IL HB3492

State Board of Education must select and contract with a private organization for 5 years to operate a board examination system approved by an interstate compact, including core curriculum courses, syllabi, instructional materials, aligned exams, professional scoring, and teacher training.

School districts and charter schools may offer a Prairie State diploma beginning in the 2013-2014 school year; students earning this diploma can be awarded it at the end of grade 10 or during/at the end of grades 11-12.

Students pursuing a Prairie State diploma must demonstrate college-level readiness in English and mathematics, pass approved board examinations in core academic subjects (arts, history, science), complete economics coursework, and participate in the board examination system.

Students earning a Prairie State diploma have multiple post-diploma pathways: enroll in community college without remedial coursework, pursue advanced board examination programs in high school, enroll in career/technical education, or return to traditional academics; districts retain per-pupil funding for students following these pathways.

Students earning a Prairie State diploma receive equivalent rights and privileges as traditional high school diploma recipients, including access to postsecondary scholarships and all forms of student financial aid and postsecondary education.