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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/Art. 1

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 1 heading)
ARTICLE 1. SHORT TITLE - CONSTRUCTION - DEFINITIONS

105 ILCS 5/1-1

    (105 ILCS 5/1-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 1-1)
    Sec. 1-1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the School Code.
(Source: P.A. 86-1475.)

105 ILCS 5/1-2

    (105 ILCS 5/1-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 1-2)
    Sec. 1-2. Construction. The provisions of this Act, so far as they are the same as those of any prior statute, shall be construed as a continuation of such prior provisions, and not as a new enactment.
    If in any other statute reference is made to an Act of the General Assembly, or a section of such an Act, which is continued in this School Code, such reference shall be held to refer to the Act or section thereof so continued in this Code.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/1-3

    (105 ILCS 5/1-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 1-3)
    Sec. 1-3. Definitions. In this Code:
    The terms "common schools", "free schools" and "public schools" are used interchangeably to apply to any school operated by authority of this Act.
    "School board" means the governing body of any district created or operating under authority of this Code, including board of school directors and board of education. When the context so indicates it also means the governing body of any non-high school district and of any special charter district, including a board of school inspectors.
    "School fees" or "fees" means any monetary charge collected by a public school, public school district, or charter school from a student or the parents or guardian of a student as a prerequisite for the student's participation in any curricular or extracurricular program of the school or school district as defined under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of Section 1.245 of Title 23 of the Illinois Administrative Code.
    "Special charter district" means any city, township, or district organized into a school district, under a special Act or charter of the General Assembly or in which schools are now managed and operating within such unit in whole or in part under the terms of such special Act or charter.
(Source: P.A. 102-687, eff. 12-17-21; 102-805, eff. 1-1-23.)

105 ILCS 5/1-3.5

    (105 ILCS 5/1-3.5)
    Sec. 1-3.5. Use of term "registered mail". Whenever the term "registered mail" is used in this Code, it shall be deemed to authorize the use of either registered mail or certified mail, return receipt requested.
(Source: P.A. 95-790, eff. 8-8-08.)

105 ILCS 5/1-4

    (105 ILCS 5/1-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 1-4)
    Sec. 1-4. It is the policy of this State that all powers granted, either expressly or by necessary implication, by this Act, other Illinois statute, or the Illinois Constitution to any public school district may be exercised by those public school districts notwithstanding effects on competition. It is the intention of the General Assembly that the "State action exemption" to the application of federal antitrust statutes be fully available to all public school districts to the extent their activities are authorized by law as stated herein.
(Source: P.A. 83-929.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 1A

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 1A heading)
ARTICLE 1A. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

105 ILCS 5/1A-1

    (105 ILCS 5/1A-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 1A-1)
    Sec. 1A-1. Members and terms.
    (a) (Blank).
    (b) The State Board of Education shall consist of 8 members and a chairperson, who shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate from a pattern of regional representation as follows: 2 appointees shall be selected from among those counties of the State other than Cook County and the 5 counties contiguous to Cook County, one of whom must represent the educator community; 2 appointees shall be selected from Cook County, one of whom shall be a resident of the City of Chicago and one of whom shall be a resident of that part of Cook County which lies outside the city limits of Chicago and of whom one must represent the educator community; 2 appointees shall be selected from among the 5 counties of the State that are contiguous to Cook County, one of whom must represent the educator community; and 3 members shall be selected as members-at-large (one of which shall be the chairperson). With respect to the educator community appointments, no more than one member may be employed as a district superintendent, principal, school business official, or teacher and no more than one may be employed by the same school district or school. The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly apply to appointments made after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly. The Governor who takes office on the second Monday of January after his or her election shall be the person who nominates members to fill vacancies whose terms begin after that date and before the term of the next Governor begins.
    The term of each member of the State Board of Education whose term expires on January 12, 2005 shall instead terminate on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. Of these 3 seats, (i) the member initially appointed pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly whose seat was vacant on April 27, 2004 shall serve until the second Wednesday of January, 2009 and (ii) the other 2 members initially appointed pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly shall serve until the second Wednesday of January, 2007.
    The term of the member of the State Board of Education whose seat was vacant on April 27, 2004 and whose term expires on January 10, 2007 shall instead terminate on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. The member initially appointed pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly to fill this seat shall be the chairperson and shall serve until the second Wednesday of January, 2007.
    The term of the member of the State Board of Education whose seat was vacant on May 28, 2004 but after April 27, 2004 and whose term expires on January 10, 2007 shall instead terminate on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. The member initially appointed pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly to fill this seat shall serve until the second Wednesday of January, 2007.
    The term of the other member of the State Board of Education whose term expires on January 10, 2007 shall instead terminate on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. The member initially appointed pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly to fill this seat shall serve until the second Wednesday of January, 2007.
    The term of the member of the State Board of Education whose term expires on January 14, 2009 and who was selected from among the 5 counties of the State that are contiguous to Cook County and is a resident of Lake County shall instead terminate on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. The member initially appointed pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly to fill this seat shall serve until the second Wednesday of January, 2009.
    Upon expiration of the terms of the members initially appointed under this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and members whose terms were not terminated by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, their respective successors shall be appointed for terms of 4 years, from the second Wednesday in January of each odd numbered year and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified.
    (c) Of the 4 members, excluding the chairperson, whose terms expire on the second Wednesday of January, 2007 and every 4 years thereafter, one of those members must be an at-large member and at no time may more than 2 of those members be from one political party. Of the 4 members whose terms expire on the second Wednesday of January, 2009 and every 4 years thereafter, one of those members must be an at-large member and at no time may more than 2 of those members be from one political party. Party membership is defined as having voted in the primary of the party in the last primary before appointment.
    (d) Vacancies in terms shall be filled by appointment by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for the extent of the unexpired term. If a vacancy in membership occurs at a time when the Senate is not in session, the Governor shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate, when the Governor shall appoint a person to fill that membership for the remainder of its term. If the Senate is not in session when appointments for a full term are made, the appointments shall be made as in the case of vacancies.
(Source: P.A. 100-1135, eff. 11-28-18.)

105 ILCS 5/1A-2

    (105 ILCS 5/1A-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 1A-2)
    Sec. 1A-2. Qualifications. The members of the State Board of Education shall be citizens of the United States and residents of the State of Illinois and shall be selected as far as may be practicable on the basis of their knowledge of, or interest and experience in, problems of public education. No member of the State Board of Education shall benefit from funds provided by the State Board of Education to an institution of higher learning, public or private, within Illinois, nor shall members be school trustees of a public or nonpublic college, university or technical institution within Illinois. No member shall be appointed to more than 2 4-year terms. Members shall be reimbursed for all ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as members of the Board. Expenses shall be approved by the Board and be consistent with the laws, policies, and requirements of the State of Illinois regarding such expenditures, plus any member may include in his or her claim for expenses $50 per day for meeting days.
(Source: P.A. 100-1135, eff. 11-28-18.)

105 ILCS 5/1A-2.1

    (105 ILCS 5/1A-2.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 1A-2.1)
    Sec. 1A-2.1. Vacancies. The Governor may remove for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office any member of the State Board of Education. A vacancy also exists on the State Board of Education when one or more of the following events occur:
        1. A member dies.
        2. A member files a written resignation with the
    
Governor.
        3. A member is adjudicated to be a person under
    
legal disability under the Probate Act of 1975 or a person subject to involuntary admission under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.
        4. A member ceases to be a resident of the region
    
from which he or she was appointed.
        5. A member is convicted of an infamous crime or of
    
any offense involving a violation of his or her duties under this Code.
        6. A member fails to maintain the qualifications
    
stated in Sections 1A-1 and 1A-2 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 100-1135, eff. 11-28-18.)

