Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

Illinois Senate Bill SB2244 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2244 Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.51 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51 Amends the School Code. With respect to the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program, removes language that provides that the State Board of Education may distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of the moneys appropriated for the Program for the purpose of providing teacher training and re-training in the teaching of reading. Provides that if the appropriation for the Program for a given fiscal year is less than $15,000,000, then the State Board shall limit eligibility to certain school districts and shall impose additional eligibility criteria to limit the number of approved applicants to a cohort sufficient for each selected district to provide adequate training and ongoing coaching support to each teacher of students in grades K through 2 and special education teachers and evidence-based curriculum investments. Removes language that provides that programs provided with grant funds shall not replace quality classroom reading instruction. Provides that Program funds may be used for grades K through 6 to provide both evidence-based, high-quality core literacy curriculum materials that consider the unique needs of English learners for concurrent oral language practice and high-quality screening assessments designed to inform instruction in English language arts and literacy for students (instead of classroom reading materials for students). Sets forth other provisions concerning if the appropriation is less than $15,000,000 or is at least $15,000,000. LRB103 25645 RJT 51994 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2244 Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/2-3.51 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51 105 ILCS 5/2-3.51 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51 Amends the School Code. With respect to the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program, removes language that provides that the State Board of Education may distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of the moneys appropriated for the Program for the purpose of providing teacher training and re-training in the teaching of reading. Provides that if the appropriation for the Program for a given fiscal year is less than $15,000,000, then the State Board shall limit eligibility to certain school districts and shall impose additional eligibility criteria to limit the number of approved applicants to a cohort sufficient for each selected district to provide adequate training and ongoing coaching support to each teacher of students in grades K through 2 and special education teachers and evidence-based curriculum investments. Removes language that provides that programs provided with grant funds shall not replace quality classroom reading instruction. Provides that Program funds may be used for grades K through 6 to provide both evidence-based, high-quality core literacy curriculum materials that consider the unique needs of English learners for concurrent oral language practice and high-quality screening assessments designed to inform instruction in English language arts and literacy for students (instead of classroom reading materials for students). Sets forth other provisions concerning if the appropriation is less than $15,000,000 or is at least $15,000,000. LRB103 25645 RJT 51994 b LRB103 25645 RJT 51994 b A BILL FOR
2	2	103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2244 Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
3	3	105 ILCS 5/2-3.51 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51 105 ILCS 5/2-3.51 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51
4	4	105 ILCS 5/2-3.51 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51
5	5	Amends the School Code. With respect to the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program, removes language that provides that the State Board of Education may distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of the moneys appropriated for the Program for the purpose of providing teacher training and re-training in the teaching of reading. Provides that if the appropriation for the Program for a given fiscal year is less than $15,000,000, then the State Board shall limit eligibility to certain school districts and shall impose additional eligibility criteria to limit the number of approved applicants to a cohort sufficient for each selected district to provide adequate training and ongoing coaching support to each teacher of students in grades K through 2 and special education teachers and evidence-based curriculum investments. Removes language that provides that programs provided with grant funds shall not replace quality classroom reading instruction. Provides that Program funds may be used for grades K through 6 to provide both evidence-based, high-quality core literacy curriculum materials that consider the unique needs of English learners for concurrent oral language practice and high-quality screening assessments designed to inform instruction in English language arts and literacy for students (instead of classroom reading materials for students). Sets forth other provisions concerning if the appropriation is less than $15,000,000 or is at least $15,000,000.
6	6	LRB103 25645 RJT 51994 b LRB103 25645 RJT 51994 b
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8	8	A BILL FOR
9	9	SB2244LRB103 25645 RJT 51994 b SB2244 LRB103 25645 RJT 51994 b
10	10	SB2244 LRB103 25645 RJT 51994 b
11	11	1 AN ACT concerning education.
12	12	2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
13	13	3 represented in the General Assembly:
14	14	4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
15	15	5 2-3.51 as follows:
16	16	6 (105 ILCS 5/2-3.51) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51)
17	17	7 Sec. 2-3.51. Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. To
18	18	8 improve the reading and study skills of children from
19	19	9 kindergarten through sixth grade in school districts. The
20	20	10 State Board of Education is authorized to administer a Reading
21	21	11 Improvement Block Grant Program. As used in this Section:
22	22	12 "School district" includes those schools designated as
23	23	13 "laboratory schools".
