2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes › Chapter 105 - SCHOOLS › 105 ILCS 5/ - School Code. › Article 14A - Gifted and Talented Children And Children Eligible For Accelerated Placement

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 14A heading)
ARTICLE 14A.  GIFTED AND TALENTED CHILDREN AND CHILDREN ELIGIBLE FOR ACCELERATED PLACEMENT
(Source: P.A. 100-421, eff. 7-1-18.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-5)
Sec. 14A-5. Applicability. This Article applies beginning with the 2006-2007 school year.
(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-10)
Sec. 14A-10. Legislative findings. The General Assembly finds the following:
(1) that gifted and talented children (i) exhibit     high performance capabilities in intellectual, creative, and artistic areas, (ii) possess an exceptional leadership potential, (iii) excel in specific academic fields, and (iv) have the potential to be influential in business, government, health care, the arts, and other critical sectors of our economic and cultural environment;
(2) that gifted and talented children require     services and activities that are not ordinarily provided by schools;
(3) that outstanding talents are present in children     and youth from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor; and
(4) that inequitable access to advanced coursework     and enrollment in accelerated placement programs exists between children enrolled in different school districts and even within the same school district and more must be done to eliminate the barriers to access to advanced coursework and enrollment in accelerated placement programs for all children.
(Source: P.A. 101-654, eff. 3-8-21.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-15)
Sec. 14A-15. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to provide encouragement, assistance, and guidance to school districts in the development and improvement of educational programs for gifted and talented children and children eligible for accelerated placement as defined in Sections 14A-20 and 14A-17 of this Code.  School districts shall continue to have the authority and flexibility to design education programs for gifted and talented children in response to community needs, but these programs must comply with the requirements established in Section 14A-30 of this Code by no later than September 1, 2006 in order to merit approval by the State Board of Education in order to qualify for State funding for the education of gifted and talented children, should such funding become available.
(Source: P.A. 100-421, eff. 7-1-18.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-17)
Sec. 14A-17. Accelerated placement; advanced academic program. For purposes of this Article, "accelerated placement" means the placement of a child in an educational setting with curriculum that is usually reserved for children who are older or in higher grades than the child.  "Accelerated placement" under this Article or other school district-adopted policies shall include, but need not be limited to, the following types of acceleration: early entrance to kindergarten or first grade, accelerating a child in a single subject, and grade acceleration.
"Advanced academic program" means a course of study, including, but not limited to, accelerated placement, advanced placement coursework, International Baccalaureate coursework, dual credit, or any course designated as enriched or honors, that a student is enrolled in based on the student's advanced cognitive ability or advanced academic achievement compared to local age peers and in which the curriculum is substantially differentiated from the general curriculum to provide appropriate challenge and pace.
(Source: P.A. 103-263, eff. 6-30-23.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-20)
Sec. 14A-20. Gifted and talented children. For purposes of this Article, "gifted and talented children" means
children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with other children and youth of their age, experience, and environment. A child shall be considered gifted and talented in any area of aptitude, and, specifically, in language arts and mathematics, by scoring in the top 5% locally in that area of aptitude.
(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-25)
Sec. 14A-25. Non-discrimination. Eligibility for participation in programs established pursuant to this Article shall be determined solely through identification of a child as gifted, talented, or eligible for accelerated placement. No program or placement shall condition participation upon race, religion, sex, disability, or any factor other than the identification of the child as gifted, talented, or eligible for placement.
(Source: P.A. 100-421, eff. 7-1-18.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-30)
Sec. 14A-30. Funding of local gifted education programs. A local program for the education of gifted and talented children may be approved for funding by the State Board of Education, pursuant to a request for proposals process, if funds for that purpose are available and, beginning with the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year, if the local program submits an application for funds that includes a comprehensive plan (i) showing that the applicant is capable of meeting a portion of the following requirements, (ii) showing the program elements currently in place and a timeline for implementation of other elements, and (iii) demonstrating to the satisfaction of the State Board of Education that the applicant is capable of implementing a program of gifted education consistent with this Article:
(1) The use of assessment instruments, such as     nonverbal ability tests and tests in students' native languages, and a selection process that is equitable to and inclusive of underrepresented groups, including low-income students, minority students, students with disabilities, twice-exceptional students, and English learners.
