Public Act 0506 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB3822 Enrolled LRB094 09877 NHT 41324 b

Public Act 094-0506

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 changing Sections 2-3.71, 2-3.71a, and 2-3.89 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.71) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.71)

Sec. 2-3.71. Grants for preschool educational and related model research-training programs.

(a) Preschool program.

(1) The State Board of Education shall implement and administer a grant program under the provisions of this subsection which shall consist of grants to public school districts and other eligible entities, as defined by the State Board of Education, to conduct voluntary preschool educational programs for children ages 3 to 5 which include a parent education component. A public school district which receives grants under this subsection may subcontract with other entities that are eligible a private school, not-for-profit corporation or other governmental agency to conduct a preschool educational program. These grants must be used to supplement, not supplant, funds received from any other source. Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, all teachers of such programs shall (i) hold early childhood teaching certificates issued under Article 21, or (ii) hold elementary certificates issued under Article 21 with kindergarten or preschool experience, or (iii) hold baccalaureate degrees in child development, or (iv) meet the requirements for supervising a day care center under the Child Care Act of 1969, as amended.

(2) (Blank). After December 31, 1989, any persons newly hired to teach in the program authorized pursuant to this subsection shall hold the certification required pursuant to subparagraphs (i), (ii) or (iii) of paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(3) Any After July 1, 1998, any teacher of preschool children in the program authorized by this subsection shall hold an early childhood teaching certificate.

(4) The State Board of Education shall provide the primary source of funding through appropriations for this program. Such Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), such funds shall be distributed for the benefit of children who because of their home and community environment are subject to such language, cultural, economic and like disadvantages that they have been determined as a result of screening procedures to be at risk of academic failure. Such screening procedures shall be based on criteria established by the State Board of Education.

(5) The State Board of Education shall develop and provide evaluation tools, including tests, that school districts and other eligible entities may use to evaluate children for school readiness prior to age 5. The State Board of Education shall require school districts and other eligible entities to obtain consent from the parents or guardians of children before any evaluations are conducted. The State Board of Education shall encourage local school districts and other eligible entities to evaluate the population of preschool children in their communities districts and provide preschool programs, pursuant to this subsection, where appropriate.

(6) The State Board of Education shall report to the General Assembly by July 1, 1989 and every 3 years thereafter, on the results and progress of students who were enrolled in preschool educational programs, including an assessment of which programs have been most successful in promoting academic excellence and alleviating academic failure. The State Board of Education shall assess the academic progress of all students who have been enrolled in preschool educational programs.

(b) (Blank). Up to 5% of the amounts annually appropriated for purposes of preschool educational programs under this Section may be used by the State Board of Education for grants to school districts and public and private institutions of higher education to establish and implement coordinated model programs which include both a research component in early childhood development and psychology and a personnel training component in preferred teaching methodologies in effective preschool educational programs. The State Board of Education shall by rule establish criteria for the content, objectives and manner of implementing model programs which may qualify for grant awards under this subsection. Such criteria may include considerations of the ability of a proposed model program to serve children from preschool and early childhood age groupings, including children therefrom who are or may not be at risk, and of the ability of the proposed model program to incorporate program site student teaching, for early childhood certification purposes, of the children actually served by the model program. The State Board of Education shall establish standards within its rules for the form of grant applications submitted under this subsection and for evaluating those applications against the qualifying criteria established as provided in this subsection for model program content, objectives and implementation.

(Source: P.A. 86-316; 86-400; 86-1028; 87-141; 87-515; 87-895.)

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.71a) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.71a)

Sec. 2-3.71a. Grants for model pilot early childhood parental training programs.

The State Board of Education shall implement and administer a grant program consisting of grants to public school districts and other eligible entities, as defined by the State Board of Education, to conduct model pilot early childhood parental training programs for the parents of children in the period of life from birth to kindergarten. A public school district that receives grants under this Section may contract with other eligible entities another district, private school, not-for-profit corporation or other governmental agency to conduct an early childhood parental training program. These grants must be used to supplement, not supplant, funds received from any other source. A school board or other eligible entity shall employ appropriately qualified personnel for its early childhood parental training program, including but not limited to certified teachers, counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers.

