HB2527ham002 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Joe Sosnowski

Filed: 3/31/2017

10000HB2527ham002 LRB100 10670 NHT 24649 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2527

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2527 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 3-15.12a as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/3-15.12a new)

Sec. 3-15.12a. High school diploma for adult learners.

(a) In this Section:

"Adult learner" means a person ineligible for reenrollment under subsection (b) of Section 26-2 of this Code and 34 CFR 300.102.

"Board" means the Illinois Community College Board.

"Eligible applicant" means a non-profit entity in partnership with a regional superintendent of schools; the chief administrator of an intermediate service center that has the authority, under rules adopted by the State Board of Education, to issue a high school diploma; or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code.

"Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board.

"High school diploma program for adult learners" means a program approved to operate under this Section that provides a program of alterative study to adult learners leading to the issuance of a high school diploma.

(b) An eligible applicant is authorized to design a high school diploma program for adult learners, to be approved by the Board prior to implementation. An eligible applicant shall include, without limitation, all of the following in the application for approval under subsection (c) of this Section:

(1) Evidence of an administrative structure, program activities, program staff, a budget, and a specific curriculum that is consistent with Illinois Learning Standards, as well as Illinois content standards for adults, but may be different from a regular school program in terms of location, length of school day, program sequence, multidisciplinary courses, pace, instructional activities, or any combination of these.

(2) Evidence or documentation that the program will issue a high school diploma only if an adult learner meets all minimum requirements under this Code and its implementing rules for receipt of a high school diploma.

(3) A description of specific academic, behavioral, and emotional support services to be offered to adult learners enrolled in the program.

(4) Evidence that the program will offer career and technical education courses that lead to industry certifications in high growth and in-demand industry sectors or dual credit courses from a regionally accredited post-secondary educational institution consistent with the Dual Credit Quality Act. The program may include partnering with a community college district to provide career and technical education courses that lead to industry certifications.

(5) A description of specific program outcomes and goals and metrics to be used by the program to determine success.

(6) An assurance that all instructional staff hold an educator license valid for the high school grades issued under Article 21B of this Code.

(7) Any other requirements adopted by rule by the Board.

(c) Eligible applicants shall apply for approval of a high school diploma program for adult learners to the Board on forms prescribed by the Board.

(1) Initial approval shall be for a period not to exceed 2 school years.

(2) Renewal of approval shall be for a period not to exceed 4 school years and shall be contingent upon at least specific documented outcomes of student progression, graduation rates, and earning of industry-recognized credentials.

(3) Program approval may be given only if the Executive Director determines that the eligible applicant has met the requirements of subsection (b) of this Section and any rules adopted by the Board.

(4) Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the contrary, a non-profit eligible applicant shall provide the following to the Board:

(A) documentation that the non-profit entity will fulfill the requirements of subsection (b) of this Section;

(B) evidence that the non-profit entity has the capacity to fulfill the requirements of this Section;

(C) a description of the coordination and oversight that the eligible entity will provide in the administration of the program by the non-profit entity;

(D) evidence that the non-profit entity has a history of providing services to adults 18 years of age or older whose educational and training opportunities have been limited by educational disadvantages, disabilities, and challenges.

Funding for the purposes of this paragraph (4) may include federal pass-through revenues, private funding, or other funding sources the non-profit entity secures.

(d) The Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".