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


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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1 AN ACT concerning education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Early Childhood Access Consortium for
5Equity Act is amended by changing Sections 15, 20, 25, and 30
6as follows:
7 (110 ILCS 28/15)
8 Sec. 15. Creation of Consortium; purpose; administrative
9support.
10 (a) The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois
11Community College Board shall create and establish the Early
12Childhood Access Consortium for Equity.
13 (b) The purpose of the Consortium is to serve the needs of
14the incumbent early childhood workforce and the employers of
15early childhood educators and to advance racial equity while
16meeting the needs of employers by streamlining, coordinating,
17and improving the accessibility of degree completion pathways
18for upskilling and the sustained expansion of educational
19pipelines at Illinois institutions of higher education.
20 (c) The Board of Higher Education and the Illinois
21Community College Board shall convene the member institutions
22by July 1, 2021 or within 60 days after the effective date of
23this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. The Board

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1of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board
2shall provide administrative support for the start up and
3operation of the Consortium until a permanent governance
4structure is developed and implemented. The Board of Higher
5Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall work
6with member institutions to establish geographic regional
7hubs, including public universities and the proximate
8community colleges responsible for serving each regional hub.
9(Source: P.A. 102-174, eff. 7-28-21.)
10 (110 ILCS 28/20)
11 Sec. 20. Membership; functions.
12 (a) Membership in the Consortium shall include all public
13universities and community colleges in this State that offer
14early childhood programs. Membership by private,
15not-for-profit universities is optional and conditional on the
16acceptance of the terms adopted by the public members, the
17related administrative rules, and the provisions of this Act.
18For-profit institutions of higher education are not eligible
19for membership in the Consortium. Participating institutions
20must be accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and
21entitled to offer Gateways Credentials.
22 (b) The members of the Consortium shall operate jointly
23and in cooperation through regional hubs to provide
24streamlined paths for students to attain associate degrees,
25bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, certificates, and

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1Gateways Credentials and other licensure endorsements in early
2childhood education. The priority shall be to focus on the
3incumbent workforce, which includes working adults who require
4programs of study that offer flexibility in the times courses
5are offered, location, and format. The Consortium shall
6cooperate in all of the following:
7 (1) Providing course offerings within each regional
8 hub in online, hybrid, and in-person formats that are
9 available to any student enrolled in a member institution
10 in that hub for occasions in which a particular course is
11 not available at the student's home institution. In this
12 paragraph (1), "not available" may mean the course is not
13 offered during a term, at a time, or in a format that works
14 best for the student. Courses taken at any member
15 institution shall be accepted toward the student's degree
16 at any other member institution. Course offerings across
17 institutions regional hubs may also be provided by an
18 agreement between Consortium members. All course
19 registration shall take place in consultation with a
20 student's academic advisor.
21 (2) Shared responsibilities through the Consortium and
22 within and across the State regional hubs to expand access
23 for students.
24 (3) Transfers in accordance with Section 130-10 of the
25 Transitions in Education Act.
26 (4) The development of standardized methods for

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1 awarding credit for prior learning.
2 (5) The support necessary for student access,
3 persistence, and completion shall be provided by the home
4 institution, unless otherwise provided by agreement
5 between Consortium members.
6 (6) Admissions, financial arrangements, registration,
7 and advising services shall be functions of the home
8 institution but shall be honored across the Consortium.
9 (7) Member institutions working with their regional
10 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and early childhood
11 employer partners to determine demand throughout the
12 region.
13 (8) Data-sharing agreements.
14 (9) An agreement that students enrolled in associate
15 degree programs are encouraged to complete the associate
16 degree program prior to transferring to a bachelor's
17 degree program.
18 (10) Development of other shared agreements and terms
19 necessary to implement the Consortium and its
20 responsibilities.
21 By January 31, 2022, the Consortium shall decide how to
22assign college credit for the incumbent workers who have a
23Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and for future
24workers obtaining a CDA.
25 (c) The Consortium may facilitate or implement the
26following if deemed beneficial and feasible:

