HB4996 EnrolledLRB099 18316 NHT 42690 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections
510-20.58 and 34-18.50 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.58 new)
7    Sec. 10-20.58. DCFS liaison.
8    (a) Each school board may appoint at least one employee to
9act as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of
10records of students in the legal custody of the Department of
11Children and Family Services when enrolling in or changing
12schools. The school board may appoint any employee of the
13school district who is licensed under Article 21B of this Code
14to act as a liaison; however, employees who meet any of the
15following criteria must be prioritized for appointment:
16        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student
17    populations or students in foster care.
18        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record
19    transfers, existing community services, and student
20    support services.
21        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
22        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience
23    with student counseling.

 

 

HB4996 Enrolled- 2 -LRB099 18316 NHT 42690 b

1        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare
2    policies.
3        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
4    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build
5capacity and infrastructure within their school district to
6support students in the legal custody of the Department of
7Children and Family Services. Liaison responsibilities may
8include the following:
9        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students
10    in foster care;
11        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring
12    mechanisms;
13        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the
14    Department of Children and Family Services receive all
15    school nutrition and meal programs available;
16        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school,
17    record transfers, and credit recovery;
18        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and
19    State laws and policies in place that support children
20    under the legal custody of the Department of Children and
21    Family Services;
22        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;
23        (7) providing foster care-related information and
24    training to the school district;
25        (8) working with the Department of Children and Family
26    Services to help students maintain their school placement,

 

 

HB4996 Enrolled- 3 -LRB099 18316 NHT 42690 b

1    if appropriate;
2        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that
3    students are on track to graduate;
4        (10) encouraging a successful transition into
5    adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
6        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular
7    activities; and
8        (12) knowing what support is available within the
9    school district and community for students in the legal
10    custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
11    (c) A school district is encouraged to designate a liaison
12by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
13    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code
14acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties
15of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations.
 
16    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.50 new)
17    Sec. 34-18.50. DCFS liaison.
18    (a) The board may appoint at least one employee to act as a
19liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of records of
20students in the legal custody of the Department of Children and
21Family Services when enrolling in or changing schools. The
22board may appoint any employee of the school district who is
23licensed under Article 21B of this Code to act as a liaison;
24however, employees who meet any of the following criteria must
25be prioritized for appointment:

 

 

HB4996 Enrolled- 4 -LRB099 18316 NHT 42690 b

1        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student
2    populations or students in foster care.
3        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record
4    transfers, existing community services, and student
5    support services.
6        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
7        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience
8    with student counseling.
9        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare
10    policies.
11        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
12    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build
13capacity and infrastructure within the school district to
14support students in the legal custody of the Department of
15Children and Family Services. Liaison responsibilities may
16include the following:
17        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students
18    in foster care;
19        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring
20    mechanisms;
21        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the
22    Department of Children and Family Services receive all
23    school nutrition and meal programs available;
24        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school,
25    record transfers, and credit recovery;
26        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and

 

 

HB4996 Enrolled- 5 -LRB099 18316 NHT 42690 b

1    State laws and policies in place that support children
2    under the legal custody of the Department of Children and
3    Family Services;
4        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;
5        (7) providing foster care-related information and
6    training to the school district;
7        (8) working with the Department of Children and Family
8    Services to help students maintain their school placement,
9    if appropriate;
10        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that
11    students are on track to graduate;
12        (10) encouraging a successful transition into
13    adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
14        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular
15    activities; and
16        (12) knowing what support is available within the
17    school district and community for students in the legal
18    custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
19    (c) The school district is encouraged to designate a
20liaison by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.
21    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code
22acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties
23of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations.
 
24    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
25becoming law.