Bill Text: IL HB5024 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Reinserts the contents of the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. Makes changes regarding what information shall be reported by the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity. In provisions concerning the membership of the Consortium advisory committee, provides that the member of the advisory committee representing the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall be appointed by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (rather than the Board of Higher Education). Sets forth provisions concerning the length of terms for members of the advisory committee. Provides that the members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as members of the advisory committee from funds appropriated for that purpose. Removes provisions requiring that all appointed positions on the advisory committee shall have their term length chosen by agreement among the co-chairpersons of the advisory committee. Makes changes to provisions concerning scholarships awarded by the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program. With respect to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, removes language providing for emergency rulemaking for the Program. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-06-26 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments [HB5024 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB5024-Engrossed.html

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AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Early Childhood Access Consortium for
Equity Act is amended by changing Sections 15, 20, 25, and 30
as follows:
(110 ILCS 28/15)
Sec. 15. Creation of Consortium; purpose; administrative
support.
(a) The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois
Community College Board shall create and establish the Early
Childhood Access Consortium for Equity.
(b) The purpose of the Consortium is to serve the needs of
the incumbent early childhood workforce and the employers of
early childhood educators and to advance racial equity while
meeting the needs of employers by streamlining, coordinating,
and improving the accessibility of degree completion pathways
for upskilling and the sustained expansion of educational
pipelines at Illinois institutions of higher education.
(c) The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois
Community College Board shall convene the member institutions
by July 1, 2021 or within 60 days after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. The Board

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of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board
shall provide administrative support for the start up and
operation of the Consortium until a permanent governance
structure is developed and implemented. The Board of Higher
Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall work
with member institutions to establish geographic regional
hubs, including public universities and the proximate
community colleges responsible for serving each regional hub.
(Source: P.A. 102-174, eff. 7-28-21.)
(110 ILCS 28/20)
Sec. 20. Membership; functions.
(a) Membership in the Consortium shall include all public
universities and community colleges in this State that offer
early childhood programs. Membership by private,
not-for-profit universities is optional and conditional on the
acceptance of the terms adopted by the public members, the
related administrative rules, and the provisions of this Act.
For-profit institutions of higher education are not eligible
for membership in the Consortium. Participating institutions
must be accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and
entitled to offer Gateways Credentials.
(b) The members of the Consortium shall operate jointly
and in cooperation through regional hubs to provide
streamlined paths for students to attain associate degrees,
bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, certificates, and

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Gateways Credentials and other licensure endorsements in early
childhood education. The priority shall be to focus on the
incumbent workforce, which includes working adults who require
programs of study that offer flexibility in the times courses
are offered, location, and format. The Consortium shall
cooperate in all of the following:
(1) Providing course offerings within each regional
hub in online, hybrid, and in-person formats that are
available to any student enrolled in a member institution
in that hub for occasions in which a particular course is
not available at the student's home institution. In this
paragraph (1), "not available" may mean the course is not
offered during a term, at a time, or in a format that works
best for the student. Courses taken at any member
institution shall be accepted toward the student's degree
at any other member institution. Course offerings across
institutions regional hubs may also be provided by an
agreement between Consortium members. All course
registration shall take place in consultation with a
student's academic advisor.
(2) Shared responsibilities through the Consortium and
within and across the State regional hubs to expand access
for students.
(3) Transfers in accordance with Section 130-10 of the
Transitions in Education Act.
(4) The development of standardized methods for

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awarding credit for prior learning.
(5) The support necessary for student access,
persistence, and completion shall be provided by the home
institution, unless otherwise provided by agreement
between Consortium members.
(6) Admissions, financial arrangements, registration,
and advising services shall be functions of the home
institution but shall be honored across the Consortium.
(7) Member institutions working with their regional
pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and early childhood
employer partners to determine demand throughout the
region.
(8) Data-sharing agreements.
(9) An agreement that students enrolled in associate
degree programs are encouraged to complete the associate
degree program prior to transferring to a bachelor's
degree program.
(10) Development of other shared agreements and terms
necessary to implement the Consortium and its
responsibilities.
By January 31, 2022, the Consortium shall decide how to
assign college credit for the incumbent workers who have a
Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and for future
workers obtaining a CDA.
(c) The Consortium may facilitate or implement the
following if deemed beneficial and feasible:

