Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB2663
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Full Text of HB2663  100th General Assembly

HB2663enr 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

  
  
  

 


 
HB2663 EnrolledLRB100 10114 NHT 20288 b

1    AN ACT concerning children.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Findings and purposes.
5    (a) The General Assembly finds all of the following:
6        (1) Research suggests that school expulsion and
7    suspension practices are associated with negative
8    educational, health, and developmental outcomes for
9    children.
10        (2) Recent studies have shown that the expulsion of
11    children in early care and educational settings is
12    occurring at alarmingly high rates, particularly among
13    certain racial and gender groups. A nationwide study on
14    preschool expulsion found that preschoolers were expelled
15    at more than 3 times the rate of kindergarten through
16    twelfth grade students.
17        (3) Recent data from the U.S. Department of Education
18    indicate that there are significant disparities within
19    this trend. African American boys make up 19% of preschool
20    enrollment but 45% of preschoolers suspended more than
21    once. Other research shows that while Hispanic and African
22    American boys combined represent 46% of all boys in
23    preschool, these children represent 55% of preschool boys
24    suspended. Boys make up 79% of preschoolers suspended once

 

 

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1    and 82% of preschoolers suspended multiple times. African
2    American girls also represent 54% of female children
3    receiving one or more out-of-school suspensions, but only
4    20% of female preschool enrollment overall.
5        (4) A study completed in 2005 analyzing expulsion rates
6    among states indicated that while this State reported the
7    sixth-lowest expulsion rate of the 40 states surveyed,
8    pre-kindergartners were expelled at a rate 3 times that of
9    their older peers. A study conducted in 2002 in Chicago
10    showed a high rate of expulsion, particularly in
11    infant-toddler programs, with over 40% of child care
12    programs asking a child to leave because of
13    social-emotional and behavioral problems, with the most
14    challenging behaviors being biting, hitting, and
15    aggressive behavior.
16        (5) This State has recently improved expulsion and
17    suspension practices in grades kindergarten through 12 via
18    Public Act 99-456, and the federal government has imposed
19    new expulsion and suspension policy requirements on some
20    federally funded early childhood programs. These
21    protections are important, but inconsistent and
22    incomplete, as they do not cover all children in Illinois
23    early learning programs.
24        (6) Access to infant and early childhood mental health
25    consultants and positive behavior intervention and support
26    have been shown to reduce or prevent expulsion and

 

 

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1    suspension in early care and education programs. Early
2    childhood professionals also need training, technical
3    assistance, and professional development support to ensure
4    they are able to respond to the social-emotional needs of
5    young children and to ensure successful student
6    participation in programs.
7        (7) Nationally and in this State, insufficient data
8    collection hinders the ability to gauge the prevalence of
9    expulsion or suspension of children from a range of early
10    learning programs prior to formal school entry.
11    (b) The purposes of this Act are to:
12        (1) ensure that the goals of any disciplinary action by
13    State-funded or State-licensed early childhood programs
14    shall always include the well-being of all children,
15    including those experiencing difficulties as well as
16    others in the classroom, and prohibit the behavior-related
17    removal of young children from early care and education
18    settings without prior documentation, intervention, and
19    planned transitions;
20        (2) ensure that early childhood professionals have the
21    resources needed to support children's social and
22    emotional health and to address challenging behaviors; and
23        (3) develop systems to track expulsion and suspension.
 
24    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections
252-3.71, 2-3.71a, and 10-22.6 as follows:
 

 

 

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1    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.71)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.71)
2    Sec. 2-3.71. Grants for preschool educational programs.
3    (a) Preschool program.
4        (1) The State Board of Education shall implement and
5    administer a grant program under the provisions of this
6    subsection which shall consist of grants to public school
7    districts and other eligible entities, as defined by the
8    State Board of Education, to conduct voluntary preschool
9    educational programs for children ages 3 to 5 which include
10    a parent education component. A public school district
11    which receives grants under this subsection may
12    subcontract with other entities that are eligible to
13    conduct a preschool educational program. These grants must
14    be used to supplement, not supplant, funds received from
15    any other source.
16        (2) (Blank).
17        (3) Any teacher of preschool children in the program
18    authorized by this subsection shall hold an early childhood
19    teaching certificate.
20        (4) (Blank).
21        (4.5) The State Board of Education shall provide the
22    primary source of funding through appropriations for the
23    program. Such funds shall be distributed to achieve a goal
24    of "Preschool for All Children" for the benefit of all
25    children whose families choose to participate in the

 

 

