105 ILCS 5/10-20.83

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.83)

(Text of Section from P.A. 102-697)

Sec. 10-20.83. COVID-19 paid administrative leave.

(a) In this Section:

"Employee" means a person employed by a school district on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

"Fully vaccinated against COVID-19" means:

(1) 2 weeks after receiving the second dose in a 2-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration; or

(2) 2 weeks after receiving a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

"Fully vaccinated against COVID-19" also includes any recommended booster doses for which the individual is eligible upon the adoption by the Department of Public Health of any changes made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" to include any such booster doses. For purposes of this Section, individuals who are eligible for a booster dose but have not received a booster dose by 5 weeks after the Department of Public Health adopts a revised definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" are not considered fully vaccinated for determining eligibility for future paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section.

"School district" includes charter schools established under Article 27A of this Code, but does not include the Department of Juvenile Justice School District.

(b) During any time when the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act and a school district, the State or any of its agencies, or a local public health department has issued guidance, mandates, or rules related to COVID-19 that restrict an employee of the school district from being on school district property because the employee (i) has a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis via a molecular amplification diagnostic test, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19, (ii) has a probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen diagnostic test, (iii) has been in close contact with a person who had a confirmed case of COVID-19 and is required to be excluded from the school, or (iv) is required by the school or school district policy to be excluded from school district property due to COVID-19 symptoms, the employee of the school district shall receive as many days of administrative leave as required to abide by the public health guidance, mandates, and requirements issued by the Department of Public Health, unless a longer period of paid administrative leave has been negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative if any. Such leave shall be provided to an employee for any days for which the employee was required to be excluded from school property prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, provided that the employee receives all doses required to meet the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" under this Section no later than 5 weeks after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

(c) An employee of a school district shall receive paid administrative leave pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section, unless a longer period of paid administrative leave has been negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative if any, to care for a child of the employee if the child is unable to attend elementary or secondary school because the child has:

(1) a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis via a molecular amplification diagnostic test, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19;

(2) a probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen diagnostic test;

(3) been in close contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 and is required to be excluded from school; or

(4) been required by the school or school district policy to be excluded from school district property due to COVID-19 symptoms.

Such leave shall be provided to an employee for any days needed to care for a child of the employee prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, provided that the employee receives the doses required to meet the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" under this Section no later than 5 weeks after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.

(d) An employee of a school district who is on paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section must provide all documentation requested by the school board.

(e) An employee of a school district who is on paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section shall receive the employee's regular rate of pay. The use of a paid administrative leave day or days by an employee pursuant to this Section may not diminish any other leave or benefits of the employee.

(f) An employee of a school district may not accrue paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section.

(g) For an employee of a school district to be eligible to receive paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section, the employee must:

(1) have received all required doses to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined in this Section; and

(2) participate in the COVID-19 testing program adopted by the school district to the extent such a testing program requires participation by individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

(h) Nothing in this Section is intended to affect any right or remedy under federal law.

(i) No paid administrative leave awarded to or used by a fully vaccinated employee prior to the Department of Public Health's adoption of a revised definition of the term "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" may be rescinded on the basis that the employee no longer meets the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" based on the revised definition.

(Source: P.A. 102-697, eff. 4-5-22.)

(Text of Section from P.A. 102-917)

Sec. 10-20.83. College and career readiness systems.

(a) Subject to subsection (d) of this Section, by July 1, 2025, a school district that enrolls students in any of grades 6 through 12 shall adopt and commence implementation of career exploration and career development activities in accordance with a postsecondary and career expectations framework for each of grades 6 through 12 served by the district that substantially aligns to the model framework adopted by State agencies pursuant to Section 15 of the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. The local postsecondary and career expectations framework shall be available on a prominent location on the school district's website.

The career exploration and career development activities offered in alignment with the postsecondary and career expectations framework shall prepare students enrolled in grades 6 through 12 to make informed plans and decisions about their future education and career goals, including possible participation in a career and technical education pathway, by providing students with opportunities to explore a wide variety of high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand career fields.

(b) By no later than July 1, 2025, a school district that enrolls students in any of grades 9 through 12 shall either elect to implement College and Career Pathway Endorsements in accordance with subsection (c) of this Section or opt out of implementation in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

(c) A school district that enrolls students in any of grades 9 through 12 electing to implement College and Career Pathway Endorsements shall become an eligible school district and either (i) independently, (ii) through an area career center, or (iii) through an inter-district cooperative, award College and Career Pathway Endorsements pursuant to the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act and pursuant to the following schedule:

(1) for the high school graduating class of 2027, a school district shall offer College and Career Pathway Endorsements in at least one endorsement area;

(2) for the high school graduating class of 2029, a school district shall offer College and Career Pathway Endorsements in at least 2 endorsement areas; and

(3) for the high school graduating class of 2031, a school district with a grade 9 through 12 enrollment of more than 350 students, as calculated by the State Board of Education for the 2022-2023 school year, shall offer College and Career Pathway Endorsements in at least 3 endorsement areas.

A school district may elect to implement College and Career Pathway Endorsements by July 1, 2025, either by submitting the necessary application materials to the State Board of Education to award the number of endorsements required by this subsection or by the school board of the district adopting a timeline for implementation consistent with the requirements of this subsection.

(d) The school board of any school district may, by action of the board, opt out of implementation of all or any part of this Section through adoption of a set of findings that considers the following:

(1) the school district's current systems for college and career readiness;

(2) the school district's cost of implementation balanced against the potential benefits to students and families through improved postsecondary education and career outcomes;

(3) the willingness and capacity of local businesses to partner with the school district for successful implementation of pathways other than education;

(4) the willingness of institutions of higher education to partner with the school district for successful implementation of the pathway and whether the district has sought and established a partnership agreement with a community college district incorporating the provisions of the Model Partnership Agreement under the Dual Credit Quality Act;

(5) the availability of a statewide database of participating local business partners, as provided under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act, for the purpose of career readiness and the accessibility of those work experiences and apprenticeships listed in the database to the students of the school district; and

(6) the availability of properly licensed teachers or teachers meeting faculty credential standards for dual credit courses to instruct in the program required for the endorsement areas.

A school district must report its board findings and decision on implementation to the State Board of Education. A school district electing to opt out of implementation may reverse its decision in whole or in part at any time.

(e) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-917, eff. 1-1-23.)