105 ILCS 5/1A-4

    (105 ILCS 5/1A-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 1A-4)
    Sec. 1A-4. Powers and duties of the Board.
    A. (Blank).
    B. The Board shall determine the qualifications of and appoint a chief education officer, to be known as the State Superintendent of Education, who may be proposed by the Governor and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and pursuant to a performance-based contract linked to statewide student performance and academic improvement within Illinois schools. Upon expiration or buyout of the contract of the State Superintendent of Education in office on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, a State Superintendent of Education shall be appointed by a State Board of Education that includes the 7 new Board members who were appointed to fill seats of members whose terms were terminated on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. Thereafter, a State Superintendent of Education must, at a minimum, be appointed at the beginning of each term of a Governor after that Governor has made appointments to the Board. A performance-based contract issued for the employment of a State Superintendent of Education entered into on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly must expire no later than February 1, 2007, and subsequent contracts must expire no later than February 1 each 4 years thereafter. No contract shall be extended or renewed beyond February 1, 2007 and February 1 each 4 years thereafter, but a State Superintendent of Education shall serve until his or her successor is appointed. Each contract entered into on or before January 8, 2007 with a State Superintendent of Education must provide that the State Board of Education may terminate the contract for cause, and the State Board of Education shall not thereafter be liable for further payments under the contract. With regard to this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, it is the intent of the General Assembly that, beginning with the Governor who takes office on the second Monday of January, 2007, a State Superintendent of Education be appointed at the beginning of each term of a Governor after that Governor has made appointments to the Board. The State Superintendent of Education shall not serve as a member of the State Board of Education. The Board shall set the compensation of the State Superintendent of Education who shall serve as the Board's chief executive officer. The Board shall also establish the duties, powers and responsibilities of the State Superintendent, which shall be included in the State Superintendent's performance-based contract along with the goals and indicators of student performance and academic improvement used to measure the performance and effectiveness of the State Superintendent. The State Board of Education may delegate to the State Superintendent of Education the authority to act on the Board's behalf, provided such delegation is made pursuant to adopted board policy or the powers delegated are ministerial in nature. The State Board may not delegate authority under this Section to the State Superintendent to (1) nonrecognize school districts, (2) withhold State payments as a penalty, or (3) make final decisions under the contested case provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act unless otherwise provided by law.
    C. The powers and duties of the State Board of Education shall encompass all duties delegated to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction on January 12, 1975, except as the law providing for such powers and duties is thereafter amended, and such other powers and duties as the General Assembly shall designate. The Board shall be responsible for the educational policies and guidelines for public schools, pre-school through grade 12 and Vocational Education in the State of Illinois. Beginning July 1, 2024, educational policies and guidelines pertaining to pre-school and the Prevention Initiative program shall be done in consultation with the Department of Early Childhood. The Board shall analyze the present and future aims, needs, and requirements of education in the State of Illinois and recommend to the General Assembly the powers which should be exercised by the Board. The Board shall recommend the passage and the legislation necessary to determine the appropriate relationship between the Board and local boards of education and the various State agencies and shall recommend desirable modifications in the laws which affect schools.
    D. Two members of the Board shall be appointed by the chairperson to serve on a standing joint Education Committee, 2 others shall be appointed from the Board of Higher Education, 2 others shall be appointed by the chairperson of the Illinois Community College Board, and 2 others shall be appointed by the chairperson of the Human Resource Investment Council. The Committee shall be responsible for making recommendations concerning the submission of any workforce development plan or workforce training program required by federal law or under any block grant authority. The Committee will be responsible for developing policy on matters of mutual concern to elementary, secondary and higher education such as Occupational and Career Education, Teacher Preparation and Licensure, Educational Finance, Articulation between Elementary, Secondary and Higher Education and Research and Planning. The joint Education Committee shall meet at least quarterly and submit an annual report of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the State Board of Education, the Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, the Human Resource Investment Council, the Governor, and the General Assembly. All meetings of this Committee shall be official meetings for reimbursement under this Act. On the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, the Joint Education Committee is abolished.
    E. Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote of the members appointed, confirmed and serving on the Board is required to approve any action, except that the 7 new Board members who were appointed to fill seats of members whose terms were terminated on the effective date of this amendatory act of the 93rd General Assembly may vote to approve actions when appointed and serving.
    F. Upon appointment of the 7 new Board members who were appointed to fill seats of members whose terms were terminated on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, the Board shall review all of its current rules in an effort to streamline procedures, improve efficiency, and eliminate unnecessary forms and paperwork.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

105 ILCS 5/1A-6

    (105 ILCS 5/1A-6)
    Sec. 1A-6. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 79-1454. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/1A-8

    (105 ILCS 5/1A-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 1A-8)
    Sec. 1A-8. Powers of the Board in Assisting Districts Deemed in Financial Difficulties. To promote the financial integrity of school districts, the State Board of Education shall be provided the necessary powers to promote sound financial management and continue operation of the public schools.
    (a) The State Superintendent of Education may require a school district, including any district subject to Article 34A of this Code, to share financial information relevant to a proper investigation of the district's financial condition and the delivery of appropriate State financial, technical, and consulting services to the district if the district (i) has been designated, through the State Board of Education's School District Financial Profile System, as on financial warning or financial watch status, (ii) has failed to file an annual financial report, annual budget, deficit reduction plan, or other financial information as required by law, (iii) has been identified, through the district's annual audit or other financial and management information, as in serious financial difficulty in the current or next school year, or (iv) is determined to be likely to fail to fully meet any regularly scheduled, payroll-period obligations when due or any debt service payments when due or both. In addition to financial, technical, and consulting services provided by the State Board of Education, at the request of a school district, the State Superintendent may provide for an independent financial consultant to assist the district review its financial condition and options.
    (b) The State Board of Education, after proper investigation of a district's financial condition, may certify that a district, including any district subject to Article 34A, is in financial difficulty when any of the following conditions occur:
        (1) The district has issued school or teacher orders
    
for wages as permitted in Sections 8-16, 32-7.2 and 34-76 of this Code.
        (2) The district has issued tax anticipation warrants
    
or tax anticipation notes in anticipation of a second year's taxes when warrants or notes in anticipation of current year taxes are still outstanding, as authorized by Sections 17-16, 34-23, 34-59 and 34-63 of this Code, or has issued short-term debt against 2 future revenue sources, such as, but not limited to, tax anticipation warrants and general State aid or evidence-based funding certificates or tax anticipation warrants and revenue anticipation notes.
        (3) The district has for 2 consecutive years shown an
    
excess of expenditures and other financing uses over revenues and other financing sources and beginning fund balances on its annual financial report for the aggregate totals of the Educational, Operations and Maintenance, Transportation, and Working Cash Funds.
        (4) The district refuses to provide financial
    
information or cooperate with the State Superintendent in an investigation of the district's financial condition.
        (5) The district is likely to fail to fully meet any
    
regularly scheduled, payroll-period obligations when due or any debt service payments when due or both.
    No school district shall be certified by the State Board of Education to be in financial difficulty solely by reason of any of the above circumstances arising as a result of (i) the failure of the county to make any distribution of property tax money due the district at the time such distribution is due or (ii) the failure of this State to make timely payments of general State aid, evidence-based funding, or any of the mandated categoricals; or if the district clearly demonstrates to the satisfaction of the State Board of Education at the time of its determination that such condition no longer exists. If the State Board of Education certifies that a district in a city with 500,000 inhabitants or more is in financial difficulty, the State Board shall so notify the Governor and the Mayor of the city in which the district is located. The State Board of Education may require school districts certified in financial difficulty, except those districts subject to Article 34A, to develop, adopt and submit a financial plan within 45 days after certification of financial difficulty. The financial plan shall be developed according to guidelines presented to the district by the State Board of Education within 14 days of certification. Such guidelines shall address the specific nature of each district's financial difficulties. Any proposed budget of the district shall be consistent with the financial plan submitted to and approved by the State Board of Education.
    A district certified to be in financial difficulty, other than a district subject to Article 34A, shall report to the State Board of Education at such times and in such manner as the State Board may direct, concerning the district's compliance with each financial plan. The State Board may review the district's operations, obtain budgetary data and financial statements, require the district to produce reports, and have access to any other information in the possession of the district that it deems relevant. The State Board may issue recommendations or directives within its powers to the district to assist in compliance with the financial plan. The district shall produce such budgetary data, financial statements, reports and other information and comply with such directives. If the State Board of Education determines that a district has failed to comply with its financial plan, the State Board of Education may rescind approval of the plan and appoint a Financial Oversight Panel for the district as provided in Section 1B-4. This action shall be taken only after the district has been given notice and an opportunity to appear before the State Board of Education to discuss its failure to comply with its financial plan.
    No bonds, notes, teachers orders, tax anticipation warrants or other evidences of indebtedness shall be issued or sold by a school district or be legally binding upon or enforceable against a local board of education of a district certified to be in financial difficulty unless and until the financial plan required under this Section has been approved by the State Board of Education.
    Any financial profile compiled and distributed by the State Board of Education in Fiscal Year 2009 or any fiscal year thereafter shall incorporate such adjustments as may be needed in the profile scores to reflect the financial effects of the inability or refusal of the State of Illinois to make timely disbursements of any general State aid, evidence-based funding, or mandated categorical aid payments due school districts or to fully reimburse school districts for mandated categorical programs pursuant to reimbursement formulas provided in this School Code.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/1A-9

    (105 ILCS 5/1A-9)
    Sec. 1A-9. Duty of the Board to disseminate information concerning the Children's Privacy Protection and Parental Empowerment Act. The Board shall (i) prepare and disseminate to the local educational agencies and the regional offices of education materials advising parents of their rights under the Children's Privacy Protection and Parental Empowerment Act and (ii) add notice to its website advising parents of their rights under the Children's Privacy Protection and Parental Empowerment Act.
(Source: P.A. 93-462, eff. 1-1-04.)

105 ILCS 5/1A-10

    (105 ILCS 5/1A-10)
    Sec. 1A-10. Divisions of Board. The State Board of Education shall have, without limitation, the following divisions within the Board:
        (1) Educator Effectiveness.
        (2) Improvement and Innovation.
        (3) Fiscal Support Services.
        (4) (Blank).
        (5) Internal Auditor.
        (6) Human Resources.
        (7) Legal.
        (8) Specialized Instruction, Nutrition, and Wellness.
        (9) Language and Early Childhood Development.
The State Board of Education may, after consultation with the General Assembly, add any divisions or functions to the Board that it deems appropriate and consistent with Illinois law.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/1A-11

    (105 ILCS 5/1A-11)
    Sec. 1A-11. Children; methamphetamine; protocol. The State Board of Education shall cooperate with the Department of Children and Family Services and the Illinois State Police in developing the protocol required under Section 6.5 of the Children and Family Services Act. The Board must post the protocol on the official Web site maintained by the Board.
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 1B

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 1B heading)
ARTICLE 1B. SCHOOL DISTRICT FINANCIAL
OVERSIGHT PANEL AND EMERGENCY
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

105 ILCS 5/1B-1

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-1)
    Sec. 1B-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the School District Financial Oversight Panel and Emergency Financial Assistance Law.
(Source: P.A. 88-618, eff. 9-9-94.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-2

