Illinois General Assembly

  Bills & Resolutions  
  Compiled Statutes  
  Public Acts  
  Legislative Reports  
  IL Constitution  
  Legislative Guide  
  Legislative Glossary  

 Search By Number
 (example: HB0001)
Search Tips

Search By Keyword

Illinois Compiled Statutes

Information maintained by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Updating the database of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) is an ongoing process. Recent laws may not yet be included in the ILCS database, but they are found on this site as Public Acts soon after they become law. For information concerning the relationship between statutes and Public Acts, refer to the Guide.

Because the statute database is maintained primarily for legislative drafting purposes, statutory changes are sometimes included in the statute database before they take effect. If the source note at the end of a Section of the statutes includes a Public Act that has not yet taken effect, the version of the law that is currently in effect may have already been removed from the database and you should refer to that Public Act to see the changes made to the current law.

SCHOOLS
(105 ILCS 5/) School Code.

105 ILCS 5/3-15.12a

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.12a)
    Sec. 3-15.12a. Alternate route to high school diploma for adult learners.
    (a) The purpose of Public Act 100-514 is to provide eligible applicants that have been or are unable to establish agreements with a secondary or unit school district in the area in which the applicant is located with a process for attaining the authority to award high school diplomas to adult learners.
    (a-5) In this Section:
    "Adult learner" means a person ineligible for reenrollment under subsection (b) of Section 26-2 of this Code and 34 CFR 300.102.
    "Board" means the Illinois Community College Board.
    "Eligible applicant" means a community college established and operating under the authority of the Public Community College Act; a non-profit entity in partnership with a regional superintendent of schools; the chief administrator of an intermediate service center that has the authority, under rules adopted by the State Board of Education, to issue a high school diploma; or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code. In order to be an eligible applicant, an entity under this definition, other than a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code, must provide evidence or other documentation that it is or has been unable to establish an agreement with a secondary or unit school district in which the eligible applicant is located to provide a program in which students who successfully complete the program can receive a high school diploma from their school district of residence.
    "Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board.
    "High school diploma program for adult learners" means a program approved to operate under this Section that provides a program of alternative study to adult learners leading to the issuance of a high school diploma.
    (b) An eligible applicant is authorized to design a high school diploma program for adult learners, to be approved by the Board prior to implementation. A non-profit eligible applicant shall operate this program only within the jurisdictional authority of the regional superintendent of schools, the chief administrator of an intermediate service center, or a school district organized Article 34 of this Code with whom the non-profit eligible applicant has entered into a partnership. An approved program shall include, without limitation, all of the following:
        (1) An administrative structure, program activities,
    
program staff, a budget, and a specific curriculum that is consistent with Illinois Learning Standards, as well as Illinois content standards for adults, but may be different from a regular school program in terms of location, length of school day, program sequence, multidisciplinary courses, pace, instructional activities, or any combination of these.
        (2) Issuance of a high school diploma only if an
    
adult learner meets all minimum requirements under this Code and its implementing rules for receipt of a high school diploma.
        (3) Specific academic, behavioral, and emotional
    
support services to be offered to adult learners enrolled in the program.
        (4) Career and technical education courses that lead
    
to industry certifications in high growth and in-demand industry sectors or dual credit courses from a regionally accredited post-secondary educational institution consistent with the Dual Credit Quality Act. The program may include partnering with a community college district to provide career and technical education courses that lead to industry certifications.
        (5) Specific program outcomes and goals and metrics
    
to be used by the program to determine success.
        (6) The requirement that all instructional staff must
    
hold an educator license valid for the high school grades issued under Article 21B of this Code.
        (7) Any other requirements adopted by rule by the
    
Board.
    (c) Eligible applicants shall apply for approval of a high school diploma program for adult learners to the Board on forms prescribed by the Board.
        (1) Initial approval shall be for a period not to
    
exceed 2 school years.
        (2) Renewal of approval shall be for a period not to
    
exceed 4 school years and shall be contingent upon at least specific documented outcomes of student progression, graduation rates, and earning of industry-recognized credentials.
        (3) Program approval may be given only if the
    
