HB 3573

Abstract

Amends the School Code. Allows a school district to utilize a remote learning day instead of an emergency day provided for in the school calendar. Provides that the number of remote learning days used in a school year may not exceed the number of emergency days provided for in the school calendar and the district superintendent must approve a remote learning plan for the district before the district may utilize a remote learning day. Sets forth what the plan must address, the term of approval, and how the plan must be posted. Sets forth district requirements. Allows statutory and regulatory curricular mandates and offerings to be administered via remote learning, allows for electronic communication for instruction and interaction between educators and students, and provides for rulemaking. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2021. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/34-18.67 new Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/34-18.66a new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the contents of the bill with the following changes. Requires a school district to pay to its employees who provide educational support services to the district their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits rendered for any remote learning day if the remote learning day precludes them from performing their regularly scheduled duties and they would have reported for work but for the remote learning day. Requires a school district to make full payment that would have otherwise been paid to its contractors who provide educational support services to the district of their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits rendered for any remote learning day if the remote learning day precludes them from performing their regularly scheduled duties and they would have reported for work but for the remote learning day. Provides that the employees who provide the support services covered by such contracts shall be paid their daily bid package rates and benefits as defined by their local operating agreements or collective bargaining agreements. Provides for an exception to paying employees and contractors of a school district who provide educational support services for a remote learning day if the day is rescheduled and the employees or contractors will be paid their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits on the rescheduled day when services are rendered. Changes the effective date from July 1, 2021 to July 1, 2022. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Provides that a remote learning day may also be utilized because a school was selected to be a polling place.