Section 75.400  Purpose and Objectives

a)         This Subpart E establishes the application procedure and criteria for award of one or more grants to eligible applicants for the following purposes, set forth in Section 2-3.80(d) of the School Code: 

1)         development of a curriculum and strategy for the purpose of establishing a source of trained and qualified individuals in agriculture;

2)         a strategy for articulating the State program in agricultural education throughout the public school system; and

3)         a consumer education outreach strategy regarding the importance of agricultural education in Illinois.

b)         In order to facilitate and coordinate agricultural education programs offered in public elementary and secondary schools in Illinois, projects funded under this Subpart E shall meet at least the following objectives:

1)         implementation of agricultural education initiatives as part of career and technical education through the use of a sufficient number of qualified professional and support staff (including designation of a director) who are located in identified regions of the State that at least include representation in each of the five districts established by the Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers (see https://www.ilaged.org/IAVAT);

2)         review of existing or development of new curriculum and assessments, ensuring alignment to the Illinois Learning Standards.

A)        Agricultural education curriculum and assessments will be evaluated, revised, as needed, and disseminated to programs and teachers in prekindergarten through grade 12, as applicable; and

B)        Professional learning will be provided to assist teachers with planning, developing and implementing the resources using currently available technology;

3)         coordination of statewide consumer education outreach initiatives with a focus on agriculture (including urban agriculture and community food systems) and designed to increase literacy in and awareness of agriculture at all grade levels;

4)         coordination of a statewide system of professional learning and provision of on-site technical assistance for agricultural education teachers at all grade levels;

5)         coordination of the identification, compilation and dissemination of information and resources that include data collection from agricultural education programs (including information relating to student participation in SAE programs) and maintenance of the agriculture education website found at www.ilaged.org;

6)         coordination of efforts between the business community and educators to improve agricultural education;

7)         coordination of statewide recruitment strategies and retention initiatives for agricultural education teachers; and

8)         coordination of statewide contracts when economically advantageous for agricultural education programs.

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 16012, effective December 1, 2021)