Executive Director determines that the eligible applicant has provided assurance through evidence of other documentation that it will meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this Section and any rules adopted by the Board. The Board shall make public any evaluation criteria it uses in making a determination of program approval or denial.
        (4) Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the
    
contrary, a non-profit eligible applicant shall provide the following to the Board:
            (A) documentation that the non-profit entity will
        
fulfill the requirements of subsection (b) of this Section;
            (B) evidence that the non-profit entity has the
        
capacity to fulfill the requirements of this Section;
            (C) a description of the coordination and
        
oversight that the eligible entity will provide in the administration of the program by the non-profit entity;
            (D) evidence that the non-profit entity has a
        
history of providing services to adults 18 years of age or older whose educational and training opportunities have been limited by educational disadvantages, disabilities, and challenges.
        (5) If an eligible applicant that has been approved
    
fails to meet any of the requirements of subsection (b) of this Section and any rules adopted by the Board, the Executive Director shall immediately initiate a process to revoke the eligible applicant's approval to provide the program, pursuant to rules adopted by the Board.
    (d) The Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 100-514, eff. 9-22-17; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.14

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.14) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.14)
    Sec. 3-15.14. Cooperative Educational and Operational Programs. To administer and direct a cooperative or joint educational or operational program or project when 2 or more districts request and authorize him or her to provide and administer these services. Each regional superintendent of schools is encouraged to offer school districts the opportunity to share in joint educational or operational programs and to urge school districts to participate in such programs when the school district determines that such participation is fiscally prudent. The regional superintendent of schools may provide and contract for the staff, space, necessary materials, supplies, books and apparatus for such agreements. The school boards of the respective districts shall pay to the regional superintendent the pro rata share of the expenses of the operation of such programs, and the regional superintendent shall use such funds in payment of such operational expenses. The regional superintendent shall collect and remit the required pension contributions from the participating districts if the board of control of the program participates in Article 7 of the Illinois Pension Code.
    A board of control composed of one member from each cooperating district and one member from the office of the regional superintendent will set policy for the cooperative. The agreement establishing the cooperative may provide that the cooperative shall act as its own administrative district and shall be an entity separate and apart from the Educational Service Region.
    Each regional superintendent that is the administrator of a joint agreement shall cause an annual financial statement to be submitted on forms prescribed by the State Board of Education exhibiting the financial condition of the program established pursuant to the joint agreement for the fiscal year ending on the immediately preceding June 30.
    The regional superintendent may also administer, direct and account for educational programs of single or multi-county educational service region, or of multi-regional design which are sponsored and financed by State or federal educational agencies, or by both such agencies. In cases where funding for any such approved program is delayed, the regional superintendent may borrow the funds required to begin operation of the program in accordance with the terms of the grant; and the principal amount so borrowed, together with the interest due thereon, shall be paid from the grant moneys when received.
(Source: P.A. 97-357, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.14a

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.14a)
    Sec. 3-15.14a. Shared services. The regional superintendent of schools may, at the request of a school district, present to the school district possible services and functions that multiple schools may share or consolidate. Such services and functions may include, but are not limited to, bidding and purchasing, office functions such as payroll and accounting, information technology, professional development, grant writing, food service management, or administrative positions. Regional superintendents of schools may share best financial practices with school districts that are exploring new methods to become more financially efficient.
(Source: P.A. 97-357, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.15

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.15) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.15)
    Sec. 3-15.15. Local education agency. To apply as a local education agency for any grant, loan, program authorization or other assistance provided to local education agencies by the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 87-1124; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.16

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.16)
    Sec. 3-15.16. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94. Repealed by P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.17

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.17)
    Sec. 3-15.17. Civic education advancement.
    (a) The General Assembly finds that civic education and participation are fundamental elements of a healthy democracy, and schools are in need of support to identify civic learning opportunities and to implement new strategies to prepare and sustain high quality citizenship among their student body.
    (b) Subject to appropriation, funding for civic education professional development for high school teachers must be provided by line item appropriation made to the State Board of Education for that purpose. When appropriated, the State Board of Education must provide this funding to each regional superintendent of schools based on high school enrollment as reported on the State Board of Education's most recent fall enrollment and housing report, except that 20% of each annual appropriation must be reserved for a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code.
    (c) In order to establish eligibility for one or more of its schools to receive funding under this Section, a school district shall submit to its regional superintendent of schools an application, accompanied by a completed civic audit, for each school. A regional superintendent shall award funds to a district based on the number of teachers identified by the district to receive professional development multiplied by $250. A district must not be awarded more than $3,000 in any year, unless additional funds remain available after all eligible applicants have received funding. A district may not use funds authorized under this Section in any school more than once every 2 years. Funds provided under this Section must be used exclusively for professional development provided by entities that are approved providers for purposes of license renewal under Section 21B-45 of this Code.
    (d) The civic audit form and its content must be designed and updated as deemed necessary by the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition. Data from completed civic audits must be processed by the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition. The civic audit must be made available by the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition and must be designed to provide teachers and principals with a blueprint to better understand how current curriculum, service learning, and extracurricular activities are providing civic learning experiences for their students.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/3-16