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(1) the creation of an open education resource
library;
(2) support and training for program coaches and
cross-institutional navigators; and
(3) support for the development, implementation, and
participation in a statewide registry system through the
Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral
Agencies (INCCRRA) to provide tracking and data
capabilities for students across the system as they attain
competency through coursework.
(Source: P.A. 102-174, eff. 7-28-21.)
(110 ILCS 28/25)
Sec. 25. Advisory committee; membership.
(a) The Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community
College Board, the State Board of Education, the Department of
Human Services, and the Governor's Office of Early Childhood
Development shall jointly convene a Consortium advisory
committee to provide guidance on the operation of the
Consortium.
(b) Membership on the advisory committee shall be
comprised of employers and experts appointed by the Board of
Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, the
Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development, and the
State Board of Education. Membership shall also include all of
the following members:

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(1) An employer from a community-based child care
provider, appointed by the Governor's Office of Early
Childhood Development.
(2) An employer from a for-profit child care provider,
appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood
Development.
(3) An employer from a nonprofit child care provider,
appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood
Development.
(4) A provider of family child care, appointed by the
Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.
(5) An employer located in southern Illinois,
appointed by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood
Development.
(6) An employer located in central Illinois, appointed
by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.
(7) At least one member who represents an urban school
district, appointed by the State Board of Education.
(8) At least one member who represents a suburban
school district, appointed by the State Board of
Education.
(9) At least one member who represents a rural school
district, appointed by the State Board of Education.
(10) At least one member who represents a school
district in a city with a population of 500,000 or more,
appointed by the State Board of Education.

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(11) Two early childhood advocates with statewide
expertise in early childhood workforce issues, appointed
by the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.
(12) The Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson and the
Minority Spokesperson or a designee of the Senate
Committee on Higher Education.
(13) The Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson and the
Minority Spokesperson or a designee of the House Committee
on Higher Education.
(14) One member representing the Illinois Community
College Board, who shall serve as co-chairperson,
appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.
(15) One member representing the Board of Higher
Education, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by
the Board of Higher Education.
(16) One member representing the Illinois Student
Assistance Commission, appointed by the Illinois Student
Assistance Commission Board of Higher Education.
(17) One member representing the State Board of
Education, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by
the State Board of Education.
(18) One member representing the Governor's Office of
Early Childhood Development, who shall serve as
co-chairperson, appointed by the Governor's Office of
Early Childhood Development.
(19) One member representing the Department of Human

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Services, who shall serve as co-chairperson, appointed by
the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.
(20) One member representing INCCRRA, appointed by the
Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development.
(21) One member representing the Department of
Children and Family Services, appointed by the Governor's
Office of Early Childhood Development.
(22) One member representing an organization that
advocates on behalf of community college trustees,
appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.
(23) One member of a union representing child care and
early childhood providers, appointed by the Governor's
Office of Early Childhood Development.
(24) Two members of unions representing higher
education faculty, appointed by the Board of Higher
Education.
(25) A representative from the College of Education of
an urban public university, appointed by the Board of
Higher Education.
(26) A representative from the College of Education of
a suburban public university, appointed by the Board of
Higher Education.
(27) A representative from the College of Education of
a rural public university, appointed by the Board of
Higher Education.
(28) A representative from the College of Education of

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a private university, appointed by the Board of Higher
Education.
(29) A representative of an urban community college,
appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.
(30) A representative of a suburban community college,
appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.
(31) A representative of rural community college,
appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.
(c) The advisory committee shall meet at least twice a
year quarterly. The committee meetings shall be open to the
public in accordance with the provisions of the Open Meetings
Act.
(d) Except for the co-chairpersons of the advisory
committee, the initial terms for advisory committee members
after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd
General Assembly shall be set by lottery at the first meeting
after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd
General Assembly as follows:
(1) One-third of members shall serve a 1-year term.
(2) One-third of members shall serve a 2-year term.
(3) One-third of members shall serve a 3-year term.
(e) The initial term of co-chairpersons of the advisory
committee shall be for 3 years.
(f) After the initial term, each subsequent term for the
members of the advisory committee shall be for 3 years or until
a successor is appointed.

