Public Act 0657 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB6044 Enrolled LRB099 16896 NHT 44979 b

Public Act 099-0657

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections 2-3.25a, 7-2a, 7-14A, 10-22.22b, 10-22.22c, 10-22.22d, 11E-110, 18-12, and 21B-30 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.25a) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25a)

Sec. 2-3.25a. "School district" defined; additional standards.

(a) For the purposes of this Section and Sections 3.25b, 3.25c, 3.25d, 3.25e, and 3.25f of this Code, "school district" includes other public entities responsible for administering public schools, such as cooperatives, joint agreements, charter schools, special charter districts, regional offices of education, local agencies, and the Department of Human Services.

(b) In addition to the standards established pursuant to Section 2-3.25, the State Board of Education shall develop recognition standards for student performance and school improvement for all school districts and their individual schools, which must be an outcomes-based, balanced accountability measure. The State Board of Education is prohibited from having separate performance standards for students based on race or ethnicity.

Subject to the availability of federal, State, public, or private funds, the balanced accountability measure must be designed to focus on 2 components, student performance and professional practice. The student performance component shall count for 30% of the total balanced accountability measure, and the professional practice component shall count for 70% of the total balanced accountability measure. The student performance component shall focus on student outcomes and closing the achievement gaps within each school district and its individual schools using a Multiple Measure Index and Annual Measurable Objectives, as set forth in Section 2-3.25d of this Code. The professional practice component shall focus on the degree to which a school district, as well as its individual schools, is implementing evidence-based, best professional practices and exhibiting continued improvement. Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the balanced accountability measure shall consist of only the student performance component, which shall account for 100% of the total balanced accountability measure. From the 2017-2018 2016-2017 school year through the 2022-2023 2021-2022 school year, the State Board of Education and a Balanced Accountability Measure Committee shall identify a number of school districts per the designated school years to begin implementing the balanced accountability measure, which includes both the student performance and professional practice components. By the 2022-2023 2021-2022 school year, all school districts must be implementing the balanced accountability measure, which includes both components. The Balanced Accountability Measure Committee shall consist of the following individuals: a representative of a statewide association representing regional superintendents of schools, a representative of a statewide association representing principals, a representative of an association representing principals in a city having a population exceeding 500,000, a representative of a statewide association representing school administrators, a representative of a statewide professional teachers' organization, a representative of a different statewide professional teachers' organization, an additional representative from either statewide professional teachers' organization, a representative of a professional teachers' organization in a city having a population exceeding 500,000, a representative of a statewide association representing school boards, and a representative of a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code. The head of each association or entity listed in this paragraph shall appoint its respective representative. The State Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the Committee, may appoint no more than 2 additional individuals to the Committee, which individuals shall serve in an advisory role and must not have voting or other decision-making rights. The Committee is abolished on June 1, 2023 2022.

Using a Multiple Measure Index consistent with subsection (a) of Section 2-3.25d of this Code, the student performance component shall consist of the following subcategories, each of which must be valued at 10%:

(1) achievement status;

(2) achievement growth; and

(3) Annual Measurable Objectives, as set forth in subsection (b) of Section 2-3.25d of this Code. Achievement status shall measure and assess college and career readiness, as well as the graduation rate. Achievement growth shall measure the school district's and its individual schools' student growth via this State's growth value tables. Annual Measurable Objectives shall measure the degree to which school districts, as well as their individual schools, are closing their achievement gaps among their student population and subgroups.

The professional practice component shall consist of the following subcategories:

(A) compliance;

(B) evidence-based best practices; and

(C) contextual improvement. Compliance, which shall count for 10%, shall measure the degree to which a school district and its individual schools meet the current State compliance requirements. Evidence-based best practices, which shall count for 30%, shall measure the degree to which school districts and their individual schools are adhering to a set of evidence-based quality standards and best practice for effective schools that include (i) continuous improvement, (ii) culture and climate, (iii) shared leadership, (iv) governance, (v) education and employee quality, (vi) family and community connections, and (vii) student and learning development and are further developed in consultation with the State Board of Education and the Balanced Accountability Measure Committee set forth in this subsection (b). Contextual improvement, which shall count for 30%, shall provide school districts and their individual schools the opportunity to demonstrate improved outcomes through local data, including without limitation school climate, unique characteristics, and barriers that impact the educational environment and hinder the development and implementation of action plans to address areas of school district and individual school improvement. Each school district, in good faith cooperation with its teachers or, where applicable, the exclusive bargaining representatives of its teachers, shall develop 2 measurable objectives to demonstrate contextual improvement, each of which must be equally weighted. Each school district shall begin such good faith cooperative development of these objectives no later than 6 months prior to the beginning of the school year in which the school district is to implement the professional practice component of the balanced accountability measure. The professional practice component must be scored using trained peer review teams that observe and verify school district practices using an evidence-based framework.

The balanced accountability measure shall combine the student performance and professional practice components into one summative score based on 100 points at the school district and individual-school level. A school district shall be designated as "Exceeds Standards - Exemplar" if the overall score is 100 to 90, "Meets Standards - Proficient" if the overall score is 89 to 75, "Approaching Standards - Needs Improvement" if the overall score is 74 to 60, and "Below Standards - Unsatisfactory" if the overall score is 59 to 0. The balanced accountability measure shall also detail both incentives that reward school districts for continued improved performance, as provided in Section 2-3.25c of this Code, and consequences for school districts that fail to provide evidence of continued improved performance, which may include presentation of a barrier analysis, additional school board and administrator training, or additional State assistance. Based on its summative score, a school district may be exempt from the balanced accountability measure for one or more school years. The State Board of Education, in collaboration with the Balanced Accountability Measure Committee set forth in this subsection (b), shall adopt rules that further implementation in accordance with the requirements of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 99-84, eff. 1-1-16; 99-193, eff. 7-30-15; revised 10-9-15.)

(105 ILCS 5/7-2a) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-2a)

Sec. 7-2a. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Section, any petition for dissolution filed under this Article must specify the school district or districts to which all of the territory of the district proposed to be dissolved will be annexed. Any petition for dissolution may be made by the board of education of the district or a majority of the legal voters residing in the district proposed to be dissolved. No petition from any other district affected by the proposed dissolution shall be required.