    (105 ILCS 5/3-16)
    Sec. 3-16. Grants to alternative schools, safe schools, and alternative learning opportunities programs. The State Board of Education, subject to appropriation, shall award grants to alternative schools, safe schools, and alternative learning opportunities programs operated by a regional office of education. For fiscal year 2018, to calculate grant amounts to the programs operated by regional offices of education, the State Board shall calculate an amount equal to the greater of the regional program's best 3 months of average daily attendance for the 2016-2017 school year or the average of the best 3 months of average daily attendance for the 2014-2015 school year through the 2016-2017 school year, multiplied by the amount of $6,119. For fiscal year 2019, to calculate grant amounts to the programs operated by regional offices of education, the State Board shall calculate an amount equal to the greater of the regional program's best 3 months of average daily attendance for the 2017-2018 school year or the average of the best 3 months of average daily attendance for the 2015-2016 school year through the 2017-2018 school year, multiplied by the amount of $6,119. These amounts shall be termed the "Regional Program Increased Enrollment Recognition". If the amount of the Regional Program Increased Enrollment Recognition is greater than the amount of the regional office of education program's Base Funding Minimum for fiscal year 2018 or fiscal year 2019, calculated under Section 18-8.15, then the State Board of Education shall pay the regional program a grant equal to the difference between the regional program's Regional Program Increased Enrollment Recognition and the Base Funding Minimum for fiscal year 2018 or fiscal year 2019, respectively. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to alter any payments or calculations under Section 18-8.15.
(Source: P.A. 100-587, eff. 6-4-18; 101-10, eff. 6-5-19.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 3A

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 3A heading)
ARTICLE 3A. EDUCATIONAL SERVICE REGIONS

105 ILCS 5/3A-1

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-1)
    Sec. 3A-1. County or portion of county as educational service region. Each county of the State shall, except as otherwise provided in this Article, be designated as an educational service region, referred to in this Article as a "region". Beginning the first Monday of August, 1995, that portion of a Class II county outside a city of at least 500,000 shall constitute a region. References in this Code to a county as a region shall also mean a portion of a county as a region when appropriate.
(Source: P.A. 88-89.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-2

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-2)
    Sec. 3A-2. Regional superintendent-County superintendent of schools. The chief administrative officer of an educational service region shall be designated and referred to as "Regional Superintendent of Schools" or "regional superintendent."
    Such person shall, in his region, have the powers and duties and perform the functions required of or exercisable by a county superintendent of schools, except as otherwise provided by law.
    Any reference to "county superintendent of schools" in The School Code or any other Illinois statute means and refers to the regional superintendent of schools for an educational service region.
(Source: P.A. 79-1057.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-3