(a) As used in this Section, "parental training" means and includes instruction in the following:

(1) Child growth and development, including prenatal development.

(2) Childbirth and child care.

(3) Family structure, function and management.

(4) Prenatal and postnatal care for mothers and infants.

(5) Prevention of child abuse.

(6) The physical, mental, emotional, social, economic and psychological aspects of interpersonal and family relationships.

(7) Parenting skill development.

The programs shall include activities that require substantial participation and interaction between parent and child.

(b) The Board shall annually award funds through a grant approval process established by the State Board of Education annual grants on a competitive basis, providing that an annual appropriation is made for this purpose from State, federal or private funds. Nothing in this Section shall preclude school districts from applying for or accepting private funds to establish and implement programs.

(c) The State Board of Education shall assist those districts and other eligible entities offering early childhood parental training programs, upon request, in developing instructional materials, training teachers and staff, and establishing appropriate time allotments for each of the areas included in such instruction.

(d) School districts and other eligible entities may offer early childhood parental training courses during that period of the day which is not part of the regular school day. Residents of the community school district may enroll in such courses. The school board or other eligible entity may establish fees and collect such charges as may be necessary for attendance at such courses in an amount not to exceed the per capita cost of the operation thereof, except that the board or other eligible entity may waive all or part of such charges if it determines that the parent is indigent or that the educational needs of the parent require his or her attendance at such courses.

(e) Parents who participate in early childhood parental training programs under this Section may be eligible for reasonable reimbursement of any incidental transportation and child care expenses from the school district receiving funds pursuant to this Section the grant from the State Board of Education.

(f) Districts and other eligible entities receiving grants pursuant to this Section shall coordinate programs created under this Section with other preschool educational programs, including "at-risk" preschool programs, special and vocational education, and related services provided by other governmental agencies and not-for-profit agencies.

(g) The State Board of Education shall report to the General Assembly by July 1, 1991, on the results of the programs funded pursuant to this Section and whether a need continues for such programs.

(h) After July 1, 2006, any parental training services funded pursuant to this Section on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly shall continue to be funded pursuant to this Section, subject to appropriation and the meeting of program standards. Any additional parental training services must be funded, subject to appropriation, through preschool education grants pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of this Code for families with children ages 3 to 5 and through prevention initiative grants pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 2-3.89 of this Code for expecting families and those with children from birth to 3 years of age.

(Source: P.A. 85-1046.)

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.89) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.89)

Sec. 2-3.89. Programs Pilot programs concerning services to at-risk children and their families.

(a) The State Board of Education may provide grants to eligible entities, as defined by the State Board of Education, enter into contracts with public or not-for-profit, private organizations to establish pilot programs which offer coordinated services to at-risk infants and toddlers and their families. Each pilot program shall include a parent education program relating to the development and nurturing of infants and toddlers and case management services to coordinate existing services available in the region served by the pilot program. These services shall be provided through the implementation of an individual family service plan. Each pilot program will have a community involvement component to provide coordination in the service system.

(b) The State Board of Education shall administer the programs through the grants to public school districts and other eligible entities. These grants must be used to supplement, not supplant, funds received from any other source. School districts and other eligible entities receiving grants pursuant to this Section shall conduct voluntary, intensive, research-based, and comprehensive prevention services, as defined by the State Board of Education, for expecting parents and families with children from birth to age 3 who are at-risk of academic failure. A public school district that receives a grant under this Section may subcontract with other eligible entities.

(c) The State Board of Education shall report to the General Assembly by July 1, 2006 and every 2 years thereafter on the status of programs funded under this Section, including without limitation characteristics of participants, services delivered, program models used, unmet needs, and results of the programs funded.

(Source: P.A. 85-1046.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2005.