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Illinois General Assembly· HB 5135Governor Approved

ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS, the official text

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HB5135 Enrolled                     LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1   AN ACT concerning education.

2   Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

3 represented in the General Assembly:

4   Section 5. The Adult Education Act is amended by changing

5 Sections 2-4 and 3-1 as follows:

6   (105 ILCS 405/2-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 202-4)

7   Sec. 2-4. Area Planning Councils. An Area Planning Council

8 shall be established within the boundaries of each community

9 college district. A representative of each approved adult

10 education provider is required to participate on the Area

11 Planning Council. Other members may include:

12  (1) regional superintendents of schools;

13  (2) representatives of school districts;

14  (3) representatives of the community college

15  district's career and technical education program;

16  (4) representatives of the community college

17  district's financial aid office;

18  (5) representatives of the community college

19  district's student services office;

20  (6) representatives of local workforce boards under

21  the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;

22  (7) persons with an interest in adult education

23  services provided within the community college district;
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1   and

2        (8) persons with an interest in adult education

3   services provided within the Area Planning Council

4   district, including, but not limited to, representatives

5   of social service agencies, businesses and employers,

6   vocational rehabilitation services of the Department of

7   Human Services, and the Department of Employment Security.

8 Each Area Planning Council must elect officers and develop

9 bylaws that indicate the membership of the Council. The Area

10 Planning Council chairperson must be a representative of an

11 adult education provider approved by the Board. In areas where

12 large multiple-provider Area Planning Councils exist, the

13 Board may designate sub-areas within an Area Planning Council

14 district to ensure maximum representation of need. The Board

15 shall determine the guidelines for the bylaws and operation of

16 the Area Planning Council.

17  On or before March 1 of each year each Area Planning

18 Council shall submit an annual Adult Education Plan for the

19 area. The Area Adult Education Plan shall provide for the

20 development and coordination of adult education programs in

21 the area as prescribed by the Board. The Area Adult Education

22 Plan must be aligned with Title II of the federal Workforce

23 Innovation and Opportunity Act, the State Unified Plan, local

24 workforce boards, and one-stop activities and must include

25 involvement of the local Board-approved adult education

26 workforce board representative. The local adult education
    HB5135 Enrolled  -3-               LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1 workforce board representative is responsible for convening

2 Area Planning Council chairpersons in a local workforce area

3 to provide information regarding the development of the Area

4 Adult Education Plans and related federal Workforce Innovation

5 and Opportunity Act activities. If the Board finds that the

6 annual Area Adult Education Plan submitted by the Area

7 Planning Council meets the requirements of this amendatory Act

8 of 1982 and the established standards and guidelines, the

9 Board shall approve the Plan. The approval of adult education

10 programs by the Board for reimbursement under Section 2-12.5

11 of the Public Community College Act shall be based on the Adult

12 Education Plan approved for the Area. The Area Adult Education

13 Plan must be approved prior to funding being made available to

14 an Area Planning Council district.

15  On or before March 1, 2002 and each year thereafter, the

16 Board shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the

17 General Assembly for adult education for the preceding school

18 year. The annual report shall include a summary of adult

19 education needs and programs; the number of students served,

20 federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act activities,

21 high school equivalency information, credit hours or units of

22 instruction, performance data, and total adult education

23 allocations, and State reimbursement for adult basic

24 education, adult secondary education, English language

25 acquisition, high school credit, integrated English literacy

26 and civics education, and bridge and integrated education and
    HB5135 Enrolled  -4-  LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1 training programs in coordination with vocational skills
2 training; the criteria used for program approval; and any
3 recommendations.
4 (Source: P.A. 101-289, eff. 8-9-19.)