(2) A priority emphasis on language arts and     mathematics.
(3) The use of multiple valid assessments that assess     both demonstrated achievement and potential for achievement, including cognitive ability tests and general or subject specific achievement tests, applied universally to all students, and appropriate for the content focus of the gifted services that will be provided.  School districts and schools may add other local, valid assessments, such as portfolios.  Assessments and selection processes must ensure multiple pathways into the program.
(4) The use of score ranges on assessments that are     appropriate for the school or district population, including the use of local norms for achievement to identify high potential students.
(5) A process of identification of gifted and     talented children that is of equal rigor in each area of aptitude addressed by the program.
(6) The use of identification procedures that     appropriately correspond with the planned programs, curricula, and services.
(7) A fair and equitable decision-making process.
(8) The availability of a fair and impartial appeal     process within the school, school district, or cooperative of school districts operating a program for parents or guardians whose children are aggrieved by a decision of the school, school district, or cooperative of school districts regarding eligibility for participation in a program.
(9) Procedures for annually informing the community     at-large, including parents, about the program and the methods used for the identification of gifted and talented children.
(10) Procedures for notifying parents or guardians of     a child of a decision affecting that child's participation in a program.
(11) A description of how gifted and talented     children will be grouped and instructed in order to maximize the educational benefits the children derive from participation in the program, including curriculum modifications and options that accelerate and add depth and complexity to the curriculum content.
(12) An explanation of how the program emphasizes     higher-level skills attainment,  including problem-solving, critical thinking, creative thinking, and research skills, as embedded within relevant content areas.
(13) A methodology for measuring academic growth for     gifted and talented children and a procedure for communicating a child's progress to his or her parents or guardian, including, but not limited to, a report card.
(14) The collection of data on growth in learning for     children in a program for gifted and talented children and the reporting of the data to the State Board of Education.
(15) The designation of a supervisor responsible for     overseeing the educational program for gifted and talented children.
(16) A showing that the certified teachers who are     assigned to teach gifted and talented children understand the characteristics and educational needs of children and are able to differentiate the curriculum and apply instructional methods to meet the needs of the children.
(17) Plans for the continuation of professional     development for staff assigned to the program serving gifted and talented children.
(Source: P.A. 99-706, eff. 7-29-16.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-32)
Sec. 14A-32. Accelerated placement; school district responsibilities.
(a) Each school district shall have a policy that allows for accelerated placement that includes or incorporates by reference the following components:
(1) a provision that provides that participation in     accelerated placement is not limited to those children who have been identified as gifted and talented, but rather is open to all children who demonstrate high ability and who may benefit from accelerated placement;
(2) a fair and equitable decision-making process that     involves multiple persons and includes a student's parents or guardians;
(3) procedures for notifying parents or guardians of     a child of a decision affecting that child's participation in an accelerated placement program; and
(4) an assessment process that includes multiple     valid, reliable indicators.
(a-5) By no later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, a school district's accelerated placement policy shall allow for the automatic enrollment, in the following school term, of a student into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by the high school if the student meets or exceeds State standards in English language arts, mathematics, or science on a State assessment administered under Section 2-3.64a-5 as follows:
(1) A student who meets or exceeds State standards in     English language arts shall be automatically enrolled into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework in English, social studies, humanities, or related subjects.
(2) A student who meets or exceeds State standards in     mathematics shall be automatically enrolled into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework in mathematics.
(3) A student who meets or exceeds State standards in     science shall be automatically enrolled into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework in science.