(b) Any school district with a population of less than 5,000 residents or an enrollment of less than 750 students, as determined by the district's current fall housing report filed with the State Board of Education, shall be dissolved and its territory annexed as provided in Section 7-11 by the regional board of school trustees upon the filing with the regional board of school trustees of a petition adopted by resolution of the board of education or a petition signed by a majority of the registered voters of the district seeking such dissolution. No petition shall be adopted or signed under this subsection until the board of education or the petitioners, as the case may be, shall have given at least 10 days' notice to be published once in a newspaper having general circulation in the district and shall have conducted a public informational meeting to inform the residents of the district of the proposed dissolution and to answer questions concerning the proposed dissolution. The petition shall be filed with and decided solely by the regional board of school trustees of the region in which the regional superintendent of schools has supervision of the school district being dissolved. The regional board of school trustees shall not act on a petition filed by a board of education if within 45 days after giving notice of the hearing required under Section 7-11 a petition in opposition to the petition of the board to dissolve, signed by a majority of the registered voters of the district, is filed with the regional board of school trustees. The regional board of school trustees shall have no authority to deny dissolution requested in a proper petition for dissolution filed under this subsection (b), but shall exercise its discretion in accordance with Section 7-11 on the issue of annexing the territory of a district being dissolved, giving consideration to but not being bound by the wishes expressed by the residents of the various school districts that may be affected by such annexation.

When dissolution and annexation become effective for purposes of administration and attendance as determined pursuant to Section 7-11, the positions of teachers in contractual continued service in the district being dissolved are transferred to an annexing district or to annexing districts pursuant to the provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code Section 24-12 relative to teachers having contractual continued service status whose positions are transferred from one board to the control of a different board, and those said provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code Section 24-12 shall apply to said transferred teachers. In the event that the territory is added to 2 or more districts, the decision on which positions shall be transferred to which annexing districts shall be made giving consideration to the proportionate percent of pupils transferred and the annexing districts' staffing needs, and the transfer of specific individuals into such positions shall be based upon the request of those teachers in order of seniority in the dissolving district. The contractual continued service status of any teacher thereby transferred to an annexing district is not lost and the different board is subject to this Act with respect to such transferred teacher in the same manner as if such teacher was that district's employee and had been its employee during the time such teacher was actually employed by the board of the dissolving district from which the position was transferred.

(Source: P.A. 98-125, eff. 8-2-13.)

(105 ILCS 5/7-14A) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-14A)

Sec. 7-14A. Annexation Compensation. There shall be no accounting made after a mere change in boundaries when no new district is created, except that those districts whose enrollment increases by 90% or more as a result of annexing territory detached from another district pursuant to this Article are eligible for supplementary State aid payments in accordance with Section 11E-135 of this Code. Eligible annexing districts shall apply to the State Board of Education for supplementary State aid payments by submitting enrollment figures for the year immediately preceding and the year immediately following the effective date of the boundary change for both the district gaining territory and the district losing territory. Copies of any intergovernmental agreements between the district gaining territory and the district losing territory detailing any transfer of fund balances and staff must also be submitted. In all instances of changes in boundaries, the district losing territory shall not count the average daily attendance of pupils living in the territory during the year preceding the effective date of the boundary change in its claim for reimbursement under Section 18-8.05 of this Code 18-8 for the school year following the effective date of the change in boundaries and the district receiving the territory shall count the average daily attendance of pupils living in the territory during the year preceding the effective date of the boundary change in its claim for reimbursement under Section 18-8.05 of this Code 18-8 for the school year following the effective date of the change in boundaries. The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly are intended to be retroactive and applicable to any annexation taking effect on or after July 1, 2004.

(Source: P.A. 95-707, eff. 1-11-08.)

(105 ILCS 5/10-22.22b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.22b)

Sec. 10-22.22b. (a) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the deactivation of a high school facility under subsection (c). Where in its judgment the interests of the district and of the students therein will be best served, to deactivate any high school facility or elementary school facility in the district and send the students of such high school in grades 9 through 12 or such elementary school in grades kindergarten through 8, as applicable, to schools in other districts. Such action may be taken only with the approval of the voters in the district and the approval, by proper resolution, of the school board of the receiving district. The board of the district contemplating deactivation shall, by proper resolution, cause the proposition to deactivate the school facility to be submitted to the voters of the district at a regularly scheduled election. Notice shall be published at least 10 days prior to the date of the election at least once in one or more newspapers published in the district or, if no newspaper is published in the district, in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the district. The notice shall be substantially in the following form:

NOTICE OF REFERENDUM TO

DEACTIVATE THE ... SCHOOL FACILITY

IN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. ........

Notice is hereby given that on (insert date), a referendum will be held in ........ County (Counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to deactivate the ...... School facility in School District No. ...... and to send pupils in ...... School to School District(s) No. .......

The polls will be open at .... o'clock ... m., and close at .... o'clock ... m. of the same day.

............ Dated (insert date).

The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

-------------------------------------------------------------

Shall the Board of Education of School District No. ...., YES ..... County, Illinois, be authorized to deactivate -------------------------

the .... School facility and to send pupils in ....... NO School to School District(s) No. .....?

-------------------------------------------------------------

If the majority of those voting upon the proposition in the district contemplating deactivation vote in favor of the proposition, the board of that district, upon approval of the board of the receiving district, shall execute a contract with the receiving district providing for the reassignment of students to the receiving district. If the deactivating district seeks to send its students to more than one district, it shall execute a contract with each receiving district. The length of the contract shall be for 2 school years, but the districts may renew the contract for additional one year or 2 year periods. Contract renewals shall be executed by January 1 of the year in which the existing contract expires. If the majority of those voting upon the proposition do not vote in favor of the proposition, the school facility may not be deactivated.

The sending district shall pay to the receiving district an amount agreed upon by the 2 districts.

