Section 227.20  Submission of Proposal; Plan

As used in this Part, a "proposal" means the plan for gifted education that is required under Section 14A-30 of the School Code, accompanied by the additional materials applicants will be required to submit in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) as described in Section 14A-45 of the School Code and this Section.

a)         When sufficient State funding is expected to be available to support local programs of gifted education, the State Superintendent of Education shall issue anRFP.  To be considered for funding, an eligible entity shall submit for approval by the State Superintendent a plan for its program that incorporates all the elements required by Section 14A-30 of the School Code and meets the specific requirements of this subsection (a).

1)         In order to demonstrate compliance with Section 14A-30(2) of the School Code, each plan shall include programs of instruction in English language arts and mathematics and may include programs of instruction in additional subjects.  Each plan shall indicate whether the program will be unified across the subjects offered or students will be identified gifted on a subject-by-subject basis and shall provide a description of the curriculum and instructional materials to be used, the grades to be served in the various subjects to be offered, and the program's approach to the development of higher-level skills, as required by Section 14A-30(11) and (12) of the School Code.

2)         In order to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of Section 14A-30 of the School Code related to identification of the students to be served, each plan shall:

A)        demonstrate that:

i)          active consideration is given to the potential eligibility of students who are identified as having disabilities;

ii)        multiple assessment instruments will be used for the purposes of identifying a student for accelerated placement of each eligible student; and

iii)       a selection process designed to help identify gifted and talented students in an inclusive and equitable manner who are members of underrepresented groups, including low-income students, minority students, students with disabilities, twice-exceptional students, and English Learners;

B)        provide evidence that the measures to be used in each curricular area, when taken together, provide equivalent rigor in the identification of students as gifted and talented; and

C)        discuss how the measures to be used in each subject area correspond to the level of attainment prerequisite to students' participation in the program.

3)         In order to demonstrate compliance with Sections 14A-25 and 14A-30(7) of the School Code, each plan shall include evidence that:

A)        the ranking process for each subject area, or across subject areas, as applicable, is applied in the same manner to the scores achieved by all students;

B)        if any program's capacity is inadequate to serve the entire number of students identified as eligible, the method of selecting those who will participate considers only the composite scores and their ranking;

C)        the applicant has a procedure for accommodating students who were not available when the relevant assessment measures were administered but who may be eligible to participate in the program;

D)        in identifying the locations where the program will be offered, consideration has been given to the needs of students who are members of underrepresented groups; and

E)        local norms of score ranges on assessments are taken into consideration when identifying students for accelerated placement.

4)         In order to demonstrate compliance with the requirement of Section 14A-30(8) of the School Code, each plan shall describe the appeals process that will be available when students are not identified as gifted and talented or are not selected to be served by a program, including evidence that each appeal will be considered:

A)        by an individual not involved in the original decision and at an equal or higher level of authority within the applicant organization;

B)        using information in accordance with the requirements of subsection (a)(3); and

C)        in time for the student to be placed into the program at the beginning of the next semester, if the appeal results in the student's identification and selection.

5)         In order to demonstrate compliance with the requirement of Section 14A-30(16) of the School Code, each plan shall identify the qualifications held by the teachers who will be assigned to the program, provided that:

A)        each teacher employed shall be qualified under Section 227.25 after no more than three years of teaching in any program funded pursuant to this Part; and

B)        each teacher not qualified under Section 227.25 shall complete some portion of the requirements chosen during each year of the grace period permitted under subsection (a)(6)(A).

6)         In order to demonstrate compliance with Section 14A-30(9) of the School Code, each plan shall:

A)        describe the steps the applicant will take to inform parents and other members of the public of:

i)          the existence and scope of the program;

ii)         the methods used for identifying students who are gifted and talented and in selecting participants for the program; and

iii)        the availability of the appeals process established pursuant to subsection (a)(4); and

B)        provide a rationale for the applicant's outreach plans, with specific reference to the linguistic or cultural needs of any segments of the population that may not be readily informed of the program.

b)        Each RFP shall describe the format that applicants will be required to follow and any additional information they may be required to submit.

c)         Each RFP shall include a budget summary and payment schedule, as well as requiring a narrative budget breakdown, i.e., a detailed explanation of each line item of expenditure that discusses the need for State funds in the context of the applicant's other available resources.

d)        Each RFP shall identify the data recipients will be required to collect and report regarding the achievement of students participating in the program, as well as any other information to be reported and the associated timelines.

e)          Each RFP shall include such certification and assurance forms as the State Superintendent may, by law, require.

f)          Each RFP shall specify the date by which applications shall be submitted.  The deadline established shall provide at least 45 days in which to submit plans that conform to the requirements of Article 14A of the School Code and this Part as applications for funding.

g)         Separate proposals for renewal of funding as discussed in Section 227.40(b) shall be invited and shall contain at least:

1)         evidence that the program has complied with all aspects of Article 14A of the School Code and the approved plan;

2)         the required data relative to students' achievement and growth;

3)         information on the qualifications and professional development of the teachers employed that will permit verification of compliance with the requirements of subsection(a)(5);

4)         an updated narrative that discusses the services and materials for which funding is requested and presents evidence of continued need for State support; and

5)         an updated budget summary and payment schedule for the renewal year, including a narrative budget breakdown.

h)         Incomplete applications shall not be considered.

(Source:  Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 7255, effective June 7, 2019)