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1    program. Based on available appropriations, newly funded
2    programs shall be selected through a process giving first
3    priority to qualified programs serving primarily at-risk
4    children and second priority to qualified programs serving
5    primarily children with a family income of less than 4
6    times the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the
7    Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
8    Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2). For
9    purposes of this paragraph (4.5), at-risk children are
10    those who because of their home and community environment
11    are subject to such language, cultural, economic and like
12    disadvantages to cause them to have been determined as a
13    result of screening procedures to be at risk of academic
14    failure. Such screening procedures shall be based on
15    criteria established by the State Board of Education.
16        Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (4.5),
17    grantees under the program must enter into a memorandum of
18    understanding with the appropriate local Head Start
19    agency. This memorandum must be entered into no later than
20    3 months after the award of a grantee's grant under the
21    program, except that, in the case of the 2009-2010 program
22    year, the memorandum must be entered into no later than the
23    deadline set by the State Board of Education for
24    applications to participate in the program in fiscal year
25    2011, and must address collaboration between the grantee's
26    program and the local Head Start agency on certain issues,

 

 

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1    which shall include without limitation the following:
2            (A) educational activities, curricular objectives,
3        and instruction;
4            (B) public information dissemination and access to
5        programs for families contacting programs;
6            (C) service areas;
7            (D) selection priorities for eligible children to
8        be served by programs;
9            (E) maximizing the impact of federal and State
10        funding to benefit young children;
11            (F) staff training, including opportunities for
12        joint staff training;
13            (G) technical assistance;
14            (H) communication and parent outreach for smooth
15        transitions to kindergarten;
16            (I) provision and use of facilities,
17        transportation, and other program elements;
18            (J) facilitating each program's fulfillment of its
19        statutory and regulatory requirements;
20            (K) improving local planning and collaboration;
21        and
22            (L) providing comprehensive services for the
23        neediest Illinois children and families.
24    If the appropriate local Head Start agency is unable or
25    unwilling to enter into a memorandum of understanding as
26    required under this paragraph (4.5), the memorandum of

 

 

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1    understanding requirement shall not apply and the grantee
2    under the program must notify the State Board of Education
3    in writing of the Head Start agency's inability or
4    unwillingness. The State Board of Education shall compile
5    all such written notices and make them available to the
6    public.
7        (5) The State Board of Education shall develop and
8    provide evaluation tools, including tests, that school
9    districts and other eligible entities may use to evaluate
10    children for school readiness prior to age 5. The State
11    Board of Education shall require school districts and other
12    eligible entities to obtain consent from the parents or
13    guardians of children before any evaluations are
14    conducted. The State Board of Education shall encourage
15    local school districts and other eligible entities to
16    evaluate the population of preschool children in their
17    communities and provide preschool programs, pursuant to
18    this subsection, where appropriate.
19        (6) The State Board of Education shall report to the
20    General Assembly by November 1, 2018 2010 and every 2 3
21    years thereafter on the results and progress of students
22    who were enrolled in preschool educational programs,
23    including an assessment of which programs have been most
24    successful in promoting academic excellence and
25    alleviating academic failure. The State Board of Education
26    shall assess the academic progress of all students who have

 

 

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1    been enrolled in preschool educational programs.
2        On or before November 1 of each fiscal year in which
3    the General Assembly provides funding for new programs
4    under paragraph (4.5) of this Section, the State Board of
5    Education shall report to the General Assembly on what
6    percentage of new funding was provided to programs serving
7    primarily at-risk children, what percentage of new funding
8    was provided to programs serving primarily children with a
9    family income of less than 4 times the federal poverty
10    level, and what percentage of new funding was provided to
11    other programs.
12        (7) Due to evidence that expulsion practices in the
13    preschool years are linked to poor child outcomes and are
14    employed inconsistently across racial and gender groups,
15    early childhood programs receiving State funds under this
16    subsection (a) shall prohibit expulsions. Planned
17    transitions to settings that are able to better meet a
18    child's needs are not considered expulsion under this
19    paragraph (7).
20            (A) When persistent and serious challenging
21        behaviors emerge, the early childhood program shall
22        document steps taken to ensure that the child can
23        participate safely in the program; including
24        observations of initial and ongoing challenging
25        behaviors, strategies for remediation and intervention
26        plans to address the behaviors, and communication with

 

 

