Illinois State Board of Education FROM

ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING January 20, 2021

TO: Illinois State Board of Education

FROM: Dr. Carmen I. Ayala, State Superintendent of Education Irma Snopek, Policy and Communications Officer

Agenda Topic: Lame Duck and Spring Session Updates

Expected Outcome: For the Board to receive an update regarding the lame duck and upcoming spring session

Materials: Appendix A: HB 2170 Summary Appendix B: Tracked Legislation

Staff Contact(s): Amanda Elliott, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs Hector Rodriguez, Director, Government Relations

Purpose of Agenda Item The purpose of this agenda item is for the Board to receive an update regarding the lame duck session of the 101st General Assembly.

Background Information Lame Duck Session The General Assembly met in Springfield from Jan. 8-12 for the lame duck session of the 101st General Assembly. The House and Senate reviewed legislation that addresses the four pillars of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus agenda – criminal justice reform, violence reduction, and police accountability; education and workforce development; economic access, equity and opportunity; and health care and human services. The legislation that enacts the education and workforce development pillar, House Bill 2170, was approved by both chambers on Jan. 11. A summary of this legislation is below. Agency staff is in the process of reviewing the legislation for implementation. The bill has not yet been sent to the Governor for action.

The General Assembly also approved legislation addressing bargaining rights in Chicago.

Spring Session The Senate is scheduled to return January 26. The House is scheduled to return February 2. A summary of tracked legislation filed as of January 15 can be found in Appendix B.

Appendix A

HB 2170 Summary

Topic Summary KIDS Assessment Beginning no later than the 2021-2022 school year, requires ISBE to annually assess all public-school students, including students enrolled in charter schools, entering kindergarten using a common assessment tool.

Requires ISBE to establish a KIDS Advisory Committee. Early Intervention Extends EI services for children served until the beginning of the school year Services following their third birthday. Equitable Early Supports work of the Early Childhood Funding Commission. Childhood Education and Care Act Uniform Data Mandates reporting of participation in programs based on race and ethnicity limited Requirements to major programs as defined by rule. Whole Child Task Creates the Whole Child Task Force to establish an equitable, inclusive, safe, and Force supportive environment in all schools for every student in this State. ISBE is required to provide staff support for the Task Force which must submit a report on or before February 1, 2022. Infant/Early Encourages Illinois to increase the availability of Infant/Early Childhood Mental Childhood Mental Health Consultations through increased funding in early childhood programs. Health Consultations Encourages DHS, ISBE, and GOECD to develop and promote provider-accessible and parent-accessible materials on the role and value of I/ECMHC, including targeted promotion in underserved communities.

Encourages the State to increase funding to promote and provide training and implementation support for systems of tier support.

Encourages ISBE and DCFS to provide data required by PA 100-105 (early childhood expulsion). Diagnostic codes Beginning on July 1, 2022, it requires providers to utilize developmentally appropriate and age-appropriate diagnostic codes. Early Childhood Encourages increased compensation for the early childhood workforce. Requires Workforce ISBE and DHS to prioritize reducing compensation disparities between the early childhood workforce and their K-12 counterparts. Coursework / Requires ISBE to post college admissions report compiled by IBHE on its website. Graduation Requires school districts to make report available to students in grades 8-12. Requirements Ensures students who do not have access to Illinois public IHE admission requirements have access through virtual course catalog.

Beginning with the 2024-25 SY requires students to complete two years of laboratory science (currently science). Beginning with the 2028-29 SY, requires students to complete two years of a world language. This does not apply to students with disabilities shoe course of study is determined by an IEP.

Requires IBHE to compile a report regarding college admission requirements in Illinois. Computer Science Requires ISBE to adopt rigorous learning standards in computer science and to review and revise existing course titles dedicated to computer science.

Adds computer science courses to the IL School report card and defines computer science.

Requires school districts to ensure that students receive developmentally appropriate opportunities to gain computer literacy skills beginning in elementary school.

For students entering 9th grade in the 2022-23 SY, adds intensive instruction in computer literacy as a graduation requirement.

Requires ISBE to conduct technology survey.

Defines computer science. Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, requires schools that offer grades 9-12 provide opportunity for students to take a computer science course aligned to learning standards. Automatic By no later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 SY, requires districts to Acceleration automatically enroll high school students who meet or exceed standards into the next level course. Parents can opt students out of this acceleration.

