HB5945 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 14288 NHT 48904 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB5945

Introduced , by Rep. John D. Anthony

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/10-20.56 new
105 ILCS 5/34-18.49 new

Amends the School Code. Provides that the parents of at least 51% of students in a low-performing school may initiate reform measures at the school through the submission of a parent petition to the school board. Provides for submission of a notice of petition. Provides that the petition shall request that the school board fully intervene in the school and implement one of the following reform measures: (1) reopen the school as a charter school; (2) change the school leadership; (3) close the school and reassign students currently attending the school to another school at the appropriate grade level within the same school district; or (4) adopt a new school governance structure. Upon receiving a copy of a petition signed by the parents of at least 51% of the students in a low-performing school, requires the school board to implement the reform measures requested in the petition.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

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 adding Sections 10-20.56 and 34-18.49 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.56 new)

Sec. 10-20.56. Initiation of school reform by parent petition.

(a) In this Section, "low-performing school" means a public school designated as a low-performing school by the State Board of Education based on the following criteria:

(1) Among all students in that school to whom a State assessment was administered under Section 2-3.64 of this Code, the percentage of students scoring in the partially proficient range in both the language arts and mathematics subject areas of the State assessments exceeded 40% in each of the prior 2 school years.

(2) Among all students in that school to whom a State assessment was administered under Section 2-3.64 of this Code, the percentage of students scoring in the partially proficient range in either the language arts or mathematics subject area of the State assessments exceeded 65% in each of the prior 2 school years. A school shall continue to meet the definition of "low-performing school" and the State Board of Education shall continue to designate the school as a low-performing school until such time as the percentage of students scoring in the partially proficient range in both the language arts and mathematics subject areas of the State assessments is less than or equal to the statewide percentage of students scoring in the partially proficient range.

(b) The parents of at least 51% of students in a low-performing school may initiate reform measures at the school under this Section through the submission of a parent petition to the school board. The petition process shall be as follows:

(1) A parent must submit a notice of petition notifying the school that a petition is being formed. The State Board of Education shall create a uniform notice of petition form and shall make that form available on its Internet website.

(2) The petition shall request that the school board fully intervene in the school and implement one of the following reform measures:

(A) Reopen the school as a charter school.

(B) Change the school leadership, including without limitation replacing the school principal and any other staff who are relevant to the school's designation as a low-performing school.

(C) Close the school and reassign students currently attending the school to another school at the appropriate grade level within the same school district.

(D) Adopt a new school governance structure, which may include without limitation requiring the school to report to a turnaround office established by the school board, hiring a turnaround leader who reports directly to the State Board of Education, and entering into an agreement with a person, a for-profit or not-for-profit organization providing educational or other services, or another school district for alternative management of the school.

(3) After the parents of at least 51% of the students in the school have signed the petition, the parent who submitted the notice of petition shall submit copies of the signed petition to the State Board of Education and the school board.

(c) Upon receiving a copy of a petition signed by the parents of at least 51% of the students in a low-performing school as provided under subsection (b) of this Section, the school board must implement the reform measures requested in the petition.

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.49 new)

Sec. 34-18.49. Initiation of school reform by parent petition.

(a) In this Section, "low-performing school" means a public school designated as a low-performing school by the State Board of Education based on the following criteria:

(1) Among all students in that school to whom a State assessment was administered under Section 2-3.64 of this Code, the percentage of students scoring in the partially proficient range in both the language arts and mathematics subject areas of the State assessments exceeded 40% in each of the prior 2 school years.

(2) Among all students in that school to whom a State assessment was administered under Section 2-3.64 of this Code, the percentage of students scoring in the partially proficient range in either the language arts or mathematics subject area of the State assessments exceeded 65% in each of the prior 2 school years. A school shall continue to meet the definition of "low-performing school" and the State Board of Education shall continue to designate the school as a low-performing school until such time as the percentage of students scoring in the partially proficient range in both the language arts and mathematics subject areas of the State assessments is less than or equal to the statewide percentage of students scoring in the partially proficient range.

(b) The parents of at least 51% of students in a low-performing school may initiate reform measures at the school under this Section through the submission of a parent petition to the board. The petition process shall be as follows:

(1) A parent must submit a notice of petition notifying the school that a petition is being formed. The State Board of Education shall create a uniform notice of petition form and shall make that form available on its Internet website.

(2) The petition shall request that the board fully intervene in the school and implement one of the following reform measures:

(A) Reopen the school as a charter school.

(B) Change the school leadership, including without limitation replacing the school principal and any other staff who are relevant to the school's designation as a low-performing school.

(C) Close the school and reassign students currently attending the school to another school at the appropriate grade level within the school district.

(D) Adopt a new school governance structure, which may include without limitation requiring the school to report to a turnaround office established by the board, hiring a turnaround leader who reports directly to the State Board of Education, and entering into an agreement with a person, a for-profit or not-for-profit organization providing educational or other services, or another school district for alternative management of the school.

(3) After the parents of at least 51% of the students in the school have signed the petition, the parent who submitted the notice of petition shall submit copies of the signed petition to the State Board of Education and the board.

(c) Upon receiving a copy of a petition signed by the parents of at least 51% of the students in a low-performing school as provided under subsection (b) of this Section, the board must implement the reform measures requested in the petition.