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-3)
    Sec. 3A-3. Voluntary consolidation of educational service regions. Any 2 or more educational service regions may be consolidated into a single region in the manner provided in this Section. All of the territory of any educational service region shall be determined by county boundaries, but supervision and control over school districts that are divided by a county line shall be determined under Section 3-14.2 of this Act.
    Each regional superintendent of a region that does not conform to the population requirements of Section 3A-4 and seeks voluntary consolidation under this Section shall appoint a nonpartisan citizens committee consisting of 5 members to consider the advisability of such a consolidation. Such regional superintendent shall serve as ex officio secretary to the citizens committee. This citizens committee may petition the regional board of school trustees serving each of the regions involved for consolidation of those regions into a single educational service region. When such a petition is filed, the regional board of school trustees shall conduct a hearing on the petition, after notice of the hearing has been published once, not more than 15 nor less than 10 days before the day of the hearing, in a newspaper having general circulation in the region. The secretary of the regional board of school trustees shall also notify the secretary of each school board affected by the proposed consolidation, the chairman of the county board of each county affected thereby and the State Board of Education that such petition has been filed. The notice shall state the date when the petition was filed, the prayer of the petition and the date, time and place of the hearing. Such hearing shall be held jointly by all of the regional boards of school trustees affected by such petition and the State Board of Education shall arrange for such joint hearing and pay the expenses thereof. Evidence admissible at the hearing shall include, but not be limited to, the school needs and conditions in the territory affected by the proposed consolidation, whether or not such area is compact and contiguous; and whether or not the proposed consolidation would be in the best interests of the schools of the area and the educational welfare of the pupils of such schools. At the hearing each resident of the region shall have the rights provided for residents under Section 7-6 and the final order of the regional board of school trustees shall be subject to review as provided in Sections 7-6 and 7-7.
    Within 10 days after the conclusion of the joint hearing each regional board of school trustees shall meet and render a decision with regard to the hearing on the petition. A copy of the final order of each regional board of school trustees shall be filed with the State Board of Education within 30 days after the conclusion of the joint hearing. If the regional board of school trustees in each of those regions enters an order approving the consolidation, those regions shall be consolidated into a single educational service region, and the State Board of Education shall authorize the establishment of such single educational service region and to notify all interested parties, including the county clerks of the counties affected thereby and the State Board of Elections.
(Source: P.A. 88-89.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-4

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-4)
    Sec. 3A-4. Mandatory consolidation of educational service regions.
    (a) After July 1, 2015, each region must contain at least 61,000 inhabitants. Before June 30, 2013, regions may be consolidated voluntarily under Section 3A-3 or by joint resolution of the county boards of regions seeking to join a voluntary consolidation, effective July 1, 2015, to meet these population requirements. The boundaries of regions already meeting these population requirements on the effective date of Public Act 97-703 may not be changed except to consolidate with another region or a whole county portion of another region which does not meet these population requirements. If, before November 1, 2013, locally determined consolidation decisions result in more than 35 regions of population greater than 61,000 each, the State Board of Education shall, before November 23, 2013, direct further consolidation, beginning with the region of lowest population, until the number of 35 regions is achieved.
    (b) (Blank).
    (c) If, within 90 days after the most recent certified federal census, a region does not meet the population requirements of this Section, then regions may be consolidated voluntarily under Section 3A-3 of this Code or by joint resolution of the county boards of regions seeking to join a voluntary consolidation to meet these population requirements. If locally determined consolidation decisions result in a region not meeting the population requirements of this Section or result in more than 35 regions, then the State Board of Education shall have the authority to impose further consolidation by order of the State Superintendent of Education. Such an order shall be a final order and is subject to the Administrative Review Law.
    (d) All population determinations shall be based on the most recent federal census.
(Source: P.A. 97-703, eff. 6-25-12; 98-594, eff. 11-15-13.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-5

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-5)
    Sec. 3A-5. Effective date of consolidation. Any consolidation of regions, whether under Section 3A-3 or 3A-4, shall take effect at the expiration of the terms of office of the regional superintendents in office at the time the consolidation is approved under Section 3A-3 or directed under Section 3A-4. However, at the regular election immediately preceding the effective date of the consolidation at which regional superintendents are to be elected in accordance with the general election law, regional superintendents shall not be elected from each of the regions comprising the consolidated region, but one regional superintendent shall be elected to take office on the effective date of the consolidation.
(Source: P.A. 88-89.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-6

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-6)
    Sec. 3A-6. Election of Superintendent for consolidated region - Bond - Vacancies in any educational service region.
    (a) The regional superintendent to be elected under Section 3A-5 shall be elected at the time provided in the general election law and must possess the qualifications described in Section 3-1 of this Act.
    (b) The bond required under Section 3-2 shall be filed in the office of the county clerk in the county where the regional office is situated, and a certified copy of that bond shall be filed in the office of the county clerk in each of the other counties in the region.
    (c) When a vacancy occurs in the office of regional superintendent of schools of any educational service region which is not located in a county which is a home rule unit, such vacancy shall be filled within 60 days (i) by appointment of the chairman of the county board, with the advice and consent of the county board, when such vacancy occurs in a single county educational service region; or (ii) by appointment of a committee composed of the chairmen of the county boards of those counties comprising the affected educational service region when such vacancy occurs in a multicounty educational service region, each committeeman to be entitled to one vote for each vote that was received in the county represented by such committeeman on the committee by the regional superintendent of schools whose office is vacant at the last election at which a regional superintendent was elected to such office, and the person receiving the highest number of affirmative votes from the committeemen for such vacant office to be deemed the person appointed by such committee to fill the vacancy. The appointee shall be a member of the same political party as the regional superintendent of schools the appointee succeeds was at the time such regional superintendent of schools last was elected. The appointee shall serve for the remainder of the term. However, if more than 28 months remain in that term, the appointment shall be until the next general election, at which time the vacated office shall be filled by election for the remainder of the term. Nominations shall be made and any vacancy in nomination shall be filled as follows:
        (1) If the vacancy in office occurs before the first
    
