Section 205.35  Required Program Components

Each program funded pursuant to Section 2-3.66 of the School Code shall include at least the following components.

a)         A comprehensive community-based program planning process that includes, but is not limited to, the participation of business, community organizations, social service providers, government agencies, parents, school administrators and other staff members, including teachers, and students, and that leads to the development and implementation of a strategic plan.

1)         The plan shall contain program goals and objectives developed by analyzing social and academic challenges in the community to be served by the truants' alternative and optional education program.

2)         The plan shall identify available community resources and services and describe how these will be coordinated to meet the needs of students identified as eligible for the program (see Section 205.20(b) of this Part).

b)         An Individualized Optional Education Plan, which is a written document developed in accordance with Section 2-3.66 of the School Code and this Part, that outlines an individual's academic, vocational and/or life skill needs, as well as goals and objectives and various educational and social experiences needed to reach those goals and objectives.  The development of this plan shall include school officials, the student, and the student's parents or legal guardians if the student is less than 18 years old.  The individualized optional education plan for each student shall include:

1)         learning objectives or individual outcomes, such as increased school attendance, course credit, graduation, gains in achievement level, or employment;

2)         the basis upon which the student is referred to the program;

3)         the services that will be provided in relation to the student's educational, social, and/or career development needs necessary to achieve the learning objectives or individual outcomes pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this Section;

4)         assessment procedures to determine the degree to which the student is achieving his or her learning objectives or individual outcomes;

5)         a time period sufficient to allow the student to achieve those objectives or outcomes; and

6)         a statement that the student, parent, or guardian has the ultimate choice of whether to accept the individualized optional education plan that is offered or to return to or remain in the regular education program of the school district attended.

c)         Educational services that may include either:

1)         An Optional Education Program that provides a modified instructional program that incorporates State academic standards and, as appropriate to the student's needs, work-based learning and career development, and is established by school board policy to serve as a part-time or full-time option in lieu of regular school attendance in conformance with Section 2-3.66 of the School Code and this Part; or

2)         Supplemental services that provide students enrolled in the regular school program with supports (e.g., tutoring, mentoring, health services, home visits, counseling) that are needed to increase their attendance rates or prevent them from dropping out of school.

(Source:  Added at 25 Ill. Reg. 2399, effective January 25, 2001)