5   (105 ILCS 405/3-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 203-1)

6   Sec. 3-1. Apportionment for adult education courses. Any

7 school district maintaining adult education classes for the

8 instruction of persons over 21 years of age and youths under 21

9 years of age whose schooling has been interrupted shall be

10 entitled to claim an apportionment in accordance with the

11 provisions of Section 10-22.20 of the School Code and Section

12 2-4 of this Act. Any public community college district

13 maintaining adult education classes for the instruction of

14 those persons who (i) are 17 16 years of age or older, are not

15 enrolled or required to be enrolled in a secondary school

16 under State law, and are basic-skills deficient, (ii) do not

17 have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent

18 and have not achieved an equivalent level of education, or

19 (iii) are an English language learner shall be entitled to

20 claim an apportionment in accordance with the provisions of

21 Section 2-16.02 of the Public Community College Act.

22  Reimbursement as herein provided shall be limited to adult

23 basic education, adult secondary and high school equivalency

24 testing education, high school credit, literacy, including

25 digital literacy, English language acquisition, integrated
    HB5135 Enrolled    -5-              LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1 English literacy and civics education, integrated education

2 and training in coordination with vocational skills training,

3 and any other activities that are approved by the Board.

4   If the amount appropriated for this purpose is less than

5 the amount required under the provisions of this Section, the

6 apportionment for local districts shall be proportionately

7 reduced.

8 (Source: P.A. 101-289, eff. 8-9-19.)

9   Section 10. The Public Community College Act is amended by

10 changing Sections 2-12 and 2-12.5 as follows:

11  (110 ILCS 805/2-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 102-12)

12  Sec. 2-12. The State Board shall have the power and it

13 shall be its duty:

14  (a) To provide statewide planning for community

15  colleges as institutions of higher education and to

16  coordinate the programs, services and activities of all

17  community colleges in the State so as to encourage and

18  establish a system of locally initiated and administered

19  comprehensive community colleges.

20  (b) To organize and conduct feasibility surveys for

21  new community colleges or for the inclusion of existing

22  institutions as community colleges and the locating of new

23  institutions.

24  (c) (Blank).
    HB5135 Enrolled           -6-  LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1   (c-5) In collaboration with the community colleges, to

2   furnish information for State and federal accountability

3   purposes, promote student and institutional improvement,

4   and meet research needs.

5   (d) To cooperate with the community colleges in

6   collecting and maintaining student characteristics,

7   enrollment and completion data, faculty and staff

8   characteristics, financial data, admission standards,

9   facility data, and any other issues facing community

10  colleges.

11  (e) To enter into contracts with other governmental

12  agencies and eligible providers, such as local educational

13  agencies, community-based organizations of demonstrated

14  effectiveness, volunteer literacy organizations of

15  demonstrated effectiveness, institutions of higher

16  education, public and private nonprofit agencies,

17  libraries, and public housing authorities; to accept

18  federal funds and to plan with other State agencies when

19  appropriate for the allocation of such federal funds for

20  instructional programs and student services including such

21  funds for adult education and literacy, vocational and

22  career and technical education, and retraining as may be

23  allocated by state and federal agencies for the aid of

24  community colleges. To receive, receipt for, hold in

25  trust, expend and administer, for all purposes of this

26  Act, funds and other aid made available by the federal
    HB5135 Enrolled          -7-  LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1   government or by other agencies public or private, subject

2   to appropriation by the General Assembly. The changes to

3   this subdivision (e) made by Public Act 91-830 apply on

4   and after July 1, 2001.

5   (f) To determine efficient and adequate standards for

6   community colleges for the physical plant, heating,

7   lighting, ventilation, sanitation, safety, equipment and

8   supplies, instruction and teaching, curriculum, library,

9   operation, maintenance, and administration and

10  supervision.

11  (g) To determine the standards for establishment of

12  community colleges and the proper location of the site in

13  relation to existing institutions of higher education

14  offering academic, occupational and technical training

15  curricula, possible enrollment, assessed valuation,

16  industrial, business, agricultural, and other conditions

17  reflecting educational needs in the area to be served;

18  however, no community college may be considered as being

19  recognized nor may the establishment of any community

20  college be authorized in any district which shall be

21  deemed inadequate for the maintenance, in accordance with

22  the desirable standards thus determined, of a community

23  college offering the basic subjects of general education

24  and suitable vocational and semiprofessional and technical

25  curricula.

