Amends the School Code. Establishes the Illinois Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education (IHOPE) Program to develop a comprehensive system in this State to re-enroll significant numbers of high school dropouts in programs that will enable them to earn their high school diploma. Requires the State Board of Education to implement and administer the IHOPE Program. Provides that the IHOPE Program shall award grants to educational service regions and the Chicago school district from appropriated funds to assist in establishing instructional programs and other services designed to re-enroll high school dropouts. Provides that the IHOPE Program shall provide incentive grant funds for regional offices of education and the Chicago school district to develop partnerships with school districts, public community colleges, and community groups to build comprehensive plans to re-enroll high school dropouts in their regions or districts. Sets forth requirements for programs funded through the IHOPE Program. Provides for an IHOPE Plan, sub-grants, how funding is distributed, State aid, categories of programming, the evaluation of programs, and rules. Effective July 1, 2009.
Sponsored bills
Amends the School Code. Creates the Innovation, Intervention, and Restructuring Task Force for the purpose of developing strategies to allow for the innovation, intervention, and restructuring of schools, including those that need comprehensive or focused intervention. Requires the task force to submit its strategies for allowing intervention and innovation, in the form of recommendations, in a comprehensive report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the State Superintendent of Education not later than December 31, 2009. Effective immediately.
Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Increases the authorization for certain agricultural assistance by $150,000,000. Authorizes bonds for "renewable energy resources projects" (in addition to clean coal and energy projects), including electric transmission lines and equipment and plants that produce renewable fuels. Allows clean coal projects to include transportation of carbon, clean coal facilities, and SNG facilities. Provides that bond authorization for these purposes is in addition to and not limited by other bond limitations in the Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
Mourns the death of Michael Jackson.
Amends the Illinois Migrant Labor Camp Law. Provides that licenses shall be issued prior to operation (instead of upon a calendar year basis). Effective immediately.
Amends the Personnel Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
Honors Derrick Rose for his hard work and dedication to basketball.
Urges Congress to consider requiring that students be offered interest rates on college loans that do not exceed 1%.
Shows the General Assembly's support for the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights and designates the month of June as "Leave No Child Inside Month" in the State of Illinois.
Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the members of the State Board of Education.