Illinois 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB2396 Enrolled / Bill

Filed 05/22/2023

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1  AN ACT concerning education.
2  Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3  represented in the General Assembly:
4  Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
5  10-22.18e and by changing Sections 10-20.19a and 10-22.18 as
6  follows:
7  (105 ILCS 5/10-20.19a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.19a)
8  Sec. 10-20.19a. Kindergartens. After July 1, 1970, to
9  establish and maintain kindergartens for the instruction of
10  children in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed
11  by the State Board of Education. Such kindergartens may
12  provide for either a 1/2 day or a full day of attendance for
13  pupils enrolled therein.
14  This Section is repealed on July 1, 2023.
15  (Source: P.A. 84-18.)
16  (105 ILCS 5/10-22.18) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.18)
17  Sec. 10-22.18. Kindergartens.
18  (a) To establish kindergartens for the instruction of
19  children between the ages of 4 and 6 years, if in their
20  judgment the public interest requires it, and to pay the
21  necessary expenses thereof out of the school funds of the
22  district. Until the 2027-2028 school year, upon Upon petition

 

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1  of at least 50 parents or guardians of children between the
2  ages of 4 and 6, residing within any school district and within
3  one mile of the public school where such kindergarten is
4  proposed to be established, the board of directors shall, if
5  funds are available, establish a kindergarten in connection
6  with the public school designated in the petition and maintain
7  it as long as the annual average daily attendance therein is
8  not less than 15. Until the 2027-2028 school year, the The
9  board may establish a kindergarten with half-day attendance or
10  with full-day attendance; however, if . If the board
11  establishes full-day kindergarten, it shall also establish
12  half-day kindergarten. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school
13  year, each school board must establish a kindergarten with
14  full-day attendance and may establish a kindergarten with
15  half-day attendance. Full-day and half-day kindergarten should
16  be developmentally appropriate and provide opportunities for
17  play-based learning. No one shall be employed to teach in a
18  kindergarten who does not hold a license as provided by law.
19  (b) An elementary or unit school district that does not
20  offer full-day kindergarten as of October 1, 2022, may, by
21  action of the State Board of Education, apply for an extension
22  of the 2027-2028 school year implementation deadline for 2
23  additional years if one of the following criteria are met:
24  (1) the school district is funded below 76% of
25  adequacy according to the Evidence-Based Funding formula
26  under Section 18-8.15 of this Code in Fiscal Year 2023;

 

 

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1  (2) the school district is ranked in the top 25% of
2  capital funding need by the Full-Day Kindergarten Task
3  Force, but has yet to receive capital funding as of the
4  date of the application; or
5  (3) the school district meets a criterion set by the
6  State Board of Education based on the Full-Day
7  Kindergarten Task Force's recommendations under subsection
8  (b) of Section 10-22.18e of this Code.
9  (Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)
10  (105 ILCS 5/10-22.18e new)
11  Sec. 10-22.18e. Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force.
12  (a) The Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force is created for
13  the purpose of conducting a statewide audit to inform the
14  planning and implementation of full-day kindergarten in the
15  State and shall, at a minimum, collect, analyze, and report
16  the following:
17  (1) the number of elementary and unit school districts
18  in the State that are currently offering kindergarten,
19  including the number offering full-day kindergarten, the
20  number offering part-day kindergarten, and the number
21  offering both part-day kindergarten and full-day
22  kindergarten;
23  (2) the number of students currently enrolled in
24  kindergarten in the State, including the number enrolled
25  in full-day kindergarten, the number enrolled in part-day

 

 

