Section 1506.100  Purpose

 

Section 3-15.12a of the School Code [105 ILCS 5] provides eligible applicants with a process for attaining the authority to award a high school diploma to adult learners. This Part sets forth the rules for eligible applicants to apply for approval from the Illinois Community College Board to award a high school diploma to adult learners.

 

Section 1506.200  Definitions

 

"Adult Learner" means a person ineligible for reenrollment under subsection (b) of Section 26-2(b) of the School Code and 34 CFR 300.102. [105 ILCS 5/3-15.12a(a-5)]

 

"Board" or "ICCB" means the Illinois Community College Board. [105 ILCS 5/3-15.12a(a-5)]

 

"Career and Technical Education" or "CTE" means organized educational programs of study that prepare students for employment in a specific field and should be aligned with related secondary and/or upper-division programs that require a common knowledge and skill set.

 

"Dual Credit" means an instructional arrangement in which an academically qualified student enrolls in a college-level course and, upon successful course completion, concurrently earns both college credit and high school credit.

 

"Eligible Applicant" means an entity listed in Section 1506.300.

 

"High School Diploma Program for Adult Learners" or "Program" means a program approved to operate under Section 3-15.12a of the School Code that provides a program of alternative study to adult learners leading to the issuance of a high school diploma. [105 ILCS 5/3-15.12a(a-5)]

 

"Illinois Adult Education Content Standards" means basic reading, language arts, mathematics, and writing standards for adult learners approved by the Illinois Community College Board.  These standards are aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards.

 

"Illinois Learning Standards" means academic standards approved by the Illinois State Board of Education that define what all students in all Illinois public schools should know and be able to do in the seven core areas as a result of their elementary and secondary schooling.

 

Section 1506.300  Eligible Applicants

 

a)         Applicants must be one of the following entities:

 

1)         A community college established and operating under the authority of the Public Community College Act [110 ILCS 85].

 

2)         A nonprofit entity in partnership with the regional superintendent of schools.

 

3)         A chief administrator of an intermediate service center that has the authority, under rules adopted by the State Board of Education, to issue a high school diploma.

 

4)         A school district organized under Article 34 of the Illinois School Code [105 ILCS 5/34A-101].

 

b)         Applicants must provide documentation demonstrating that the applicant is or has been unable to establish an agreement with a secondary or unit school district in which the eligible applicant is located to provide a program through which students who successfully complete that program can receive a high school diploma from their districts of residence. This subsection does not apply to a school district applicant (see subsection (a)(4)).

 

Section 1506.400  Application Process

 

a)         An application from an eligible applicant for a high school diploma program for adult learners shall be submitted electronically to the Illinois Community College Board on forms prescribed by the Board.

 

b)         Each application submitted to the Board shall include:

 

1)         Cover Packet

 

A)        Contact information, including the Chief Executive Officer, the Program Director, and Fiscal Officer or the equivalent.

 

B)        A letter from the eligible applicant, other than a school district, that indicates that an agreement cannot be reached between the eligible applicant and a secondary or unit school district in the area. The letter must summarize the discussion and the dates as well as the reasons an agreement could not be established.  Additional documentation may also be included (e.g., minutes of meetings).

 

2)         Proposal Narrative

 

A)        Statement of Need

Describe the demographic, socioeconomic and employment trends for the proposed service area, including labor market and education attainment data that demonstrates a need for the Program.

 

B)        Mission and Structure 

 

i)          Describe the eligible applicant's mission and past history in serving the adult population.

 

ii)         Describe the administrative structure of the Program.

 

iii)        Describe the financial commitments to support the Program and ensure that outcomes and goals are met.

 

C)        Instructional Program Design and Activities

 

i)          Describe the instructional activities, including the curriculum, program sequence and multidisciplinary courses. Include any online or technology based curriculum that will be used.

 

ii)         Describe the Program and its connection with the Illinois Learning Standards and Illinois Adult Education Content Standards.

 

iii)        Describe the intensity, duration and frequency of the activities, including but not limited to the times and location.

 

iv)        Describe the plans to deliver a system of career pathways that includes career and technical education courses that lead to industry recognized certifications in high growth and in-demand industry sectors identified through labor market analysis or dual credit courses from a regionally accredited postsecondary educational institution consistent with the Dual Credit Quality Act [110 ILCS 27].  The Program may partner with a community college district in the area of services to provide career and technical education courses that lead to industry recognized certifications. 

 

D)        Partnerships and Collaboration

 

i)          Describe established educational partnerships and collaborations, including those with regional offices of education, school districts and community college districts in the area in which the Program is delivered.

 

ii)         Describe connections to the community that will enhance the ability to deliver services to adult learners, including business and industry, local workforce boards, social service agencies, State agencies, and other stakeholders.

 

E)        Recruitment, Enrollment and Retention Strategies

 

i)          Describe the recruitment and enrollment process, as well as retention strategies.