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(g) The members of the advisory committee shall serve
without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement
for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of
their official duties as members of the advisory committee
from funds appropriated for that purpose.
(Source: P.A. 102-174, eff. 7-28-21.)
(110 ILCS 28/30)
Sec. 30. Reporting. The Consortium shall report to the
General Assembly, to the Senate and House Committees with
oversight over higher education, to the Governor, and to the
advisory committee on the progress made by the Consortium. A
report must include, but is not limited to, all of the
following information:
(1) Student enrollment numbers by academic year for
the fall and spring terms or semesters, retention rates,
persistence, and completion in relevant associate,
baccalaureate, and credential programs, including
demographic data that is disaggregated by race, ethnicity,
geography, higher education sector, and federal Pell Grant
status, reported annually twice per year. Completion
numbers and rates, employer type, and years worked shall
be reported annually.
(2) For students enrolled in early childhood programs,
average assessed tuition, average Tuition rates charged
and net price, number of students receiving student loans,

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and average loan amount prices paid, reported both as
including and excluding student loans, by enrolled members
of the incumbent workforce, reported annually.
(3) Outreach plans to recruit and enroll incumbent
workforce members, reported annually twice per year.
(4) Participation of the incumbent workforce in
outreach programs, which may include participation in an
informational session, social media engagement, or other
activities, reported annually twice per year.
(5) Student academic and holistic support plans to
help the enrolled incumbent workforce persist in their
education, reported annually.
(6) Evidence of engagement and responsiveness to the
needs of employer partners, reported annually.
(7) The Consortium budget including the use of federal
funds, reported annually.
(8) Member contributions, including financial,
physical, or in-kind contributions, provided to the
Consortium, reported annually.
(9) Information on Early Childhood Access Consortium
for Equity Scholarships awarded under the Higher Education
Student Assistance Act, including demographic data that is
disaggregated by race and ethnicity, federal Pell Grant
eligibility status, geography, age, gender, and higher
education sector, reported annually. Employer type and
years worked, as provided by students via the scholarship

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application, reported annually. To the extent possible
given available data and resources, information on
scholarship recipients' subsequent employment in the early
childhood care and education field in this State.
(Source: P.A. 102-174, eff. 7-28-21.)
Section 15. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
amended by adding Section 65.125 as follows:
(110 ILCS 947/65.125 new)
Sec. 65.125. Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity
Scholarship Program.
(a) As used in this Section, "incumbent workforce" has the
meaning ascribed to that term in the Early Childhood Access
Consortium for Equity Act.
(b) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall
implement and administer an early childhood educator
scholarship program, to be known as the Early Childhood Access
Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program. Under the Program,
the Commission shall annually award scholarships to early
childhood education students enrolled in institutions of
higher education participating in the Early Childhood Access
Consortium for Equity under the Early Childhood Access
Consortium for Equity Act with preference given to members of
the incumbent workforce.
(c) To ensure alignment with Consortium goals and changing

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workforce needs, the Commission shall work in partnership with
the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community
College Board in program design, and the Board of Higher
Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall
solicit feedback from the Consortium advisory committee
established under Section 25 of the Early Childhood Access
Consortium for Equity Act.
(d) In awarding a scholarship under this Section, the
Commission may give preference to applicants who received a
scholarship under this Section during the prior academic year,
to applicants with financial need, or both.
(e) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an
agreement under which the recipient pledges to continue or
return to teaching or direct services in the early childhood
care and education field in this State after they complete
their program of study.
(f) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to
implement and administer the Program.