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-2)
    Sec. 1B-2. Findings and purpose.
    (a) The General Assembly finds:
        (1) A fundamental goal of the people of the State, as
    
expressed in Section 1 of Article X of the Illinois Constitution, is the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities. When a board of education faces financial difficulties, continued operation of the public school system is threatened.
        (2) A sound financial structure is essential to the
    
continued operation of any school system. It is vital to commercial, educational and cultural interests that the public schools remain in operation. To achieve that goal, public school systems must have effective access to the private market to borrow short and long term funds.
        (3) To promote the financial integrity of boards of
    
education of school districts with a population of less than 500,000, it is necessary to provide for emergency State financial assistance and the creation of financial oversight panels with the powers necessary to promote sound financial management to assure the continued availability of educational opportunities.
    (b) It is the purpose of this Article to provide financial oversight panels and emergency State financial assistance to school districts and establish a secure financial basis for their continued existence. The intention of the General Assembly, in enacting this legislation, is to establish procedures, provide powers and impose restrictions to assure the financial and educational integrity of the public schools while leaving principal responsibility for the educational policies of the public schools to the boards of education within the State, consistent with the requirements for satisfying the public policy and purpose herein set forth.
(Source: P.A. 88-618, eff. 9-9-94.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-3

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-3)
    Sec. 1B-3. Definitions. As used in this Article:
    (a) "Financial Oversight Panel" or "Panel" means the Financial Oversight Panel created under Section 1B-4;
    (b) "Board" means a local board of education;
    (c) "Budget" means the annual budget of the board required under Section 17-1 and is subject to the authority of the Panel as provided in this Article;
    (d) "Chairman" means the chairman of the Panel appointed pursuant to Section 1B-5 of this Article;
    (e) "District" means any school district of this State not subject to the provisions of Article 34;
    (f) "Financial plan" means the financial plan of the board required to be developed pursuant to this Article;
    (g) "Fiscal year" means the fiscal year of the board;
    (h) "School year" means the school year of the board;
    (i) "State Board" means the Illinois State Board of Education;
    (j) "State Superintendent" means the State Superintendent of Education.
(Source: P.A. 88-618, eff. 9-9-94.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-4

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-4)
    Sec. 1B-4. Establishment of Emergency Financial Assistance and Financial Oversight Panel. When approved by the State Board under this Article there is established a body both corporate and politic to be known as the "(Name of School District) Financial Oversight Panel" which, in such name, shall exercise all authority vested in such Panels by this Article.
    Upon the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of its full membership, a local board of education of a school district that has been certified to be in financial difficulty under Section 1A-8 may petition the State Board of Education for emergency financial assistance and the establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel for the district as provided under this Article. In addition, the State Superintendent of Education may petition the State Board of Education for the establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel, with or without emergency financial assistance, for any district that has failed to comply with its financial plan and has had the plan rescinded by the State Board as provided in Section 1A-8. No petition for emergency financial assistance shall be approved by the State Board unless there is also established a Financial Oversight Panel.
    In determining whether to allow the petition the State Board shall consider the following factors among others that it deems relevant:
    (a) whether the petition is in the best educational interests of the pupils of the district;
    (b) whether the petition is in the near and long term best financial interests of the district;
    (c) whether the district has sufficient pupil enrollment and assessed valuation to provide and maintain recognized schools;
    (d) whether the petition is in the best interests of the other schools of the area and the educational welfare of all of the pupils therein; and
    (e) whether the board of education has complied with the requirements of Section 1A-8.
    The State Board may vote to either grant or deny the petition based upon the recommendation of the State Superintendent of Education and any other testimony or documentary evidence the State Board deems relevant. The decision of the State Board whether to grant or deny the petition shall be final. If an approved petition requests emergency financial assistance, the school district shall be eligible for emergency State financial assistance, subject to the other provisions of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 88-618, eff. 9-9-94.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-5

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-5)
    Sec. 1B-5. When a petition for emergency financial assistance for a school district is allowed by the State Board under Section 1B-4, the State Superintendent shall within 10 days thereafter appoint 3 members to serve at the State Superintendent's pleasure on a Financial Oversight Panel for the district. The State Superintendent shall designate one of the members of the Panel to serve as its Chairman. In the event of vacancy or resignation the State Superintendent shall appoint a successor within 10 days of receiving notice thereof.
    Members of the Panel shall be selected primarily on the basis of their experience and education in financial management, with consideration given to persons knowledgeable in education finance. A member of the Panel may not be a board member or employee of the district for which the Panel is constituted, nor may a member have a direct financial interest in that district.
    Panel members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties by the State Board. The amount reimbursed Panel members for their expenses shall be charged to the school district as part of any emergency financial assistance and incorporated as a part of the terms and conditions for repayment of such assistance or shall be deducted from the district's general State aid or evidence-based funding as provided in Section 1B-8.
    The first meeting of the Panel shall be held at the call of the Chairman. The Panel may elect such other officers as it deems appropriate. The Panel shall prescribe the times and places for its meetings and the manner in which regular and special meetings may be called, and shall comply with the Open Meetings Act.
    Two members of the Panel shall constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of 2 members shall be necessary for any decision or action to be taken by the Panel.
    The Panel and the State Superintendent shall cooperate with each other in the exercise of their respective powers. The Panel shall report not later than September 1 annually to the State Board and the State Superintendent with respect to its activities and the condition of the school district for the previous fiscal year.
    Any Financial Oversight Panel established under this Article shall remain in existence for not less than 3 years nor more than 10 years from the date the State Board grants the petition under Section 1B-4. If after 3 years the school district has repaid all of its obligations resulting from emergency State financial assistance provided under this Article and has improved its financial situation, the board of education may, not more frequently than once in any 12 month period, petition the State Board to dissolve the Financial Oversight Panel, terminate the oversight responsibility, and remove the district's certification under Section 1A-8 as a district in financial difficulty. In acting on such a petition the State Board shall give additional weight to the recommendations of the State Superintendent and the Financial Oversight Panel.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-6

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-6)
    Sec. 1B-6. General powers. The purpose of the Financial Oversight Panel shall be to exercise financial control over the board of education, and, when approved by the State Board and the State Superintendent of Education, to furnish financial assistance so that the board can provide public education within the board's jurisdiction while permitting the board to meet its obligations to its creditors and the holders of its notes and bonds. Except as expressly limited by this Article, the Panel shall have all powers necessary to meet its responsibilities and to carry out its purposes and the purposes of this Article, including, but not limited to, the following powers:
        (a) to sue and be sued;
        (b) to provide for its organization and internal
    
management;
        (c) to appoint a Financial Administrator to serve as
    
the chief executive officer of the Panel. The Financial Administrator may be an individual, partnership, corporation, including an accounting firm, or other entity determined by the Panel to be qualified to serve; and to appoint other officers, agents, and employees of the Panel, define their duties and qualifications and fix their compensation and employee benefits;
        (d) to approve the local board of education
    
appointments to the positions of treasurer in a Class I county school unit and in each school district which forms a part of a Class II county school unit but which no longer is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer or trustees of schools of a township because the district has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and the trustees of schools of the township or because those offices have been abolished as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of Section 5-1, and chief school business official, if such official is not the superintendent of the district. Either the board or the Panel may remove such treasurer or chief school business official;
        (e) to approve any and all bonds, notes, teachers
    
orders, tax anticipation warrants, and other evidences of indebtedness prior to issuance or sale by the school district; and notwithstanding any other provision of The School Code, as now or hereafter amended, no bonds, notes, teachers orders, tax anticipation warrants or other evidences of indebtedness shall be issued or sold by the school district or be legally binding upon or enforceable against the local board of education unless and until the approval of the Panel has been received;
        (f) to approve all property tax levies of the school
    
district and require adjustments thereto as the Panel deems necessary or advisable;
        (g) to require and approve a school district
    
financial plan;
        (h) to approve and require revisions of the school
    
district budget;
        (i) to approve all contracts and other obligations as
    
the Panel deems necessary and appropriate;
        (j) to authorize emergency State financial
    
assistance, including requirements regarding the terms and conditions of repayment of such assistance, and to require the board of education to levy a separate local property tax, subject to the limitations of Section 1B-8, sufficient to repay such assistance consistent with the terms and conditions of repayment and the district's approved financial plan and budget;
        (k) to request the regional superintendent to make
    
appointments to fill all vacancies on the local school board as provided in Section 10-10;
        (l) to recommend dissolution or reorganization of the
    
school district to the General Assembly if in the Panel's judgment the circumstances so require;
        (m) to direct a phased reduction in the oversight
    
responsibilities of the Financial Administrator and of the Panel as the circumstances permit;
        (n) to determine the amount of emergency State
    
financial assistance to be made available to the school district, and to establish an operating budget for the Panel to be supported by funds available from such assistance, with the assistance and the budget required to be approved by the State Superintendent;
        (o) to procure insurance against any loss in such
    
amounts and from such insurers as it deems necessary;
        (p) to engage the services of consultants for
    
rendering professional and technical assistance and advice on matters within the Panel's power;
        (q) to contract for and to accept any gifts, grants
    
or loans of funds or property or financial or other aid in any form from the federal government, State government, unit of local government, school district or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from any other private or public source, and to comply with the terms and conditions thereof;
        (r) to pay the expenses of its operations based on
    
the Panel's budget as approved by the State Superintendent from emergency financial assistance funds available to the district or from deductions from the district's general State aid or evidence-based funding;
        (s) to do any and all things necessary or convenient
    
to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers given to the Panel by this Article; and
        (t) (blank).
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-7

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-7)
    Sec. 1B-7. Financial Administrator; powers and duties. The Financial Administrator appointed by the Financial Oversight Panel shall serve as the Panel's chief executive officer. The Financial Administrator shall exercise the powers and duties required by the Panel, including but not limited to the following:
        (a) to provide guidance and recommendations to the
    
local board and officials of the school district in developing the district's financial plan and budget prior to board action;
        (b) to direct the local board to reorganize its
    
financial accounts, budgetary systems, and internal accounting and financial controls, in whatever manner the Panel deems appropriate to achieve greater financial responsibility and to reduce financial inefficiency, and to provide technical assistance to aid the district in accomplishing the reorganization;
        (c) to make recommendations to the Financial
    
