New Illinois Laws 2017: SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

More than 200 new Illinois laws scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1. Here are the new laws governing Schools and Education:

• Charter School Renewal ((HB 5918/PA 99-0840): Provides that a charter shall be granted for 5 school years and may be renewed in incremental periods not to exceed 10 school years; makes changes regarding the use of start-up grants and loans from the Charter Schools Revolving Loan Fund..
• Breakfast After the Bell (SB 2393/ PA 99-0850): Requires districts to offer breakfast after the bell at schools with 70 percent low-income students.
• School Transportation (SB 1582/PA 99-0888): A K-12 student with an Individualized Education Plan with staff:student of 1:5 attending specific academies named in bill may be bussed for any curriculum-related activity.
• Professional Development Hours Rollover (HB 6181/PA 99-0591): States that, if a teacher earns more than the required number of professional development hours during a renewal cycle, the teacher may carry over any hours earned from April 1 to June 30 of the last year of the renewal cycle.
• CPS Local School Council (HB 3239/PA 99-0597):Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code by allowing 17 year olds to run for election as a community resident of a Local School Council.
• State Seal of Biliteracy (HB 4330/PA 99-0600): Requires state higher education institutions to accept the State Seal of Biliteracy as the equivalent of two years of foreign language taken during high school; also requires state higher education institutions to establish criteria to translate a seal into course credit.
• P-20 Council (HB 5566/PA 99-0643): Expands P-20 Council's duties to make higher education affordable.
• Non-resident Student Hearings (HB 4606/PA 99-0670): Creates an appeal process for students found in violation of residency requirements.
• Community College Trustee Training (SB 2157/PA 99-0692): Requires community college trustees to take professional development training.
• Community College Contract Blackout Period (SB 2158/PA 99-0693): Prevents community college boards from making personnel decisions within a 45 day "lame duck" period; allows for emergencies.
• Board of Trustees Training (SB 2174/PA 99-0695): Requires board members of public universities to complete professional development leadership training.
• Yoga School Certification (SB 2743/PA 99-0705): Bars yoga teacher training from state regulation as a business.
• Traffic Stop Education (HB 6131/PA 99-0720): Requires driver education teachers instruct students on proper actions to take during a traffic stop.
• Homeless GED Tests (SB 2840/PA 99-0742): Allows regional superintendents to waive fees for homeless students wishing to take the High School Equivalency Test.
• Ag Teacher Grant Program (SB 2975/PA 99-0826): Creates an agriculture education teacher grant program subject to ISBE appropriation.
• Community College Residency Requirements (SB 232/PA 99-0845): Allows certain students to be classified as residents of a community college district without meeting the 30-day requirement (mainly those under DCFS legal guardianship).
• Illinois Articulation Initiative Act (SB 3301/PA 99-0636): Requires all courses approved for Illinois Articulation Initiative Gen Ed. Codes must be transferable as part of the Gen. Ed. Core Curriculum Package.