Requires districts to include strategies to reach groups of students and families who have been historically underrepresented in accelerated placement courses and a process for the school district to analyze placement data in accelerated placement policies.

On or before November 1, 2022, requires districts to develop a plan to expand access to its accelerated placement program and to ensure the teaching capacity necessary to meet the increased demand. P-20 Council Requires the P20 Council to make recommendations for short-term and long-term Research Requests learning recovery actions for public school students in this State in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A report must be submitted on or before December 31, 2021. Freedom Schools Requires ISBE to establish Freedom Schools to supplement learning taking place Fund in public schools by expanding the teaching of Black history, developing leadership skills, and providing an understanding of the tenants of the civil rights movement.

Subject to appropriation, requires ISBE to establish and implement a grant program to provide grants to public schools, community colleges, and not-for-profit, community-based organizations to facilitate improved educational outcomes for Black students in grades preK-12. PRP Research Requires the PRP to review EBF essential elements and must consider the Requests following in its review: financial ability of districts to provide instruction in a world language, adult-to-student ratios for each element, changes to the elements that may be required to better promote racial equity and eliminate structural racism, impact of investing $350 million in additional funds each year, a review of alternative funding structures that would enable the State to become fully funded at an earlier date, the potential to increase efficiency and to find cost savings to expedite the journey to a fully funded system, re-enrolling drop out strategies, and anti-racism strategies. This report must be submitted on or before December 31, 2021. IBHE Strategic Plan Encourages IBHE to prepare proposed legislative changes that would be required to implement their strategic plan, along with an implementation process and timeline by May 1, 2021, as well as to evaluate the implementation and report whether goals are being met. Developmental Among other things, requires a public community college to use specified criteria Education determine placement of student in introductory English or math coursework, and requires each public IHEs and community college to submit plans of reforms to maximize the probability of students successful completing introductory math coursework.

GPA Requirement Eliminates the 3.0 GPA requirement for alternative licensure programs for Alternative Licensure Minority Teacher of Expands scholarship to $7,500 from $5,000 meet current affordability gaps. Illinois Initiative Beginning in FY 23, pursuant to appropriation, creates a set aside for qualified bilingual minority applicants, with a priority being given to teaching candidates. Also, increases the male candidate set aside (funds appropriated for scholarships) from 30 to 35% and gives Black males candidates a priority to receive aid within the male set aside. AIM High The AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program provides funding to public universities to support merit-based, means-tested aid for Illinois students. To qualify for an allocation, a university must match each dollar of state funding with a dollar of institutional aid. The bill would reduce matching requirements, inserting a tiered system whereby the size of each university’s required match would shrink as its population of low-income students grows. Illinois Articulation ISBE, IBHE, and ICCB jointly establish a Major Panel in Education to identify Initiative respective recommended major courses that shall be accepted as credit toward the Education major. The agencies are also encouraged to further promote the enrollment of minority students into educator preparation programs. Inclusive History Article 135. Creates the Inclusive History Commission to review resources in Commission school districts that reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of this State, provide guidance for each learning standard, and develop tools, guidance, and support for professional learning.

On or before July 1, 2021, requires ISBE to adopt revised social science learning standards.

Adds topics of study to Black history instruction in Illinois schools. Workforce Programs Creates Task Force to study workforce consolidation between various state agencies. The Illinois Workforce Investment Board shall submit a report with its recommendation by May 1, 2021. Illinois Teaching Makes changes to National Board Program as requested by NB and drafted by Excellence Program ISBE.

