Section 254.150  Definitions

 

The following terms are used in these rules as defined herein unless the particular context in which a term is used requires that a different meaning be associated with the term when used in that context:

 

            The term "administrative agency," when used in relation to a joint cooperative agreement, means the public school district, regional superintendent of schools, or public community college, designated as the fiscal and legal agent for the local educational agencies which are parties to the agreement.  The term includes the cooperative acting as its own administrative district when provided for by the agreement establishing the cooperative.  A public school district or community college designated as administrative agency must be a party to the cooperative agreement.

 

            The term "adult" means a person who has completed or left high school. Adults seeking vocational education may enrolled in a secondary or postsecondary program.

 

            The term "area secondary vocational center" means a specialized educational facility used exclusively or principally for providing vocational education at the secondary level and designated as an area secondary vocational center by the State Board of Education in accordance with Subpart T.

           

The term "articulation agreement" means a written agreement entered into by and between a regional secondary vocational system and the area community college(s) which provides that consideration be given to:

 

            program alignment and continuity in a given occupational area between secondary and postsecondary institutions;

 

            transition of the student without delay or duplication of effort (for example, in coursework, testing, or other student services) from one institution to another in those occupational areas provided by both secondary and postsecondary institutions;

 

            cooperation in joint use of facilities, equipment, and staff; and

 

            cooperative efforts in continuous planning, evaluation, and improvement of programs to serve both youth and adults as well as the area's economic needs.

 

            The term "community-based organization" shall have the meaning given in Section 521 of the Vocational Education Act (20 U.S.C. 2471 (5)).

 

            The term "cooperative agreement" means one of the following:

 

            a joint agreement entered into by the boards of education of one or more public school districts with other public school boards or public institutions of higher education pursuant to Section 10-22.20a or Section 10-22.31a or 10-22.31b of The School Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 122, pars. 10-22.20a, 10-22.31a, 10-22.31b); or

 

            an intergovernmental agreement entered into by and between one or more local educational agencies under applicable provisions of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Clause of the Illinois Constitution (Ill. Const. 1970, Art. VII, Sec. 10) as well as the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 127, par. 741 et seq.).

 

            The term "cooperative vocational education" means vocational education for persons who, through written cooperative arrangements between the school and employers, receive instruction, including required academic courses and related vocational instruction, by alternation of study in school with a job in any occupational field, but these two experiences must be planned and supervised by the school and employers so that each contributes to the student's education and to his or her employability.  Work periods and school attendance may be on alternate half days, full days, weeks, or other periods of time.

 

            The term "criminal offender" means any individual who is charged with or convicted of any criminal offense, including a youth offender or a juvenile offender.

 

            The term "disadvantaged," as applied to persons, means persons (other than handicapped persons) who have academic or economic disadvantages and who require special services and assistance in order to enable them to succeed in vocational education programs.  The term includes individuals who are members of economically disadvantaged families, migrants, individuals who have limited English proficiency, and individuals who are dropouts from, or potential dropouts from, secondary school.

 

            For the purpose of this definition, an individual who, based upon the results of standardized tests, is two grade levels below grade placement in reading skills, writing skills, or math skills; or who is receiving a grade of D or below in a vocational class and needs support services to succeed in that class will be considered "academically disadvantaged."  At the secondary level, students who are enrolled in remedial programs and those who meet one or more of the criteria listed above may be reported as academically disadvantaged.  At the postsecondary and adult levels, students who are receiving remedial instruction or who are on academic probation may be reported as academically disadvantaged.  The definition does not include individuals with learning disabilities.

 

            The term "economically disadvantaged family or individual" means a family or individual determined to be low-income as herein defined.

 

            The term "economically depressed area" means an area, consisting of the eligible recipient's district, in which the relative concentration of low-income families or individuals is equal to or greater than twenty percent among the student population, served by local educational agencies within the eligible recipient's area, or a county in which the general unemployment rate exceeds the average unemployment rate in the state and/or nation by 50 percent for each of the three years preceding the year for which such designation is made.

 

            The term "eligible recipient" means the administrative agency of a regional vocational system formed under a cooperative agreement, a public community college, a technical institute operated by a state university, or a state agency having administrative control and direction of a program of vocational education.

 

            The term "funding agreement" means a written agreement entered into by and between the State Board of Education and other parties to the agreement which provides for the allocation of funds administered by the State Board of Education as payment for a product or service rendered or as reimbursement for approved expenses incurred in the conduct of a program, project, or activity under the terms of the agreement.

 

            The term "handicapped," as applied to persons, means persons who are mentally retarded, hard of hearing, deaf, speech impaired, visually handicapped, seriously emotionally disturbed, orthopedically impaired, deaf-blind, multi-handicapped, or other health impaired persons, or persons with specific learning disabilities:

 

            who by reason thereof require special education and related services; and

 

            who, because of their handicapping condition, cannot succeed in the regular vocational education program without special education assistance.

 

            The term "homemaker" means an individual who is an adult; and has worked as an adult primarily without remuneration to care for the home and family.

 

            The term "limited English proficiency," when used with reference to individuals, means individuals:

 

            who were not born in the United States or whose native language is a language other than English;

 

            who come from environments where a language other than English is dominant; or

 

            who are American Indian or Alaskan Native students and who come from environments where a language other than English has affected their level of English language proficiency; and

 

            who, by reason thereof, have sufficient difficulty speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language to deny such individuals the opportunity to learn in classrooms where the language of instruction is English.

