Public Act 099-0806
 
HB4627 EnrolledLRB099 14729 NHT 38876 b


  
    AN ACT concerning education.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
    Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended  by 
changing Section 8 as follows:
 


    (110 ILCS 305/8)  (from Ch. 144, par. 29)




    Sec. 8. Admissions. 

    (a) (Blank).

    (b) In addition, commencing in the fall of 1993, no new 
student shall
then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in 
any of the departments or
colleges of the University unless 
such student also has satisfactorily
completed:

        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from 
    the following
5 categories:

            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and 
        oral communications
and literature), of which up to 2 
        years may be collegiate level instruction;

            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history 
        and government);

            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through 
        advanced algebra,
geometry, trigonometry, or 
        fundamentals of computer programming);

            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and

            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which 
        may be deemed to include American Sign Language), 
        music, vocational
education or art;

        (2) except that institutions may admit individual 
    applicants if the
institution determines through 
    assessment or through evaluation based on
learning 
    outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational 
    education
courses and courses taken in a charter school 
    established under Article 27A
of the School Code, that the 
    applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
substantially

    equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be 
    acquired in the high
school courses required for admission.  
    The Board of Trustees of the
University of Illinois shall 
    not discriminate in the University's admissions
process 
    against an applicant for admission because of the 
    applicant's
enrollment
 in a charter school established 
    under Article 27A of the School Code.
Institutions
may also 
    admit 1)
applicants who did not have an opportunity to 
    complete the minimum college
preparatory curriculum in 
    high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged
applicants 
    who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance

    programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, 
    providing that in
either case, the institution 
    incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate
curriculum 
    courses or other academic activities that compensate for 
    course
deficiencies; and

        (3) except that up to 3 of the 15 units of coursework 
    required by
paragraph (1) of this subsection may be 
    distributed by deducting no more
than one unit each from 
    the categories of social studies, mathematics,
sciences 
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

    (c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall 
recognize
their obligation to their students to offer the 
coursework required by
subsection (b).

    (d) A student who has graduated from high school and has 
scored within the
University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT 
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as 
a prerequisite to
admission.

    (e) The Board of Trustees shall establish an admissions 
process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to 
submit an application for admission to the University as a 
freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the 
veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The 
University may request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs 
confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged 
veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)
 
    Section 10. The Southern Illinois University Management 
Act is amended  by changing Section 8e as follows:
 


    (110 ILCS 520/8e)  (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)



    Sec. 8e. Admissions. 

    (a) Commencing in the fall of 1993, no new student shall

then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in any of the 
departments or
colleges of the University unless such student 
also has satisfactorily
completed:

        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from 
    the following
5 categories:

            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and 
        oral communications
and literature), of which up to 2 
        years may be collegiate level instruction;

            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history 
        and government);

            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through 
        advanced algebra,
geometry, trigonometry, or 
        fundamentals of computer programming);

            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and

            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which 
        may be deemed to include American Sign Language), 
        music, vocational
education  or art; 

        (2) except that institutions may admit individual 
    applicants if the
institution determines through 
    assessment or through evaluation based on
learning 
    outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational 
    education
courses and courses taken in a charter school 
    established under Article 27A
of the School Code, that the 
    applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
substantially

    equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be 
    acquired in the high
school courses required for admission.  
    The Board of Trustees of Southern
Illinois University shall 
    not discriminate in the University's
admissions process 
    against an applicant for admission because of the

    applicant's
enrollment in a charter school established 
    under Article 27A of the
School Code.  Institutions may also 
    admit 1)
applicants who did not have an opportunity to 
    complete the minimum college
preparatory curriculum in 
    high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged
applicants 
    who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance

    programs that are tailored to the needs of such students, 
    providing that in
either case, the institution 
    incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate
curriculum 
    courses or other academic activities that compensate for 
    course
deficiencies; and

        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework 
    required by
paragraph (1) of this subsection may be 
    distributed by deducting no more
than one unit each from 
    the categories of social studies, mathematics,
sciences 
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall 
recognize
their obligation to their students to offer the 
coursework required by
subsection (a).

    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has 
scored within the
University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT 
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as 
a prerequisite to
admission.

    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in 
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an 
application for admission to the University as a freshman 
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on 
active duty during the fall semester. The University may 
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the 
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who 
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)

 
    Section 15. The Chicago State University Law is amended  by 
changing Section 5-85 as follows:
 


    (110 ILCS 660/5-85)



    Sec. 5-85. Admissions Admission requirements. 

