IL HB3743

Creates the Illinois Virtual School as a statewide virtual school serving kindergarten through grade 12 students and educators, funded through annual state appropriations for operations and capital needs.

Establishes a Board of Trustees with 15 voting members including representatives from K-12 education (4), higher education (3), Illinois business community (2), and the public at large (2), plus 4 ex-officio nonvoting members from state education agencies.

Authorizes the Illinois Virtual School to offer rigorous online courses aligned to state and national standards taught by certified, highly qualified instructors, with local schools responsible for student enrollment approval, supervision, and grade recording.

Allows fees to be charged to schools and homeschooled families on a per-enrollment basis to cover course delivery and curriculum costs, and permits fees from out-of-state students to support Illinois services.

Transitions the existing State Board of Education online program to the Illinois Virtual School by end of 2009-2010 school year, with the new school beginning course offerings in summer 2010 and receiving intellectual property and physical assets from the current program.