24	24	14 "Scientifically based reading research" means the
25	25	15 application of rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures
26	26	16 to obtain valid knowledge relevant to reading development,
27	27	17 reading instruction, and reading difficulties. The term
28	28	18 includes research that employs systematic, empirical methods
29	29	19 that draw on observation or experiment, involves rigorous data
30	30	20 analysis that is adequate to test the stated hypotheses and to
31	31	21 justify the general conclusions drawn, relies on measurements
32	32	22 or observational methods that provide valid data across
33	33	23 evaluators and observers and across multiple measurements and
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37	37	103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2244 Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
38	38	105 ILCS 5/2-3.51 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51 105 ILCS 5/2-3.51 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51
39	39	105 ILCS 5/2-3.51 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51
40	40	Amends the School Code. With respect to the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program, removes language that provides that the State Board of Education may distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of the moneys appropriated for the Program for the purpose of providing teacher training and re-training in the teaching of reading. Provides that if the appropriation for the Program for a given fiscal year is less than $15,000,000, then the State Board shall limit eligibility to certain school districts and shall impose additional eligibility criteria to limit the number of approved applicants to a cohort sufficient for each selected district to provide adequate training and ongoing coaching support to each teacher of students in grades K through 2 and special education teachers and evidence-based curriculum investments. Removes language that provides that programs provided with grant funds shall not replace quality classroom reading instruction. Provides that Program funds may be used for grades K through 6 to provide both evidence-based, high-quality core literacy curriculum materials that consider the unique needs of English learners for concurrent oral language practice and high-quality screening assessments designed to inform instruction in English language arts and literacy for students (instead of classroom reading materials for students). Sets forth other provisions concerning if the appropriation is less than $15,000,000 or is at least $15,000,000.
41	41	LRB103 25645 RJT 51994 b LRB103 25645 RJT 51994 b
42	42	LRB103 25645 RJT 51994 b
43	43	A BILL FOR
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49	49	105 ILCS 5/2-3.51 from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51
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68	68	1 observations, and has been accepted by peer-reviewed journal
69	69	2 or approved by a panel of independent experts through a
70	70	3 comparably rigorous, objective and scientific review.
71	71	4 (a) Funds for the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program
72	72	5 shall be distributed to school districts on the following
73	73	6 basis: 70% of monies shall be awarded on the prior year's best
74	74	7 3 months average daily attendance and 30% shall be distributed
75	75	8 on the number of economically disadvantaged (E.C.I.A. Chapter
76	76	9 I) pupils in the district, provided that the State Board may
77	77	10 distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of the monies
78	78	11 appropriated for the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program
79	79	12 for the purpose of providing teacher training and re-training
80	80	13 in the teaching of reading. Program funds shall be distributed
81	81	14 to school districts in 2 semi-annual installments, one payment
82	82	15 on or before October 30, and one payment prior to April 30, of
83	83	16 each year. The State Board shall promulgate rules and
84	84	17 regulations necessary for the implementation of this program.
85	85	18 If the appropriation for the Reading Improvement Block
86	86	19 Grant Program for a given fiscal year is less than
87	87	20 $15,000,000, then the State Board shall limit eligibility to
88	88	21 school districts that have been placed in Tier 1 or Tier 2
89	89	22 pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (g) of Section 18-8.15
90	90	23 of this Code and shall impose additional eligibility criteria
91	91	24 to limit the number of approved applicants to a cohort
92	92	25 sufficient for each selected district to provide adequate
93	93	26 training and ongoing coaching support to each teacher of
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104	104	1 students in kindergarten through grade 2 and special education
105	105	2 teachers and evidence-based curriculum investments. Programs
106	106	3 provided with grant funds shall not replace quality classroom
107	107	4 reading instruction, but shall instead supplement such
108	108	5 instruction.