Appendix B

2021 Tracked Legislation – as of 1/15/21

HB 00004 SCH CD-ELECTION DAY E-LEARNING Rep. Rita Mayfield Amends the School Code. Permits student instruction to be received electronically under a school district's program for e-learning days while students are not physically present because a school was selected to be a polling place under the Election Code.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00005 UNFUNDED MANDATES PROHIBITED Rep. Anthony DeLuca Amends the State Mandates Act. Provides that any State mandate regarding any subject matter enacted on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act that necessitates additional expenditures from local government revenues shall be void and unenforceable unless the General Assembly makes necessary appropriations to implement that mandate. Provides that the failure of the General Assembly to make necessary appropriations shall relieve the local government of the obligation to implement any State mandate. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00007 SCH DISTRICT EFFICIENCY COMM Rep. Rita Mayfield Amends the Conversion and Formation of School Districts Article of the School Code. Creates the School District Efficiency Commission. Provides for the membership and support of the Commission. Requires the Commission to make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on the number of school districts in this State, the optimal amount of enrollment for a school district, and where reorganization and realignment of school districts would be beneficial. Sets forth what areas the recommendations must focus on, including drafting specific propositions to reduce the statewide total number of school districts by no less than 25% through the reorganization of school districts into unit districts. Provides that, on or before May 1, 2022, the Commission must vote on its recommended propositions and file a report with the Governor and the General Assembly. Provides that if the Commission adopts the report by an affirmative vote of at least 11 of its members, then the Commission's specific propositions for reorganization of school districts into unit districts shall be filed with the appropriate regional superintendent of schools. Sets forth the regional superintendent's and State Superintendent of Education's duties with respect to the propositions. Repeals these provisions on January 31, 2023 and exempts these provisions from certain financial incentives. Effective immediately.

Referred to Rules Committee deb vespa

HB 00008 SCH CD-HOME ECONOMICS ELECTIVE Rep. Rita Mayfield Amends the School Code. Provides that the school board of a school district that maintains grades 9 through 12 shall offer home economics as an elective high school course not required for graduation.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00012 EDUC-FAMILY LEAVE ELIGIBILITY Rep. Terra Costa Howard Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public schools, public universities, and public community colleges in Illinois. Provides that an employee of a school district, public university, or community college district who has been employed for at least 12 months and who has worked at least 1,000 hours in the previous 12-month period shall be eligible for family and medical leave under the same terms and conditions as leave provided to eligible employees under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00013 SCH CD-SELECTIVE ADMISSIONS Rep. Curtis J. Tarver, II

Amends the School Code. Provides that a school board shall prohibit any school of the district that has selective admission requirements from requiring a student in a pre-kindergarten program of the district to take a standardized test in order to be admitted to that school. Effective immediately.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00015 SCH CD-STUDENT DISCIPLINE Rep. Curtis J. Tarver, II Amends the School Code. With respect to school districts with more than 275,000 inhabitants, requires a school to provide written notification to (i) the parent or guardian of any student who commits an act or acts of misconduct and (ii) the parent or guardian of any student who is the victim of that act of misconduct and requires a copy of any statement made by the student who committed the act of misconduct to be provided to the student's or guardian within 24 hours after the statement has been made. Sets forth the information that must be included in the disciplinary report. Requires that a copy of the disciplinary report be provided to the parent or guardian of the disciplined student. Effective immediately

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00018 SCH CD-TEACHER EVALUATION Rep. Sue Scherer Amends the School Code. With regard to teacher evaluations, provides that no later than September 1, 2022, each school district must establish a teacher evaluation plan that ensures that each teacher in contractual continued service whose performance is rated as either "excellent" or "proficient" is evaluated at least once in the course of the 3 school years after receipt of the rating (rather than at least once in the course of every 2 school years) and establish an informal teacher evaluation plan that ensures that each teacher in contractual continued service whose performance is rated as either "excellent" or "proficient" is informally evaluated at least once in the course of the 2 school years after receipt of the rating.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00021 PEN CD-TRS-SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS Rep. Sue Scherer Amends the Downstate Teacher Article of the Illinois Pension Code. In provisions that limit the number of days and hours an annuitant may accept employment for without impairing retirement status, provides that the limitation does not apply to an annuitant who returns to teaching as a substitute teacher in a school district that has been granted a waiver by the System. Provides that a school district may apply for a waiver by providing to the System sufficient evidence that there is a substitute teacher shortage in the school district and an estimate of the number of paid hours in the school year that the annuitant will work. Effective immediately.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00024 SCH CD-SEX EDUCATION-SEXTING Rep. Maurice A. West, II Amends the School Code. Provides that sex education course material and instruction in grades 6 through 12 must include an age-appropriate discussion on sexting; defines "sexting". Provides that the discussion on sexting must include an exploration of: (i) the possible consequences of sexting, (ii) the identification of situations in which bullying or harassment result from sexting, (iii) the possible long-term consequences of sexting, (iv) the importance of using the Internet safely, (v) the identification of individuals in the school or community that may be contacted for assistance with issues, concerns, or problems, and (vi) the development of strategies for resisting peer pressure and for communicating in a positive manner. Effective immediately.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00026 SCH CD-INTERNET ACCESSIBILITY Rep. Theresa Mah Amends the School Code. To ensure that the content available on any third party online curriculum that is made available to enrolled students or the public by a school district through the Internet is readily accessible to persons with disabilities, provides that the State Board of Education shall require that the third party online curriculum comply with Level AA of the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00027 ELECTION DAY HOLIDAY Rep. Maurice A. West, II Amends the Election Code. Provides that General Election Day (rather than Columbus Day) is a State holiday for the purpose of extending date requirements in the Election Code. Makes similar changes in the Illinois Procurement Code, the School Code, and the Promissory Note and Bank Holiday Act. Effective immediately.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00029 SCH CD-LAW ENFORCEMENT Rep. Anne Stava-Murray Amends the School Code. Provides that law enforcement officers shall not maintain a presence on school grounds unless there exists an imminent threat of danger to students at the school in question or there is reason to believe that urgent and immediate action is necessary to prevent such danger to students. Makes conforming changes. Defines "school grounds". Effective immediately.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00030 SCH CD-ISBE BIAS COMMITTEE Rep. Eva Dina Delgado

