HB4992 - Cap College Costs Pilot Program Act

• Requires the State Board of Education, Illinois Community College Board, and Board of Higher Education to develop and implement a pilot program beginning in the 2020-2021 academic year (or when funds are appropriated).

• One public high school, one public community college, and one public university must create a competency-based baccalaureate degree program focused on western civilization with a maximum tuition of $20,000 for the entire degree.

• Curriculum must include courses on philosophy, literature, history, religion, government and politics, art, and architecture from western civilization, with 2 elective courses on global areas outside western civilization in the same subject areas.

• Program must use open educational resources and promote dual credit course enrollment; establishes a panel to recommend open educational resource initiatives and a grant program for faculty to develop courses using only open educational resources.

• After the first cohort completes the program, the three education boards must report to the Governor and General Assembly on cost reduction, impact on liberal arts education, and curriculum replicability; the Act becomes inoperative upon submission of this report.