Public Act 90-0640 of the 90th General Assembly
Public Act 90-0640
HB2887 Enrolled LRB9009009NTmbA
AN ACT to amend the School Code by changing Section
2-3.51.
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
Section 2-3.51 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.51) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51)
Sec. 2-3.51. Reading Improvement Block Grant Program.
To improve the reading and study skills of children from
kindergarten through sixth grade in school districts. The
State Board of Education is authorized to administer a
Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. As used in this
Section, "school district" shall include those schools
designated as "laboratory schools".
(a) Funds for the Reading Improvement Block Grant
Program shall be distributed to school districts on the
following basis: 70% of monies shall be awarded on the prior
year's best 3 months average daily attendance and 30% shall
be distributed on the number of economically disadvantaged
(E.C.I.A. Chapter I) pupils in the district, provided that
the State Board may distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of
the monies appropriated for the Reading Improvement Block
Grant Program for the purpose of providing teacher training
and re-training in the teaching of reading. Program funds
shall be distributed to school districts in 2 semi-annual
installments, one payment on or before October 30, and one
payment prior to April 30, of each year. The State Board
shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the
implementation of this program.
(a-5) Reading Improvement Block Grant Program funds
shall be used by school districts in the following manner:
(1) to reduce class size in grades kindergarten
through 3 for the purpose of providing more intensified
reading instruction;
(2) to extend the time devoted in kindergarten
through third grade to intensified reading instruction,
including phonic instruction, either by lengthening the
school day or lengthening the school year;
(3) to create transitional grades for students
needing intensified reading instruction either between
the first and second grades or between the second and
third grades in accordance with the authority granted
school districts in Section 10-21.2 of this Code;
(4) to continue direct reading instruction for
grades 4 through 6;
(5) to establish reading academies in schools that
focus on the mechanics of reading, the application of
reading skills, and the reading of rich literature and
that reflect a commitment of time and resources to these
functions;
(6) to conduct intense vocabulary, spelling, and
related writing enrichment programs that promote better
understanding of language and words;
(7) to increase the availability of reading
specialists and teacher aides for reading; and
(8) to train and retrain teachers of kindergarten
through third grade to be proficient in the teaching of
reading, including phonic instruction.
(a-10) Reading Improvement Block Grant Program funds
shall be made available to each eligible school district
submitting an approved application developed by the State
Board beginning with the 1998-99 school year. Applications
shall include a proposed assessment method or methods for
measuring student reading skills. Such methods may include
the reading portion of the Illinois Goals and Assessment
Program. At the end of each school year the district shall
report assessment results to the State Board. Districts not
demonstrating performance progress using an approved
assessment method shall not be eligible for funding in the
third or subsequent years until such progress is established.
Reading Improvement Block Grant Program funds shall be made
available to each eligible school district submitting a
one-page application developed by the State Board beginning
with the 1998-99 school year. Applications shall include
existing Illinois Goals and Assessment Program (IGAP) reading
scores and the planned use for the funds. At the end of each
school year the school district shall report new IGAP results
on the same form. Each application, beginning with the
1998-99 school year, shall be for a 2-year grant based on
initial year qualification. Districts not demonstrating
performance progress using IGAP reading scores as the basis
of measure based on metrics of progress established by the
State Board shall not be eligible for funding in the third or
subsequent years thereafter until such progress is
established.
(a-15) The State Superintendent of Education, in
cooperation with the school districts participating in the
program, shall annually report to the leadership of the
General Assembly on the results of the Reading Improvement
Block Grant Program and the progress being made on improving
the reading skills of students in kindergarten through the
sixth grade.
(b) (Blank).
(c) (Blank).
(d) Grants under the Reading Improvement Program shall
be awarded provided there is an appropriation for the
program, and funding levels for each district shall be
prorated according to the amount of the appropriation.
(e) (Blank).
(f) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)