When the deactivation of school facilities becomes effective pursuant to this Section, the provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code Section 24-12 relative to the contractual continued service status of teachers having contractual continued service whose positions are transferred from one board to the control of a different board shall apply, and the positions at the school facilities being deactivated held by teachers, as that term is defined in subsection (a) of Section 24-11 of this Code, having contractual continued service with the school district at the time of the deactivation shall be transferred to the control of the board or boards who shall be receiving the district's students on the following basis:

(1) positions of such teachers in contractual continued service that were full time positions shall be transferred to the control of whichever of such boards such teachers shall request with the teachers making such requests proceeding in the order of those with the greatest length of continuing service with the board to those with the shortest length of continuing service with the board, provided that the number selecting one board over another board or other boards shall not exceed that proportion of the school students going to such board or boards; and

(2) positions of such teachers in contractual continued service that were full time positions and as to which there is no selection left under subparagraph 1 hereof shall be transferred to the appropriate board.

The contractual continued service status of any teacher thereby transferred to another district is not lost and the receiving board is subject to the School Code with respect to such transferred teacher in the same manner as if such teacher was the district's employee during the time such teacher was actually employed by the board of the deactivating district from which the position was transferred.

When the deactivation of school facilities becomes effective pursuant to this Section, the provisions of subsection (b) of Section 10-23.5 of this Code relative to the transfer of educational support personnel employees shall apply, and the positions at the school facilities being deactivated that are held by educational support personnel employees at the time of the deactivation shall be transferred to the control of the board or boards that will be receiving the district's students on the following basis:

(A) positions of such educational support personnel employees that were full-time positions shall be transferred to the control of whichever of the boards the employees request, with the educational support personnel employees making these requests proceeding in the order of those with the greatest length of continuing service with the board to those with the shortest length of continuing service with the board, provided that the number selecting one board over another board or other boards must not exceed that proportion of students going to such board or boards; and

(B) positions of such educational support personnel employees that were full-time positions and as to which there is no selection left under subdivision (A) shall be transferred to the appropriate board. The length of continuing service of any educational support personnel employee thereby transferred to another district is not lost and the receiving board is subject to this Code with respect to that transferred educational support personnel employee in the same manner as if the educational support personnel employee was the district's employee during the time the educational support personnel employee was actually employed by the board of the deactivating district from which the position was transferred.

(b) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the reactivation of a high school facility which is deactivated under subsection (c). The sending district may, with the approval of the voters in the district, reactivate the school facility which was deactivated. The board of the district seeking to reactivate the school facility shall, by proper resolution, cause the proposition to reactivate to be submitted to the voters of the district at a regularly scheduled election. Notice shall be published at least 10 days prior to the date of the election at least once in one or more newspapers published in the district or, if no newspaper is published in the district, in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the district. The notice shall be substantially in the following form:

NOTICE OF REFERENDUM TO

REACTIVATE THE ...... SCHOOL FACILITY

IN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. ......

Notice is hereby given that on (insert date), a referendum will be held in ...... County (Counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to reactivate the ..... School facility in School District No. ..... and to discontinue sending pupils of School District No. ...... to School District(s) No. .....

The polls will be opened at ... o'clock .. m., and closed at ... o'clock .. m. of the same day.

............ Dated (insert date).

The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

-------------------------------------------------------------

Shall the Board of Education of School YES District No. ......, ...... County, Illinois, be authorized to -------------------

reactivate the .... School facility and to discontinue sending pupils of School District No. .... NO to School District(s) No. ......?

-------------------------------------------------------------

(c) The school board of any unit school district which experienced a strike by a majority of its certified employees that endured for over 6 months during the regular school term of the 1986-1987 school year, and which during the ensuing 1987-1988 school year had an enrollment in grades 9 through 12 of less than 125 students may, when in its judgment the interests of the district and of the students therein will be best served thereby, deactivate the high school facilities within the district for the regular term of the 1988-1989 school year and, for that school year only, send the students of such high school in grades 9 through 12 to schools in adjoining or adjacent districts. Such action may only be taken: (a) by proper resolution of the school board deactivating its high school facilities and the approval, by proper resolution, of the school board of the receiving district or districts, and (b) pursuant to a contract between the sending and each receiving district, which contract or contracts: (i) shall provide for the reassignment of all students of the deactivated high school in grades 9 through 12 to the receiving district or districts; (ii) shall apply only to the regular school term of the 1988-1989 school year; (iii) shall not be subject to renewal or extension; and (iv) shall require the sending district to pay to the receiving district the cost of educating each student who is reassigned to the receiving district, such costs to be an amount agreed upon by the sending and receiving district but not less than the per capita cost of maintaining the high school in the receiving district during the 1987-1988 school year. Any high school facility deactivated pursuant to this subsection for the regular school term of the 1988-1989 school year shall be reactivated by operation of law as of the end of the regular term of the 1988-1989 school year. The status as a unit school district of a district which deactivates its high school facilities pursuant to this subsection shall not be affected by reason of such deactivation of its high school facilities and such district shall continue to be deemed in law a school district maintaining grades kindergarten through 12 for all purposes relating to the levy, extension, collection and payment of the taxes of the district under Article 17 for the 1988-1989 school year.

(d) Whenever a school facility is reactivated pursuant to the provisions of this Section, then all teachers in contractual continued service who were honorably dismissed or transferred as part of the deactivation process, in addition to other rights they may have under the School Code, shall be recalled or transferred back to the original district.

(Source: P.A. 94-213, eff. 7-14-05; 95-110, eff. 1-1-08; 95-148, eff. 8-14-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)

(105 ILCS 5/10-22.22c) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.22c)

Sec. 10-22.22c. (a) Subject to the following provisions of this Section two or more contiguous school districts each of which has an enrollment in grades 9 through 12 of less than 600 students may, when in their judgment the interest of the districts and of the students therein will be best served, jointly operate one or more cooperative high schools. Such action shall be taken for a minimum period of 20 school years, and may be taken only with the approval of the voters of each district. A district with 600 or more students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 may qualify for inclusion with one or more districts having less than 600 such students by receiving a size waiver from the State Board of Education based on a finding that such inclusion would significantly increase the educational opportunities of the district's students, and by meeting the other prerequisites of this Section. The board of each district contemplating such joint operation shall, by proper resolution, cause the proposition to enter into such joint operation to be submitted to the voters of the district at a regularly scheduled election. Notice shall be published at least 10 days prior to the date of the election at least once in one or more newspapers published in the district or, if no newspaper is published in the district, in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the district. The notice shall be substantially in the following form:

NOTICE OF REFERENDUM FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT

NO. ....... AND SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. .......

