Bill Text: IL SB3997 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning community schools.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-21 - Referred to Assignments [SB3997 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SB3997-Introduced.html

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102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 SB3997 Introduced 1/21/2022, by Sen. Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/2-3.152
Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning community schools.
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A BILL FOR
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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 School Code is amended by changing Section
2-3.152 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/2-3.152)
Sec. 2-3.152. Community schools.
(a) This Section applies beginning with the the 2009-2010
school year.
(b) The General Assembly finds all of the following:
(1) All children are capable of success.
(2) Schools are the centers of vibrant communities.
(3) Strong families build strong educational
communities.
(4) Children succeed when adults work together to
foster positive educational outcomes.
(5) Schools work best when families take active roles
in the education of children.
(6) Schools today are limited in their ability to
dedicate time and resources to provide a wide range of
educational opportunities to students because of the focus
on standardized test outcomes.
(7) By providing learning opportunities outside of

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normal school hours, including programs on life skills and
health, students are more successful academically, more
engaged in their communities, safer, and better prepared
to make a successful transition from school to adulthood.
(8) A community school is a traditional school that
actively partners with its community to leverage existing
resources and identify new resources to support the
transformation of the school to provide enrichment and
additional life skill opportunities for students, parents,
and community members at-large. Each community school is
unique because its programming is designed by and for the
school staff, in partnership with parents, community
stakeholders, and students.
(9) Community schools currently exist in this State in
urban, rural, and suburban communities.
(10) Research shows that community schools have a
powerful positive impact on students, as demonstrated by
increased academic success, a positive change in attitudes
toward school and learning, and decreased behavioral
problems.
(11) After-school and evening programs offered by
community schools provide academic enrichment consistent
with the Illinois Learning Standards and general school
curriculum; an opportunity for physical fitness activities
for students, fine arts programs, structured learning
"play" time, and other recreational opportunities; a safe

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haven for students; and work supports for working
families.
(12) Community schools are cost-effective because they
leverage existing resources provided by local, State,
federal, and private sources and bring programs to the
schools, where the students are already congregated.
Community schools have been shown to leverage between $5
to $8 in existing programming for every $1 spent on a
community school.
(c) Subject to an appropriation or the availability of
funding for such purposes, the State Board of Education shall
make grants available to fund community schools and to enhance
programs at community schools. A request-for-proposal process
must be used in awarding grants under this subsection (c).
Proposals may be submitted on behalf of a school, a school
district, or a consortium of 2 or more schools or school
districts. Proposals must be evaluated and scored on the basis
of criteria consistent with this Section and other factors
developed and adopted by the State Board of Education.
Technical assistance in grant writing must be made available
to schools, school districts, or consortia of school districts
through the State Board of Education directly or through a
resource and referral directory established and maintained by
the State Board of Education.
(d) In order to qualify for a community school grant under
this Section, a school must, at a minimum, have the following

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components:
(1) Before and after-school programming each school
day to meet the identified needs of students.
(2) Weekend programming.
(3) At least 4 weeks of summer programming.
(4) A local advisory group comprised of school
leadership, parents, and community stakeholders that
establishes school-specific programming goals, assesses
program needs, and oversees the process of implementing
expanded programming.
(5) A program director or resource coordinator who is
responsible for establishing a local advisory group,
assessing the needs of students and community members,
identifying programs to meet those needs, developing the
before and after-school, weekend, and summer programming
and overseeing the implementation of programming to ensure
high quality, efficiency, and robust participation.
(6) Programming that includes academic excellence
aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards, life skills,
healthy minds and bodies, parental support, and community
engagement and that promotes staying in school and
non-violent behavior and non-violent conflict resolution.
(7) Maintenance of attendance records in all
programming components.
(8) Maintenance of measurable data showing annual
participation and the impact of programming on the

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participating children and adults.
(9) Documentation of true collaboration between the
school and community stakeholders, including local
governmental units, civic organizations, families,
businesses, and social service providers.
(10) A non-discrimination policy ensuring that the
community school does not condition participation upon
race, ethnic origin, religion, sex, or disability.
(Source: P.A. 96-746, eff. 8-25-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)