 

            The term "local education agency" means one of the following entities:

 

            a local board of education having administrative control and direction of public elementary or secondary schools in the state; or

 

            the administrative agency of an area secondary vocational center; or

 

            the administrative agency of a regional vocational system as formed under a cooperative agreement; or

 

            a public community college; or

 

            a public postsecondary educational institution, regional superintendent of schools, or state agency having administrative control and direction of a program of vocational education.

 

            The term "low-income," when applied to a family or individual, means a family or individual who:

 

            at the secondary level, is eligible for free or reduced-price school lunch in accordance with the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.); and

 

            at the postsecondary level, is the recipient of a Pell Grant or a grant under the Monetary Award Program (23 Ill. Adm. Code 1735).

 

            The term "participating district," when used in relation to a cooperative agreement, means a public school district or community college which is currently party to the agreement.

 

            The term "postsecondary," when applied to vocational education programs, means a program of vocational education for persons who have completed or left high school and who are enrolled in an organized program of study for which credit is given toward an associate or other degree, but which program is not designed as a baccalaureate or higher degree program.

 

            The term "regional vocational system" means a consortium of local educational agencies that have united to jointly plan, develop, implement, and evaluate areawide vocational education programs provided by the participating agencies.

 

            The term "secondary," when applied to vocational education programs, means a program of vocational education for students in public school grades 9 through 12.

 

            The term "single parent" means an individual who is unmarried or legally separated from a spouse and has a minor child or children for which the parent has either custody or joint custody.

 

            The term "special cooperative vocational education program" means a specially funded cooperative vocational education program, including the following:

 

            a Work Experience and Career Exploration Program for disadvantaged students fourteen and fifteen years of age;

 

            an Early School Leaver Program for high school dropouts; and

 

            other special cooperative vocational education programs as may be developed to meet identified needs.

 

            The term "state and federal laws and regulations" shall include the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) and its regulations (34 CFR 400-401 (1986, with no later amendments or editions)), The School Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 122, par. 1-1 et seq.), AN ACT in relation to vocational education (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 122, par. 694 et seq.) and its implementing regulations found in this Part, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.), and the Illinois Human Rights Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 68, par. 1-101 et seq.).

 

            The term "State Board of Education" means the official State Board created under authority of the State Constitution with responsibility for the educational policies and guidelines for public and private schools, preschool through grade 12, and vocational education in the State of Illinois.  Where the term "State Board" is used in this Part, reference is made to this official board or, as may be appropriate, to the State Superintendent of Education appointed by the Board and designated as the Board's chief executive officer.

 

            The term "State Plan for Vocational Education" means the Plan adopted by the State Board of Education and approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education as such plan may be in effect for a particular fiscal year.

 

            The term "vocational education" means organized educational programs which are directly related to the preparation of individuals for paid or unpaid employment or for additional preparation for a career, except that such programs shall not include preparation for the following or other careers generally considered to be professional or requiring a baccalaureate or higher degree:

 

            Accountants and auditors

 

            Actors and actresses

 

            Architects, artists, and sculptors

 

            Athletes

 

            Authors and editors

 

            Clergy

 

            Engineers

 

            Lawyers

 

            Librarians, archivists, and curators

 

            Life scientists, including agronomists, biologists, and physiologists

 

            Mathematicians

 

            Medical and health professionals, including physicians, surgeons, dentists, osteopaths, veterinarians, pharmacists, and baccalaureate degreed nurses

 

            Musicians

 

            Physical scientists, including chemists, physicists, and astronomers

 

            Social and welfare workers

 

            Social scientists, including economists, historians, political scientists, and sociologists

 

            Teachers and other educators

 

            The above listing is not intended to exclude preparation for those semiprofessional, technical, or other occupations which are related to those listed but which do not themselves require a baccalaureate or higher degree. For the purposes of this definition of vocational education, the term "organized educational program" means an organized and articulated sequence of courses providing vocational instruction related to the occupation or occupations for which the students are in training or instruction necessary for students to benefit from such training.

 

            The term "Vocational Education Act" or "Act" means the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act as now or hereafter amended.

 

            The term "vocational education funds," as applied to state and/or federal funds, means funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly to the State Board of Education for the purposes of vocational education.

 

            The term "vocational instruction" means instruction which is designed upon its completion for employment in a specific occupation or cluster of closely related occupations in an occupational field, or for additional preparation for such employment, and which is specially and particularly suited to the needs of those engaged in or preparing to engage in such occupation or occupations. Such instruction may include the following:

 

            classroom instruction;

 

            classroom related field, shop, and laboratory work in or out of school, including instruction provided in extended campus facilities;

 

            programs providing supervised occupational work experiences;

 

            related instructional aspects of apprenticeship programs;

 

            remedial programs which are designed to enable individuals to benefit from instruction related to the occupation or occupations for which they are being trained by correcting whatever educational deficiencies or handicaps which prevent them from benefiting from such instruction; and

 

            activities of vocational student organizations which are an integral part of the vocational instruction, subject to the provisions of this Part.

 

            The term "work-study program" means a program of financial assistance for needy students provided through part-time employment for youths who need the earnings from such employment to commence or to continue their vocational training on a full-time basis.

 

(Source:  Amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 2282, effective January 15, 1988)