TO JOINTLY OPERATE (A) COOPERATIVE HIGH

SCHOOL (SCHOOLS)

Notice is hereby given that on (insert date), a referendum will be held in ....... County (Counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition for School District No. ....... and School District No. ....... to jointly operate (a) cooperative high school (schools).

The polls will be open at ....... o'clock ... m., and close at ....... o'clock ... m., of the same day.

A ........ B ........

Dated (insert date). Regional Superintendent of Schools

The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

-------------------------------------------------------------

Shall the Board of Education of School District No. ...., ..... YES County (Counties), Illinois be authorized to enter with into an agreement with School ----------------------

District No. ...., .... County (Counties), Illinois to jointly operate (a) cooperative high NO school (schools)?

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If the majority of those voting on the proposition in each district vote in favor of the proposition, the school boards of the participating districts may, if they agree on terms, execute a contract for such joint operation subject to the following provisions of this Section.

(b) The agreement for joint operation of any such cooperative high school shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for administration, staff, programs, financing, facilities, and transportation. Such agreements may be modified, extended, or terminated by approval of each of the participating districts, provided that a district may withdraw from the agreement during its initial 20-year term only if the district is reorganizing with one or more districts under other provisions of this Code. Even if 2 or more of the participating district boards approve an extension of the agreement, any other participating district shall, upon failure of its board to approve such extension, disengage from such participation at the end of the then current agreement term.

(c) A governing board, which shall govern the operation of any such cooperative high school, shall be composed of an equal number of board members from each of the participating districts, except that where all participating district boards concur, membership on the governing board may be apportioned to reflect the number of students in each respective district who attend the cooperative high school. The membership of the governing board shall be not less than 6 nor more than 10 and shall be set by the agreement entered into by the participating districts. The school board of each participating district shall select, from its membership, its representatives on the governing board. The governing board shall prepare and adopt a budget for the cooperative high school. The governing board shall administer the cooperative high school in accordance with the agreement of the districts and shall have the power to hire, supervise, and terminate staff; to enter into contracts; to adopt policies for the school; and to take all other actions necessary and proper for the operation of the school. However, the governing board may not levy taxes or incur any indebtedness except within the annual budget approved by the participating districts.

(d) (Blank).

(e) Each participating district shall pay its per capita cost of educating the students residing in its district and attending any such cooperative high school into the budget for the maintenance and operation of the cooperative high school.

The manner of determining per capita cost shall be set forth in the agreement. Each district shall pay the amount owed the governing board under the terms of the agreement from the fund that the district would have used if the district had incurred the costs directly and may levy taxes and issue bonds as otherwise authorized for these purposes in order to make payments to the governing board.

(f) Additional school districts having an enrollment in grades 9 through 12 of less than 600 students may be added to the agreement in accordance with the process described in subsection (a) of this Section. In the event additional districts are added, a new contract shall be executed in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

(g) Upon formation of the cooperative high school, the school board of each participating district shall:

(1) confer and coordinate with each other and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, as to staffing needs for the cooperative high school;

(2) in consultation with any exclusive employee representatives and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, establish a combined list of teachers in all participating districts, categorized by positions, showing the length of service and the contractual continued service status, if any, of each teacher in each participating district who is qualified to hold any such positions at the cooperative high school, and then distribute this list to the exclusive employee representatives on or before February 1 of the school year prior to the commencement of the operation of the cooperative high school or within 30 days after the date of the referendum election if the proposition receives a majority of those voting in each district, whichever occurs first. This list is in addition to and not a substitute for any the list mandated by Section 24-12 of this Code; and

(3) transfer to the governing board of the cooperative high school the employment and the position of so many of the full-time or part-time high school teachers employed by a participating district as are jointly determined by the school boards of the participating districts and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, to be needed at the cooperative high school, provided that these teacher transfers shall be done:

(A) by categories listed on the seniority list mentioned in subdivision (2) of this subsection (g);

(B) in each category, by having teachers in contractual continued service being transferred before any teachers who are not in contractual continued service; and

(C) in order from greatest seniority first through lesser amounts of seniority.

A teacher who is not in contractual continued service shall not be transferred if there is a teacher in contractual continued service in the same category who is qualified to hold the position that is to be filled.

If there are more teachers who have entered upon contractual continued service than there are available positions at the cooperative high school or within other assignments in the district, a school board shall first remove or dismiss all teachers who have not entered upon contractual continued service before removing or dismissing any teacher who has entered upon contractual continued service and who is legally qualified (i) to hold a position at the cooperative high school planned to be held by a teacher who has not entered upon contractual continued service or (ii) to hold another position in the participating district. As between teachers who have entered upon contractual continued service, the teacher or teachers with the shorter length of continuing service in any of the participating districts shall be dismissed first. Any teacher dismissed as a result of such a decrease shall be paid all earned compensation on or before the third business day following the last day of pupil attendance in the regular school term. If the school board that has dismissed a teacher or the governing board has any vacancies for the following school term or within one calendar year from the beginning of the following school term, the positions thereby becoming available shall be tendered to the teachers so removed or dismissed so far as they are legally qualified to hold such positions. However, if the number of honorable dismissal notices in all participating districts exceeds 15% of full-time equivalent positions filled by certified employees (excluding principals and administrative personnel) during the preceding school year in all participating districts and if the school board that has dismissed a teacher or the governing board has any vacancies for the following school term or within 2 calendar years from the beginning of the following school term, the positions so becoming available shall be tendered to the teachers who were so notified, removed, or dismissed whenever these teachers are legally qualified to hold such positions.

The provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 Section 24-12 of this Code concerning teachers whose positions are transferred from one board to the control of a different board shall apply to the teachers who are transferred. The contractual continued service of any transferred teacher is not lost and the governing board is subject to this Code with respect to the teacher in the same manner as if the teacher had been the governing board's employee during the time the teacher was actually employed by the board of the district from which the position and the teacher's employment were transferred. The time spent in employment with a participating district by any teacher who has not yet entered upon contractual continued service and who is transferred to the governing board is not lost when computing the time necessary for the teacher to enter upon contractual continued service, and the governing board is subject to this Code with respect to the teacher in the same manner as if the teacher had been the governing board's employee during the time the teacher was actually employed by the school board from which the position and the teacher's employment were transferred.

If the cooperative high school is dissolved, any teacher who was transferred from a participating district shall be transferred back to the district and subsection (h) of Section 24-11 Section 24-12 of this Code shall apply. In that case, a district is subject to this Code in the same manner as if the teacher transferred back had been continuously in the service of the receiving district.

(h) Upon formation of the cooperative high school, the school board of each participating district shall:

(1) confer and coordinate with each other and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, as to needs for educational support personnel for the cooperative high school;

(2) in consultation with any exclusive employee representative or bargaining agent and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, establish a combined list of educational support personnel in participating districts, categorized by positions, showing the length of continuing service of each full-time educational support personnel employee who is qualified to hold any such position at the cooperative high school, and then distribute this list to the exclusive employee representative or bargaining agent on or before February 1 of the school year prior to the commencement of the operation of the cooperative high school or within 30 days after the date of the referendum election if the proposition receives a majority of those voting in each district, whichever occurs first; and

(3) transfer to the governing board of the cooperative high school the employment and the positions of so many of the full-time educational support personnel employees employed by a participating district as are jointly determined by the school boards of the participating districts and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, to be needed at the cooperative high school, provided that the full-time educational personnel employee transfers shall be done by categories on the seniority list mentioned in subdivision (2) of this subsection (h) and done in order from greatest seniority first through lesser amounts of seniority.

If there are more full-time educational support personnel employees than there are available positions at the cooperative high school or in the participating district, a school board shall first remove or dismiss those educational support personnel employees with the shorter length of continuing service in any of the participating districts, within the respective category of position. The governing board is subject to this Code with respect to the educational support personnel employee as if the educational support personnel employee had been the governing board's employee during the time the educational support personnel employee was actually employed by the school board of the district from which the employment and position were transferred. Any educational support personnel employee dismissed as a result of such a decrease shall be paid all earned compensation on or before the third business day following his or her last day of employment. If the school board that has dismissed the educational support personnel employee or the governing board has any vacancies for the following school term or within one calendar year from the beginning of the following school term, the positions thereby becoming available within a specific category of position shall be tendered to the employees so removed or dismissed from that category of position so far as they are legally qualified to hold such positions. If the cooperative high school is dissolved, any educational support personnel employee who was transferred from a participating district shall be transferred back to the district and Section 10-23.5 of this Code shall apply. In that case, a district is subject to this Code in the same manner as if the educational support personnel employee transferred back had been continuously in the service of the receiving district.

(i) Two or more school districts not contiguous to each other, each of which has an enrollment in grades 9 through 12 of less than 600 students, may jointly operate one or more cooperative high schools if the following requirements are met and documented within 2 calendar years prior to the proposition filing date, pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section:

(1) the distance between each district administrative office is documented as no more than 30 miles;

(2) every district contiguous to the district wishing to operate one or more cooperative high schools under the provisions of this Section determines that it is not interested in participating in such joint operation, through a vote of its school board, and documents that non-interest in a letter to the districts wishing to form the cooperative high school containing approved minutes that record the school board vote;

(3) documentation of meeting these requirements is attached to the board resolution required under subsection (a) of this Section; and

(4) all other provisions of this Section are followed.

(Source: P.A. 98-125, eff. 8-2-13.)

(105 ILCS 5/10-22.22d)

Sec. 10-22.22d. Pilot cooperative elementary school and pilot cooperative high school.

(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section, 2 contiguous school districts that are (i) located all or in part in Vermilion County; (ii) have an enrollment in grades 6-8 of less than 150 during the 2008-2009 school year and in grades 9-12 of less than 400 during the 2008-2009 school year; and (iii) have a Junior High School serving grades 6, 7, and 8 in one of the districts may, when in their judgment the interest of the districts and of the students will be best served, jointly pilot a cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both.

The board of each district contemplating a joint operation shall, by proper resolution, cause the proposition to enter into such joint operation for a period not to exceed 3 years.

The school boards of the participating districts may, if they agree on terms, execute a contract for such joint operation subject to the provisions of this Section.

(b) The agreement for joint operation of any such cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for administration, staff, programs, financing, facilities, and transportation. Agreements may be modified, by approval of each of the participating districts, provided that a district may withdraw from the agreement only if the district is reorganizing with one or more districts under other provisions of this Code.

(c) A governing board, which shall govern the operation of any such cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, shall be apportioned to reflect the number of students in each respective district who attend the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both. The membership of the governing board shall be 5 members. The school board of each participating district shall select, from its membership, its representatives on the governing board. The governing board shall prepare and adopt a budget for the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both. The governing board shall administer the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, in accordance with the agreement of the districts and shall have the power to hire, supervise, and terminate staff; to enter into contracts; to adopt policies for the school or schools; and to take all other actions necessary and proper for the operation of the school or schools. The governing board may not levy taxes or incur any indebtedness except within the annual budget approved by the participating districts.

(d) Each participating district shall pay its per capita cost of educating the students residing in its district and attending any cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school into the budget for the maintenance and operation of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both.

The manner of determining per capita cost shall be set forth in the agreement. Each district shall pay the amount owed the governing board under the terms of the agreement from the fund that the district would have used if the district had incurred the costs directly and may levy taxes and issue bonds as otherwise authorized for these purposes in order to make payments to the governing board.

