(105 ILCS 5/2-3.66) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.66)
Sec. 2-3.66. Truants' alternative and optional education programs. To
establish projects to offer modified instructional programs or other
services designed to prevent students from dropping out of school,
including programs pursuant to Section 2-3.41, and to serve as a part time
or full time option in lieu of regular school attendance and to award
grants to local school districts, educational service regions or community
college districts from appropriated funds to assist districts in
establishing such projects. The education agency may operate its own
program or enter into a contract with another not-for-profit entity to
implement the program. The projects shall allow dropouts, up to and
including age 21, potential dropouts, including truants, uninvolved,
unmotivated and disaffected students, as defined by State Board of
Education rules and regulations, to enroll, as an alternative to regular
school attendance, in an optional education program which may be
established by school board policy and is in conformance with rules adopted
by the State Board of Education. Truants' Alternative and Optional
Education programs funded pursuant to this Section shall be
planned by a student, the student's parents or legal guardians, unless the
student is 18 years or older, and school officials and shall culminate in
an individualized optional education plan. Such plan shall focus
on academic or vocational skills, or both, and may include, but not be
limited to, evening school, summer school, community college courses, adult
education, preparation courses for high school equivalency testing, vocational training, work experience, programs to
enhance self concept and parenting courses. School districts which are
awarded grants pursuant to this Section shall be authorized to provide day
care services to children of students who are eligible and desire to enroll
in programs established and funded under this Section, but only if and to
the extent that such day care is necessary to enable those eligible
students to attend and participate in the programs and courses which are
conducted pursuant to this Section.
School districts and regional offices of education may claim general State
aid under Section 18-8.05 or evidence-based funding under Section 18-8.15 for students enrolled in truants' alternative and
optional education programs, provided that such students are receiving services
that are supplemental to a program leading to a high school diploma and are
otherwise eligible to be claimed for general State aid under Section 18-8.05 or evidence-based funding under Section 18-8.15, as applicable.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)
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