Oversight Panel concerning the school district's financial plan and budget, and all other matters within the scope of the Panel's authority;
        (d) to prepare and recommend to the Panel a proposal
    
for emergency State financial assistance for the district, including recommended terms and conditions of repayment, and an operations budget for the Panel to be funded from the emergency assistance or from deductions from the district's general State aid or evidence-based funding;
        (e) to require the local board to prepare and submit
    
preliminary staffing and budgetary analyses annually prior to February 1 in such manner and form as the Financial Administrator shall prescribe; and
        (f) subject to the direction of the Panel, to do all
    
other things necessary or convenient to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers given to the Panel under this Article.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-7.5

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-7.5)
    Sec. 1B-7.5. Hiring of a district superintendent or chief executive officer.
    (a) Upon expiration of the contract of the school district's superintendent who is serving at the time the Financial Oversight Panel is established, a school district under the authority of a Financial Oversight Panel, after consultation with the Financial Oversight Panel, shall have the authority to appoint a district superintendent with a type 75 certificate or a chief executive officer who has the skills of school operations and school finance and who shall have the ultimate responsibility for implementing the policies, procedures, directives, and decisions of the school board and the Financial Oversight Panel.
    (b) The chief executive officer shall have the authority to determine the agenda and order of business at school board meetings, as needed in order to carry forward and implement the objectives and priorities of the school board and Financial Oversight Panel in the administration and management of the school district.
    (c) The chief executive officer shall have all of the powers and duties of a school district superintendent under this Code and such other duties as may be assigned by the school board and Financial Oversight Panel, in accordance with this Code. The district shall not thereafter employ a superintendent during the period that a chief executive officer is serving the district.
    (d) The Financial Oversight Panel shall have the final approval of the superintendent or chief executive officer position under this Section as well as the person, based upon his or her skills to fulfill the position.
(Source: P.A. 96-401, eff. 8-13-09.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-7.10

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-7.10)
    Sec. 1B-7.10. Hiring of a chief fiscal officer.
    (a) In lieu of a Financial Oversight Panel Financial Administrator under Section 1B-7 of this Code, a school district under the authority of a Financial Oversight Panel, after consultation with the Financial Oversight Panel, may appoint a chief fiscal officer who, under the direction of the school board and Financial Oversight Panel, shall have the powers and duties of the district's chief school business official and any other duties regarding budgeting, accounting, and other financial matters that are assigned by the school board or Financial Oversight Panel in accordance with this Code. The district may not employ a chief school business official during the period that the chief fiscal officer is serving in the district. The chief fiscal officer may but is not required to hold an educator license with a chief school business official endorsement issued under Article 21B of this Code.
    (b) The Financial Oversight Panel shall have the final approval of the chief fiscal officer position under this Section as well as the person, based upon his or her skills to fulfill the position.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-8

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-8)
    Sec. 1B-8. There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund (the "Fund"). The School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund shall consist of appropriations, loan repayments, grants from the federal government, and donations from any public or private source. Moneys in the Fund may be appropriated only to the Illinois Finance Authority and the State Board for those purposes authorized under this Article and Article 1H of this Code. The appropriation may be allocated and expended by the State Board for contractual services to provide technical assistance or consultation to school districts to assess their financial condition and to Financial Oversight Panels that petition for emergency financial assistance grants. The Illinois Finance Authority may provide loans to school districts which are the subject of an approved petition for emergency financial assistance under Section 1B-4 or 1H-65 of this Code. Neither the State Board of Education nor the Illinois Finance Authority may collect any fees for providing these services.
    From the amount allocated to each such school district under this Article the State Board shall identify a sum sufficient to cover all approved costs of the Financial Oversight Panel established for the respective school district. If the State Board and State Superintendent of Education have not approved emergency financial assistance in conjunction with the appointment of a Financial Oversight Panel, the Panel's approved costs shall be paid from deductions from the district's general State aid or evidence-based funding.
    The Financial Oversight Panel may prepare and file with the State Superintendent a proposal for emergency financial assistance for the school district and for its operations budget. No expenditures from the Fund shall be authorized by the State Superintendent until he or she has approved the request of the Panel, either as submitted or in such lesser amount determined by the State Superintendent.
    The maximum amount of an emergency financial assistance loan which may be allocated to any school district under this Article, including moneys necessary for the operations of the Panel, shall not exceed $4,000 times the number of pupils enrolled in the school district during the school year ending June 30 prior to the date of approval by the State Board of the petition for emergency financial assistance, as certified to the local board and the Panel by the State Superintendent. An emergency financial assistance grant shall not exceed $1,000 times the number of such pupils. A district may receive both a loan and a grant.
    The payment of an emergency State financial assistance grant or loan shall be subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. Payment of the emergency State financial assistance loan is subject to the applicable provisions of the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Emergency State financial assistance allocated and paid to a school district under this Article may be applied to any fund or funds from which the local board of education of that district is authorized to make expenditures by law.
    Any emergency financial assistance grant proposed by the Financial Oversight Panel and approved by the State Superintendent may be paid in its entirety during the initial year of the Panel's existence or spread in equal or declining amounts over a period of years not to exceed the period of the Panel's existence. An emergency financial assistance loan proposed by the Financial Oversight Panel and approved by the Illinois Finance Authority may be paid in its entirety during the initial year of the Panel's existence or spread in equal or declining amounts over a period of years not to exceed the period of the Panel's existence. All loans made by the Illinois Finance Authority for a school district shall be required to be repaid, with simple interest over the term of the loan at a rate equal to 50% of the one-year Constant Maturity Treasury (CMT) yield as last published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System before the date on which the district's loan is approved by the Illinois Finance Authority, not later than the date the Financial Oversight Panel ceases to exist. The Panel shall establish and the Illinois Finance Authority shall approve the terms and conditions, including the schedule, of repayments. The schedule shall provide for repayments commencing July 1 of each year or upon each fiscal year's receipt of moneys from a tax levy for emergency financial assistance. Repayment shall be incorporated into the annual budget of the school district and may be made from any fund or funds of the district in which there are moneys available. An emergency financial assistance loan to the Panel or district shall not be considered part of the calculation of a district's debt for purposes of the limitation specified in Section 19-1 of this Code. Default on repayment is subject to the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act. When moneys are repaid as provided herein they shall not be made available to the local board for further use as emergency financial assistance under this Article at any time thereafter. All repayments required to be made by a school district shall be received by the State Board and deposited in the School District Emergency Financial Assistance Fund.
    In establishing the terms and conditions for the repayment obligation of the school district the Panel shall annually determine whether a separate local property tax levy is required. The board of any school district with a tax rate for educational purposes for the prior year of less than 120% of the maximum rate for educational purposes authorized by Section 17-2 shall provide for a separate tax levy for emergency financial assistance repayment purposes. Such tax levy shall not be subject to referendum approval. The amount of the levy shall be equal to the amount necessary to meet the annual repayment obligations of the district as established by the Panel, or 20% of the amount levied for educational purposes for the prior year, whichever is less. However, no district shall be required to levy the tax if the district's operating tax rate as determined under Section 18-8, 18-8.05, or 18-8.15 exceeds 200% of the district's tax rate for educational purposes for the prior year.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-9

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-9)
    Sec. 1B-9. Assistance by State agencies, units of local government or school districts. The local board shall render such services to, and permit the use of its facilities and resources by, the Financial Oversight Panel at no charge as may be requested by the Panel. Any State agency, unit of local government, or school district may, within its respective lawful powers and duties, render such services to the Panel as may be requested by the Panel. Upon request of the Panel any such agency, unit of local government or school district is hereby authorized and empowered to loan to the Panel such officers and employees as the Panel may deem necessary and request in carrying out its powers and duties. Officers and employees so transferred shall not lose or forfeit their employment status or rights.
(Source: P.A. 86-954.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-10

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-10)
    Sec. 1B-10. Approval of Financial Plan, Budget and Contracts. In carrying out the purposes of this Article, the Panel shall have the power to approve or to reject the financial plans, budgets and contracts of the board; provided, however, that the Panel shall have no power to impair any existing contract or obligation of the board.
(Source: P.A. 86-954.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-11

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-11)
    Sec. 1B-11. Balanced Budget. The local board's budget for each fiscal year shall be balanced in accordance with an accounting system and procedure to be prescribed by the Panel.
(Source: P.A. 86-954.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-12