 

ii)         Describe the target populations to be served in the Program. Strategies for the delivery of instructional services through a Program should target the following populations:

 

•          Long-term unemployed and underemployed, and those not in the labor force who demonstrate a deficiency in basic skills;

 

•        Low-income adults;

 

•        Individuals with disabilities;

 

•        Individuals receiving public assistance;

 

•        Out-of-school youth;

 

•        Veterans;

 

•        Migrant and seasonal farmworkers;

 

•        Incarcerated and other institutionalized individuals;

 

•        Re-entry individuals (ex-offenders);

 

•        English Language Learners;

 

•        Older individuals;

 

•        Homeless individuals;

 

•        Single parents, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients, and displaced homemakers;

 

•        Youth in the foster system or who have aged out; and

 

•        Low literacy adults, without a high school diploma.

 

F)         Program Completion

Describe the requirements for Program completion, including the use of any standardized testing or assessments.  Adult learners must also complete the U.S. and Illinois State Constitution Tests, as well as the Flag Test, as required by the School Code (see 105 ILCS 5/27-3). 

 

G)        Support Services

 

i)          Describe the support services that will be provided by the applicant or in coordination with partners (e.g., transportation, childcare services, employment).

 

ii)         Describe any assessments that will be used to determine eligibility for services.

 

iii)        Describe the academic, behavioral and emotional support services to be offered to adult learners enrolled in the Program.

 

H)        Program Accountability and Evaluation

 

i)          Describe specific outcomes, goals and metrics of the Program, including enrollment projections and completions.

 

ii)         Describe the use of any Board approved adult education assessments in determining reading and math levels (i.e., pre- and post-testing).

 

iii)        Describe the use of Program data to evaluate the success of the Program and the outcomes of adult learners.

 

I)         Professional Development

 

i)          Describe all staff and responsibilities related to the Program, including: Program administrator, coordinators, counselors and instructional staff, including licensed teaching staff, teacher aides, tutors, and others staff involved in the Program.

 

ii)         Describe the specific certifications of staff, including educator licenses valid for the high school grades or other adult education specific certification approved by the Board. All instructional teaching staff must hold an educator license valid for the high school grades issued under Article 21B of the School Code.

 

iii)        Describe the professional development requirement for all staff, including completion of the required new teacher orientation.

 

c)         In addition to the above required information, a nonprofit eligible applicant shall provide the following to the Board:

 

1)         Assurance through evidence and documentation that the nonprofit entity has the ability and capacity to fulfill all the requirements of this Part and Section 3-15.12a(b) of the School Code. 

 

2)         A description of the coordination and oversight the partner entity will provide in the administration of the Program by the nonprofit entity.

 

3)         Evidence that the nonprofit entity has a history of providing services to adult learners whose educational and training opportunities have been limited by educational disadvantages, disabilities and challenges.

 

Section 1506.500  Approval Process

 

a)         Initial approval of an eligible applicant by the Board shall be for a period of two school years.

 

b)         After initial approval, renewal of an eligible applicant by the Board shall be for a period of four school years and shall be contingent upon submission to the Board of an application for renewal in accordance with the provisions of Section 1506.400 and demonstration to the Board of specific documented outcomes of:

 

1)         Student progression data;

 

2)         Attendance hours;

 

3)         Enrollment data;

 

4)         Program goals and metrics;

 

5)         Graduation rates and completion;

 

6)         Earning of industry recognized credentials;

 

7)         Program recruitment and retention;

 

8)         Professional development of staff;

 

9)         Program costs; and

 

10)         Evaluation processes.

 

c)         A decision of the Board shall be provided to eligible applicants in writing through U.S. mail or electronic notice.  The Board shall make public a list of approved programs on its official website.

 

Section 1506.600  Reporting Requirements

 

a)         Programs are required to provide quarterly reports to ICCB.

 

b)         Quarterly reports are to include, at minimum:

 

1)         Student enrollment and progression data.

 

A)        Program recruitment, enrollment and retention data.

 

B)        Attendance hours.

 

2)         Program outcomes data.

 

A)        Graduation rates. 

 

B)        Earning of high school diplomas.

 

C)        Earning of industry-recognized credentials.

 

3)         Program goals and metrics for evaluation.

 

Section 1506.700  Revocation of Program Approval

 

a)         If an entity authorized to offer a Program fails to meet any of the requirements of this Part or Section 3-15.12a(b) of the School Code, the Board shall place the Program on probationary review.

 

b)         Programs in review status shall follow a corrective action plan outlined by the Board to regain approved status. Corrective action plans will be designed to address the specific deficiencies and may include such elements as monitoring of program performance and outcomes identified in Section 1506.500(b).

 

c)         Programs under a corrective action plan that fail to complete the requirements of their corrective action plan within the time allotted by the plan will have their status as an approved Program revoked by the Board.

 

Section 1506.800  Appeal Process

 

a)         All decisions of the Board that result in nonapproval of a Program or revocation of an approved Program shall be provided in writing in the form of a letter delivered by certified mail and shall specify the reason for the nonapproval or revocation.

 

b)         All decisions of the Board that result in nonapproval or revocation may be appealed within 30 days after receipt of the written notification by submitting a written request for reconsideration of the decision to the ICCB Chair.

 

c)         The ICCB Chair shall review the request and place it on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board.

 

d)         The appellant may make both oral and written presentations to ICCB at the time the decision is reconsidered.