Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB2781

Amends the School Board Article of the School Code. Authorizes a school board, other than the Chicago Board of Education, to adopt a program for e-learning that shall permit students to receive instruction electronically, and not while physically present at school, for a limited number of days during a school year. Specifies which days may be selected as e-learning days. Requires a school district to present an initial proposal for an e-learning program or for renewal of such a program for approval from the State Board of Education. Provides for a public hearing at a regular or special meeting of the school board in which the terms of the proposal must be substantially presented and public comments allowed. Requires that a proposal for an e-learning program be timely approved by the State Board of Education if the specified requirements have been met and if, in the view of the State Board of Education, the proposal contains provisions designed to reasonably and practicably accomplish listed goals. Limits the State Board of Education's approval of a school district's initial e-learning program and renewal of the e-learning program to a term of 3 years. Permits the State Board of Education to adopt rules governing its supervision and review of e-learning programs. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the introduced bill with the following change: Provides that a remote educational program does not include instruction delivered to students through an e-learning program. Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 1, with the following changes: provides that the State Board of Education shall establish and maintain, for implementation in selected school districts during the 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 school years, a pilot program for use of e-learning days. Provides that the school board of a school district selected by the State Superintendent of Education may, by resolution, adopt a research-based program or research-based programs for e-learning days district-wide, not to exceed 5 days, if the State Superintendent determines that the failure to provide the minimum school term was occasioned by specified conditions. Provides that the State Superintendent shall provide assurance that the specific needs of all students shall be met, including special education students and English learners, and that mandates are still met. Provides that if, prior to providing any instruction, a selected school district must close one or more but not all school buildings after consultation with a local emergency response agency or due to a condition beyond the control of the school district, then the school district may, if approved by the State Board, utilize the provisions of an e-learning program for the affected school building. Makes related changes. Effective immediately.

Provide that e-learning means electronic learning. Requires the State Superintendent of Education to select up to 3 (instead of at least 3) school districts for the pilot program, at least one of which may (instead of must) be an elementary or unit school district. Provides that the use of e-learning days may not begin until the second semester of the 2015-2016 school year. Makes changes concerning the State Board of Education's report. Makes changes (i) to provide that the research-based program or programs shall permit student instruction to be received electronically while students are not physically present in lieu of the district's scheduled emergency days, (ii) to provide that the research-based program or programs may not exceed the minimum number of emergency days in the approved school calendar, and (iii) to require the State Superintendent to approve programs that ensure that the specific needs of all students are met, including special education students and English learners, and that all mandates are still met using the proposed research-based program.

×