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-12)
    Sec. 1B-12. Financial Plans. The local board shall develop, adopt and submit to the Panel for approval an initial financial plan with respect to the remaining portion of the current fiscal year and for the 2 succeeding fiscal years. The board shall develop and adopt subsequent financial plans as directed by the Panel. The financial plans shall supersede any financial plan developed pursuant to Section 1A-8 of this Act. The Panel shall require that each financial plan cover a period of at least 3 fiscal years. After adoption by the board, the board shall submit each plan to the Panel for its approval not later than the date required by the Panel. The Panel shall approve or reject the financial plan within 30 days of its receipt. No financial plan shall have force or effect without approval of the Panel. Each financial plan shall be developed, submitted, approved and monitored in accordance with the following procedures:
    (a) The board shall determine and submit to the Panel, at a time and in a manner prescribed by the Panel, estimates of revenues available to the board during the period for which the financial plan is to be in effect. The Panel shall approve, reject or amend the revenue estimates. In the event the board fails, for any reason, to submit to the Panel estimates of revenue as required by this paragraph, the Panel may prepare such estimates. The financial plan submitted by the board shall be based upon revenue estimates approved or prepared by the Panel. As soon as practicable following the establishment of the Panel, the president of the board shall, at the request of the Chairman of the Panel, make available to the Panel copies of the audited financial statements and of the books and records of account of the board for the preceding 5 fiscal years of the board.
    (b) Each financial plan for each fiscal year or part thereof to which it relates, shall contain (1) a description of revenues and expenditures, provision for debt service, cash resources and uses, capital improvements, and a building utilization component requiring maximum efficient use of all classrooms and buildings, in such manner and detail as the Panel shall prescribe, (2) a description of the means by which the budget will be brought into balance, and (3) such other matters that the Panel, in its discretion, requires. For Panels established under Section 1B-4 for a district that had its financial plan rescinded by the State Board for violating that plan as provided in Section 1A-8, the financial plan required under this Section shall also include the staffing plan required pursuant to subsection (e) of Section 1B-22, provisions for addressing findings or violations identified by the Inspector General or the school district audit, provisions for implementing directives of the Panel, and the plan of action to be followed by the district to maintain long-term financial stability, provide for transition of the Panel's authority, and analyze the need for additional State funding for the district. The initial financial plan shall also include a description of the means by which any outstanding short-term indebtedness shall be paid or refunded by the board. The Panel may prescribe any reasonable time, standards, procedures or forms for preparation and submission of the financial plan.
    (c) The Panel shall approve the initial and each subsequent financial plan if, in its judgment, the plan is complete, is reasonably capable of being achieved, and meets the requirements set forth in this Article. Otherwise, the Panel shall reject the financial plan. In the event of rejection, the Panel may prescribe a procedure and standards for revision of the financial plan by the board.
    (d) The board shall report to the Panel, at such times and in such manner as the Panel may direct, concerning the board's compliance with each financial plan. The Panel may review the board's operations, obtain budgetary data and financial statements, require the board to produce reports, and have access to any other information in the possession of the board that it deems relevant. The Panel may issue recommendations or directives within its powers to the board to assure compliance with the financial plan. The board shall produce such budgetary data, financial statements, reports and other information and comply with such directives.
    (e) After approval of each financial plan, the board shall regularly reexamine the revenue and expenditure estimates on which it was based and revise them as necessary. The board shall promptly notify the Panel of any material change in the revenue or expenditure estimates in the financial plan. The board may submit to the Panel, or the Panel may require the board to submit, modified financial plans based upon revised revenue or expenditure estimates or for any other good reason. The Panel shall approve or reject each modified financial plan.
(Source: P.A. 89-572, eff. 7-30-96.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-13

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-13)
    Sec. 1B-13. Budgets. The board shall develop, adopt and submit to the Panel for approval by the Panel the annual budget for each fiscal year required by Section 17-1. After adoption by the board, the board shall submit each budget to the Panel for its approval not later than 30 days prior to the commencement of the fiscal year to which the budget relates. The Panel shall approve or reject the budget within 30 days of its receipt from the board. No budget shall have force or effect without approval of the Panel. Each budget shall be developed, submitted, approved and monitored in accordance with the following procedures:
    (a) Each budget submitted by the board shall be based upon revenue estimates approved or prepared by the Panel.
    (b) Each budget shall be consistent with the budgetary structure required by the Panel and contain such information and detail as may be prescribed by the Panel. The Panel may also prescribe any reasonable time, standards, procedures or forms for preparation and submission of the budget. Any deficit for the prior fiscal year and for any fiscal year thereafter shall be included as a current expense item for the succeeding fiscal year.
    (c) The Panel shall approve each budget if, in its judgment, the budget is complete, is reasonably capable of being achieved, will meet the requirements set forth in this Article, and will be consistent with the financial plan in effect. Otherwise, the Panel shall reject the budget. In the event of rejection, the Panel may prescribe a procedure and standards for revision of the budget by the board. In the event the local board fails to adopt a budget approved by the Panel prior to the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year as required by Section 17-1, the offices of all local board members shall be deemed vacant by operation of law.
    (d) The board shall report to the Panel and the Financial Administrator at such times and in such manner as the Panel may direct, concerning the board's compliance with each budget. The Panel may review the board's operations, obtain budgetary data and financial statements, require the board to produce reports, and have access to any other information in the possession of the board that the Panel deems relevant. The Panel may issue recommendations or directives within its powers to the board to assure compliance with the budget. The board shall produce such budgetary data, financial statements, reports and other information and comply with such directives.
    (e) After approval of each budget, the board shall promptly notify the Panel of any material change in the revenue or expenditure estimates in the budget. The board may submit to the Panel, or the Panel may require the board to submit, an amended budget. The Panel shall approve or reject each amended budget pursuant to this Section.
(Source: P.A. 86-954.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-14

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-14)
    Sec. 1B-14. Contracts and Other Obligations. (a) No contract or other obligation shall be entered into by the board unless it is consistent with the financial plan and budget in effect, including any employment contract or collective bargaining agreement.
    (b) The Panel may identify categories and types of contracts and other obligations that shall be subject to approval by the Panel and the procedure for submitting contracts for approval. Each contract or other obligation that is entered into by the board which requires approval by the Panel shall contain a provision stating that it shall not become legally binding on the board unless and until it has received such approval. No contract or other obligation that requires the approval of the Panel shall be legally binding on the board unless and until it has received such approval.
    (c) The board shall submit to the Panel a copy of any contract or other obligation for which the approval of the Panel is required, along with a cost analysis and such other information as the Panel may require. The Panel may prescribe any reasonable time, standards, procedures or forms for submission of the contract or other obligation.
    (d) The Panel shall approve the contract or obligation if, in its judgment, the information required to be submitted is complete and the contract or other obligation is consistent with the budget and financial plan in effect. Otherwise, the Panel shall reject the contract or other obligation. Contracts or other obligations not rejected within 30 days after submission to the Panel shall be considered approved. However, the Panel shall have an additional 30 days to approve or reject the contract or other obligation if it so advises the board within the initial 30 day period.
(Source: P.A. 86-954.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-15

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-15) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-15)
    Sec. 1B-15. Expenditures. The board shall meet its debt service obligations as they become due. No other expenditure shall be made by the board unless it is consistent with the financial plan and budget in effect.
(Source: P.A. 86-954.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-16

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-16) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-16)
    Sec. 1B-16. Cash accounts and bank accounts. (a) The Panel shall require the board or any officer of the board, including the board's treasurer or any person acting as the board's official or ex officio treasurer, to establish and maintain separate cash accounts and separate bank accounts in accordance with such standards and procedures as the Panel may prescribe.
    (b) The Panel shall have the power to assume exclusive administration of the cash accounts and bank accounts of the board, to establish and maintain whatever new cash accounts and bank accounts it may deem appropriate, and to withdraw funds from such accounts for the lawful expenditures of the board.
(Source: P.A. 86-954.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-17

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-17)
    Sec. 1B-17. Hearings. To the extent feasible, the Financial Oversight Panel shall provide for and encourage participation by the public in the development and review of financial policy. The Panel shall hold public hearings as it may deem appropriate to the performance of any of its functions. The Panel may designate one or more of its members or the Financial Administrator to preside over any hearing.
(Source: P.A. 86-954.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-18

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-18) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-18)
    Sec. 1B-18. Limitations of actions after abolition; indemnification. (a) Termination of the Financial Oversight Panel shall bar any remedy available against the Panel, its members, employees, or agents, for any right or claim existing, or any liability incurred, prior to such abolition unless the action or other proceeding thereon is commenced prior to the expiration of 2 years after the date of such termination.
    (b) The Panel may indemnify any member, officer, employee, or agent who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he was a member, officer, employee or agent of the Panel, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Panel and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Panel, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
    To the extent that a member, officer, employee or agent of the Panel has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any such action, suit or proceeding referred to in this subsection or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith. Any such indemnification shall be made by the Panel only as authorized in the specific case, upon a determination that indemnification of the member, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct. The determination shall be made by the Panel by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of members who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested members so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
    Reasonable expenses incurred in defending an action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Panel in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, as authorized by the Panel in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the member, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount, unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the Panel as authorized in this Section.
    Any member, officer, employee or agent against whom any action, suit or proceeding is brought may employ his or her own attorney to appear on his or her behalf.
    The right to indemnification accorded by this Section shall not limit any other right to indemnification to which the member, officer, employee or agent may be entitled. Any rights hereunder shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of any member, officer, employee or agent of the Panel.
    The Panel may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a member, officer, employee or agent of the Panel against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Panel would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 86-954.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-19

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-19) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-19)
    Sec. 1B-19. Abolition of Panel. The Financial Oversight Panel shall be abolished 10 years after approval of the petition providing for its creation, or at such earlier date determined by the State Board. Upon the abolition of the Panel, all of its rights and property shall pass to and be vested in the State.
(Source: P.A. 86-954.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-20

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-20) (from Ch. 122, par. 1B-20)
    Sec. 1B-20. Sanctions. (a) No member, officer, employee, or agent of the board shall commit the board to any contract or other obligation or incur any liability on behalf of the board for any purpose if the amount of such contract, obligation or liability is in excess of the amount authorized for that purpose then available under the financial plan and budget then in effect.
    (b) No member, officer, employee or agent of the board shall commit the board to any contract or other obligation on behalf of the board for the payment of money for any purpose required to be approved by the Financial Oversight Panel unless such contract or other obligation has been approved by the Panel.
    (c) No member, officer, employee or agent of the board shall take any action in violation of any valid order of the Panel or shall fail or refuse to take any action required by any such order or shall prepare, present, or certify any information (including any projections or estimates) or report for the Panel or any of its agents that is false or misleading, or, upon learning that any such information is false or misleading, shall fail promptly to advise the Panel or its agents.
    (d) In addition to any penalty or liability under any other law, any member, officer, employee or agent of the board who violates subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this Section shall be subject to appropriate administrative discipline, including, if warranted, suspension from duty without pay, removal from office, or termination of employment.
(Source: P.A. 86-954.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-21

