[ Search ] [ PDF text ] [ Legislation ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
| [ Engrossed ] |
92_HB5660
LRB9213014NTpk
1 AN ACT in relation to schools.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
5 2-3.131 as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/2-3.131 new)
7 Sec. 2-3.131. K-3 class size reduction grant program. A
8 class size reduction grant program is hereby created. The
9 program shall be implemented and administered by the State
10 Board of Education, which shall award grants to school
11 districts that meet the criteria established by this Section
12 for the award of those grants. The State Board of Education
13 shall award grants from appropriations made for the purposes
14 of this Section.
15 Grants shall be awarded pursuant to application. The
16 form and manner of applications and the criteria for the
17 award of grants shall be prescribed by the State Board of
18 Education. However, the grant criteria as so prescribed
19 shall provide that (i) only those districts that maintain
20 grades kindergarten through 3 shall be grant eligible, (ii)
21 no grant funds shall be used for grades other than
22 kindergarten through 3, (iii) no grant funds shall be awarded
23 to a district if the average class size in grades
24 kindergarten through 3 is already 18 pupils or fewer, and
25 (iv) where feasible, districts must target these grant funds
26 to the grade level where class sizes are highest or to the
27 school or schools where class sizes are highest.
28 Grants awarded to eligible districts under this Section
29 shall be used and applied by the districts to defray the
30 costs and expenses of operating and maintaining classes in
31 grades kindergarten through 3 that are directly impacted by
-2- LRB9213014NTpk
1 these grant funds.
2 The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules,
3 consistent with the requirements of this Section, that are
4 necessary to implement and administer the K-3 class size
5 reduction grant program.
6 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July
7 1, 2002.