date provided in Section 7-12 of the Election Code for filing nomination papers for county offices for the primary in the next even-numbered year following commencement of the term of office in which the vacancy occurs, nominations for the election for filling the vacancy shall be made pursuant to Article 7 of the Election Code.
        (2) If the vacancy in office occurs during the time
    
provided in Section 7-12 of the Election Code for filing nomination papers for county offices for the primary in the next even-numbered year following commencement of the term of office in which the vacancy occurs, the time for filing nomination papers for the primary shall not be more than 91 days nor less than 85 days prior to the date of the primary.
        (3) If the vacancy in office occurs after the last
    
day provided in Section 7-12 of the Election Code for filing nomination papers for county offices for the primary in the next even-numbered year following commencement of the term of office in which the vacancy occurs, a vacancy in nomination shall be deemed to have occurred and the county central committee of each established political party (if the vacancy occurs in a single county educational service region) or the multi-county educational service region committee of each established political party (if the vacancy occurs in a multi-county educational service region) shall nominate, by resolution, a candidate to fill the vacancy in nomination for election to the office at the general election. In the nomination proceedings to fill the vacancy in nomination, each member of the county central committee or the multi-county educational service region committee, whichever applies, shall have the voting strength as set forth in Section 7-8 or 7-8.02 of the Election Code, respectively. The name of the candidate so nominated shall not appear on the ballot at the general primary election. The vacancy in nomination shall be filled prior to the date of certification of candidates for the general election.
        (4) The resolution to fill the vacancy shall be duly
    
acknowledged before an officer qualified to take acknowledgments of deeds and shall include, upon its face, the following information: (A) the name of the original nominee and the office vacated; (B) the date on which the vacancy occurred; and (C) the name and address of the nominee selected to fill the vacancy and the date of selection. The resolution to fill the vacancy shall be accompanied by a statement of candidacy, as prescribed in Section 7-10 of the Election Code, completed by the selected nominee, a certificate from the State Board of Education, as prescribed in Section 3-1 of this Code, and a receipt indicating that the nominee has filed a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act.
The provisions of Sections 10-8 through 10-10.1 of the Election Code relating to objections to nomination papers, hearings on objections, and judicial review shall also apply to and govern objections to nomination papers and resolutions for filling vacancies in nomination filed pursuant to this Section. Unless otherwise specified in this Section, the nomination and election provided for in this Section is governed by the general election law.
    Except as otherwise provided by applicable county ordinance or by law, if a vacancy occurs in the office of regional superintendent of schools of an educational service region that is located in a county that is a home rule unit and that has a population of less than 2,000,000 inhabitants, that vacancy shall be filled by the county board of such home rule county.
    Any person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of regional superintendent of schools of any educational service region must possess the qualifications required to be elected to the position of regional superintendent of schools, and shall obtain a certificate of eligibility from the State Superintendent of Education and file same with the county clerk of the county in which the regional superintendent's office is located.
    If the regional superintendent of schools is called into the active military service of the United States, his office shall not be deemed to be vacant, but a temporary appointment shall be made as in the case of a vacancy. The appointee shall perform all the duties of the regional superintendent of schools during the time the regional superintendent of schools is in the active military service of the United States, and shall be paid the same compensation apportioned as to the time of service, and such appointment and all authority thereunder shall cease upon the discharge of the regional superintendent of schools from such active military service. The appointee shall give the same bond as is required of a regularly elected regional superintendent of schools.
(Source: P.A. 96-893, eff. 7-1-10.)