Public Act 099-0721
 
HB6136 EnrolledLRB099 18158 NHT 45062 b

    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 adding Section
2-3.167 as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.167 new)
    Sec. 2-3.167. Advisory Council on At-Risk Students.
    (a) For purposes of this Section, "at-risk students" means
students served by the Department of Human Services who receive
services through Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program, the Children's Health Insurance Program,
or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, as well as students
under the legal custody of the Department of Children and
Family Services. Students may not be counted more than once for
receiving multiple services from the Department of Human
Services or if they receive those services and are under the
legal custody of the Department of Children and Family
Services.
    (b) The Advisory Council on At-Risk Students is created
within the State Board of Education. The Advisory Council shall
consist of all of the following members:
        (1) One member of the House of Representatives
    appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
        (2) One member of the House of Representatives
    appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
    Representatives.
        (3) One member of the Senate appointed by the President
    of the Senate.
        (4) One member of the Senate appointed by the Minority
    Leader of the Senate.
        (5) The following members appointed by the State
    Superintendent of Education:
            (A) One member who is an educator representing a
        statewide professional teachers' organization.
            (B) One member who is an educator representing a
        different statewide professional teachers'
        organization.
            (C) One member who is an educator representing a
        professional teachers' organization in a city having a
        population exceeding 500,000.
            (D) One member from an organization that works for
        economic, educational, and social progress for African
        Americans and promotes strong sustainable communities
        through advocacy, collaboration, and innovation.
            (E) One member from an organization that
        facilitates the involvement of Latino Americans at all
        levels of public decision-making.
            (F) One member from an organization focused on
        research-based education policy to support a school
        system that prepares all students for college, a
        career, and democratic citizenship.
            (G) One member from an organization dedicated to
        advocating for public policies to prevent
        homelessness.
            (H) One member from the Illinois Student
        Assistance Commission.
            (I) One member from an organization that works to
        ensure the health and safety of Illinois youth and
        families by providing capacity building services.
            (J) One member from an organization that provides
        public high school students with opportunities to
        explore and develop their talents, while gaining
        critical skills for work, college, and beyond.
            (K) One member from an organization that promotes
        the strengths and abilities of youth and families by
        providing community-based services that empower each
        to face life's challenges with confidence, competence,
        and dignity.
            (L) One member from an organization that connects
        former members of the foster care system with current
        children in the foster care system.
            (M) One member who has experience with research and
        statistics.
            (N) Three members who are parents of at-risk
        students.
            (O) One member from an organization that optimizes
        the positive growth of at-risk youth and individuals
        working with at-risk youth through support services.
            (P) One member from a statewide organization
        representing regional offices of education.
Members of the Council shall, to the extent possible, be
selected on the basis of experience with or knowledge of
various programs for at-risk students. The Council shall, to
the extent possible, include diverse membership from a variety
of socio-economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
    (c) Initial members of the Council shall serve terms
determined by lot as follows:
        (1) Seven members shall serve for one year.
        (2) Seven members shall serve for 2 years.
        (3) The remaining members shall serve for 3 years.
Successors shall serve 3-year terms. Members must serve until
their successors are appointed and have qualified.
    (d) Members of the Council shall not receive compensation
for the performance of their duties on the Council.
    (e) The Council shall initially meet at the call of the
State Superintendent of Education. At the initial meeting,
members shall select a chairperson from among their number by
majority vote; a representative from the State Board of
Education may cast a deciding vote if there is a tie. The
Council shall select a chairperson annually, who may be the
same chairperson as the year prior. The Council shall meet at
the call of the chairperson after the initial meeting.
    (f) The State Board of Education and City of Chicago School
District 299 shall provide administrative support to the
Council.
    (g) The Council shall accept and consider public comments
when making its recommendations.
    (h) By no later than December 15, 2017, the Council shall
submit a report to the State Superintendent of Education, the
Governor, and the General Assembly addressing, at a minimum,
the following with respect to school districts where racial
minorities comprise a majority of the student population:
        (1) What are the barriers to success present for
    at-risk students?
        (2) How much does socio-economic status impact
    academic and career achievement?
        (3) How do at-risk students perform academically?
        (4) How do at-risk students perform academically
    compared to students from higher socio-economic statuses?
        (5) What programs are shown to help at-risk students
    reach higher levels of academic and career achievement?
        (6) What specific curriculums help the academic
    success of at-risk students?
        (7) Of curriculums that help at-risk students, which of
    these need to be implemented within the Illinois Learning
    Standards?
        (8) To what degree do school districts teach cultural
    history, and how can this be improved?
        (9) Specific policy recommendations to improve the
    academic success of at-risk students.
        (10) Any other information that the Council determines
    will assist in the understanding of the barriers to success
    for or increase the academic performance of at-risk
    students.
The Council shall submit an annual report with updated
information on the barriers to academic success and the
academic progress of at-risk students by no later than December
15 of each year beginning the year after the initial report is
submitted.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.