For a student entering grade 12, the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework in English language arts or mathematics shall be a dual credit course, as defined in the Dual Credit Quality Act, an Advanced Placement course, as defined in Section 10 of the College and Career Success for All Students Act, or an International Baccalaureate course; otherwise, the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework under this subsection (a-5) may include a dual credit course, as defined in the Dual Credit Quality Act, an Advanced Placement course, as defined in Section 10 of the College and Career Success for All Students Act, an International Baccalaureate course, an honors class, an enrichment opportunity, a gifted program, or another program offered by the district.
A school district may use the student's most recent State assessment results to determine whether a student meets or exceeds State standards. For a student entering grade 9, results from the State assessment taken in grades 6 through 8 may be used.  For other high school grades, the results from a locally selected, nationally normed assessment may be used instead of the State assessment if those results are the most recent.
A school district must provide the parent or guardian of a student eligible for automatic enrollment under this subsection (a-5) with the option to instead have the student enroll in alternative coursework that better aligns with the student's postsecondary education or career goals.
Nothing in this subsection (a-5) may be interpreted to preclude other students from enrolling in advanced coursework per the policy of a school district.
(b) Further, a school district's accelerated placement policy may include or incorporate by reference, but need not be limited to, the following components:
(1) procedures for annually informing the community     at-large, including parents or guardians, community-based organizations, and providers of out-of-school programs, about the accelerated placement program and the methods used for the identification of children eligible for accelerated placement, including strategies to reach groups of students and families who have been historically underrepresented in accelerated placement programs and advanced coursework;
(2) a process for referral that allows for multiple     referrers, including a child's parents or guardians; other referrers may include licensed education professionals, the child, with the written consent of a parent or guardian, a peer, through a licensed education professional who has knowledge of the referred child's abilities, or, in case of possible early entrance, a preschool educator, pediatrician, or psychologist who knows the child;
(3) a provision that provides that children     participating in an accelerated placement program and their parents or guardians will be provided a written plan detailing the type of acceleration the child will receive and strategies to support the child;
(4) procedures to provide support and promote success     for students who are newly enrolled in an accelerated placement program;
(5) a process for the school district to review and     utilize disaggregated data on participation in an accelerated placement program to address gaps among demographic groups in accelerated placement opportunities; and
(6) procedures to promote equity, which may     incorporate one or more of the following evidence-based practices:
(A) the use of multiple tools to assess         exceptional potential and provide several pathways into advanced academic programs when assessing student need for advanced academic or accelerated programming;
(B) providing enrichment opportunities starting         in the early grades to address achievement gaps that occur at school entry and provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their advanced potential;
(C) the use of universal screening combined with         local school-based norms for placement in accelerated and advanced learning programs;
(D) developing a continuum of services to         identify and develop talent in all learners ranging from enriched learning experiences, such as problem-based learning, performance tasks, critical thinking, and career exploration, to accelerated placement and advanced academic programming; and
(E) providing professional learning in gifted         education for teachers and other appropriate school personnel to appropriately identify and challenge students from diverse cultures and backgrounds who may benefit from accelerated placement or advanced academic programming.
(c) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to determine data to be collected and disaggregated by demographic group regarding accelerated placement, including the rates of students who participate in and successfully complete advanced coursework, and a method of making the information available to the public.
(d) On or before November 1, 2022, following a review of disaggregated data on the participation and successful completion rates of students enrolled in an accelerated placement program, each school district shall develop a plan to expand access to its accelerated placement program and to ensure the teaching capacity necessary to meet the increased demand.
(Source: P.A. 102-209, eff. 11-30-21 (See Section 5 of P.A. 102-671 for effective date of P.A. 102-209); 103-263, eff. 6-30-23.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-35)
Sec. 14A-35. Administrative functions of the State Board of Education for gifted and talented children programs.