    (a) No new student shall
be admitted to instruction in any 
of the departments or
colleges of the Chicago State University 
unless such student also has
satisfactorily completed:

        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from 
    the following
5 categories:

            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and 
        oral communications
and literature), of which up to 2 
        years may be collegiate level instruction;

            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history 
        and government);

            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through 
        advanced algebra,
geometry, trigonometry, or 
        fundamentals of computer programming);

            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and

            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which 
        may be deemed to include American Sign Language), 
        music, vocational
education  or art; 

        (2) except that Chicago State University may admit 
    individual applicants
if it determines through assessment 
    or through evaluation based on
learning outcomes of the 
    coursework taken, including vocational education
courses 
    and courses taken in a charter school established under 
    Article 27A
of the School Code, that the applicant 
    demonstrates knowledge and skills
substantially
equivalent 
    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the 
    high
school courses required for admission.
The Board of 
    Trustees of Chicago State University
shall not 
    discriminate in the University's
admissions process 
    against an applicant for admission because of the

    applicant's
enrollment in a charter school established 
    under Article 27A of the
School Code.
Chicago State 
    University may also admit
(i)
applicants who did not have 
    an opportunity to complete the minimum college
preparatory 
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally 
    disadvantaged
applicants who are admitted to the formal 
    organized special assistance
programs that are tailored to 
    the needs of such students, providing that in
either case, 
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's 
    baccalaureate
curriculum courses or other academic 
    activities that compensate for course
deficiencies; and

        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework 
    required by
paragraph (1) of this subsection may be 
    distributed by deducting no more
than one unit each from 
    the categories of social studies, mathematics,
sciences 
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall 
recognize
their obligation to their students to offer the 
coursework required by
subsection (a).

    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has 
scored within the
University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT 
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as 
a prerequisite to
admission.

    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in 
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an 
application for admission to the University as a freshman 
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on 
active duty during the fall semester. The University may 
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the 
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who 
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)

 
    Section 20. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended  
by changing Section 10-85 as follows:
 


    (110 ILCS 665/10-85)



    Sec. 10-85. Admissions Admission requirements. 

    (a) No new student shall
be admitted to instruction in any 
of the departments or
colleges of the Eastern Illinois 
University unless such student also has
satisfactorily 
completed:

        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from 
    the following
5 categories:

            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and 
        oral communications
and literature), of which up to 2 
        years may be collegiate level instruction;

            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history 
        and government);

            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through 
        advanced algebra,
geometry, trigonometry, or 
        fundamentals of computer programming);

            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and

            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which 
        may be deemed to include American Sign Language), 
        music, vocational
education  or art; 

        (2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit 
    individual
applicants if it determines through assessment 
    or through evaluation based on
learning outcomes of the 
    coursework taken, including vocational education
courses 
    and courses taken in a charter school established under 
    Article 27A
of the School Code, that the applicant 
    demonstrates knowledge and skills
substantially
equivalent 
    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the 
    high
school courses required for admission.
The Board of 
    Trustees of Eastern Illinois University
shall not 
    discriminate in the University's
admissions process 
    against an applicant for admission because of the

    applicant's
enrollment in a charter school established 
    under Article 27A of the
School Code.
Eastern Illinois 
    University may also
admit (i)
applicants who did not have 
    an opportunity to complete the minimum college
preparatory 
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally 
    disadvantaged
applicants who are admitted to the formal 
    organized special assistance
programs that are tailored to 
    the needs of such students, providing that in
either case, 
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's 
    baccalaureate
curriculum courses or other academic 
    activities that compensate for course
deficiencies; and

        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework 
    required by
paragraph (1) of this subsection may be 
    distributed by deducting no more
than one unit each from 
    the categories of social studies, mathematics,
sciences 
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall 
recognize
their obligation to their students to offer the 
coursework required by
subsection (a).

    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has 
scored within the
University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT 
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as 
a prerequisite to
admission.

    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in 
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an 
application for admission to the University as a freshman 
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on 
active duty during the fall semester. The University may 
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the 
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who 
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)

 
    Section 25. The Governors State University Law is amended  
by changing Section 15-85 as follows:
 


    (110 ILCS 670/15-85)



    Sec. 15-85. Admissions Admission requirements. 

    (a) No new student shall
be admitted to instruction in any 
of the departments or
colleges of the Governors State 
University unless such student also has
satisfactorily 
completed:

        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from 
    the following
5 categories:

            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and 
        oral communications
and literature), of which up to 2 
        years may be collegiate level instruction;

            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history 
        and government);

            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through 
        advanced algebra,
geometry, trigonometry, or 
        fundamentals of computer programming);

            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and

            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which 
        may be deemed to include American Sign Language), 
        music, vocational
education  or art; 

