(a) Subject to appropriation and Section 7 of the Board of Higher Education Act, the State Board may establish and administer a We Want to Learn English Initiative to provide resources for immigrants and refugees in this State to learn English in order to move towards becoming full members of American society.
     (b) If funds are appropriated for this Initiative, then the State Board must disburse no less than half of the funds appropriated each fiscal year to community-based, not-for-profit organizations, immigrant social service organizations, faith-based organizations, and on-site job training programs so that immigrants and refugees can learn English where they live, work, pray, and socialize and where their children go to school.

Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 110 ILCS 805/2-24

  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • State: when applied to different parts of the United States, may be construed to include the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14
  • United States: may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14

     (c) Funds for the We Want to Learn English Initiative may be used only to provide programs that teach English to United States citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other persons residing in this State who are in lawful immigration status.