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| Public Act 099-0781 | ||||
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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 adding Sections | ||||
10-20.58 and 34-18.50 as follows: | ||||
(105 ILCS 5/10-20.58 new) | ||||
Sec. 10-20.58. DCFS liaison. | ||||
(a) Each school board may appoint at least one employee to | ||||
act as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of | ||||
records of students in the legal custody of the Department of | ||||
Children and Family Services when enrolling in or changing | ||||
schools. The school board may appoint any employee of the | ||||
school district who is licensed under Article 21B of this Code | ||||
to act as a liaison; however, employees who meet any of the | ||||
following criteria must be prioritized for appointment: | ||||
(1) Employees who have worked with mobile student | ||||
populations or students in foster care. | ||||
(2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record | ||||
transfers, existing community services, and student | ||||
support services. | ||||
(3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator. | ||||
(4) Employees who are counselors or have experience | ||||
with student counseling. | ||||
(5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare | ||
policies. | ||
(6) Employees who serve as a school social worker. | ||
(b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build | ||
capacity and infrastructure within their school district to | ||
support students in the legal custody of the Department of | ||
Children and Family Services. Liaison responsibilities may | ||
include the following: | ||
(1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students | ||
in foster care; | ||
(2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring | ||
mechanisms; | ||
(3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the | ||
Department of Children and Family Services receive all | ||
school nutrition and meal programs available; | ||
(4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school, | ||
record transfers, and credit recovery; | ||
(5) becoming experts on the foster care system and | ||
State laws and policies in place that support children | ||
under the legal custody of the Department of Children and | ||
Family Services; | ||
(6) coordinating with child welfare partners; | ||
(7) providing foster care-related information and | ||
training to the school district; | ||
(8) working with the Department of Children and Family | ||
Services to help students maintain their school placement, | ||
if appropriate; | ||
(9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that | ||
students are on track to graduate; | ||
(10) encouraging a successful transition into | ||
adulthood and post-secondary opportunities; | ||
(11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular | ||
activities; and | ||
(12) knowing what support is available within the | ||
school district and community for students in the legal | ||
custody of the Department of Children and Family Services. | ||
(c) A school district is encouraged to designate a liaison | ||
by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year. | ||
(d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code | ||
acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties | ||
of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations. | ||
(105 ILCS 5/34-18.50 new) | ||
Sec. 34-18.50. DCFS liaison. | ||
(a) The board may appoint at least one employee to act as a | ||
liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of records of | ||
students in the legal custody of the Department of Children and | ||
Family Services when enrolling in or changing schools. The | ||
board may appoint any employee of the school district who is | ||
licensed under Article 21B of this Code to act as a liaison; | ||
however, employees who meet any of the following criteria must | ||
be prioritized for appointment: | ||
(1) Employees who have worked with mobile student | ||
populations or students in foster care. | ||
(2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment, record | ||
transfers, existing community services, and student | ||
support services. | ||
(3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator. | ||
(4) Employees who are counselors or have experience | ||
with student counseling. | ||
(5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare | ||
policies. | ||
(6) Employees who serve as a school social worker. | ||
(b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build | ||
capacity and infrastructure within the school district to | ||
support students in the legal custody of the Department of | ||
Children and Family Services. Liaison responsibilities may | ||
include the following: | ||
(1) streamlining the enrollment processes for students | ||
in foster care; | ||
(2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring | ||
mechanisms; | ||
(3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of the | ||
Department of Children and Family Services receive all | ||
school nutrition and meal programs available; | ||
(4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school, | ||
record transfers, and credit recovery; | ||
(5) becoming experts on the foster care system and | ||
State laws and policies in place that support children | ||
under the legal custody of the Department of Children and | ||
Family Services; | ||
(6) coordinating with child welfare partners; | ||
(7) providing foster care-related information and | ||
training to the school district; | ||
(8) working with the Department of Children and Family | ||
Services to help students maintain their school placement, | ||
if appropriate; | ||
(9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that | ||
students are on track to graduate; | ||
(10) encouraging a successful transition into | ||
adulthood and post-secondary opportunities; | ||
(11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular | ||
activities; and | ||
(12) knowing what support is available within the | ||
school district and community for students in the legal | ||
custody of the Department of Children and Family Services. | ||
(c) The school district is encouraged to designate a | ||
liaison by the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year. | ||
(d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code | ||
acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties | ||
of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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