Section 1.210  Approval of Providers of Training for School Board Members under Section 10-16a of the School Code

Entities that offer professional development activities, such as training organizations, institutions, regional offices of education, firms, professional associations, teachers' unions, and universities and colleges, may apply to the State Board of Education for approval to conduct leadership training activities for members of Illinois boards of education or Independent Authorities established under Section 2-3.25f-5 of the Code in each of the topics specified in Section 10-16a of the Code [105 ILCS 5].

a)         Except as provided in subsection (b), each entity wishing to receive approval to offer the leadership training required under Section 10-16a of the Code shall submit an application on a form supplied by the State Board of Education.  An entity shall submit the application to the State Board any time between March 1 and May 1 of each even-numbered year.  Any application received after May 1 shall not be considered for that approval cycle.  If the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency under Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act [20 ILCS 3305], the application submission deadlines of this subsection are waived, and an entity may submit an application for review by the State Board of Education no later than 30 days after that declaration is no longer in effect.  Each entity shall provide:

1)         a description of the intended offerings in each of the required areas;

2)         the qualifications and experience of the entity and of each presenter to be assigned to provide the leadership training, which shall include evidence of a presenter's specific skills and knowledge in the area or areas in which he or she will be assigned;

3)         the mode of delivery of the professional development (e.g., in-person instruction, distance-learning); and

4)         assurances that the requirements of subsection (c) will be met.

b)         An organization that has one or more affiliates (e.g., regional offices, local chapters) based in Illinois may apply for approval on their behalf.

1)         The applicant organization shall provide a list of its affiliates for which approval is sought and supply the information required pursuant to subsection (a) with respect to each one.

2)         The applicant organization's provision of the assurances required pursuant to subsection (a)(4) shall be understood to apply to each affiliate for which approval is sought.

3)         The applicant organization shall notify the State Board any time it determines that one or more affiliates should be removed from the list of approved providers.

4)         The approval status of the applicant organization shall be contingent upon its affiliates' compliance with the applicable requirements of this Section.

c)         Each entity approved to provide leadership training under this Section shall:

1)         verify attendance at its training activities, provide to participants a written confirmation of their completion of the training, and require participants to complete an evaluation of the training; and

2)         maintain attendance and evaluation records for each event or activity it conducts or sponsors for a period of not less than five years.

d)         Applicants may be asked to clarify particular aspects of their materials.

e)         The State Superintendent, in consultation with the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), shall respond to each application for approval no later than 30 days after receiving it.

f)         An entity shall be approved to offer leadership training if the entity's application presents evidence that:

1)         the leadership training that it sponsors or conducts will be developed and presented by persons with education and experience in the applicable areas to which they will be assigned; and

2)         the proposed training meets the requirements of Section 10-16a of the School Code. 

g)         The State Board shall post on its website at www.isbe.net the list of all approved providers.  The website also shall indicate that the IASB is authorized under Section 10-16a(c) of the Code to provide leadership training. 

h)         Approval as a provider shall be valid for two calendar years (i.e., January 1 through December 31).  To request renewal of approval, a provider shall submit a renewal application on a form supplied by the State Board, within the timeframe specified in subsection (a), and containing:

1)         a description of any significant changes in the material submitted as part of its approved application or a certification that no such changes have occurred;

2)         evidence that the material to be used in the renewal cycle conforms to current statute, rules and procedures of the State Board; and

3)         copies of the evaluations of the training that participants completed during the last approval period.

i)          A provider's approval shall be renewed if the application conforms to the requirements of subsection (h), provided that the State Superintendent has received no evidence of noncompliance with the requirements of this Section.

j)          The State Board may evaluate an approved provider at any time to ensure compliance with the requirements of this Section.  Upon request by the State Board, a provider shall supply information regarding its schedule of leadership training, which the State Board may, at its discretion, monitor at any time.  In the event an evaluation indicates that the requirements have not been met, the State Board, in consultation with IASB, may withdraw approval of the provider.

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 1644, effective January 22, 2021)