        (2) except that Governors State University may admit 
    individual applicants
if it determines through assessment 
    or through evaluation based on
learning outcomes of the 
    coursework taken, including vocational education
courses 
    and courses taken in a charter school established under 
    Article 27A
of the School Code, that the applicant 
    demonstrates knowledge and skills
substantially
equivalent 
    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the 
    high
school courses required for admission.
The Board of 
    Trustees of Governors State University
shall not 
    discriminate in the University's
admissions process 
    against an applicant for admission because of the

    applicant's
enrollment in a charter school established 
    under Article 27A of the
School Code.
Governors State 
    University may also
admit (i)
applicants who did not have 
    an opportunity to complete the minimum college
preparatory 
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally 
    disadvantaged
applicants who are admitted to the formal 
    organized special assistance
programs that are tailored to 
    the needs of such students, providing that in
either case, 
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's 
    baccalaureate
curriculum courses or other academic 
    activities that compensate for course
deficiencies; and

        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework 
    required by
paragraph (1) of this subsection may be 
    distributed by deducting no more
than one unit each from 
    the categories of social studies, mathematics,
sciences 
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall 
recognize
their obligation to their students to offer the 
coursework required by
subsection (a).

    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has 
scored within the
University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT 
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as 
a prerequisite to
admission.

    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in 
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an 
application for admission to the University as a freshman 
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on 
active duty during the fall semester. The University may 
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the 
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who 
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)

 
    Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended  by 
changing Section 20-85 as follows:
 


    (110 ILCS 675/20-85)



    Sec. 20-85. Admissions Admission requirements. 

    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any 
of the
departments or colleges of the Illinois State University 
unless such student
also has satisfactorily completed:

        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from 
    the following
5 categories:

            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and 
        oral communications
and literature), of which up to 2 
        years may be collegiate level instruction;

            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history 
        and government);

            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through 
        advanced algebra,
geometry, trigonometry, or 
        fundamentals of computer programming);

            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and

            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which 
        may be deemed to include American Sign Language), 
        music, vocational
education  or art; 

        (2) except that Illinois State University may admit 
    individual applicants
if it determines through assessment 
    or through evaluation based on
learning outcomes of the 
    coursework taken, including vocational education
courses 
    and courses taken in a charter school established under 
    Article 27A
of the School Code, that the applicant 
    demonstrates knowledge and skills
substantially
equivalent 
    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the 
    high
school courses required for admission.
The Board of 
    Trustees of Illinois State University
shall not 
    discriminate in the University's
admissions process 
    against an applicant for admission because of the

    applicant's
enrollment in a charter school established 
    under Article 27A of the
School Code.
Illinois State 
    University may also
admit (i)
applicants who did not have 
    an opportunity to complete the minimum college
preparatory 
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally 
    disadvantaged
applicants who are admitted to the formal 
    organized special assistance
programs that are tailored to 
    the needs of such students, providing that in
either case, 
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's 
    baccalaureate
curriculum courses or other academic 
    activities that compensate for course
deficiencies; and

        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework 
    required by
paragraph (1) of this subsection may be 
    distributed by deducting no more
than one unit each from 
    the categories of social studies, mathematics,
sciences 
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall 
recognize
their obligation to their students to offer the 
coursework required by
subsection (a).

    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has 
scored within the
University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT 
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as 
a prerequisite to
admission.

    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in 
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an 
application for admission to the University as a freshman 
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on 
active duty during the fall semester. The University may 
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the 
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who 
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)

 
    Section 35. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is 
amended  by changing Section 25-85 as follows:
 


    (110 ILCS 680/25-85)



    Sec. 25-85. Admissions Admission requirements. 

    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any 
of the
departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois 
University unless such
student also has satisfactorily 
completed:

        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from 
    the following
5 categories:

            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and 
        oral communications
and literature), of which up to 2 
        years may be collegiate level instruction;

            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history 
        and government);

            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through 
        advanced algebra,
geometry, trigonometry, or 
        fundamentals of computer programming);

            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and

            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which 
        may be deemed to include American Sign Language), 
        music, vocational
education  or art; 

        (2) except that Northeastern Illinois University may 
    admit individual
applicants
if it determines through 
    assessment or through evaluation based on
learning 
    outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational 
    education
courses and courses taken in a charter school 
    established under Article 27A
of the School Code, that the 
    applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills
substantially

    equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be 
    acquired in the high
school courses required for admission.

    The Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University

    shall not discriminate in the University's admissions 
    process against an
applicant for admission because of the 
    applicant's enrollment in a charter
school established 
    under Article 27A of the School Code.  Northeastern Illinois

    University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have 
    an opportunity to
complete the minimum college
preparatory 
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally 
    disadvantaged
applicants who are admitted to the formal 
    organized special assistance
programs that are tailored to 
    the needs of such students, providing that in
either case, 
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's 
    baccalaureate
curriculum courses or other academic 
    activities that compensate for course
deficiencies; and

        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework 
    required by
paragraph (1) of this subsection may be 
    distributed by deducting no more
than one unit each from 
    the categories of social studies, mathematics,
sciences 
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall 
recognize
their obligation to their students to offer the 
coursework required by
subsection (a).

