Bill Text: IL HB1243 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Alternative Learning Opportunities Law of the School Code. Provides that Regional Office of Education No. 4 shall establish a 3-year pilot program focused on serving students in grades kindergarten through 3. Provides that students in grades kindergarten through 3 who meet enrollment criteria established by a school district and who are at risk of academic failure are eligible to participate in the pilot program. Requires the pilot program to adhere to all other rules established for alternative learning opportunities programs. Requires Regional Office of Education No. 4 to provide a report to the General Assembly outlining the pilot program's methodology and student outcomes and setting forth a comprehensive impact report and a framework for future program models. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-31 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Joe C. Sosnowski [HB1243 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB1243-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB1243 Introduced , by Rep. Maurice A. West, II SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/13B-20.40 new
Amends the Alternative Learning Opportunities Law of the School Code. Provides that Regional Office of Education No. 4 shall establish a 3-year pilot program focused on serving students in grades kindergarten through 3. Provides that students in grades kindergarten through 3 who meet enrollment criteria established by a school district and who are at risk of academic failure are eligible to participate in the pilot program. Requires the pilot program to adhere to all other rules established for alternative learning opportunities programs. Requires Regional Office of Education No. 4 to provide a report to the General Assembly outlining the pilot program's methodology and student outcomes and setting forth a comprehensive impact report and a framework for future program models. Effective immediately.
LRB104 06190 LNS 16225 b
A BILL FOR
HB1243 LRB104 06190 LNS 16225 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
13B-20.40 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/13B-20.40 new)
Sec. 13B-20.40. Pilot program.
(a) The General Assembly recognizes that helping students
to build social, emotional, and academic success from an early
age is essential to long-term success in schools and, as a
result of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, more
students are exhibiting behavioral concerns that make it
difficult to thrive in traditional educational settings.
Furthermore, alternative learning opportunities programs are
designed to provide varied support to improve the educational
achievement of students at risk of academic failure, and
Summit Academy, the alternative learning opportunities program
operated by Regional Office of Education No. 4, has a stated
mission anchored in positive outcomes, with the goal of
restoring and returning every student to that student's home
school.
(b) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, Regional
Office of Education No. 4 shall establish a 3-year pilot

HB1243 - 2 - LRB104 06190 LNS 16225 b
alternative learning opportunities program focused on serving
students in grades kindergarten through 3.
(c) Students in grades kindergarten through 3 who meet
enrollment criteria established by a school district and who
are at risk of academic failure are eligible to participate in
the pilot program.
(d) The pilot program shall adhere to all other rules
established for alternative learning opportunities programs.
(e) No later than March 31, 2028, Regional Office of
Education No. 4 shall provide a report to the General Assembly
outlining the pilot program's methodology and student outcomes
and setting forth a comprehensive impact report and a
framework for future program models.