Bill Text: IL HB3109 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Amends the Transitional Bilingual Education Article of the School Code. Adds as a purpose of the Article the establishment of approved alternative programs in public schools. Provides that an approved alternative program means a full-time program of instruction (1) in all of those courses or subjects that a child is required by law to receive and that are required by the child's school district; (2) that consists of a structured English immersion program in which school districts may immerse qualified children into regular education courses of mathematics, English, and science if it is determined through proficiency assessments that the children have achieved sufficient English proficiency; and (3) that does not require children in the immersion program to be taught by teachers with a Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language endorsement. Makes other changes.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 5-2)

Status: (Passed) 2011-08-11 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 97-0305 [HB3109 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HB3109-Chaptered.html

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Public Act 097-0305
HB3109 Enrolled LRB097 09337 RPM 51330 b
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
14C-13 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/14C-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-13)
Sec. 14C-13. Advisory Council. There is created an Advisory
Council on Bilingual Education, consisting of 17 members
appointed by the State Superintendent of Education and
selected, as nearly as possible, on the basis of experience in
or knowledge of the various programs of bilingual education.
The Council shall advise the State Superintendent on policy and
rules pertaining to bilingual education. The Council shall
establish such sub-committees as it deems appropriate to review
bilingual education issues including but not limited to
certification, finance and special education.
Initial appointees shall serve terms determined by lot as
follows: 6 for one year, 6 for 2 years and 5 for 3 years.
Successors shall serve 3-year terms. Members annually shall
select a chairman from among their number. Members shall
receive no compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
By no later than December 1, 2011, the Council shall submit

a report to the State Superintendent of Education, the
Governor, and the General Assembly addressing, at a minimum,
the following questions:
(1) whether and how the 20 child per attendance center
minimum in Section 14C-3 of this Code should be modified;
(2) whether and how educator certification
requirements in this Article 14C and applicable State Board
of Education rules should be modified;
(3) whether and how bilingual education requirements
in this Article 14C and applicable State Board of Education
rules should be modified to address differences between
elementary and secondary schools; and
(4) whether and how to allow school districts to
administer alternative bilingual education programs
instead of transitional bilingual education programs.
(Source: P.A. 87-995.)