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-21)
    Sec. 1B-21. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-22

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-22)
    Sec. 1B-22. Additional Powers of the Panel. For Panels established under Section 1B-4 for a district which had its financial plan rescinded by the State Board for violating that plan as provided in Section 1A-8, the Panel shall have the following additional powers:
    (a) As necessary to carry out its purposes when district resources are not readily available or appropriate for use by the Panel, the Panel may make and execute contracts, leases, subleases and all other instruments or agreements necessary or convenient for the exercise of the powers and functions granted by this Article.
    (b) As necessary to carry out its purposes when district resources are not readily available or appropriate for use by the Panel, the Panel may purchase personal property necessary or convenient for its purposes; mortgage, pledge or otherwise grant security interests in such properties; and convey to the district such of its property as, in the judgment of the Panel, is no longer necessary for its purposes.
    (c) As necessary to carry out its purposes when district resources are not readily available or appropriate for use by the Panel, the Panel may appoint officers, agents, and employees of the Panel, define their duties and qualifications, and fix their compensation and employee benefits.
    (d) In order to investigate allegations of or incidents of waste, fraud, or financial mismanagement which the Board is unable or unwilling to properly investigate as requested by the Panel, the Panel may appoint an Inspector General who shall have the authority to conduct investigations into such allegations or incidents. The Inspector General shall make recommendations to the Panel about its investigations. The Inspector General shall be independent of the operations of the Panel and the Board and perform other duties requested by the Panel. The Inspector General shall have access to all information and personnel necessary to perform the duties of the office. If the Inspector General determines that a possible criminal act has been committed or that special expertise is required in the investigation, he shall immediately notify the State's Attorney in the county in which the district is located. All investigations conducted by the Inspector General shall be conducted in a manner that ensures the preservation of evidence for use in criminal prosecutions. At all times the Inspector General shall be granted access to any building or facility that is owned, operated, or leased by the Panel or the Board. The Inspector General shall have the power to subpoena witnesses and compel the production of books and papers pertinent to an investigation authorized by this Code. Any person who (1) fails to appear in response to a subpoena; (2) fails to answer any question; (3) fails to produce any books or papers pertinent to an investigation under this Code; or (4) knowingly gives false testimony during an investigation under this Code is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. The Inspector General shall provide to the Panel and the State Board of Education a summary of reports and investigations made under this Section for the previous fiscal year no later than January 1 of each year. The summaries shall detail the final disposition of those recommendations. The summaries shall not contain any confidential or identifying information concerning the subjects of the reports and investigations. The summaries shall also include detailed recommended administrative actions and matters for consideration by the State Board of Education or the General Assembly.
    (e) No hiring or appointment of any person in any position by the Board, the superintendent, or any other officer or employee of the Board shall be made or entered into unless it is consistent with the Financial Plan and Budget in effect and the staffing plan approved by the Panel under this Section. The hiring or appointment of any person shall not be binding on the Board unless and until it is in compliance with this Section. The Board shall submit to the Panel for approval by the Panel a staffing plan for the upcoming school year at the same time as the submission of the Budget, except that the staffing plan for the fiscal year ending in 1997 shall be submitted to the Panel within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1996. The staffing plan shall be accompanied by a cost analysis and such other information as the Panel may require. The Panel may prescribe standards, procedures, and forms for submission of the staffing plan. The Panel shall approve the staffing plan if the information required to be submitted is complete and the staffing plan is consistent with the Budget and Financial Plan in effect. Otherwise, the Panel shall reject the staffing plan. In the event of rejection, the Panel shall prescribe a procedure and standards for revision of the staffing plan. The Panel shall act on the staffing plan at the same time as the approval of the Budget, except that the staffing plan for the fiscal year ending in 1997 shall be acted upon within 60 days of the submission of the staffing plan by the Board. The Board shall report to the Panel, at such times and in such manner as the Panel may direct, concerning the Board's compliance with each staffing plan. The Panel may review the Board's operations, obtaining budgetary data and financial statements, may require the Board to produce reports, and shall have access to any other information in the possession of the Board that it deems relevant. The Panel may issue directives to the Board to assure compliance with the staffing plan, including the issuance of reduction in force notices, non-renewal of employment contracts, or any other notices or actions required by contract or law. The Board shall produce such budgetary data, financial statements, reports, and other information and shall comply with such directives. After approval of each staffing plan, the Board shall regularly reexamine the estimates on which it was based and revise them as necessary. The Board shall promptly notify the Panel of any material change in the estimates in the staffing plan. The Board may submit to the Panel, or the Panel may require the Board to submit, modifications to the staffing plan based upon revised revenue or expenditure estimates or for any other good reason. The Panel shall approve or reject each modified staffing plan within 60 days of its submission in a manner similar to the provisions of this subsection for the approval or rejection of the initial staffing plan.
    (f) The Panel shall examine the business records and audit the accounts of the Board or require that the Board examine its business records and audit its accounts at such time and in such manner as the Panel may prescribe. The Board shall appoint a certified public accountant annually, approved by the Panel, to audit its financial statements. The audit conducted pursuant to this paragraph shall be in lieu of the audit that the Board is required to undertake pursuant to Section 3-7.
    (g) The Panel shall initiate and direct financial management assessments and similar analyses of the operations of the Board as may, in the judgment of the Panel, assure sound and efficient financial management of the Board. Upon the completion of these assessments, the Panel shall give directives to the Board regarding improvements and changes that derive from these assessments, which the Board shall implement. In conjunction with its budgetary submission to the Panel for each fiscal year, the Board shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Panel that the directives of the Panel have been implemented in whole or in part or, in the alternative, are not capable of being implemented. In consideration of whether to approve or reject the budget for a fiscal year, the Panel shall adjudge whether the Board has fully considered and responsibly proposed implementation of the Panel's directives.
    (h) The Panel shall initiate and direct a management audit of the Board at least once every 2 years. The audit shall review the personnel, organization, contracts, leases, and physical properties of the Board to determine whether the Board is managing and utilizing its resources in an economical and efficient manner. The audit shall determine the causes of any inefficiencies or uneconomical practices, including inadequacies in internal and administrative procedures, organizational structure, uses of resources, utilization of real property, allocation of personnel, purchasing policies, and equipment.
    (i) In the event that the Board refuses or fails to follow a directive of the Panel to issue notices of non-renewal of contracts, to issue notices of reduction in force to employees, to issue requests for bids or proposals, or to obtain financial or other information that the Panel finds necessary for the implementation of its responsibilities under this Article, the Panel may take such action in the name of the district, and such action shall be binding the same as if the action had been taken by the Board. The powers established by this paragraph do not authorize the Panel to enter into contracts in the name of the Board.
    (j) The Panel shall meet with the Board or its designees in closed session prior to the Board commencing any collective bargaining negotiations to discuss the financial issues relevant to the bargaining and for the purpose of the Panel approving the budget limitations for the potential collective bargaining agreement. The Board shall not make or consider any proposal which does not comply with the collective bargaining budget approved by the Panel. The Board shall keep the Panel apprised as to the status of the bargaining. The Board shall present any proposed change in the approved collective bargaining budget to the Panel in closed session for approval. Prior to the Board taking a final vote on any tentative agreement approved by the employee organization, the Board shall discuss the tentative agreement with the Panel in closed session. Upon final approval of a collective bargaining agreement by both the Board and the employee organization, the Board shall submit the final collective bargaining agreement to the Panel for approval. At the same time that the Board submits the final agreement to the Panel, the Board shall notify the employee organization that the final agreement has been submitted and the date of the Panel meeting at which the final agreement will be considered. The employee organization shall be provided an opportunity to discuss the final agreement with the Panel prior to the Panel taking action on the agreement. No collective bargaining agreement shall be binding upon the district unless the Board has followed the requirements of this paragraph and the final agreement has been approved by the Panel.
    (k) The budget of the Panel or any revisions to the budget, including any costs to the Panel associated with the appointment of an Inspector General, shall be approved by the State Superintendent upon request of the Panel and after opportunity for response by the Board.
(Source: P.A. 89-572, eff. 7-30-96.)