26  (h) To approve or disapprove new units of instruction,
    HB5135 Enrolled  -8-           LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1   research or public service as defined in Section 3-25.1 of

2   this Act submitted by the boards of trustees of the

3   respective community college districts of this State. The

4   State Board may discontinue programs which fail to reflect

5   the educational needs of the area being served. The

6   community college district shall be granted 60 days

7   following the State Board staff recommendation and prior

8   to the State Board's action to respond to concerns

9   regarding the program in question. If the State Board acts

10  to abolish a community college program, the community

11  college district has a right to appeal the decision in

12  accordance with administrative rules promulgated by the

13  State Board under the provisions of the Illinois

14  Administrative Procedure Act.

15  (i) To review and approve or disapprove any contract

16  or agreement that community colleges enter into with any

17  organization, association, educational institution, or

18  government agency to provide educational services for

19  academic credit. The State Board is authorized to monitor

20  performance under any contract or agreement that is

21  approved by the State Board. If the State Board does not

22  approve a particular contract or agreement, the community

23  college district has a right to appeal the decision in

24  accordance with administrative rules promulgated by the

25  State Board under the provisions of the Illinois

26  Administrative Procedure Act. Nothing in this subdivision
    HB5135 Enrolled  -9-  LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1   (i) shall be interpreted as applying to collective

2   bargaining agreements with any labor organization.

3   (j) To establish guidelines regarding sabbatical

4   leaves.

5   (k) (Blank).

6   (l) (Blank).

7   (m) (Blank).

8   (n) To create and participate in the conduct and

9   operation of any corporation, joint venture, partnership,

10  association, or other organizational entity that has the

11  power: (i) to acquire land, buildings, and other capital

12  equipment for the use and benefit of the community

13  colleges or their students; (ii) to accept gifts and make

14  grants for the use and benefit of the community colleges

15  or their students; (iii) to aid in the instruction and

16  education of students of community colleges; and (iv) to

17  promote activities to acquaint members of the community

18  with the facilities of the various community colleges.

19  (o) To ensure the effective teaching of adult learners

20  and to prepare them for success in employment and lifelong

21  learning by administering a network of providers,

22  programs, and services to provide classes for the

23  instruction of those individuals who (i) are 17 16 years

24  of age or older, are not enrolled or required to be

25  enrolled in a secondary school under State law, and are

26  basic-skills deficient, (ii) do not have a secondary
    HB5135 Enrolled  - 10 - LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1   school diploma or its recognized equivalent and have not

2   achieved an equivalent level of education, or (iii) are an

3   English language learner. Classes in adult education may

4   include adult basic education, adult secondary and high

5   school equivalency testing education, high school credit,

6   literacy, including digital literacy, English language

7   acquisition, integrated education and training in

8   coordination with vocational skills training, and any

9   other instruction designed to prepare adult students to

10  function successfully in society and to experience success

11  in postsecondary education and employment.

12  (p) To supervise the administration of adult education

13  and literacy programs, to establish the standards for such

14  courses of instruction and supervise the administration

15  thereof, to contract with other State and local agencies

16  and eligible providers of demonstrated effectiveness, such

17  as local educational agencies, community-based

18  organizations, volunteer literacy organizations,

19  institutions of higher education, public and private

20  nonprofit agencies, libraries, public housing authorities,

21  and nonprofit institutions for the purpose of promoting

22  and establishing classes for instruction under these

23  programs, to contract with other State and local agencies

24  to accept and expend appropriations for educational

25  purposes to fund reimburse local eligible providers for

26  the cost of these programs, and to establish an advisory
    HB5135 Enrolled        - 11 - LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1   council consisting of all categories of eligible

2   providers; agency partners, such as the State Board of

3   Education, the Department of Human Services, the

4   Department of Employment Security, the Department of

5   Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Secretary of

6   State literacy program; and other stakeholders to

7   identify, deliberate, and make recommendations to the

8   State Board on adult education policy and priorities. The

9   State Board shall support statewide geographic

10  distribution; diversity of eligible providers; and the

11  adequacy, stability, and predictability of funding so as

12  not to disrupt or diminish, but rather to enhance, adult

13  education and literacy services.