(e) Upon formation of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, the school board of each participating district shall:

(1) confer and coordinate with each other and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, as to staffing needs for the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both;

(2) in consultation with any exclusive employee representatives and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, establish a combined list of teachers in all participating districts, categorized by positions, showing the length of service and the contractual continued service status, if any, of each teacher in each participating district who is qualified to hold any positions at the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, and then distribute this list to the exclusive employee representatives on or before February 1 of the school year prior to the commencement of the operation of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, or within 30 days after the date of the board resolutions, whichever occurs first; this list is in addition to and not a substitute for the list mandated by Section 24-12 of this Code; and

(3) transfer to the governing board of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, the employment and the position of so many of the full-time or part-time school teachers employed by a participating district as are jointly determined by the school boards of the participating districts and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, to be needed at the cooperative school or schools, provided that these teacher transfers shall be done:

(A) by categories listed on the seniority list mentioned in item (2) of this subsection (e);

(B) in each category, by having teachers in contractual continued service being transferred before any teachers who are not in contractual continued service; and

(C) in order from greatest seniority first through lesser amounts of seniority.

A teacher who is not in contractual continued service shall not be transferred if there is a teacher in contractual continued service in the same category who is qualified to hold the position that is to be filled.

If there are more teachers who have entered upon contractual continued service than there are available positions at the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both or within other assignments in the district, a school board shall first remove or dismiss all teachers who have not entered upon contractual continued service before removing or dismissing any teacher who has entered upon contractual continued service and who is legally qualified (i) to hold a position at the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both planned to be held by a teacher who has not entered upon contractual continued service or (ii) to hold another position in the participating district. As between teachers who have entered upon contractual continued service, the teacher or teachers with the shorter length of continuing service in any of the participating districts shall be dismissed first. Any teacher dismissed as a result of such a decrease shall be paid all earned compensation on or before the third business day following the last day of pupil attendance in the regular school term. If the school board that has dismissed a teacher or the governing board has any vacancies for the following school term or within one calendar year from the beginning of the following school term, then the positions thereby becoming available shall be tendered to the teachers so removed or dismissed so far as they are legally qualified to hold such positions. If the number of honorable dismissal notices in all participating districts exceeds 15% of full-time equivalent positions filled by certified employees (excluding principals and administrative personnel) during the preceding school year in all participating districts and if the school board that has dismissed a teacher or the governing board has any vacancies for the following school term or within 2 calendar years from the beginning of the following school term, the positions so becoming available shall be tendered to the teachers who were so notified, removed, or dismissed whenever these teachers are legally qualified to hold those positions.

The provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 Section 24-12 of this Code concerning teachers whose positions are transferred from one board to the control of a different board shall apply to the teachers who are transferred. The contractual continued service of any transferred teacher is not lost and the governing board is subject to this Code with respect to the teacher in the same manner as if the teacher had been the governing board's employee during the time the teacher was actually employed by the board of the district from which the position and the teacher's employment were transferred. The time spent in employment with a participating district by any teacher who has not yet entered upon contractual continued service and who is transferred to the governing board is not lost when computing the time necessary for the teacher to enter upon contractual continued service, and the governing board is subject to this Code with respect to the teacher in the same manner as if the teacher had been the governing board's employee during the time the teacher was actually employed by the school board from which the position and the teacher's employment were transferred.

At the conclusion of the pilot program, any teacher who was transferred from a participating district shall be transferred back to the district and subsection (h) of Section 24-11 Section 24-12 of this Code shall apply. In that case, a district is subject to this Code in the same manner as if the teacher transferred back had been continuously in the service of the receiving district.

(f) Upon formation of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, the school board of each participating district shall:

(1) confer and coordinate with each other and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, as to needs for educational support personnel for the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both;

(2) in consultation with any exclusive employee representative or bargaining agent and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, establish a combined list of educational support personnel in participating districts, categorized by positions, showing the length of continuing service of each full-time educational support personnel employee who is qualified to hold any such position at the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, and then distribute this list to the exclusive employee representative or bargaining agent on or before February 1 of the school year prior to the commencement of the operation of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both or within 30 days after the date of the board resolutions, whichever occurs first; and

(3) transfer to the governing board of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both the employment and the positions of so many of the full-time educational support personnel employees employed by a participating district as are jointly determined by the school boards of the participating districts and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, to be needed at the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, provided that the full-time educational personnel employee transfers shall be done by categories on the seniority list mentioned in item (2) of this subsection (f) and done in order from greatest seniority first through lesser amounts of seniority.

If there are more full-time educational support personnel employees than there are available positions at the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both or in the participating district, then a school board shall first remove or dismiss those educational support personnel employees with the shorter length of continuing service in any of the participating districts, within the respective category of position. The governing board is subject to this Code with respect to the educational support personnel employee as if the educational support personnel employee had been the governing board's employee during the time the educational support personnel employee was actually employed by the school board of the district from which the employment and position were transferred. Any educational support personnel employee dismissed as a result of such a decrease shall be paid all earned compensation on or before the third business day following his or her last day of employment. If the school board that has dismissed the educational support personnel employee or the governing board has any vacancies for the following school term or within one calendar year from the beginning of the following school term, then the positions thereby becoming available within a specific category of position shall be tendered to the employees so removed or dismissed from that category of position so far as they are legally qualified to hold such positions. At the conclusion of the pilot, any educational support personnel employee who was transferred from a participating district shall be transferred back to the district and Section 10-23.5 of this Code shall apply. In that case, a district is subject to this Code in the same manner as if the educational support personnel employee transferred back had been continuously in the service of the receiving district.

(g) This Section repeals 3 years after the beginning date of operation of a pilot cooperative elementary school or a pilot cooperative high school.

(Source: P.A. 96-1328, eff. 7-27-10.)

(105 ILCS 5/11E-110)

Sec. 11E-110. Teachers in contractual continued service; educational support personnel employees.

(a) When a school district conversion or multi-unit conversion becomes effective for purposes of administration and attendance, as determined pursuant to Section 11E-70 of this Code, the provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 Section 24-12 of this Code relative to the contractual continued service status of teachers having contractual continued service whose positions are transferred from one school board to the control of a new or different school board shall apply, and the positions held by teachers, as that term is defined in subsection (a) of Section 24-11 of this Code, having contractual continued service with the unit district at the time of its dissolution shall be transferred on the following basis:

(1) positions of teachers in contractual continued service that, during the 5 school years immediately preceding the effective date of the change, as determined under Section 11E-70 of this Code, were full-time positions in which all of the time required of the position was spent in one or more of grades 9 through 12 shall be transferred to the control of the school board of the new high school district or combined high school - unit district, as the case may be;

(2) positions of teachers in contractual continued service that, during the 5 school years immediately preceding the effective date of the change, as determined under Section 11E-70 of this Code, were full-time positions in which all of the time required of the position was spent in one or more of grades kindergarten through 8 shall be transferred to the control of the school board of the newly created successor elementary district; and

(3) positions of teachers in contractual continued service that were full-time positions not required to be transferred to the control of the school board of the new high school district or combined high school - unit district, as the case may be, or the school board of the newly created successor elementary district under the provisions of subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection (a) shall be transferred to the control of whichever of the boards the teacher shall request.