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1  kindergarten, the total number enrolled in either part-day
2  kindergarten or full-day kindergarten, and the number of
3  children on any waitlists for part-day or full-day
4  kindergarten;
5  (3) for all elementary and unit school districts, an
6  estimate of the number of students eligible for
7  kindergarten;
8  (4) for all elementary and unit school districts that
9  do not currently offer full-day kindergarten, an analysis
10  of their space utilization rate and an assessment of
11  district capacity to provide space for full-day
12  kindergarten classrooms;
13  (5) for all elementary and unit school districts that
14  do not currently offer full-day kindergarten and are found
15  to have insufficient capacity to provide space for
16  full-day kindergarten classrooms, an estimate of the costs
17  associated with providing full-day kindergarten
18  classrooms;
19  (6) recommendations on how available capital funds for
20  full-day kindergarten might be disbursed to school
21  districts to prioritize districts most in need of State
22  resources; and
23  (7) other data or recommendations that would support
24  the State or individual school districts in offering
25  full-day kindergarten. Such recommendations may include an
26  analysis of other start-up or categorical costs associated

 

 

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1  with offering full-day kindergarten.
2  (b) Based on the findings reported under subsection (a) of
3  this Section, the Task Force may recommend that the State
4  Board of Education consider an additional criterion when
5  granting a waiver under subsection (b) of Section 10-22.18 of
6  this Code. The State Board of Education shall make a final
7  determination regarding this additional factor and provide
8  public notice of that determination by no later than July 1,
9  2025.
10  (c) Members of the Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force shall
11  be appointed by no later than October 1, 2023 and shall possess
12  the expertise needed to complete the report and
13  recommendations. Members appointed to the Task Force must
14  reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of this
15  State. Task Force members shall include all of the following:
16  (1) The State Superintendent of Education or the
17  Superintendent's designee.
18  (2) Three members appointed by the State Board of
19  Education with relevant expertise.
20  (3) One member who represents the Capital Development
21  Board, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
22  (4) One member from an organization with expertise in
23  school construction and facilities financing, appointed by
24  the State Superintendent of Education.
25  (5) One member from an organization with expertise in
26  local, State, and federal tax and budget related issues,

 

 

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1  appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
2  (6) One member of a statewide professional teachers'
3  organization who is a kindergarten teacher, appointed by
4  the State Superintendent of Education.
5  (7) One member of another statewide professional
6  teachers' organization who is a kindergarten teacher,
7  appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
8  (8) One member who represents a statewide organization
9  of school business officials and has experience overseeing
10  schools with kindergarten programs, appointed by the State
11  Superintendent of Education.
12  (9) One member who represents a statewide organization
13  of principals and has experience overseeing schools with
14  kindergarten programs, appointed by the State
15  Superintendent of Education.
16  (10) One member who represents a statewide
17  organization of school boards and has experience
18  overseeing schools with kindergarten programs, appointed
19  by the State Superintendent of Education.
20  (11) Three members who are parents of students, one of
21  whom is from an urban elementary or unit school district,
22  one of whom is from a rural elementary or unit school
23  district, and one of whom is from a suburban elementary or
24  unit school district, all appointed by the State
25  Superintendent of Education.
26  (12) One member who represents a statewide

 

 

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1  organization of school districts and has experience
2  overseeing schools with kindergarten programs, appointed
3  by the State Superintendent of Education.
4  (13) One member who represents an elementary or unit
5  school district that is a Tier 3 or Tier 4 school district
6  as defined by Section 18-8.15 of this Code and that does
7  not currently offer full-day kindergarten, appointed by
8  the State Superintendent of Education.
9  (14) One member who represents a school district
10  serving a community with a population of 500,000 or more,
11  appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
12  (15) One member who represents a rural elementary or
13  unit school district, appointed by the State
14  Superintendent of Education.
15  (d) The Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force shall meet at the
16  call of the State Superintendent of Education or the
17  Superintendent's designee, who shall serve as the chairperson.
18  The State Board of Education shall provide administrative and
19  other support to the Task Force. Members of the Task Force
20  shall serve without compensation.
21  (e) The Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force shall issue an
22  interim report by June 30, 2024 and a final report to the
23  General Assembly and Governor's Office no later than January
24  31, 2025.
25  (f) Upon issuing its final report, the Full-Day
26  Kindergarten Task Force is dissolved.

 

 

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1  Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
2  becoming law.

 

 

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