105 ILCS 5/1B-25

    (105 ILCS 5/1B-25)
    Sec. 1B-25. Establishment prohibited. No school district may have a Financial Oversight Panel established pursuant to this Article after Article 1H of this Code is established.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 1C

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 1C heading)
ARTICLE 1C. BLOCK GRANTS

105 ILCS 5/1C-1

    (105 ILCS 5/1C-1)
    Sec. 1C-1. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to permit greater flexibility and efficiency in the distribution and use of certain State funds available to local education agencies for the improvement of the quality of educational services pursuant to locally established priorities.
    Through fiscal year 2017, this Article does not apply to school districts having a population in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/1C-2

    (105 ILCS 5/1C-2)
    Sec. 1C-2. Block grants.
    (a) For fiscal year 1999, and each fiscal year thereafter through fiscal year 2026, the State Board of Education shall award to school districts block grants as described in subsection (c). The State Board of Education may adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement this Section. In accordance with Section 2-3.32, all state block grants are subject to an audit. Therefore, block grant receipts and block grant expenditures shall be recorded to the appropriate fund code.
    (b) (Blank).
    (c) An Early Childhood Education Block Grant shall be created by combining the following programs: Preschool Education, Parental Training and Prevention Initiative. These funds shall be distributed to school districts and other entities on a competitive basis, except that the State Board of Education shall award to a school district having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants 37% of the funds in each fiscal year. Not less than 14% of the Early Childhood Education Block Grant allocation of funds shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2016, at least 25% of any additional Early Childhood Education Block Grant funding over and above the previous fiscal year's allocation shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. Once the percentage of Early Childhood Education Block Grant funding allocated to programs for children ages 0-3 reaches 20% of the overall Early Childhood Education Block Grant allocation for a full fiscal year, thereafter in subsequent fiscal years the percentage of Early Childhood Education Block Grant funding allocated to programs for children ages 0-3 each fiscal year shall remain at least 20% of the overall Early Childhood Education Block Grant allocation. However, if, in a given fiscal year, the amount appropriated for the Early Childhood Education Block Grant is insufficient to increase the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 without reducing the amount of the grant for existing providers of preschool education programs, then the percentage of the grant to fund programs for children ages 0-3 may be held steady instead of increased. This subsection (c) is inoperative on and after July 1, 2026.
(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

105 ILCS 5/1C-3

    (105 ILCS 5/1C-3)
    Sec. 1C-3. Application. Block grants shall be available, pursuant to appropriation, upon applications made pursuant to school improvement plans. Block grants shall be made utilizing a per pupil basis to determine entitlement.
(Source: P.A. 88-555, eff. 7-27-94; 89-397, eff. 8-20-95.)

105 ILCS 5/1C-4

    (105 ILCS 5/1C-4)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2026)
    Sec. 1C-4. Reports. A school district that receives an Early Childhood Education Block Grant shall report to the State Board of Education on its use of the block grant in such form and detail as the State Board of Education may specify. In addition, the report must include the following description for the district, which must also be reported to the General Assembly: block grant allocation and expenditures by program; population and service levels by program; and administrative expenditures by program. The State Board of Education shall ensure that the reporting requirements for a district organized under Article 34 of this Code are the same as for all other school districts in this State.
    This Section is repealed on July 1, 2026.
(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

105 ILCS 5/1C-5

    (105 ILCS 5/1C-5)
    Sec. 1C-5. Rules. The State Board of Education shall adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 88-555, eff. 7-27-94.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 1D

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 1D heading)
ARTICLE 1D. BLOCK GRANTS FOR DISTRICTS
WITH OVER 500,000 INHABITANTS

