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| Public Act 096-1152 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Sections | ||||
14A-30 and 14A-45 as follows: | ||||
(105 ILCS 5/14A-30) | ||||
Sec. 14A-30. Funding of local gifted education programs | ||||
Local programs; requirements. A In order for a local program | ||||
for the education of gifted and talented children may to be | ||||
approved for funding by the State Board of Education, pursuant | ||||
to a request for proposals process in order to qualify for | ||||
State funding, if funds for that purpose are available and, | ||||
beginning with , as of the beginning of the 2010-2011 2006-2007 | ||||
academic year, if the local program submits an application for | ||||
funds that includes a comprehensive plan (i) showing that the | ||||
applicant is capable of meeting a portion of must meet the | ||||
following minimum requirements, (ii) showing the program | ||||
elements currently in place and a timeline for implementation | ||||
of other elements, and (iii) demonstrating to the satisfaction | ||||
of the State Board of Education that the applicant is capable | ||||
of implementing a program of gifted education consistent with | ||||
this Article and demonstrate the fulfillment of these | ||||
requirements in a written program description submitted to the | ||||
State Board of Education by the local educational agency | ||
operating the program and modified if the program is | ||
substantively altered: | ||
(1) The use of a minimum of 3 assessment measures used | ||
to identify gifted and talented children in each area in | ||
which a program for gifted and talented children is | ||
established, which may include without limitation scores | ||
on standardized achievement tests, observation checklists, | ||
portfolios, and currently-used district assessments. | ||
(2) A priority emphasis on language arts and | ||
mathematics. | ||
(3) An identification method that uses the definition | ||
of gifted and talented children as defined in Section | ||
14A-20 of this Code. | ||
(4) Assessment instruments sensitive to the inclusion | ||
of underrepresented groups, including low-income students, | ||
minority students, and English language learners. | ||
(5) A process of identification of gifted and talented | ||
children that is of equal rigor in each area of aptitude | ||
addressed by the program. | ||
(6) The use of identification procedures that | ||
appropriately correspond with the planned programs, | ||
curricula, and services. | ||
(7) A fair and equitable decision-making process. | ||
(8) The availability of a fair and impartial appeal | ||
process within the school, school district, or cooperative | ||
of school districts operating a program for parents or | ||
guardians whose children are aggrieved by a decision of the | ||
school, school district, or cooperative of school | ||
districts regarding eligibility for participation in a | ||
program. | ||
(9) Procedures for annually informing the community | ||
at-large, including parents, about the program and the | ||
methods used for the identification of gifted and talented | ||
children. | ||
(10) Procedures for notifying parents or guardians of a | ||
child of a decision affecting that child's participation in | ||
a program. | ||
(11) A description of how gifted and talented children | ||
will be grouped and instructed in order to maximize the | ||
educational benefits the children derive from | ||
participation in the program, including curriculum | ||
modifications and options that accelerate and add depth and | ||
complexity to the curriculum content. | ||
(12) An explanation of how the program emphasizes | ||
higher-level skills attainment,
including problem-solving, | ||
critical thinking, creative thinking, and research skills, | ||
as embedded within relevant content areas. | ||
(13) A methodology for measuring academic growth for | ||
gifted and talented children and a procedure for | ||
communicating a child's progress to his or her parents or | ||
guardian, including, but not limited to, a report card. | ||
(14) The collection of data on growth in learning for | ||
children in a program for gifted and talented children and | ||
the reporting of the data to the State Board of Education. | ||
(15) The designation of a supervisor responsible for | ||
overseeing the educational program for gifted and talented | ||
children. | ||
(16) A showing that the certified teachers who are | ||
assigned to teach gifted and talented children understand | ||
the characteristics and educational needs of children and | ||
are able to differentiate the curriculum and apply | ||
instructional methods to meet the needs of the children. | ||
(17) Plans for the continuation of professional | ||
development for staff assigned to the program serving | ||
gifted and talented children.
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(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05; 95-331, | ||
eff. 8-21-07.) | ||
(105 ILCS 5/14A-45) | ||
Sec. 14A-45. Grants for services and materials. Subject to | ||
the availability of categorical grant funding or other funding | ||
appropriated for such purposes, the State Board of Education | ||
shall make grants available to fund educational programs for | ||
gifted and talented children. A request-for-proposal process | ||
shall be used in awarding grants for services and materials, | ||
with carry over to the next fiscal year, under this Section. A | ||
proposal may be submitted to the State Board of Education by a | ||
school district, 2 or more
cooperating school districts, a | ||
county, 2 or more cooperating counties, an established | ||
professional organization in gifted education, or a regional | ||
office of education. The proposals shall include a statement of | ||
the qualifications and duties of the personnel required in the | ||
field of diagnostic, counseling, and consultative services and | ||
the educational materials necessary. Upon receipt, the State | ||
Board of Education shall evaluate the proposals in accordance | ||
with criteria developed by the State Board of Education that is | ||
consistent with this Article and shall award grants to the | ||
extent funding is available. Educational programs for gifted | ||
and talented children may be offered during the regular school | ||
term and may include optional summer programs. As a condition | ||
for State funding, a grantee must comply with the requirements | ||
of this Article.
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(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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