Section 240.30  Program Requirements

Each Alternative Learning Opportunities Program approved by the State Board of Education shall conform to the following program requirements.

a)         The program of instruction of an Alternative Learning Opportunities Program shall be consistent with State standards and provide innovative and varied instructional strategies designed to improve the educational achievement of the students enrolled in the program (see 105 ILCS 5/13B-20).

1)         Instructional programs shall offer services and activities that provide educational options, such as evening high school, in-school tutoring or mentoring, and high school completion programs (see 105 ILCS 5/13B-20.5), to improve the student's academic performance and facilitate the student's successful completion of an elementary school program or graduation from high school.  These services and activities may be in addition to and/or vary in sequence, pace or mode of delivery from what is currently offered in the regular school program.

2)         The curriculum shall enable a student to receive credit towards completion of required courses and/or promotion to the next grade level in accordance with the criteria of the student's resident district.

3)         School districts must award academic credit for work completed in accordance with Section 13B-80 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/13B-80].

4)         If the instructional program is provided by a non-profit or for-profit educational entity, then that entity shall be recognized by the State Board of Education (see 105 ILCS 5/13B-75).  A recognized entity is one that:

A)        is established by the State to provide education-related services or instruction (e.g., Regional Offices of Education, Intermediate Service Centers, public community colleges or universities); or

B)        is a nonpublic elementary or secondary school recognized by the State Board of Education pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 425 (Voluntary Registration and Recognition of Nonpublic Schools); or

C)        is designated for operation through a standardized approval process administered by the State Board of Education (e.g., public university laboratory schools, alternative schools, area vocational centers); or

D)        is designated for operation through a standardized approval process administered by another State entity (e.g., private business and vocational schools, charter schools); or

E)        meets the requirements of a national or regional accrediting body (e.g., private colleges and universities, nonpublic elementary or secondary schools).

b)         Support services shall be provided for each student enrolled in the Alternative Learning Opportunities Program (see 105 ILCS 5/13B-15.20).  The particular services provided shall be those that are determined to be necessary for the student's academic success.

c)         A Student Success Plan shall be developed for each student enrolled in the Alternative Learning Opportunities Program in accordance with Section 240.40 of this Part.  Existing alternative education programs that receive approval pursuant to Sections 240.70 and 240.75 of this Part to become an Alternative Learning Opportunities Program shall develop a Student Success Plan for each student enrolled.

d)         Progress reports for students enrolled in the Alternative Learning Opportunities Program shall be provided at least in the same manner and with the same frequency as progress reports that are sent to parents and guardians of students enrolled in the regular school program (see 105 ILCS 5/13B-60.15).

1)         The school district operating the program shall establish procedures for reviewing the progress of each student enrolled.

A)        If the review determines that the student has met all of the objectives established in his or her Student Success Plan, then the district shall begin the process of transferring the student back to the regular school program (see Section 240.50 of this Part), except that a suspended or expelled student shall not be permitted to return to or re-enroll in his or her home school pursuant to this subsection (d)(1)(A) until the term of the suspension or expulsion is completed.

B)        If the district determines that the student has met all of the identified objectives but should continue to be enrolled in the Alternative Learning Opportunities Program, then it shall:

i)          provide to the student and his or her parent or guardian a written rationale as to why the student should remain in the program;

ii)         project the length of time the student would be expected to remain in the program before returning to the regular school program; and

iii)        amend the student's Student Success Plan to include revised goals and objectives that address the reasons why the district recommended the student's continuation in the program.

2)         A student's parent or guardian may request a meeting anytime during the school year to review the student's progress, in accordance with procedures developed by the district (see 105 ILCS 5/13B-60.15).  The school district shall respond to this type of request within seven school days after the parent or guardian submits the request.

e)         Each Alternative Learning Opportunities Program shall have in place procedures, developed in accordance with Section 240.50 of this Part, to provide for the transition of students enrolled in the program back to the regular school program.

f)         Each Alternative Learning Opportunities Program shall employ staff who hold the appropriate educator licensure.

1)         Teachers shall hold a valid and active Illinois professional educator license with the endorsement (i.e., elementary, secondary, special K-12 or special preschool-age 21) required for the grade levels to which they will be assigned (see 105 ILCS 5/13B-65).

2)         Professional personnel who provide other services for students enrolled in the program shall hold the professional educator license endorsed in the area appropriate to their roles pursuant to State Board of Education rules for Educator Licensure (23 Ill. Adm. Code 25), except that:

A)        personnel providing professional nursing services shall meet the requirements of Section 10-22.23 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/10-22.23],

B)        personnel providing school counseling services shall meet the requirements of Section 10-22.24b of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/10-22.24b],

C)        personnel providing noninstructional services shall meet the requirements of Section 10-22.34 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/10-22.34],

D)        personnel providing school psychological services shall meet the requirements of Section 14-1.09.1 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/14-1.09.1], and

E)        personnel providing school social work services shall meet the requirements of Section 14-1.09.2 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/14-1.09.2].

(Source:  Amended at 38 Ill. Reg. 8345, effective April 1, 2014)