Public Act 096-0106
 		





SB1796 Enrolled
LRB096 10970 NHT 21240 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 
2-3.66b as follows:
 
    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.66b  new)
    Sec. 2-3.66b. IHOPE Program.
    (a)  There is established the Illinois Hope and Opportunity 
Pathways through Education (IHOPE) Program.  The State Board of 
Education shall implement and administer the IHOPE Program.  The 
goal of the IHOPE Program is to develop a comprehensive system 
in this State to re-enroll significant numbers of high school 
dropouts in programs that will enable them to earn their high 
school diploma.
    (b)  The IHOPE Program shall award grants, subject to 
appropriation for this purpose, to educational service regions 
and a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code 
from appropriated funds to assist in establishing 
instructional programs and other services designed to 
re-enroll high school dropouts. From any funds appropriated for 
the IHOPE Program, the State Board of Education may use up to 
5% for administrative costs, including the performance of a 
program evaluation and the hiring of staff to implement and 
administer the program. 
    The IHOPE Program shall provide incentive grant funds for 
regional offices of education and a school district organized 
under Article 34 of this Code to develop partnerships with 
school districts, public community colleges, and community 
groups to build comprehensive plans to re-enroll high school 
dropouts in their regions or districts.
    Programs funded through the IHOPE Program shall allow high 
school dropouts, up to and including age 21 notwithstanding 
Section 26-2 of this Code, to re-enroll in an educational 
program in conformance with rules adopted by the State Board of 
Education. Programs may include without limitation 
comprehensive year-round programming, evening school, summer 
school, community college courses, adult education, vocational 
training, work experience, programs to enhance self-concept, 
and parenting courses.  Any student in the IHOPE Program who 
wishes to earn a high school diploma must meet the 
prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma specified in 
Section 27-22 of this Code and any other graduation 
requirements of the student's district of residence.  Any 
student who successfully completes the requirements for his or 
her graduation shall receive a diploma identifying the student 
as graduating from his or her district of residence. 
    (c)  In order to be eligible for funding under the IHOPE 
Program, an interested regional office of education or a school 
district organized under Article 34 of this Code shall develop 
an IHOPE Plan to be approved by the State Board of Education.  
The State Board of Education shall develop rules for the IHOPE 
Program that shall set forth the requirements for the 
development of the IHOPE Plan.  Each Plan shall involve school 
districts, public community colleges, and key community 
programs that work with high school dropouts located in an 
educational service region or the City of Chicago before the 
Plan is sent to the State Board for approval.  No funds may be 
distributed to a regional office of education or a school 
district organized under Article 34 of this Code until the 
State Board has approved the Plan.
    (d)  A regional office of education or a school district 
organized under Article 34 of this Code may operate its own 
program funded by the IHOPE Program or enter into a contract 
with other not-for-profit entities, including school 
districts, public community colleges, and not-for-profit 
community-based organizations, to operate a program. 
    A regional office of education or a school district 
organized under Article 34 of this Code that receives an IHOPE 
grant from the State Board of Education may provide funds under 
a sub-grant, as specified in the IHOPE Plan, to other 
not-for-profit entities to provide services according to the 
IHOPE Plan that was developed.  These other entities may include 
school districts, public community colleges, or not-for-profit 
community-based organizations or a cooperative partnership 
among these entities.
    (e)  In order to distribute funding based upon the need to 
ensure delivery of programs that will have the greatest impact, 
IHOPE Program funding must be distributed based upon the 
proportion of dropouts in the educational service region or 
school district, in the case of a school district organized 
under Article 34 of this Code, to the total number of dropouts 
in this State.  This formula shall employ the dropout data 
provided by school districts to the State Board of Education. 
    A regional office of education or a school district 
organized under Article 34 of this Code may claim State aid 
under Section 18-8.05 of this Code for students enrolled in a 
program funded by the IHOPE Program, provided that the State 
Board of Education has approved the IHOPE Plan and that these 
students are receiving services that are meeting the 
requirements of Section 27-22 of this Code for receipt of a 
high school diploma and are otherwise eligible to be claimed 
for general State aid under Section 18-8.05 of this Code, 
including provisions related to the minimum number of days of 
pupil attendance pursuant to Section 10-19 of this Code and the 
minimum number of daily hours of school work and any exceptions 
thereto as defined by the State Board of Education in rules. 
    (f)  IHOPE categories of programming may include the 
following:
        (1)  Full-time programs that are comprehensive, 
    year-round programs.
        (2)  Part-time programs combining work and study 
    scheduled at various times that are flexible to the needs 
    of students.
        (3)  Online programs and courses in which students take 
    courses and complete on-site, supervised tests that 
    measure the student's mastery of a specific course needed 
    for graduation. Students may take courses online and earn 
    credit or students may prepare to take supervised tests for 
    specific courses for credit leading to receipt of a high 
    school diploma.
        (4)  Dual enrollment in which students attend high 
    school classes in combination with community college 
    classes or students attend community college classes while 
    simultaneously earning high school credit and eventually a 
    high school diploma. 
    (g)  In order to have successful comprehensive programs 
re-enrolling and graduating low-skilled high school dropouts, 
programs funded through the IHOPE Program shall include all of 
the following components:
        (1)  Small programs (70 to 100 students) at a separate 
    school site with a distinct identity.  Programs may be 
    larger with specific need and justification, keeping in 
    mind that it is crucial to keep programs small to be 
    effective.
        (2)  Specific performance-based goals and outcomes and 
    measures of enrollment, attendance, skills, credits, 
    graduation, and the transition to college, training, and 
    employment.
        (3)  Strong, experienced leadership and teaching staff 
    who are provided with ongoing professional development.
        (4)  Voluntary enrollment.
        (5)  High standards for student learning, integrating 
    work experience, and education, including during the 
    school year and after school, and summer school programs 
    that link internships, work, and learning.
        (6)  Comprehensive programs providing extensive support 
    services.
        (7)  Small teams of students supported by full-time paid 
    mentors who work to retain and help those students 
    graduate.
        (8)  A comprehensive technology learning center with 
    Internet access and broad-based curriculum focusing on 
    academic and career subject areas.
        (9)  Learning opportunities that incorporate action 
    into study.
    (h)  Programs funded through the IHOPE Program must report 
data to the State Board of Education as requested.  This 
information shall include, but is not limited to, student 
enrollment figures, attendance information, course completion 
data, graduation information, and post-graduation information, 
as available. 
    (i)  Rules must be developed by the State Board of Education 
to set forth the fund distribution process to regional offices 
of education and a school district organized under Article 34 
of this Code, the planning and the conditions upon which an 
IHOPE Plan would be approved by State Board, and other rules to 
develop the IHOPE Program. 
 

    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
2009.