With respect to each position to be transferred under the provisions of this subsection (a), the amount of time required of each position to be spent in one or more of grades kindergarten through 8 and 9 through 12 shall be determined with reference to the applicable records of the unit district being dissolved pursuant to stipulation of the school board of the unit district prior to the effective date of its dissolution or thereafter of the school board of the newly created districts and with the approval in either case of the regional superintendent of schools of the educational service region in which the territory described in the petition filed under this Article or the greater percentage of equalized assessed evaluation of the territory is situated; however, if no such stipulation can be agreed upon, the regional superintendent of schools, after hearing any additional relevant and material evidence that any school board desires to submit, shall make the determination.

(a-5) When a school district conversion or multi-unit conversion becomes effective for purposes of administration and attendance, as determined pursuant to Section 11E-70 of this Code, the provisions of subsection (b) of Section 10-23.5 of this Code relative to the transfer of educational support personnel employees shall apply, and the positions held by educational support personnel employees shall be transferred on the following basis:

(1) positions of educational support personnel employees that, during the 5 school years immediately preceding the effective date of the change, as determined under Section 11E-70 of this Code, were full-time positions in which all of the time required of the position was spent in one or more of grades 9 through 12 shall be transferred to the control of the school board of the new high school district or combined high school - unit district, as the case may be;

(2) positions of educational support personnel employees that, during the 5 school years immediately preceding the effective date of the change, as determined under Section 11E-70 of this Code, were full-time positions in which all of the time required of the position was spent in one or more of grades kindergarten through 8 shall be transferred to the control of the school board of the newly created successor elementary district; and

(3) positions of educational support personnel employees that were full-time positions not required to be transferred to the control of the school board of the new high school district or combined high school - unit district, as the case may be, or the school board of the newly created successor elementary district under subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection (a-5) shall be transferred to the control of whichever of the boards the educational support personnel employee requests.

With respect to each position to be transferred under this subsection (a-5), the amount of time required of each position to be spent in one or more of grades kindergarten through 8 and 9 through 12 shall be determined with reference to the applicable records of the unit district being dissolved pursuant to stipulation of the school board of the unit district prior to the effective date of its dissolution or thereafter of the school board of the newly created districts and with the approval in either case of the regional superintendent of schools of the educational service region in which the territory described in the petition filed under this Article or the greater percentage of equalized assessed evaluation of the territory is situated; however, if no such stipulation can be agreed upon, the regional superintendent of schools, after hearing any additional relevant and material evidence that any school board desires to submit, shall make the determination.

(b) When the creation of a unit district or a combined school district becomes effective for purposes of administration and attendance, as determined pursuant to Section 11E-70 of this Code, the positions of teachers in contractual continued service in the districts involved in the creation of the new district are transferred to the newly created district pursuant to the provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 Section 24-12 of this Code relative to teachers having contractual continued service status whose positions are transferred from one board to the control of a different board, and those provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code Section 24-12 shall apply to these transferred teachers. The contractual continued service status of any teacher thereby transferred to the newly created district is not lost and the new school board is subject to this Code with respect to the transferred teacher in the same manner as if the teacher was that district's employee and had been its employee during the time the teacher was actually employed by the school board of the district from which the position was transferred.

(c) When the creation of a unit district or a combined school district becomes effective for purposes of administration and attendance, as determined pursuant to Section 11E-70 of this Code, the positions of educational support personnel employees in the districts involved in the creation of the new district shall be transferred to the newly created district pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 10-23.5 of this Code. The length of continuing service of any educational support personnel employee thereby transferred to the newly created district is not lost and the new school board is subject to this Code with respect to the transferred educational support personnel employee in the same manner as if the educational support personnel employee had been that district's employee during the time the educational support personnel employee was actually employed by the school board of the district from which the position was transferred.

(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06; 95-148, eff. 8-14-07; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(105 ILCS 5/18-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 18-12)

Sec. 18-12. Dates for filing State aid claims. The school board of each school district, a regional office of education, a laboratory school, or a State-authorized charter school shall require teachers, principals, or superintendents to furnish from records kept by them such data as it needs in preparing and certifying to the State Superintendent of Education regional superintendent its school district report of claims provided in Section Sections 18-8.05 of this Code through 18-9 as required by the State Superintendent of Education. The district claim shall be based on the latest available equalized assessed valuation and tax rates, as provided in Section 18-8.05, and shall use the average daily attendance as determined by the method outlined in Section 18-8.05, and shall be certified and filed with the State Superintendent of Education regional superintendent by June 21 for districts and State-authorized charter schools with an official school calendar end date before June 15 or within 2 weeks following the official school calendar end date for districts, regional offices of education, laboratory schools, or State-authorized charter schools with a school year end date of June 15 or later. The regional superintendent shall certify and file with the State Superintendent of Education district State aid claims by July 1 for districts with an official school calendar end date before June 15 or no later than July 15 for districts with an official school calendar end date of June 15 or later. Failure to so file by these deadlines constitutes a forfeiture of the right to receive payment by the State until such claim is filed and vouchered for payment. The regional superintendent of schools shall certify the county report of claims by July 15; and the State Superintendent of Education shall voucher for payment those claims to the State Comptroller as provided in Section 18-11.

Except as otherwise provided in this Section, if any school district fails to provide the minimum school term specified in Section 10-19, the State aid claim for that year shall be reduced by the State Superintendent of Education in an amount equivalent to 1/176 or .56818% for each day less than the number of days required by this Code.

