Section 210.70  Contents of IHOPE Plan

The plan for each IHOPE program shall be approved by the State Superintendent of Education in accordance with criteria set forth under Section 2-3.66b(c) of the School Code and Section 210.75 of this Part. 

a)         The State Superintendent of Education shall annually notify regional offices of education and CPS of the opportunity to submit an IHOPE plan for approval, specifying the information that shall be included in the plan and requiring that the plan be submitted no later than the date specified in the notification. 

b)         Each application shall be reviewed for completeness and conformance to the requirements of Section 2-3.66b of the School Code and this Part.

1)         Incomplete plans shall be returned to the regional office of education or CPS, as applicable, specifying the additional information that is needed, which shall be submitted within 15 calendar days after receiving the request.

2)         Based on the criteria contained in Section 210.75 of this Part, plans that do not meet the requirements of Section 2-3.66b of the School Code and this Part shall be returned to the regional office of education or CPS, as applicable, specifying the reasons why the plan was not acceptable.

c)         Each plan for an IHOPE program shall be submitted in a format specified by the State Superintendent of Education and shall contain the following elements:

1)         A description of the planning process conducted to determine the type of IHOPE program to be established and a list of the participants in that process to at least include those entities specified in Section 2-3.66b(c) of the School Code.

2)         An organizational chart that reflects the governance, administrative, educational and support structures of the proposed IHOPE program and describes the responsibilities of each entity involved in the program.

3)         Evidence that the plan for the IHOPE program includes each of the components enumerated in Section 2-3.66b(g) of the School Code.

A)        Programs that exceed the enrollment limits set forth under Section 2-3.66b(g)(1) of the School Code  shall provide a justification for a larger program and a description of the steps to be taken to ensure that the program will meet the needs of each student to be enrolled in an effective manner.

B)        In order to demonstrate compliance with Section 2-3.66b(g)(3) of the School Code, the plan shall include a description of the experiences, competency, and qualifications of licensed and nonlicensed staff that emphasizes their individual and collective abilities to work successfully with students who have dropped out of school.  (Also see Section 210.40(e) of this Part.) 

C)        In order to demonstrate compliance with Section 2-3.66b(g)(6) of the School Code, the plan shall include a schedule of support services that will be available to students as part of their instructional program, including the procedures for accessing a student's need for services on an as-needed basis.

D)        In order to demonstrate compliance with Section 2-3.66b(g)(9), the plan shall address how instruction will incorporate "action into study" to include but not be limited to the following elements:  observation and interaction, laboratory and field experiences, applying what is learned in the classroom to real-life situations or problems, or students being active participants in their learning.

4)         The specific curriculum to be used (see Section 210.40(a) of this Part), to at least include a description of how work experience and the instructional program will be integrated.  If a non-profit entity will be providing instructional services, then the regional office of education or CPS, as applicable, shall identify the entity and provide evidence that it meets the requirements of Section 210.40(a)(2) of this Part.

5)         The process for admitting dropouts to the program, which shall address factors to be considered to enroll students. These factors shall be nondiscrimintory and shall not take into consideration the needs of individual students for specific services, such as special education or bilingual services.  If there are more eligible applicants for enrollment in an IHOPE program than there are spaces available, students shall be selected either on a first come, first served basis or by lottery.

6)         A list of any cooperative and intergovernmental agreements and subcontracts that identifies the entity with which the agreement or subcontract is entered and includes a description of the need and purpose of the agreement or subcontract; measurable and time-specific services to be provided, as applicable; associated costs, i.e., the amounts to be paid, as applicable; and the projected number of participants to be served. 

7)         An agreement with each school district from which an IHOPE student will graduate and receive a diploma in accordance with Section 2-3.66b(b) of the School Code.

8)         If any of the students enrolled require special education services, then the cooperative agreement with the school district of residence of each student that addresses responsibility for at least, but not limited to, the evaluation process, provision of services, dispute resolution, child count, and receipt of State special education funds.

9)         The procedures to be used to review student progress on a regular basis, which shall at least conform with the requirements of Section 210.40(d) of this Part.

10)         A summary of the program's student discipline policy, to address the procedures to be used for a student's suspension or expulsion from the program due to gross disobedience or misconduct.

11)         The proposed calendar for the program, providing evidence that it is in conformance with the requirements of Section 2-3.66b(e) of the School Code and Section 210.60 of this Part.

12)         A description of how the IHOPE program's professional development plan will address instruction of students who have dropped out of school.

13)         A detailed program budget that includes the sources of funding to be used in conjunction with general State aid and/or any incentive grant received pursuant to Subpart B of this Part and a plan for allocating costs to those funds.

A)        The budget plan shall outline how any local, State or federal funds will be coordinated to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the program.

B)        The budget shall describe sources of revenue other than general State aid or an incentive grant that the regional office of education or CPS, as applicable, will allocate to the program.

C)        The budget shall include an estimate of the total cost per student for the program and an estimate of any gap between existing revenue available for the program and the total cost of the program.

14)         A plan for evaluating the effectiveness of the program in improving academic performance of the students working towards meeting State and local requirements for receipt of a high school diploma.  The plan shall include:

A)        the methods to be used to conduct the evaluation;

B)        the data to be collected, which shall include at least the indicators outlined in Section 2-3.66b(h) of the School Code, as applicable to the program;

C)        the specific procedures for how achievement levels of individual students enrolled in the program will be assessed to ensure that each student is making anticipated progress, as stipulated in his or her individual instructional program;

D)        the specific procedures for how achievement levels of students with IEPs will be assessed, if these students are enrolled in the program;

E)        how the evaluation will measure the extent to which the program overall is an effective strategy for assisting dropouts in completing their high school education and receiving a diploma; and

F)         how the evaluation results will be used to improve the program.

(Source:  Amended at 37 Ill. Reg. 15953, effective September 27, 2013)