(105 ILCS 5/2-3.39) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.39)

Sec. 2-3.39. Department of Transitional Bilingual Education. To establish a Department of Transitional Bilingual Education. In selecting staff for the Department of Transitional Bilingual Education the State Board of Education shall give preference to persons who are natives of foreign countries where languages to be used in transitional bilingual education programs are the predominant languages. The Department of Transitional Bilingual Education has the power and duty to:

(1) Administer and enforce the provisions of Article 14C of this Code including the power to promulgate any necessary rules and regulations.

(2) Study, review, and evaluate all available resources and programs that, in whole or in part, are or could be directed towards meeting the language capability needs of child English learners and adult English learners residing in the State.

(3) Gather information about the theory and practice of bilingual education in this State and elsewhere, and encourage experimentation and innovation in the field of bilingual education.

(4) Provide for the maximum practical involvement of parents of bilingual children, transitional bilingual education teachers, representatives of community groups, educators, and laymen knowledgeable in the field of bilingual education in the formulation of policy and procedures relating to the administration of Article 14C of this Code.

(5) Consult with other public departments and agencies, including but not limited to the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Public Welfare, the Division of Employment Security, the Commission Against Discrimination, and the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in connection with the administration of Article 14C of this Code.

(6) Make recommendations in the areas of preservice and in-service training for transitional bilingual education teachers, curriculum development, testing and testing mechanisms, and the development of materials for transitional bilingual education programs.

(7) Undertake any further activities which may assist in the full implementation of Article 14C of this Code and to make an annual report to the General Assembly to include an evaluation of the program, the need for continuing such a program, and recommendations for improvement.

The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15; 100-1148, eff. 12-10-18.)