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1        the parent or legal guardian, including participation
2        of the parent or legal guardian in planning and
3        decision-making.
4            (B) The early childhood program shall, with
5        parental or legal guardian consent as required,
6        utilize a range of community resources, if available
7        and deemed necessary, including, but not limited to,
8        developmental screenings, referrals to programs and
9        services administered by a local educational agency or
10        early intervention agency under Parts B and C of the
11        federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act,
12        and consultation with infant and early childhood
13        mental health consultants and the child's health care
14        provider. The program shall document attempts to
15        engage these resources, including parent or legal
16        guardian participation and consent attempted and
17        obtained. Communication with the parent or legal
18        guardian shall take place in a culturally and
19        linguistically competent manner.
20            (C) If there is documented evidence that all
21        available interventions and supports recommended by a
22        qualified professional have been exhausted and the
23        program determines in its professional judgment that
24        transitioning a child to another program is necessary
25        for the well-being of the child or his or her peers and
26        staff, with parent or legal guardian permission, both

 

 

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1        the current and pending programs shall create a
2        transition plan designed to ensure continuity of
3        services and the comprehensive development of the
4        child. Communication with families shall occur in a
5        culturally and linguistically competent manner.
6            (D) Nothing in this paragraph (7) shall preclude a
7        parent's or legal guardian's right to voluntarily
8        withdraw his or her child from an early childhood
9        program. Early childhood programs shall request and
10        keep on file, when received, a written statement from
11        the parent or legal guardian stating the reason for his
12        or her decision to withdraw his or her child.
13            (E) In the case of the determination of a serious
14        safety threat to a child or others or in the case of
15        behaviors listed in subsection (d) of Section 10-22.6
16        of this Code, the temporary removal of a child from
17        attendance in group settings may be used. Temporary
18        removal of a child from attendance in a group setting
19        shall trigger the process detailed in subparagraphs
20        (A), (B), and (C) of this paragraph (7), with the child
21        placed back in a group setting as quickly as possible.
22            (F) Early childhood programs may utilize and the
23        State Board of Education, the Department of Human
24        Services, and the Department of Children and Family
25        Services shall recommend training, technical support,
26        and professional development resources to improve the

 

 

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1        ability of teachers, administrators, program
2        directors, and other staff to promote social-emotional
3        development and behavioral health, to address
4        challenging behaviors, and to understand trauma and
5        trauma-informed care, cultural competence, family
6        engagement with diverse populations, the impact of
7        implicit bias on adult behavior, and the use of
8        reflective practice techniques. Support shall include
9        the availability of resources to contract with infant
10        and early childhood mental health consultants.
11            (G) Beginning on July 1, 2018, early childhood
12        programs shall annually report to the State Board of
13        Education, and, beginning in fiscal year 2020, the
14        State Board of Education shall make available on a
15        biennial basis, in an existing report, all of the
16        following data for children from birth to age 5 who are
17        served by the program:
18                (i) Total number served over the course of the
19            program year and the total number of children who
20            left the program during the program year.
21                (ii) Number of planned transitions to another
22            program due to children's behavior, by children's
23            race, gender, disability, language, class/group
24            size, teacher-child ratio, and length of program
25            day.
26                (iii) Number of temporary removals of a child

 

 

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1            from attendance in group settings due to a serious
2            safety threat under subparagraph (E) of this
3            paragraph (7), by children's race, gender,
4            disability, language, class/group size,
5            teacher-child ratio, and length of program day.
6                (iv) Hours of infant and early childhood
7            mental health consultant contact with program
8            leaders, staff, and families over the program
9            year.
10            (H) Changes to services for children with an
11        individualized education program or individual family
12        service plan shall be construed in a manner consistent
13        with the federal Individuals with Disabilities
14        Education Act.
15        The State Board of Education, in consultation with the
16    Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development and the
17    Department of Children and Family Services, shall adopt
18    rules to administer this paragraph (7).
19    (b) (Blank).
20(Source: P.A. 95-724, eff. 6-30-08; 96-119, eff. 8-4-09;
2196-944, eff. 6-25-10; 96-948, eff. 6-25-10.)
 