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall establish a committee to review educational standards and policies and to create suggestions to help address bias, discrimination, and inequity by including curriculum that represents diverse and historically underrepresented people.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00038 SCH CD-MINORITY CANDIDATES Rep. Maurice A. West, II

Amends the School Code. Requires school districts with a population of 3,000 or more students to interview a minimum percentage of minority candidates for teaching positions. Exempts teaching positions within an English as a Second Language program from the requirement. Sets forth the formula for the school district to use to calculate the minimum percentage required. Provides that if the school district is unable to interview the required minimum percentage of minority candidates for 2 consecutive years, the school district must implement a program for school district employees interested in obtaining a Professional Educator License. Effective immediately.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00040 SCH CD-SPECIAL ED-MAXIMUM AGE Rep. Frances Ann Hurley Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that a student whose 22nd birthday occurs during the school year is eligible for special education services through the end of the school year (rather than being eligible for services only until the day before his or her 22nd birthday). Effective immediately. Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00041 SCH CD-RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT Rep. Katie Stuart Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that prior to the placement of a child in an out-of-state special education residential facility, the school district, Illinois placing agency, or court must offer to the child or the child's parent or guardian the option to place the child in a special education residential facility located within this State that provides treatment and services comparable to those provided by the out-of-state facility. Requires the school district, Illinois placing agency, or court to review annually the placement of a child in an out-of-state special education residential facility and to offer placement in a comparable facility located within this State. Effective immediately.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00070 SCH CD-CHI-SCH NURSE REQUIRED Rep. Mary E. Flowers Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Requires the Chicago Board of Education to establish a school nurse pilot program. Provides that under the program, the Board shall require the top 20% of the lowest performing schools in the school district, as determined by the Board, to employ a school nurse in conformance with certain provisions of the Code concerning school nurses. Requires the Board to implement this program beginning with the 2021-2022 school year. Effective immediately.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00071 $ISBE-CPS-SCHOOL NURSES Rep. Mary E. Flowers Appropriates $26,000,000 to the State Board of Education for the purpose of providing a grant to City of Chicago School District 299 to employ individuals licensed as school nurses to provide health care-related services to students in the district and to eliminate any contracts with outside entities entered into to provide nurses for the district’s schools. Effective July 1, 2021.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00072 SCH CD-NURSING INSTRUCTION Rep. Mary E. Flowers Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, the Chicago school district must include in its curriculum a unit of instruction on nursing. Requires the State Board of Education to prepare and make available to the school board resource materials that may be used as guidelines for the development of the nursing instruction. Effective immediately.

Referred to Rules Committee

HB 00075 SCH CD-PAID SICK LEAVE-CHILD Rep. Mary E. Flowers Amends the School Code. Provides that for the purposes of calculating paid sick leave for the birth of a child or the adoption or placement for adoption of a child, the days do not have to be taken immediately after the birth of the child or the adoption or placement of the child, the days do not have to be taken consecutively, and the school board may not count any day in which school is not in session, including an extended break.