Public Act 100-0514
 
HB2527 EnrolledLRB100 10670 MLM 20894 b


  
    AN ACT concerning education.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  






 
 
    Section 5. The School Code is amended  by adding Section 
3-15.12a as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.12a new)
    Sec. 3-15.12a. Alternate route to high school diploma for 
adult learners.
    (a) The purpose of this amendatory Act of the 100th General 
Assembly is to provide eligible applicants that have been or 
are unable to establish agreements with a secondary or unit 
school district in the area in which the applicant is located 
with a process for attaining the authority to award high school 
diplomas to adult learners. 
    (a-5)  In this Section:
    "Adult learner" means a person ineligible for reenrollment 
under subsection (b) of Section 26-2 of this Code and 34 CFR 
300.102.
    "Board" means the Illinois Community College Board. 
    "Eligible applicant" means a community college established 
and operating under the authority of the Public Community 
College Act; a non-profit entity in partnership with a regional 
superintendent of schools; the chief administrator of an 
intermediate service center that has the authority, under rules 
adopted by the State Board of Education, to issue a high school 
diploma; or a school district organized under Article 34 of 
this Code. In order to be an eligible applicant, an entity 
under this definition, other than a school district organized 
under Article 34 of this Code, must provide evidence or other 
documentation that it is or has been unable to establish an 
agreement with a secondary or unit school district in which the 
eligible applicant is located to provide a program in which 
students who successfully complete the program can receive a 
high school diploma from their school district of residence.
    "Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the 
Illinois Community College Board. 
    "High school diploma program for adult learners" means a 
program approved to operate under this Section that provides a 
program of alterative study to adult learners leading to the 
issuance of a high school diploma.
    (b)  An eligible applicant is authorized to design a high 
school diploma program for adult learners, to be approved by 
the Board prior to implementation. A non-profit eligible 
applicant shall operate this program only within the 
jurisdictional authority of the regional superintendent of 
schools, the chief administrator of an intermediate service 
center, or a school district organized Article 34 of this Code 
with whom the non-profit eligible applicant has entered into a 
partnership. An approved program shall include, without 
limitation, all of the following:
        (1) An administrative structure, program activities, 
    program staff, a budget, and a specific curriculum that is 
    consistent with Illinois Learning Standards, as well as 
    Illinois content standards for adults, but may be different 
    from a regular school program in terms of location, length 
    of school day, program sequence, multidisciplinary 
    courses, pace, instructional activities, or any 
    combination of these.
        (2) Issuance of a high school diploma only if an adult 
    learner meets all minimum requirements under this Code and 
    its implementing rules for receipt of a high school 
    diploma.
        (3) Specific academic, behavioral, and emotional 
    support services to be offered to adult learners enrolled 
    in the program.
        (4) Career and technical education courses that lead to 
    industry certifications in high growth and in-demand 
    industry sectors or dual credit courses  from a regionally 
    accredited post-secondary educational institution 
    consistent with the Dual Credit Quality Act. The program 
    may include partnering with a community college district to 
    provide career and technical education courses that lead to 
    industry certifications.
        (5) Specific program outcomes and goals and metrics to 
    be used by the program to determine success.
        (6) The requirement that all instructional staff must 
    hold an educator license valid for the high school grades 
    issued under Article 21B of this Code.
        (7) Any other requirements adopted by rule by the 
    Board.
    (c) Eligible applicants shall apply for approval of a high 
school diploma program for adult learners to the Board on forms 
prescribed by the Board.
        (1) Initial approval shall be for a period not to 
    exceed 2 school years.
        (2) Renewal of approval shall be for a period not to 
    exceed 4 school  years and shall be contingent upon at least 
    specific documented outcomes of student progression, 
    graduation rates, and earning of industry-recognized 
    credentials.
        (3) Program approval may be given only if the Executive 
    Director determines that the eligible applicant has 
    provided assurance through evidence of other documentation 
    that it will meet the requirements of subsection (b) of 
    this Section and any rules adopted by the Board. The Board 
    shall make public any evaluation criteria it uses in making 
    a determination of program approval or denial.
        (4) Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the 
    contrary, a non-profit eligible applicant shall provide 
    the following to the Board:
            (A) documentation that the non-profit entity will 
        fulfill the requirements of subsection (b) of this 
        Section;
            (B) evidence that the non-profit entity has the 
        capacity to fulfill the requirements of this Section;
            (C) a description of the coordination and 
        oversight that the eligible entity will provide in the 
        administration of the program by the non-profit 
        entity;
            (D) evidence that the non-profit entity has a 
        history of providing services to adults 18 years of age 
        or older whose educational and training opportunities 
        have been limited by educational disadvantages, 
        disabilities, and challenges.
        (5) If an eligible applicant that has been approved 
    fails to meet any of the requirements of subsection (b) of 
    this Section and any rules adopted by the Board, the 
    Executive Director shall immediately initiate a process to 
    revoke the eligible applicant's approval to provide the 
    program, pursuant to rules adopted by the Board.
    (d)  The Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement 
this Section. 
 
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.