22    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.71a)  (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.71a)
23    Sec. 2-3.71a. Grants for early childhood parental training
24programs. The State Board of Education shall implement and
25administer a grant program consisting of grants to public

 

 

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1school districts and other eligible entities, as defined by the
2State Board of Education, to conduct early childhood parental
3training programs for the parents of children in the period of
4life from birth to kindergarten. A public school district that
5receives grants under this Section may contract with other
6eligible entities to conduct an early childhood parental
7training program. These grants must be used to supplement, not
8supplant, funds received from any other source. A school board
9or other eligible entity shall employ appropriately qualified
10personnel for its early childhood parental training program,
11including but not limited to certified teachers, counselors,
12psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers.
13    (a) As used in this Section, "parental training" means and
14includes instruction in the following:
15        (1) Child growth and development, including prenatal
16    development.
17        (2) Childbirth and child care.
18        (3) Family structure, function and management.
19        (4) Prenatal and postnatal care for mothers and
20    infants.
21        (5) Prevention of child abuse.
22        (6) The physical, mental, emotional, social, economic
23    and psychological aspects of interpersonal and family
24    relationships.
25        (7) Parenting skill development.
26    The programs shall include activities that require

 

 

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1substantial participation and interaction between parent and
2child.
3    (b) The Board shall annually award funds through a grant
4approval process established by the State Board of Education,
5providing that an annual appropriation is made for this purpose
6from State, federal or private funds. Nothing in this Section
7shall preclude school districts from applying for or accepting
8private funds to establish and implement programs.
9    (c) The State Board of Education shall assist those
10districts and other eligible entities offering early childhood
11parental training programs, upon request, in developing
12instructional materials, training teachers and staff, and
13establishing appropriate time allotments for each of the areas
14included in such instruction.
15    (d) School districts and other eligible entities may offer
16early childhood parental training courses during that period of
17the day which is not part of the regular school day. Residents
18of the community may enroll in such courses. The school board
19or other eligible entity may establish fees and collect such
20charges as may be necessary for attendance at such courses in
21an amount not to exceed the per capita cost of the operation
22thereof, except that the board or other eligible entity may
23waive all or part of such charges if it determines that the
24parent is indigent or that the educational needs of the parent
25require his or her attendance at such courses.
26    (e) Parents who participate in early childhood parental

 

 

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1training programs under this Section may be eligible for
2reasonable reimbursement of any incidental transportation and
3child care expenses from the school district receiving funds
4pursuant to this Section.
5    (f) Districts and other eligible entities receiving grants
6pursuant to this Section shall coordinate programs created
7under this Section with other preschool educational programs,
8including "at-risk" preschool programs, special and vocational
9education, and related services provided by other governmental
10agencies and not-for-profit agencies.
11    (g) The State Board of Education shall report to the
12General Assembly by July 1, 1991, on the results of the
13programs funded pursuant to this Section and whether a need
14continues for such programs.
15    (h) After July 1, 2006, any parental training services
16funded pursuant to this Section on the effective date of this
17amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly shall continue to
18be funded pursuant to this Section, subject to appropriation
19and the meeting of program standards. Any additional parental
20training services must be funded, subject to appropriation,
21through preschool education grants pursuant to subdivision (4)
22of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of this Code for families
23with children ages 3 to 5 and through prevention initiative
24grants pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 2-3.89 of this
25Code for expecting families and those with children from birth
26to 3 years of age.

 

 

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1    (i) Early childhood programs under this Section are subject
2to the requirements under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of
3Section 2-3.71 of this Code.
4(Source: P.A. 94-506, eff. 8-8-05.)
 
5    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.6)  (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6)
6    Sec. 10-22.6. Suspension or expulsion of pupils; school
7searches.
8    (a) To expel pupils guilty of gross disobedience or
9misconduct, including gross disobedience or misconduct
10perpetuated by electronic means, pursuant to subsection (b-20)
11of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such
12expulsion. Expulsion shall take place only after the parents
13have been requested to appear at a meeting of the board, or
14with a hearing officer appointed by it, to discuss their
15child's behavior. Such request shall be made by registered or
16certified mail and shall state the time, place and purpose of
17the meeting. The board, or a hearing officer appointed by it,
18at such meeting shall state the reasons for dismissal and the
19date on which the expulsion is to become effective. If a
20hearing officer is appointed by the board he shall report to
21the board a written summary of the evidence heard at the
22meeting and the board may take such action thereon as it finds
23appropriate. If the board acts to expel a pupil, the written
24expulsion decision shall detail the specific reasons why
25removing the pupil from the learning environment is in the best

 

 

