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SB 3806

SCH CD-ENGLISH LEARNER GRANT

104th Regular Session Introduced by Mary Edly-Allen

Creates an English Learner Grant Program for districts to support EL programs, with required bilingual classifications and annual proficiency assessments, funded by appropriations.

Rule 2-10 Committee/3rd Reading Deadline Established As May 15, 2026
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Bill Summary · SB 3806

Summary of SB 3806 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)

Title

SCH CD-ENGLISH LEARNER GRANT

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes an English Learner Grant Program to support school districts’ English learner (EL) programs, subject to appropriation.
  • Amends the Transitional Bilingual Education provisions within the School Code to clarify program requirements and oversight, and to authorize funding support for EL programs.

Key provisions and changes

Classification and program requirements for English learners

  • Each school district must identify the number of English learners (ELs) within the district by language classification, as well as grade level, age, and achievement, using regulations set by the State Board of Education (SBE).
  • Trigger for bilingual programming:
    • If, at the beginning of any school year, there is at least 20 ELs in a particular language classification within an attendance center (excluding private school students), the district must establish, for each such classification, a transitional bilingual education program.
    • Districts may establish a transitional bilingual program with fewer than 20 ELs in a classification, but if the district chooses not to, it must provide a locally determined transitional program of instruction that offers content-area instruction in a language other than English as needed to help ELs access the curriculum.
  • Enrollment and participation:
    • All school-age ELs not enrolled in private systems must be enrolled and participate in the district’s transitional bilingual education program for their classification until they achieve English proficiency sufficient for success in English-only instruction.
  • Annual assessment:
    • An annual examination of English proficiency is required for ELs in transitional bilingual programs, assessing listening, speaking, reading, and writing according to the SBE’s standards.
    • Districts may not transfer an EL out of the transitional bilingual program unless the student’s test score indicates English skills appropriate to their grade level, as determined by the SBE.

English Learner Grant Program (funding)

  • The State Board of Education must establish and implement an English Learner Grant Program to support districts’ EL programs.
  • Funding eligibility is contingent on appropriation (i.e., the program relies on available state funds).

Effective date

  • The act takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Who is affected

  • Public school districts statewide (and their EL students) who administer bilingual/transition programs for English learners.
  • State Board of Education (SBE), which is responsible for regulations, assessments, and administering the grant program.
  • Students classified as English learners and their families, who participate in transitional bilingual education or locally determined transitional programs.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Annual language proficiency testing and annual determination of program eligibility remain in place.
  • Districts must act each school year to classify ELs and determine appropriate program placement based on EL counts.
  • The bill creates a new grant program to be administered by the SBE, funded by appropriations, with implementation subject to available funds.
  • Immediate effectiveness upon passage (subject to standard appropriation processes for the grant program).

Notes

  • The bill references existing provisions from 105 ILCS 5/14C-3 and the Transitional Bilingual Education Article, updating them to incorporate the EL Grant Program and clarifying program requirements.
  • Specific grant amounts and allocation formulas are not provided in the introduced text; funding would be determined through future appropriations and SBE rules.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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