Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act. Provides those entitled to inspect and copy a recipient's record include the parent or guardian of a minor, regardless of the minor's age, who is involved in special education services under the School Code or the "designated representative" of a student over the age of 18 involved in special education services under the School Code.
Amends the Children With Disabilities Article of the School Code. Allows parents or guardians to use audio recording devices during meetings with their child's individualized education program team regarding the child's placement or progress in an individualized education program. Effective immediately.
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that within 14 school days after receiving a written request for a federal Section 504 plan from a child's parent or guardian, a school district shall determine whether the clinical information provided by the parent or guardian is sufficient to support the need for a Section 504 plan, whether further evaluation is warranted to make that determination, or whether there is no basis for an evaluation or plan based on available information. Provides that if the district decides not to confer eligibility based on existing information or to conduct an evaluation, the district shall provide written notice to the parent or guardian explaining the rationale for the decision. Provides that if the district agrees to an evaluation, a meeting with the parent or guardian shall be held no later than 14 school days after receiving the written request. Requires the district to convene a team that shall identify the assessments necessary to complete the evaluation. Provides that for a student with documentation from a licensed health care provider indicating the need for an individualized health care plan to address a likely medical threat to the student's health or safety, the school's Section 504 plan team shall meet with the parent or guardian to consider creation of an interim Section 504 plan consistent with the health care provider's recommendations within 5 school days after receipt of the documentation, and if the Section 504 plan team agrees with the health care provider's recommendation, implementation of the requisite accommodations shall commence no later than 5 school days after the planning meeting. Effective immediately.
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Adds the Secretary of Early Childhood or his or her designee as a member of the Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities. Provides that the Council shall establish a committee charged with ensuring that all children aged 3 to 5 with disabilities have access to high-quality, inclusive, early-childhood services, provided in the least restrictive environment, across all early learning settings. Effective immediately.
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall create appropriate guidelines for students enrolled in peer-support courses, which shall include, but not be limited to: (i) education on common cognitive and physical disabilities and the associated accommodations as defined in the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; (ii) the skills and knowledge required to support fellow students, including skills and knowledge in a specific course or disciplinary area; (iii) possible methods educators can use to assess the proficiency of student aides; (iv) relevant learning standards and expectations required of student aides; (v) basic classroom management strategies and protocols; (vi) best practices and ethics associated with peer support; (vii) the appropriate etiquette that student aides should follow while interacting and supporting special education students; and (viii) appropriate learning standards that apply to all students enrolled as student aides in peer-support courses.
Amends the Transportation Article of the School Code. Provides that the allowable direct cost of transporting pupils for regular, vocational, and special education pupil transportation shall be limited to, among other costs, expenditures to electrification-as-a-service contractors that provide electric school buses or a combination of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, equipment, or daily charge management services, plus a depreciation allowance of 8.33% for 12 years for electric school buses and vehicles approved for transporting pupils to and from school.
Amends the Interscholastic Athletic Organization Act. Requires an association or other entity that has as one of its purposes promoting, sponsoring, regulating, or in any manner providing for interscholastic athletics or any form of athletic competition among schools and students within this State to allow a student for whom it is determined that special education services are needed under the School Code to participate in interscholastic athletics and other forms of athletic competition for as long as the student is eligible for such special education services, which, for purposes of the School Code, means through the day before the student's 22nd birthday.
Amends the Children With Disabilities Article of the School Code. Allows a school district to place a student in a nonpublic day facility or residential special education facility providing educational services but not approved by the State Board of Education (rather than a nonpublic residential special education facility providing educational services but not approved by the State Board of Education) if the State Board of Education provides an emergency and student-specific approval for residential or day placement. Makes changes to provisions concerning the circumstances under which the State Board of Education will grant such an approval. Grants jurisdiction to the State Board's impartial due process hearing officer to resolve disputes involving the need for placement in a non-approved, student-specific, emergency placement, the selection of the facility, and whether an approved facility is an appropriate alternative to a non-approved facility. Makes conforming and other changes.
Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that on the effective date of the amendatory Act,any recipient of a scholarship, grant, or waiver that has been or may be converted to a student loan under a State program for which the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is responsible for collections shall be released from the remaining financial repayment obligations under that program. In provisions concerning the Minority Teachers of Illinois scholarship program, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program, special education teacher scholarships, the Optometric Education Scholarship Program, Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships, and the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program and in the Nursing Education Scholarship Law, removes provisions concerning repaying funds received due to the specified failure of a recipient to fulfill the recipient's obligations. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Appropriates $6,000,000 to the Illinois State University for the purpose of the Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program. Effective July 1, 2025.