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1interest of the school. The expulsion decision shall also
2include a rationale as to the specific duration of the
3expulsion. An expelled pupil may be immediately transferred to
4an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A or
513B of this Code. A pupil must not be denied transfer because
6of the expulsion, except in cases in which such transfer is
7deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students or staff in
8the alternative program.
9    (b) To suspend or by policy to authorize the superintendent
10of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean
11of students of any school to suspend pupils guilty of gross
12disobedience or misconduct, or to suspend pupils guilty of
13gross disobedience or misconduct on the school bus from riding
14the school bus, pursuant to subsections (b-15) and (b-20) of
15this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such
16suspension. The board may by policy authorize the
17superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
18principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend pupils
19guilty of such acts for a period not to exceed 10 school days.
20If a pupil is suspended due to gross disobedience or misconduct
21on a school bus, the board may suspend the pupil in excess of
2210 school days for safety reasons.
23     Any suspension shall be reported immediately to the
24parents or guardian of a pupil along with a full statement of
25the reasons for such suspension and a notice of their right to
26a review. The school board must be given a summary of the

 

 

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1notice, including the reason for the suspension and the
2suspension length. Upon request of the parents or guardian the
3school board or a hearing officer appointed by it shall review
4such action of the superintendent or principal, assistant
5principal, or dean of students. At such review the parents or
6guardian of the pupil may appear and discuss the suspension
7with the board or its hearing officer. If a hearing officer is
8appointed by the board he shall report to the board a written
9summary of the evidence heard at the meeting. After its hearing
10or upon receipt of the written report of its hearing officer,
11the board may take such action as it finds appropriate. If a
12student is suspended pursuant to this subsection (b), the board
13shall, in the written suspension decision, detail the specific
14act of gross disobedience or misconduct resulting in the
15decision to suspend. The suspension decision shall also include
16a rationale as to the specific duration of the suspension. A
17pupil who is suspended in excess of 20 school days may be
18immediately transferred to an alternative program in the manner
19provided in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A pupil must not
20be denied transfer because of the suspension, except in cases
21in which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the
22safety of students or staff in the alternative program.
23    (b-5) Among the many possible disciplinary interventions
24and consequences available to school officials, school
25exclusions, such as out-of-school suspensions and expulsions,
26are the most serious. School officials shall limit the number

 

 

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1and duration of expulsions and suspensions to the greatest
2extent practicable, and it is recommended that they use them
3only for legitimate educational purposes. To ensure that
4students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is
5recommended that school officials consider forms of
6non-exclusionary discipline prior to using out-of-school
7suspensions or expulsions.
8    (b-10) Unless otherwise required by federal law or this
9Code, school boards may not institute zero-tolerance policies
10by which school administrators are required to suspend or expel
11students for particular behaviors.
12    (b-15) Out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be
13used only if the student's continuing presence in school would
14pose a threat to school safety or a disruption to other
15students' learning opportunities. For purposes of this
16subsection (b-15), "threat to school safety or a disruption to
17other students' learning opportunities" shall be determined on
18a case-by-case basis by the school board or its designee.
19School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve
20such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length
21of suspensions to the greatest extent practicable.
22    (b-20) Unless otherwise required by this Code,
23out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions,
24and disciplinary removals to alternative schools may be used
25only if other appropriate and available behavioral and
26disciplinary interventions have been exhausted and the

 

 

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1student's continuing presence in school would either (i) pose a
2threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of
3the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt, impede, or
4interfere with the operation of the school. For purposes of
5this subsection (b-20), "threat to the safety of other
6students, staff, or members of the school community" and
7"substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the
8operation of the school" shall be determined on a case-by-case
9basis by school officials. For purposes of this subsection
10(b-20), the determination of whether "appropriate and
11available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been
12exhausted" shall be made by school officials. School officials
13shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats,
14address such disruptions, and minimize the length of student
15exclusions to the greatest extent practicable. Within the
16suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this Section
17or the expulsion decision described in subsection (a) of this
18Section, it shall be documented whether other interventions
19were attempted or whether it was determined that there were no
20other appropriate and available interventions.
21    (b-25) Students who are suspended out-of-school for longer
22than 4 school days shall be provided appropriate and available
23support services during the period of their suspension. For
24purposes of this subsection (b-25), "appropriate and available
25support services" shall be determined by school authorities.
26Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of

 

 

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1this Section, it shall be documented whether such services are
2to be provided or whether it was determined that there are no
3such appropriate and available services.
4    A school district may refer students who are expelled to
5appropriate and available support services.
6    A school district shall create a policy to facilitate the
7re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school,
8expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting.
9    (b-30) A school district shall create a policy by which
10suspended pupils, including those pupils suspended from the
11school bus who do not have alternate transportation to school,
12shall have the opportunity to make up work for equivalent
13academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of a pupil's
14parent or guardian to notify school officials that a pupil
15suspended from the school bus does not have alternate
16transportation to school.
17    (c) The Department of Human Services shall be invited to
18send a representative to consult with the board at such meeting
19whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be the cause
20for expulsion or suspension.
21    (c-5) School districts shall make reasonable efforts to
22provide ongoing professional development to teachers,
23administrators, school board members, school resource
24officers, and staff on the adverse consequences of school
25exclusion and justice-system involvement, effective classroom
26management strategies, culturally responsive discipline, and