If the State Superintendent of Education determines that the failure to provide the minimum school term was occasioned by an act or acts of God, or was occasioned by conditions beyond the control of the school district which posed a hazardous threat to the health and safety of pupils, the State aid claim need not be reduced.

If a school district is precluded from providing the minimum hours of instruction required for a full day of attendance due to an adverse weather condition or a condition beyond the control of the school district that poses a hazardous threat to the health and safety of students, then the partial day of attendance may be counted if (i) the school district has provided at least one hour of instruction prior to the closure of the school district, (ii) a school building has provided at least one hour of instruction prior to the closure of the school building, or (iii) the normal start time of the school district is delayed.

If, prior to providing any instruction, a 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 claim attendance for up to 2 school days based on the average attendance of the 3 school days immediately preceding the closure of the affected school building or, if approved by the State Board of Education, utilize the provisions of an e-learning program for the affected school building as prescribed in Section 10-20.56 of this Code. The partial or no day of attendance described in this Section and the reasons therefore shall be certified within a month of the closing or delayed start by the school district superintendent to the regional superintendent of schools for forwarding to the State Superintendent of Education for approval.

Other than the utilization of any e-learning days as prescribed in Section 10-20.56 of this Code, no exception to the requirement of providing a minimum school term may be approved by the State Superintendent of Education pursuant to this Section unless a school district has first used all emergency days provided for in its regular calendar.

If the State Superintendent of Education declares that an energy shortage exists during any part of the school year for the State or a designated portion of the State, a district may operate the school attendance centers within the district 4 days of the week during the time of the shortage by extending each existing school day by one clock hour of school work, and the State aid claim shall not be reduced, nor shall the employees of that district suffer any reduction in salary or benefits as a result thereof. A district may operate all attendance centers on this revised schedule, or may apply the schedule to selected attendance centers, taking into consideration such factors as pupil transportation schedules and patterns and sources of energy for individual attendance centers.

Electronically submitted State aid claims shall be submitted by duly authorized district or regional individuals over a secure network that is password protected. The electronic submission of a State aid claim must be accompanied with an affirmation that all of the provisions of Sections 18-8.05 through 18-9, 10-22.5, and 24-4 of this Code are met in all respects.

(Source: P.A. 99-194, eff. 7-30-15.)

(105 ILCS 5/21B-30)

Sec. 21B-30. Educator testing.

(a) This Section applies beginning on July 1, 2012.

(b) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall design and implement a system of examinations, which shall be required prior to the issuance of educator licenses. These examinations and indicators must be based on national and State professional teaching standards, as determined by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The State Board of Education may adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement and administer this Section. No score on a test required under this Section, other than a test of basic skills, shall be more than 10 years old at the time that an individual makes application for an educator license or endorsement.

(c) Applicants seeking a Professional Educator License or an Educator License with Stipulations shall be required to pass a test of basic skills before the license is issued, unless the endorsement the individual is seeking does not require passage of the test. All applicants completing Illinois-approved, teacher education or school service personnel preparation programs shall be required to pass the State Board of Education's recognized test of basic skills prior to starting their student teaching or starting the final semester of their internship, unless required earlier at the discretion of the recognized, Illinois institution in which they are completing their approved program. An individual who passes a test of basic skills does not need to do so again for subsequent endorsements or other educator licenses.

(d) All applicants seeking a State license shall be required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area of endorsement for which there is an applicable test. There shall be no exception to this requirement. No candidate shall be allowed to student teach or serve as the teacher of record until he or she has passed the applicable content area test.

(e) All applicants seeking a State license endorsed in a teaching field and completing their student teaching experience no later than August 31, 2015 shall pass the assessment of professional teaching (APT). Prior to September 1, 2015, passage Passage of the APT is required for completion of an approved Illinois educator preparation program. The APT shall be available through August 31, 2020.

(f) Beginning on September 1, 2015, all candidates completing teacher preparation programs in this State and all candidates subject to Section 21B-35 of this Code are required to pass an evidence-based assessment of teacher effectiveness approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. All recognized institutions offering approved teacher preparation programs must begin phasing in the approved teacher performance assessment no later than July 1, 2013.

(g) Tests of basic skills and content area knowledge and the assessment of professional teaching shall be the tests that from time to time are designated by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, and may be tests prepared by an educational testing organization or tests designed by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The areas to be covered by a test of basic skills shall include reading, language arts, and mathematics. The test of content area knowledge shall assess content knowledge in a specific subject field. The tests must be designed to be racially neutral to ensure that no person taking the tests is discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, or other factors unrelated to the person's ability to perform as a licensed employee. The score required to pass the tests shall be fixed by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board. The tests shall be administered not fewer than 3 times a year at such time and place as may be designated by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.

The State Board shall implement a test or tests to assess the speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills of applicants for an endorsement or a license issued under subdivision (G) of paragraph (2) of Section 21B-20 of this Code in the English language and in the language of the transitional bilingual education program requested by the applicant.

(h) Except as provided in Section 34-6 of this Code, the provisions of this Section shall apply equally in any school district subject to Article 34 of this Code.

(i) The rules developed to implement and enforce the testing requirements under this Section shall include without limitation provisions governing test selection, test validation and determination of a passing score, administration of the tests, frequency of administration, applicant fees, frequency of applicants taking the tests, the years for which a score is valid, and appropriate special accommodations. The State Board of Education shall develop such rules as may be needed to ensure uniformity from year to year in the level of difficulty for each form of an assessment.

(Source: P.A. 98-361, eff. 1-1-14; 98-581, eff. 8-27-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14; 99-58, eff. 7-16-15.)

Section 10. The School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act is amended by changing Section 9 as follows:

(105 ILCS 125/9) (from Ch. 122, par. 712.9)

Sec. 9. Certification and payment of claims. The State Board of Education shall prepare and certify to the State Comptroller at least quarterly monthly the amount due each board and welfare center, whereupon the Comptroller shall draw his warrants on the State Treasurer for the amounts certified for the various school boards and welfare centers.

(Source: P.A. 91-843, eff. 6-22-00.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2016, except that this Section and the changes to Section 2-3.25a of the School Code take effect upon becoming law.