(a)    The State Board of Education must designate a staff person who shall be in charge of educational programs for gifted and talented children.  This staff person shall, at a minimum, (i) be responsible for developing an approval process for educational programs for gifted and talented children by no later than September 1, 2006, (ii) receive and maintain the written descriptions of all programs for gifted and talented children in the State, (iii) collect and maintain the annual growth in learning data submitted by a school, school district, or cooperative of school districts, (iv) identify potential funding sources for the education of gifted and talented children, and (v) serve as the main contact person at the State Board of Education for program supervisors and other school officials, parents, and other stakeholders regarding the education of gifted and talented children.
(b)   Subject to the availability of funds for these purposes, the State Board of Education may perform a variety of additional administrative functions with respect to the education of gifted and talented children, including, but not limited to, supervision, quality assurance, compliance monitoring, and oversight of local programs, analysis of performance outcome data submitted by local educational agencies, the establishment of personnel standards, and a program of personnel development for teachers and administrative personnel in the education of gifted and talented children.
(Source: P.A. 100-421, eff. 7-1-18.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-40)
Sec. 14A-40. Advisory Council.  There is hereby created an Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children to consist of 7 members appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.  Upon initial appointment, 4 members of the Advisory Council shall serve terms through January 1, 2007 and 3 members shall serve terms through January 1, 2009.  Thereafter, members shall serve 4-year terms.  Upon the expiration of the term of a member, that member shall continue to serve until a replacement is appointed.    The Council shall meet at least 3 times each year. The Council shall organize with a chairperson selected by the State Superintendent of Education. Members of the Council shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their travel to and from meetings and other reasonable expenses in connection with meetings if approved by the State Board of Education.
The State Board of Education shall consider recommendations for membership on the Council from organizations of educators and parents of gifted and talented children and other groups with an interest in the education of gifted and talented children.  The members appointed shall be residents of the State and be selected on the basis of their knowledge of, or experience in, programs and problems of the education of gifted and talented children.
The State Superintendent of Education shall seek the advice of the Council regarding all rules and policies to be adopted by the State Board relating to the education of gifted and talented children.  The staff person designated pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 14A-35 of this Code shall serve as the State Board of Education's liaison to the Council.   The State Board of Education shall provide necessary clerical support and assistance in order to facilitate meetings of the Council.
(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-45)
Sec. 14A-45. Grants for services and materials.  Subject to the availability of categorical grant funding or other funding appropriated for such purposes, the State Board of Education shall make grants available to fund educational programs for gifted and talented children. A request-for-proposal process shall be used in awarding grants for services and materials, with carry over to the next fiscal year, under this Section.  A proposal may be submitted to the State Board of Education by a school district, 2 or more
cooperating school districts, a county, 2 or more cooperating counties, an established professional organization in gifted education, or a regional office of education.  The proposals shall include a statement of the qualifications and duties of the personnel required in the field of diagnostic, counseling, and consultative services and the educational materials necessary.  Upon receipt, the State Board of Education shall evaluate the proposals in accordance with criteria developed by the State Board of Education that is consistent with this Article and shall award grants to the extent funding is available.  Educational programs for gifted and talented children may be offered during the regular school term and may include optional summer programs.   As a condition for State funding, a grantee must comply with the requirements of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 96-1152, eff. 7-21-10.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-50)
Sec. 14A-50. Contracts for experimental projects and institutes. Subject to the availability of funds, the State Board of Education shall have the authority to enter into and monitor contracts with school districts, regional offices of education, colleges, universities, and professional organizations for the conduct of experimental projects and institutes, including summer institutes, in the field of education of gifted and talented children as defined in Section 14A-20 of this Code. These projects and institutes shall be established in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education.
Prior to entering into a contract, the State Board of Education shall evaluate the proposal as to the soundness of the design of the project or institute, the probability of obtaining productive outcomes, the adequacy of resources to conduct the proposed project or institute, and the relationship of the project or institute to other projects and institutes already completed or in progress. The contents of these projects and institutes must be designed based on standards adopted by professional organizations for gifted and talented children.
(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)
(105 ILCS 5/14A-55)
Sec. 14A-55. Rulemaking. The State Board of Education shall have the authority to adopt all rules necessary to implement and regulate the provisions of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)