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1 (1) the creation of an open education resource
2 library;
3 (2) support and training for program coaches and
4 cross-institutional navigators; and
5 (3) support for the development, implementation, and
6 participation in a statewide registry system through the
7 Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral
8 Agencies (INCCRRA) to provide tracking and data
9 capabilities for students across the system as they attain
10 competency through coursework.
11(Source: P.A. 102-174, eff. 7-28-21.)
12 (110 ILCS 28/25)
13 Sec. 25. Advisory committee; membership.
14 (a) The Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community
15College Board, the State Board of Education, the Department of
16Human Services, and the Governor's Office of Early Childhood
17Development shall jointly convene a Consortium advisory
18committee to provide guidance on the operation of the
19Consortium.
20 (b) Membership on the advisory committee shall be
21comprised of employers and experts appointed by the Board of
22Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, the
23Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development, and the
24State Board of Education. Membership shall also include all of
25the following members:

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

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

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

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1 a private university, appointed by the Board of Higher
2 Education.
3 (29) A representative of an urban community college,
4 appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.
5 (30) A representative of a suburban community college,
6 appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.
7 (31) A representative of rural community college,
8 appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.
9 (c) The advisory committee shall meet at least twice a
10year quarterly. The committee meetings shall be open to the
11public in accordance with the provisions of the Open Meetings
12Act.
13 (d) Except for the co-chairpersons of the advisory
14committee, the initial terms for advisory committee members
15after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd
16General Assembly shall be set by lottery at the first meeting
17after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd
18General Assembly as follows:
19 (1) One-third of members shall serve a 1-year term.
20 (2) One-third of members shall serve a 2-year term.
21 (3) One-third of members shall serve a 3-year term.
22 (e) The initial term of co-chairpersons of the advisory
23committee shall be for 3 years.
24 (f) After the initial term, each subsequent term for the
25members of the advisory committee shall be for 3 years or until
26a successor is appointed.

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1 (g) The members of the advisory committee shall serve
2without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement
3for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of
4their official duties as members of the advisory committee
5from funds appropriated for that purpose.
6(Source: P.A. 102-174, eff. 7-28-21.)
7 (110 ILCS 28/30)
8 Sec. 30. Reporting. The Consortium shall report to the
9General Assembly, to the Senate and House Committees with
10oversight over higher education, to the Governor, and to the
11advisory committee on the progress made by the Consortium. A
12report must include, but is not limited to, all of the
13following information:
14 (1) Student enrollment numbers by academic year for
15 the fall and spring terms or semesters, retention rates,
16 persistence, and completion in relevant associate,
17 baccalaureate, and credential programs, including
18 demographic data that is disaggregated by race, ethnicity,
19 geography, higher education sector, and federal Pell Grant
20 status, reported annually twice per year. Completion
21 numbers and rates, employer type, and years worked shall
22 be reported annually.
23 (2) For students enrolled in early childhood programs,
24 average assessed tuition, average Tuition rates charged
25 and net price, number of students receiving student loans,

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

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1 application, reported annually. To the extent possible
2 given available data and resources, information on
3 scholarship recipients' subsequent employment in the early
4 childhood care and education field in this State.
5(Source: P.A. 102-174, eff. 7-28-21.)
6 Section 15. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is
7amended by adding Section 65.125 as follows:
8 (110 ILCS 947/65.125 new)
9 Sec. 65.125. Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity
10Scholarship Program.
11 (a) As used in this Section, "incumbent workforce" has the
12meaning ascribed to that term in the Early Childhood Access
13Consortium for Equity Act.
14 (b) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall
15implement and administer an early childhood educator
16scholarship program, to be known as the Early Childhood Access
17Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program. Under the Program,
18the Commission shall annually award scholarships to early
19childhood education students enrolled in institutions of
20higher education participating in the Early Childhood Access
21Consortium for Equity under the Early Childhood Access
22Consortium for Equity Act with preference given to members of
23the incumbent workforce.
24 (c) To ensure alignment with Consortium goals and changing

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1workforce needs, the Commission shall work in partnership with
2the Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community
3College Board in program design, and the Board of Higher
4Education and the Illinois Community College Board shall
5solicit feedback from the Consortium advisory committee
6established under Section 25 of the Early Childhood Access
7Consortium for Equity Act.
8 (d) In awarding a scholarship under this Section, the
9Commission may give preference to applicants who received a
10scholarship under this Section during the prior academic year,
11to applicants with financial need, or both.
12 (e) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for any
13academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under
14this Section shall be required by the Commission to sign an
15agreement under which the recipient pledges to continue or
16return to teaching or direct services in the early childhood
17care and education field in this State after they complete
18their program of study.
19 (f) The Commission may adopt any rules necessary to
20implement and administer the Program.
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