    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has 
scored within the
University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT 
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as 
a prerequisite
to admission.

    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in 
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an 
application for admission to the University as a freshman 
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on 
active duty during the fall semester. The University may 
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the 
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who 
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)

 
    Section 40. The Northern Illinois University Law is amended  
by changing Section 30-85 as follows:
 


    (110 ILCS 685/30-85)



    Sec. 30-85. Admissions Admission requirements. 

    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any 
of the
departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois 
University unless such student
also has satisfactorily 
completed:

        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from 
    the following
5 categories:

            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and 
        oral communications
and literature), of which up to 2 
        years may be collegiate level instruction;

            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history 
        and government);

            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through 
        advanced algebra,
geometry, trigonometry, or 
        fundamentals of computer programming);

            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and

            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which 
        may be deemed to include American Sign Language), 
        music, vocational
education  or art; 

        (2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit 
    individual
applicants if it determines through assessment 
    or through evaluation based on
learning outcomes of the 
    coursework taken, including vocational education
courses 
    and courses taken in a charter school established under 
    Article 27A
of the School Code, that the applicant 
    demonstrates knowledge and skills
substantially
equivalent 
    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the 
    high
school courses required for admission.
The Board of 
    Trustees of Northern Illinois University
shall not 
    discriminate in the University's
admissions process 
    against an applicant for admission because of the

    applicant's
enrollment in a charter school established 
    under Article 27A of the
School Code.
Northern Illinois 
    University may also admit (i)
applicants who did not have 
    an opportunity to complete the minimum college
preparatory 
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally 
    disadvantaged
applicants who are admitted to the formal 
    organized special assistance
programs that are tailored to 
    the needs of such students, providing that in
either case, 
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's 
    baccalaureate
curriculum courses or other academic 
    activities that compensate for course
deficiencies; and

        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework 
    required by
paragraph (1) of this subsection may be 
    distributed by deducting no more
than one unit each from 
    the categories of social studies, mathematics,
sciences 
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall 
recognize
their obligation to their students to offer the 
coursework required by
subsection (a).

    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has 
scored within the
University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT 
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as 
a prerequisite to
admission.

    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in 
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an 
application for admission to the University as a freshman 
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on 
active duty during the fall semester. The University may 
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the 
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who 
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)

 
    Section 45. The Western Illinois University Law is amended  
by changing Section 35-85 as follows:
 


    (110 ILCS 690/35-85)



    Sec. 35-85. Admissions Admission requirements. 

    (a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any 
of the
departments or colleges of the Western Illinois 
University unless such student
also has satisfactorily 
completed:

        (1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from 
    the following
5 categories:

            (A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and 
        oral communications
and literature), of which up to 2 
        years may be collegiate level instruction;

            (B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history 
        and government);

            (C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through 
        advanced algebra,
geometry, trigonometry, or 
        fundamentals of computer programming);

            (D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences); and

            (E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which 
        may be deemed to include American Sign Language), 
        music, vocational
education  or art; 

        (2) except that Western Illinois University may admit 
    individual
applicants if it determines through assessment 
    or through evaluation based on
learning outcomes of the 
    coursework taken, including vocational education
courses 
    and courses taken in a charter school established under 
    Article 27A
of the School Code, that the applicant 
    demonstrates knowledge and skills
substantially
equivalent 
    to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the 
    high
school courses required for admission.
The Board of 
    Trustees of Western Illinois University
shall not 
    discriminate in the University's
admissions process 
    against an applicant for admission because of the

    applicant's
enrollment in a charter school established 
    under Article 27A of the
School Code.
Western Illinois 
    University may also
admit (i)
applicants who did not have 
    an opportunity to complete the minimum college
preparatory 
    curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally 
    disadvantaged
applicants who are admitted to the formal 
    organized special assistance
programs that are tailored to 
    the needs of such students, providing that in
either case, 
    the institution incorporates in the applicant's 
    baccalaureate
curriculum courses or other academic 
    activities that compensate for course
deficiencies; and

        (3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework 
    required by
paragraph (1) of this subsection may be 
    distributed by deducting no more
than one unit each from 
    the categories of social studies, mathematics,
sciences 
    and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

    categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).

    (b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall 
recognize
their obligation to their students to offer the 
coursework required by
subsection (a).

    (c) A student who has graduated from high school and has 
scored within the
University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT 
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as 
a prerequisite to
admission.

    (d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in 
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an 
application for admission to the University as a freshman 
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on 
active duty during the fall semester. The University may 
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the 
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who 
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)

 
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.