 

 

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1developmentally appropriate disciplinary methods that promote
2positive and healthy school climates.
3    (d) The board may expel a student for a definite period of
4time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a case by
5case basis. A student who is determined to have brought one of
6the following objects to school, any school-sponsored activity
7or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable
8relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not
9less than one year:
10        (1) A firearm. For the purposes of this Section,
11    "firearm" means any gun, rifle, shotgun, weapon as defined
12    by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code,
13    firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners
14    Identification Card Act, or firearm as defined in Section
15    24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. The expulsion period
16    under this subdivision (1) may be modified by the
17    superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may
18    be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
19        (2) A knife, brass knuckles or other knuckle weapon
20    regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other
21    object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily
22    harm, including "look alikes" of any firearm as defined in
23    subdivision (1) of this subsection (d). The expulsion
24    requirement under this subdivision (2) may be modified by
25    the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination
26    may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.

 

 

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1Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner
2consistent with the Federal Individuals with Disabilities
3Education Act. A student who is subject to suspension or
4expulsion as provided in this Section may be eligible for a
5transfer to an alternative school program in accordance with
6Article 13A of the School Code.
7    (d-5) The board may suspend or by regulation authorize the
8superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant
9principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a
10student for a period not to exceed 10 school days or may expel
11a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2
12calendar years, as determined on a case by case basis, if (i)
13that student has been determined to have made an explicit
14threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a
15student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet
16website through which the threat was made is a site that was
17accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or
18was available to third parties who worked or studied within the
19school grounds at the time the threat was made, and (iii) the
20threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to the
21safety and security of the threatened individual because of his
22or her duties or employment status or status as a student
23inside the school.
24    (e) To maintain order and security in the schools, school
25authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as
26lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and

 

 

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1equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as
2personal effects left in those places and areas by students,
3without notice to or the consent of the student, and without a
4search warrant. As a matter of public policy, the General
5Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of
6privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects
7left in these places and areas. School authorities may request
8the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of
9conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking
10lots, and other school property and equipment owned or
11controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other
12illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including
13searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.
14If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces
15evidence that the student has violated or is violating either
16the law, local ordinance, or the school's policies or rules,
17such evidence may be seized by school authorities, and
18disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also
19turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities.
20    (f) Suspension or expulsion may include suspension or
21expulsion from school and all school activities and a
22prohibition from being present on school grounds.
23    (g) A school district may adopt a policy providing that if
24a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any
25public or private school in this or any other state, the
26student must complete the entire term of the suspension or

 

 

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1expulsion in an alternative school program under Article 13A of
2this Code or an alternative learning opportunities program
3under Article 13B of this Code before being admitted into the
4school district if there is no threat to the safety of students
5or staff in the alternative program.
6    (h) School officials shall not advise or encourage students
7to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic
8difficulties.
9    (i) A student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a
10disciplinary consequence, though this shall not preclude
11requiring a student to provide restitution for lost, stolen, or
12damaged property.
13    (j) Subsections (a) through (i) of this Section shall apply
14to elementary and secondary schools, charter schools, special
15charter districts, and school districts organized under
16Article 34 of this Code.
17    (k) The expulsion of children enrolled in programs funded
18under Section 1C-2 of this Code is subject to the requirements
19under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of this
20Code.
21(Source: P.A. 99-456, eff. 9-15-16.)
 
22    Section 10. The Child Care Act of 1969 is amended by adding
23Section 5.10 as follows:
 
24    (225 ILCS 10/5.10 new)

 

 

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1    Sec. 5.10. Child care limitation on expulsions. Consistent
2with the purposes of this amendatory Act of the 100th General
3Assembly and the requirements therein under paragraph (7) of
4subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of the School Code, the
5Department, in consultation with the Governor's Office of Early
6Childhood Development and the State Board of Education, shall
7adopt rules prohibiting the use of expulsion due to a child's
8persistent and serious challenging behaviors in licensed day
9care centers, day care homes, and group day care homes. The
10rulemaking shall address, at a minimum, requirements for
11licensees to establish intervention and transition policies,
12notify parents of policies, document intervention steps, and
13collect and report data on children transitioning out of the
14program.