Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
Each program funded pursuant to Section 2-3.66 of the School
Code shall include at least the following components.
a) A comprehensive community-based program
planning process that includes, but is not limited to, the participation of
business, community organizations, social service providers, government
agencies, parents, school administrators and other staff members, including
teachers, and students, and that leads to the development and implementation of
a strategic plan.
1) The plan shall contain
program goals and objectives developed by analyzing social and academic
challenges in the community to be served by the truants' alternative and
optional education program.
2) The
plan shall identify available community resources and services and describe how
these will be coordinated to meet the needs of students identified as eligible
for the program (see Section
205.20(b)
of this Part).
b) An
Individualized Optional Education Plan, which is a written document developed
in accordance with Section 2-3.66 of the School Code and this Part, that
outlines an individual's academic, vocational and/or life skill needs, as well
as goals and objectives and various educational and social experiences needed
to reach those goals and objectives. The development of this plan shall include
school officials, the student, and the student's parents or legal guardians if
the student is less than 18 years old. The individualized optional education
plan for each student shall include:
1)
learning objectives or individual outcomes, such as increased school
attendance, course credit, graduation, gains in achievement level, or
employment;
2) the basis upon which
the student is referred to the program;
3) the services that will be provided in
relation to the student's educational, social, and/or career development needs
necessary to achieve the learning objectives or individual outcomes pursuant to
subsection (b)(1) of this Section;
4) assessment procedures to determine the
degree to which the student is achieving his or her learning objectives or
individual outcomes;
5) a time
period sufficient to allow the student to achieve those objectives or outcomes;
and
6) a statement that the
student, parent, or guardian has the ultimate choice of whether to accept the
individualized optional education plan that is offered or to return to or
remain in the regular education program of the school district
attended.
c) Educational
services that may include either:
1) An
Optional Education Program that provides a modified instructional program that
incorporates State academic standards and, as appropriate to the student's
needs, work-based learning and career development, and is established by school
board policy to serve as a part-time or full-time option in lieu of regular
school attendance in conformance with Section 2-3.66 of the School Code and
this Part; or
2) Supplemental
services that provide students enrolled in the regular school program with
supports (e.g., tutoring, mentoring, health services, home visits, counseling)
that are needed to increase their attendance rates or prevent them from
dropping out of school.
