supervisor responsible for
5     overseeing the educational program for gifted and talented
6     children.
7         (16) A showing that the certified teachers who are
8     assigned to teach gifted and talented children understand
9     the characteristics and educational needs of children and
10     are able to differentiate the curriculum and apply
11     instructional methods to meet the needs of the children.
12         (17) Plans for the continuation of professional
13     development for staff assigned to the program serving
14     gifted and talented children.
15 (Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05; 95-331,
16 eff. 8-21-07.)
 
17     (105 ILCS 5/14A-45)
18     Sec. 14A-45. Grants for services and materials. Subject to
19 the availability of categorical grant funding or other funding
20 appropriated for such purposes, the State Board of Education
21 shall make grants available to fund educational programs for
22 gifted and talented children. A request-for-proposal process
23 shall be used in awarding grants for services and materials,
24 with carry over to the next fiscal year, under this Section. A
25 proposal may be submitted to the State Board of Education by a

 

 

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1 school district, 2 or more cooperating school districts, a
2 county, 2 or more cooperating counties, an established
3 professional organization in gifted education, or a regional
4 office of education. The proposals shall include a statement of
5 the qualifications and duties of the personnel required in the
6 field of diagnostic, counseling, and consultative services and
7 the educational materials necessary. Upon receipt, the State
8 Board of Education shall evaluate the proposals in accordance
9 with criteria developed by the State Board of Education that is
10 consistent with this Article and shall award grants to the
11 extent funding is available. Educational programs for gifted
12 and talented children may be offered during the regular school
13 term and may include optional summer programs. As a condition
14 for State funding, a grantee must comply with the requirements
15 of this Article.
16 (Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)
 
17     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
18 becoming law.