Bill Text: IL HB4424 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a reading initiative in all public elementary schools to ensure that all students, beginning with students entering kindergarten in the 2016-2017 school year, are reading at or above grade level by the time they complete 3rd grade. Provides that, under the initiative, if a student does not read at or above grade level by the time he or she completes 3rd grade, then that student may not be promoted to the next higher grade level until he or she is able to read at or above grade level. Provides that if more than 10% of a school's 3rd grade students are retained at the end of a given school year, then the school district is subject to State intervention, in which the State Board of Education may authorize the State Superintendent of Education to direct the reassignment of students or direct the reassignment or replacement of school district personnel who are relevant to the failure of those students to read at or above grade level. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-15 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB4424 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HB4424-Introduced.html

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99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2015 and 2016 HB4424 Introduced , by Rep. Rita Mayfield SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/2-3.25f from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25f
105 ILCS 5/2-3.51.3 new
Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a reading initiative in all public elementary schools to ensure that all students, beginning with students entering kindergarten in the 2016-2017 school year, are reading at or above grade level by the time they complete 3rd grade. Provides that, under the initiative, if a student does not read at or above grade level by the time he or she completes 3rd grade, then that student may not be promoted to the next higher grade level until he or she is able to read at or above grade level. Provides that if more than 10% of a school's 3rd grade students are retained at the end of a given school year, then the school district is subject to State intervention, in which the State Board of Education may authorize the State Superintendent of Education to direct the reassignment of students or direct the reassignment or replacement of school district personnel who are relevant to the failure of those students to read at or above grade level. Effective immediately.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
A BILL FOR
HB4424 LRB099 15159 NHT 39392 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 changing Section
2-3.25f and by adding Section 2-3.51.3 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.25f) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25f)
Sec. 2-3.25f. State interventions.
(a) The State Board of Education shall provide technical
assistance to assist with the development and implementation of
School and District Improvement Plans.
Schools or school districts that fail to make reasonable
efforts to implement an approved Improvement Plan may suffer
loss of State funds by school district, attendance center, or
program as the State Board of Education deems appropriate.
(a-5) (Blank).
(b) Beginning in 2017, if, after 3 years following its
identification as a priority district under Section 2-3.25d-5
of this Code, a district does not make progress as measured by
a reduction in achievement gaps commensurate with the targets
in this State's approved accountability plan with the U.S.
Department of Education, then the State Board of Education may
(i) change the recognition status of the school district or
school to nonrecognized or (ii) authorize the State

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Superintendent of Education to direct the reassignment of
pupils or direct the reassignment or replacement of school
district personnel. If a school district is nonrecognized in
its entirety, it shall automatically be dissolved on July 1
following that nonrecognition and its territory realigned with
another school district or districts by the regional board of
school trustees in accordance with the procedures set forth in
Section 7-11 of the School Code. The effective date of the
nonrecognition of a school shall be July 1 following the
nonrecognition.
(b-2) If, under the reading initiative established under
Section 2-3.51.3 of this Code, more than 10% of a school's 3rd
grade students are retained at the end of a given school year
because they do not read at or above grade level, then the
State Board of Education may authorize the State Superintendent
of Education to direct the reassignment of students or direct
the reassignment or replacement of school district personnel
who are relevant to the failure of those students to read at or
above grade level.
(b-5) The State Board of Education shall also develop a
system to provide assistance and resources to lower performing
school districts. At a minimum, the State Board shall identify
school districts to receive priority services, to be known as
priority districts under Section 2-3.25d-5 of this Code. The
school district shall provide the exclusive bargaining
representative with a 5-day notice that the district has been

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identified as a priority district. In addition, the State Board
may, by rule, develop other categories of low-performing
schools and school districts to receive services.
Based on the results of the district needs assessment under
Section 2-3.25d-5 of this Code, the State Board of Education
shall work with the district to provide technical assistance
and professional development, in partnership with the
district, to implement a continuous improvement plan that would
increase outcomes for students. The plan for continuous
improvement shall be based on the results of the district needs
assessment and shall be used to determine the types of services
that are to be provided to each priority district. Potential
services for a district may include monitoring adult and
student practices, reviewing and reallocating district
resources, developing a district leadership team, providing
access to curricular content area specialists, and providing
online resources and professional development.
The State Board of Education may require priority districts
identified as having deficiencies in one or more core functions
of the district needs assessment to undergo an accreditation
process as provided in subsection (d) of Section 2-3.25f-5 of
this Code.
(c) All federal requirements apply to schools and school
districts utilizing federal funds under Title I, Part A of the
federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
(Source: P.A. 98-1155, eff. 1-9-15; 99-193, eff. 7-30-15;

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99-203, eff. 7-30-15; revised 10-9-15.)
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.51.3 new)
Sec. 2-3.51.3. Reading initiative. The State Board of
Education shall establish a reading initiative in all public
elementary schools to ensure that all students, beginning with
students entering kindergarten in the 2016-2017 school year,
are reading at or above grade level by the time they complete
3rd grade. Under the initiative, if a student does not read at
or above grade level by the time he or she completes 3rd grade,
then that student may not be promoted to the next higher grade
level until he or she is able to read at or above grade level.
If more than 10% of a school's 3rd grade students are retained
at the end of a given school year because they do not read at or
above grade level, then the school district is subject to State
intervention as provided in subsection (b-2) of Section 2-3.25f
of this Code.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.