SB2007 — Advance Academic Studies Ambassadors Program (Summary)
Status note: The provided legislative record contains contradictory timeline and status entries (including both “Died in Committee” and multiple passage/approval entries). The bill text below describes SB2007 as introduced by Sen. Javier L. Cervantes (Feb–Mar 2025). Because official status is unclear in the supplied materials, verify final disposition in the Illinois General Assembly database or with the Secretary of State for the most current status.
Purpose
- Establish a voluntary “Advance Academic Studies Ambassadors Program” for schools/districts that include grades 9–12 to increase awareness, enrollment, retention, and success in advanced academic programs (as defined in Section 14A‑17 of the School Code).
Key provisions
- New statute: Adds Section 14A‑38 to the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/14A‑38 new).
- Program description: Ambassadors are students who successfully passed advanced academic courses/assessments and who assist school staff by recruiting and promoting advanced academic opportunities to fellow students and families and by providing leadership and community‑building activities.
- Program goals (non‑exclusive):
1. Increase enrollment in advanced academic programs.
2. Improve retention and academic success of students in those programs.
3. Provide student information, leadership opportunities, and foster community.
4. Promote awareness of advanced academic programs to students and families.
- State grants:
- The State Board of Education (ISBE) shall award competitive grants annually, subject to appropriation, to schools/districts applying to implement an ambassadors program.
- Eligible applicants must maintain grades 9–12 and meet one of:
- Be in the bottom 5% of Title I‑eligible schools statewide under ESEA Part A (Every Student Succeeds Act) in the most recent year; or
- Have had a graduation rate of 67% or below in the previous academic year.
- ISBE duties:
- Disseminate annual requests for applications to eligible schools/districts.
- Establish application and fund disbursement procedures.
- Prioritize awards to schools/districts with demographic disparities in participation and pass rates in advanced/accelerated programs.
- Adopt rules necessary to implement the section.
- Application requirements: Applicants must provide
1. Grades served;
2. School/district summative designation;
3. Number/percentage of students (disaggregated by demographic group) participating in and successfully passing advanced/accelerated programs (most recent available year);
4. Amount of funds requested;
5. A spending plan showing how grant funds will be used to implement and administer the ambassadors program.
- Funding: Grants are annual and subject to legislative appropriation.
Who is affected
- Primary: Public schools and school districts that maintain grades 9–12 (especially low‑performing Title I schools and schools with graduation rates ≤67%).
- Secondary: High‑school students (both ambassadors and prospective recruits), families, school staff involved in recruitment/advanced programs, and the State Board of Education (administration of grants and rulemaking).
- Fiscal: State education budget (grants subject to appropriation); local administrative time to implement programs and comply with grant reporting.
Potential impacts
- May increase enrollment, retention, and success in advanced academic offerings, particularly in targeted low‑performing schools.
- Could help reduce demographic disparities in advanced program participation if prioritized by ISBE.
- Implementation depends on annual appropriations and ISBE rulemaking; schools must apply and administer programs per grant requirements.
- Administrative burden for applicants to compile disaggregated participation/pass rates and create spending plans.
Other
- Related/companion bill: HB 3531.
- References: New statutory placement in School Code is Section 14A‑38; advanced academic programs are defined under Section 14A‑17.
Recommendation
- Because the legislative action timeline provided is inconsistent, check the official Illinois General Assembly portal (bill search) for SB2007 to confirm current status, final language, appropriation levels, and any amendments.