14 (Source: P.A. 103-940, eff. 8-9-24.)

15  (110 ILCS 805/2-12.5)

16  Sec. 2-12.5. Classes for adults and youths, 17 and older,

17 who are not currently enrolled in secondary school whose

18 schooling has been interrupted.

19  (a) The State Board shall distribute funds to reimburse

20 adult education providers from funds appropriated for approved

21 expenses that are established and determined by the State

22 Board in compliance with the federal Workforce Innovation and

23 Opportunity Act and other State and federal requirements. The

24 State Board shall establish standards to determine the cost of

25 instruction, including any other authorized incidental costs,
    HB5135 Enrolled   - 12 - LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1 which shall serve as the basis of State reimbursement in

2 accordance with the provisions of this Section. In the

3 approval of programs and the determination of the cost of

4 instruction, the State Board shall provide for the maximum

5 utilization of federal and State funds for those programs. The

6 State Board shall also provide for:

7   (1) the method for allocating federal and State funds,

8   including the development of an index of need for program

9   planning and for area funding allocations, as defined by

10  the State Board;

11  (2) the method for calculating hours of instruction,

12  as defined by the State Board, claimable for reimbursement

13  and a method to phase in the calculation and for adjusting

14  the calculations in cases in which the services of a

15  program are interrupted due to circumstances beyond the

16  control of the program provider;

17  (3) a plan for the reallocation of funds to increase

18  the amount allocated for grants based upon program

19  performance; and

20  (4) the development of standards, programs, and

21  guidelines consistent with the federal and State law

22  Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

23  (b) (Blank). For adult education instruction as listed

24 under subdivision (o) of Section 2-12, the maximum generation

25 rate for reimbursement per credit hour or per unit of

26 instruction shall be equal to the community college system
    HB5135 Enrolled  - 13 - LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1 reimbursement rate for adult education divided by one-third.

2   (c) Upon its annual approval, the State Board shall

3 provide grants to eligible programs for activities to improve

4 or expand services under the federal and State law Workforce

5 Innovation and Opportunity Act, Title II - Adult Education and

6 Literacy. Eligible programs shall be determined based upon

7 competitive processes and based on federal and State program

8 considerations, as set by the State Board.

9   (c-5) State adult education funds, except for funds

10 specifically provided as a match as required by federal law,

11 are not subject to the authorizing federal law.

12  (d) Reimbursement under this Section may not exceed the

13 actual costs of the approved program. Approved programs may

14 assess students, except those students receiving public aid

15 under the Illinois Public Aid Code, up to $6.00 per credit hour

16 or unit of instruction, not to exceed $30.00 per semester per

17 student, if needed to meet program costs.

18  (e) Each An education plan shall be established for each

19 adult learner who is participating in the instructional

20 programs provided under this Section shall complete an

21 assessment of foundational skills to appropriately place the

22 adult learner in an instructional program.

23  (f) Each adult education provider shall keep an accurate

24 and detailed account of the students assigned to and receiving

25 instruction under this Section who are enrolled in classroom

26 instruction. Each adult education provider shall submit
   HB5135 Enrolled  - 14 - LRB104 19770 LNS 33220 b

1 periodic reports of services provided as required by the State

2 Board.

3  (g) For classes authorized under this Section, a credit

4 hour or unit of instruction is equal to 15 hours of direct

5 instruction for students enrolled in approved adult education

6 programs at midterm and making satisfactory progress, in

7 accordance with standards established by the State Board.

8  (h) If an approved adult education provider fails to

9 provide or is providing unsatisfactory or insufficient classes

10 under Section 2-12 and this Section, the State Board may enter

11 into agreements with other eligible providers.

12 (Source: P.A. 101-289, eff. 8-9-19.)
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