109	109	6 (a-5) Reading Improvement Block Grant Program funds shall
110	110	7 be used by school districts in the following manner:
111	111	8 (1) to hire reading specialists, reading teachers, and
112	112	9 reading aides in order to provide early reading
113	113	10 intervention in kindergarten through grade 2 and programs
114	114	11 of continued reading support for students in grades 3
115	115	12 through 6;
116	116	13 (2) in kindergarten through grade 2, to establish
117	117	14 short-term tutorial early reading intervention programs
118	118	15 for children who are at risk of failing to learn to read;
119	119	16 these programs shall (i) focus on scientifically based
120	120	17 research and best practices with proven long-term results,
121	121	18 (ii) identify students in need of help no later than the
122	122	19 middle of first grade, (iii) provide ongoing training for
123	123	20 teachers in the program, (iv) focus instruction on
124	124	21 strengthening a student's phonemic awareness, phonics,
125	125	22 fluency, and comprehension skills, (v) provide a means to
126	126	23 document and evaluate student growth, and (vi) provide
127	127	24 properly trained staff;
128	128	25 (3) to continue direct reading instruction for grades
129	129	26 3 through 6;
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140	140	1 (4) in grades 3 through 6, to establish programs of
141	141	2 support for students who demonstrate a need for continued
142	142	3 assistance in learning to read and in maintaining reading
143	143	4 achievement; these programs shall (i) focus on
144	144	5 scientifically based research and best practices with
145	145	6 proven long-term results, (ii) provide ongoing training
146	146	7 for teachers and other staff members in the program, (iii)
147	147	8 focus instruction on strengthening a student's phonics,
148	148	9 fluency, and comprehension skills in grades 3 through 6,
149	149	10 (iv) provide a means to evaluate and document student
150	150	11 growth, and (v) provide properly trained staff;
151	151	12 (5) in grades K through 6, to provide both
152	152	13 evidence-based, high-quality core literacy curriculum
153	153	14 materials that consider the unique needs of English
154	154	15 learners for concurrent oral language practice and
155	155	16 high-quality screening assessments designed to inform
156	156	17 instruction in English language arts and literacy
157	157	18 classroom reading materials for students; each district
158	158	19 may allocate up to 25% of the funds for this purpose; and
159	159	20 (6) to provide a long-term professional development
160	160	21 program for classroom teachers, administrators, and other
161	161	22 appropriate staff; the program shall (i) focus on
162	162	23 scientifically based research and best practices with
163	163	24 proven long-term results, (ii) provide a means to evaluate
164	164	25 student progress in reading as a result of the training,
165	165	26 (iii) and be provided by approved staff development
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176	176	1 providers.
177	177	2 If the appropriation for the Reading Improvement Block
178	178	3 Grant Program for a given fiscal year is less than
179	179	4 $15,000,000, then grant recipients shall prioritize
180	180	5 evidence-based curricula and materials, training, and ongoing
181	181	6 coaching support for kindergarten through grade 3 teachers and
182	182	7 special education teachers.
183	183	8 (a-10) If the appropriation for the Reading Improvement
184	184	9 Block Grant Program for a given fiscal year is at least
185	185	10 $15,000,000, then Reading Improvement Block Grant Program
186	186	11 funds shall be made available to each eligible school district
187	187	12 submitting an approved application developed by the State
188	188	13 Board beginning with the 1998-99 school year. Applications
189	189	14 shall include a proposed assessment method or methods for
190	190	15 measuring the reading growth of students who receive direct
191	191	16 instruction as a result of the funding and the impact of staff
192	192	17 development activities on student growth in reading. Such
193	193	18 methods may include the reading portion of the assessments
194	194	19 required under Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code. At the end of
195	195	20 each school year the district shall report performance of
196	196	21 progress results to the State Board. Districts not
197	197	22 demonstrating performance progress using an approved
198	198	23 assessment method shall not be eligible for funding in the
199	199	24 third or subsequent years until such progress is established.
200	200	25 If the appropriation for the Reading Improvement Block
201	201	26 Grant Program for a given fiscal year is less than
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212	212	1 $15,000,000, then the State Board may establish additional
213	213	2 eligibility criteria and shall select a cohort of school
214	214	3 districts that have been placed in Tier 1 or Tier 2 pursuant to
215	215	4 paragraph (3) of subsection (g) of Section 18-8.15 of this
216	216	5 Code to participate.
217	217	6 (a-15) The State Superintendent of Education, in
218	218	7 cooperation with the school districts participating in the
219	219	8 program, shall annually report to the leadership of the
220	220	9 General Assembly on the results of the Reading Improvement
221	221	10 Block Grant Program and the progress being made on improving
222	222	11 the reading skills of students in kindergarten through the
223	223	12 sixth grade.
224	224	13 (b) (Blank).
225	225	14 (c) (Blank).
226	226	15 (d) Grants under the Reading Improvement Block Grant
227	227	16 Program shall be awarded provided there is an appropriation
228	228	17 for the program, and funding levels for each district shall be
229	229	18 prorated according to the amount of the appropriation for any
230	230	19 fiscal year in which at least $15,000,000 has been
231	231	20 appropriated.
232	232	21 (e) (Blank).
233	233	22 (f) (Blank).
234	234	23 (Source: P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14.)
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