105 ILCS 5/1D-1

    (105 ILCS 5/1D-1)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 100-55 and 103-594)
    Sec. 1D-1. Block grant funding.
    (a) For fiscal year 1996 and each fiscal year thereafter, the State Board of Education shall award to a school district having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants a general education block grant and an educational services block grant, determined as provided in this Section, in lieu of distributing to the district separate State funding for the programs described in subsections (b) and (c). The provisions of this Section, however, do not apply to any federal funds that the district is entitled to receive. In accordance with Section 2-3.32, all block grants are subject to an audit. Therefore, block grant receipts and block grant expenditures shall be recorded to the appropriate fund code for the designated block grant.
    (b) The general education block grant shall include the following programs: REI Initiative, Summer Bridges, K-6 Comprehensive Arts, School Improvement Support, Urban Education, Scientific Literacy, Substance Abuse Prevention, Second Language Planning, Staff Development, Outcomes and Assessment, K-6 Reading Improvement, 7-12 Continued Reading Improvement, Truants' Optional Education, Hispanic Programs, Agriculture Education, Report Cards, and Criminal Background Investigations. The general education block grant shall also include Preschool Education, Parental Training, and Prevention Initiative through June 30, 2026. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all amounts paid under the general education block grant from State appropriations to a school district in a city having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants shall be appropriated and expended by the board of that district for any of the programs included in the block grant or any of the board's lawful purposes. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2018, at least 25% of any additional Preschool Education, Parental Training, and Prevention Initiative program funding over and above the previous fiscal year's allocation shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2018, funding for Preschool Education, Parental Training, and Prevention Initiative programs above the allocation for these programs in Fiscal Year 2017 must be used solely as a supplement for these programs and may not supplant funds received from other sources.
    (b-5) Beginning in Fiscal Year 2027, the Department of Early Childhood shall award a block grant for Preschool Education, Parental Training, and Prevention Initiative to a school district having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants. The grants are subject to audit. Therefore, block grant receipts and block grant expenditures shall be recorded to the appropriate fund code for the designated block grant. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all amounts paid under the block grant from State appropriations to a school district in a city having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants shall be appropriated and expended by the board of that district for any of the programs included in the block grant or any of the board's lawful purposes. The district is not required to file any application or other claim in order to receive the block grant to which it is entitled under this Section. The Department of Early Childhood shall make payments to the district of amounts due under the district's block grant on a schedule determined by the Department. A school district to which this Section applies shall report to the Department of Early Childhood on its use of the block grant in such form and detail as the Department may specify. In addition, the report must include the following description for the district, which must also be reported to the General Assembly: block grant allocation and expenditures by program; population and service levels by program; and administrative expenditures by program. The Department shall ensure that the reporting requirements for the district are the same as for all other school districts in this State. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2018, at least 25% of any additional Preschool Education, Parental Training, and Prevention Initiative program funding over and above the previous fiscal year's allocation shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2018, funding for Preschool Education, Parental Training, and Prevention Initiative programs above the allocation for these programs in Fiscal Year 2017 must be used solely as a supplement for these programs and may not supplant funds received from other sources.
    (c) The educational services block grant shall include the following programs: Regular and Vocational Transportation, State Lunch and Free Breakfast Program, Special Education (Personnel, Transportation, Orphanage, Private Tuition), funding for children requiring special education services, Summer School, Educational Service Centers, and Administrator's Academy. This subsection (c) does not relieve the district of its obligation to provide the services required under a program that is included within the educational services block grant. It is the intention of the General Assembly in enacting the provisions of this subsection (c) to relieve the district of the administrative burdens that impede efficiency and accompany single-program funding. The General Assembly encourages the board to pursue mandate waivers pursuant to Section 2-3.25g.
    The funding program included in the educational services block grant for funding for children requiring special education services in each fiscal year shall be treated in that fiscal year as a payment to the school district in respect of services provided or costs incurred in the prior fiscal year, calculated in each case as provided in this Section. Nothing in this Section shall change the nature of payments for any program that, apart from this Section, would be or, prior to adoption or amendment of this Section, was on the basis of a payment in a fiscal year in respect of services provided or costs incurred in the prior fiscal year, calculated in each case as provided in this Section.
    (d) For fiscal year 1996 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of the district's block grants shall be determined as follows: (i) with respect to each program that is included within each block grant, the district shall receive an amount equal to the same percentage of the current fiscal year appropriation made for that program as the percentage of the appropriation received by the district from the 1995 fiscal year appropriation made for that program, and (ii) the total amount that is due the district under the block grant shall be the aggregate of the amounts that the district is entitled to receive for the fiscal year with respect to each program that is included within the block grant that the State Board of Education shall award the district under this Section for that fiscal year. In the case of the Summer Bridges program, the amount of the district's block grant shall be equal to 44% of the amount of the current fiscal year appropriation made for that program.
    (e) The district is not required to file any application or other claim in order to receive the block grants to which it is entitled under this Section. The State Board of Education shall make payments to the district of amounts due under the district's block grants on a schedule determined by the State Board of Education.
    (f) A school district to which this Section applies shall report to the State Board of Education on its use of the block grants in such form and detail as the State Board of Education may specify. In addition, the report must include the following description for the district, which must also be reported to the General Assembly: block grant allocation and expenditures by program; population and service levels by program; and administrative expenditures by program. The State Board of Education shall ensure that the reporting requirements for the district are the same as for all other school districts in this State.
    (g) This paragraph provides for the treatment of block grants under Article 1C for purposes of calculating the amount of block grants for a district under this Section. Those block grants under Article 1C are, for this purpose, treated as included in the amount of appropriation for the various programs set forth in paragraph (b) above. The appropriation in each current fiscal year for each block grant under Article 1C shall be treated for these purposes as appropriations for the individual program included in that block grant. The proportion of each block grant so allocated to each such program included in it shall be the proportion which the appropriation for that program was of all appropriations for such purposes now in that block grant, in fiscal 1995.
    Payments to the school district under this Section with respect to each program for which payments to school districts generally, as of the date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, are on a reimbursement basis shall continue to be made to the district on a reimbursement basis, pursuant to the provisions of this Code governing those programs.
    (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any school district receiving a block grant under this Section may classify all or a portion of the funds that it receives in a particular fiscal year from any block grant authorized under this Code or from general State aid pursuant to Section 18-8.05 of this Code (other than supplemental general State aid) as funds received in connection with any funding program for which it is entitled to receive funds from the State in that fiscal year (including, without limitation, any funding program referred to in subsection (c) of this Section), regardless of the source or timing of the receipt. The district may not classify more funds as funds received in connection with the funding program than the district is entitled to receive in that fiscal year for that program. Any classification by a district must be made by a resolution of its board of education. The resolution must identify the amount of any block grant or general State aid to be classified under this subsection (h) and must specify the funding program to which the funds are to be treated as received in connection therewith. This resolution is controlling as to the classification of funds referenced therein. A certified copy of the resolution must be sent to the State Superintendent of Education. The resolution shall still take effect even though a copy of the resolution has not been sent to the State Superintendent of Education in a timely manner. No classification under this subsection (h) by a district shall affect the total amount or timing of money the district is entitled to receive under this Code. No classification under this subsection (h) by a district shall in any way relieve the district from or affect any requirements that otherwise would apply with respect to the block grant as provided in this Section, including any accounting of funds by source, reporting expenditures by original source and purpose, reporting requirements, or requirements of provision of services.
(Source: P.A. 100-55, eff. 8-11-17; 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 100-465 and 103-594)
    Sec. 1D-1. Block grant funding.
    (a) For fiscal year 1996 through fiscal year 2017, the State Board of Education shall award to a school district having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants a general education block grant and an educational services block grant, determined as provided in this Section, in lieu of distributing to the district separate State funding for the programs described in subsections (b) and (c). The provisions of this Section, however, do not apply to any federal funds that the district is entitled to receive. In accordance with Section 2-3.32, all block grants are subject to an audit. Therefore, block grant receipts and block grant expenditures shall be recorded to the appropriate fund code for the designated block grant.
    (b) The general education block grant shall include the following programs: REI Initiative, Summer Bridges, Preschool At Risk, K-6 Comprehensive Arts, School Improvement Support, Urban Education, Scientific Literacy, Substance Abuse Prevention, Second Language Planning, Staff Development, Outcomes and Assessment, K-6 Reading Improvement, 7-12 Continued Reading Improvement, Truants' Optional Education, Hispanic Programs, Agriculture Education, Report Cards, and Criminal Background Investigations. The general education block grant shall also include Preschool Education, Parental Training, and Prevention Initiative through June 30, 2026. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all amounts paid under the general education block grant from State appropriations to a school district in a city having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants shall be appropriated and expended by the board of that district for any of the programs included in the block grant or any of the board's lawful purposes.
    (b-5) Beginning in Fiscal Year 2027, the Department of Early Childhood shall award a block grant for Preschool Education, Parental Training, and Prevention Initiative to a school district having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants. The grants are subject to audit. Therefore, block grant receipts and block grant expenditures shall be recorded to the appropriate fund code for the designated block grant. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all amounts paid under the block grant from State appropriations to a school district in a city having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants shall be appropriated and expended by the board of that district for any of the programs included in the block grant or any of the board's lawful purposes. The district is not required to file any application or other claim in order to receive the block grant to which it is entitled under this Section. The Department of Early Childhood shall make payments to the district of amounts due under the district's block grant on a schedule determined by the Department. A school district to which this Section applies shall report to the Department of Early Childhood on its use of the block grant in such form and detail as the Department may specify. In addition, the report must include the following description for the district, which must also be reported to the General Assembly: block grant allocation and expenditures by program; population and service levels by program; and administrative expenditures by program. The Department shall ensure that the reporting requirements for the district are the same as for all other school districts in this State. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2018, at least 25% of any additional Preschool Education, Parental Training, and Prevention Initiative program funding over and above the previous fiscal year's allocation shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2018, funding for Preschool Education, Parental Training, and Prevention Initiative programs above the allocation for these programs in Fiscal Year 2017 must be used solely as a supplement for these programs and may not supplant funds received from other sources. (b-10).
    (c) The educational services block grant shall include the following programs: Regular and Vocational Transportation, State Lunch and Free Breakfast Program, Special Education (Personnel, Transportation, Orphanage, Private Tuition), funding for children requiring special education services, Summer School, Educational Service Centers, and Administrator's Academy. This subsection (c) does not relieve the district of its obligation to provide the services required under a program that is included within the educational services block grant. It is the intention of the General Assembly in enacting the provisions of this subsection (c) to relieve the district of the administrative burdens that impede efficiency and accompany single-program funding. The General Assembly encourages the board to pursue mandate waivers pursuant to Section 2-3.25g.
    The funding program included in the educational services block grant for funding for children requiring special education services in each fiscal year shall be treated in that fiscal year as a payment to the school district in respect of services provided or costs incurred in the prior fiscal year, calculated in each case as provided in this Section. Nothing in this Section shall change the nature of payments for any program that, apart from this Section, would be or, prior to adoption or amendment of this Section, was on the basis of a payment in a fiscal year in respect of services provided or costs incurred in the prior fiscal year, calculated in each case as provided in this Section.
    (d) For fiscal year 1996 through fiscal year 2017, the amount of the district's block grants shall be determined as follows: (i) with respect to each program that is included within each block grant, the district shall receive an amount equal to the same percentage of the current fiscal year appropriation made for that program as the percentage of the appropriation received by the district from the 1995 fiscal year appropriation made for that program, and (ii) the total amount that is due the district under the block grant shall be the aggregate of the amounts that the district is entitled to receive for the fiscal year with respect to each program that is included within the block grant that the State Board of Education shall award the district under this Section for that fiscal year. In the case of the Summer Bridges program, the amount of the district's block grant shall be equal to 44% of the amount of the current fiscal year appropriation made for that program.
    (e) The district is not required to file any application or other claim in order to receive the block grants to which it is entitled under this Section. The State Board of Education shall make payments to the district of amounts due under the district's block grants on a schedule determined by the State Board of Education.
    (f) A school district to which this Section applies shall report to the State Board of Education on its use of the block grants in such form and detail as the State Board of Education may specify. In addition, the report must include the following description for the district, which must also be reported to the General Assembly: block grant allocation and expenditures by program; population and service levels by program; and administrative expenditures by program. The State Board of Education shall ensure that the reporting requirements for the district are the same as for all other school districts in this State.
    (g) Through fiscal year 2017, this paragraph provides for the treatment of block grants under Article 1C for purposes of calculating the amount of block grants for a district under this Section. Those block grants under Article 1C are, for this purpose, treated as included in the amount of appropriation for the various programs set forth in paragraph (b) above. The appropriation in each current fiscal year for each block grant under Article 1C shall be treated for these purposes as appropriations for the individual program included in that block grant. The proportion of each block grant so allocated to each such program included in it shall be the proportion which the appropriation for that program was of all appropriations for such purposes now in that block grant, in fiscal 1995.
    Payments to the school district under this Section with respect to each program for which payments to school districts generally, as of the date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, are on a reimbursement basis shall continue to be made to the district on a reimbursement basis, pursuant to the provisions of this Code governing those programs.
    (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any school district receiving a block grant under this Section may classify all or a portion of the funds that it receives in a particular fiscal year from any block grant authorized under this Code or from general State aid pursuant to Section 18-8.05 of this Code (other than supplemental general State aid) as funds received in connection with any funding program for which it is entitled to receive funds from the State in that fiscal year (including, without limitation, any funding program referred to in subsection (c) of this Section), regardless of the source or timing of the receipt. The district may not classify more funds as funds received in connection with the funding program than the district is entitled to receive in that fiscal year for that program. Any classification by a district must be made by a resolution of its board of education. The resolution must identify the amount of any block grant or general State aid to be classified under this subsection (h) and must specify the funding program to which the funds are to be treated as received in connection therewith. This resolution is controlling as to the classification of funds referenced therein. A certified copy of the resolution must be sent to the State Superintendent of Education. The resolution shall still take effect even though a copy of the resolution has not been sent to the State Superintendent of Education in a timely manner. No classification under this subsection (h) by a district shall affect the total amount or timing of money the district is entitled to receive under this Code. No classification under this subsection (h) by a district shall in any way relieve the district from or affect any requirements that otherwise would apply with respect to the block grant as provided in this Section, including any accounting of funds by source, reporting expenditures by original source and purpose, reporting requirements, or requirements of provision of services.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17; 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 1E

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 1E heading)
ARTICLE 1E. DOWNSTATE SCHOOL FINANCE AUTHORITY
(This Article scheduled to be repealed in
accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)

105 ILCS 5/1E-1

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-1)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Downstate School Finance Authority Law.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-5

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-5)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-5. Findings; purpose; intent.
    (a) The General Assembly finds all of the following:
        (1) A fundamental goal of the people of this State,
    
as expressed in Section 1 of Article X of the Illinois Constitution, is the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities. When a board of education faces financial difficulties, continued operation of the public school system is threatened.
        (2) A sound financial structure is essential to the
    
continued operation of any school system. It is vital to commercial, educational, and cultural interests that public schools remain in operation. To achieve that goal, public school systems must have effective access to the private market to borrow short and long term funds.
        (3) To promote the financial integrity of districts,
    
as defined in this Article, it is necessary to provide for the creation of school finance authorities with the powers necessary to promote sound financial management and to ensure the continued operation of the public schools.
    (b) It is the purpose of this Article to provide a secure financial basis for the continued operation of public schools. The intention of the General Assembly, in creating this Article, is to establish procedures, provide powers, and impose restrictions to ensure the financial and educational integrity of the public schools, while leaving principal responsibility for the educational policies of public schools to the boards of education within the State, consistent with the requirements for satisfying the public policy and purpose set forth in this Article.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-10

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-10)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-10. Definitions. As used in this Article:
    "Authority" means a School Finance Authority created under this Article.
    "Bonds" means bonds authorized to be issued by the Authority under Section 1E-65 of this Code.
    "Budget" means the annual budget of the district required under Section 17-1 of this Code, as in effect from time to time.
    "Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Authority.
    "District" means any school district having a population of not more than 500,000 that prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly has had a Financial Oversight Panel established for the district under Section 1B-4 of this Code following the district's petitioning of the State Board of Education for the creation of the Financial Oversight Panel and for which the Financial Oversight Panel has been in existence for at least one year.
    "Financial plan" means the financial plan of the district to be developed pursuant to this Article, as in effect from time to time.
    "Fiscal year" means the fiscal year of the district.
    "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
    "State Superintendent" means the State Superintendent of Education.
    "Obligations" means bonds and notes of the Authority.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-15

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-15)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-15. Establishment of Authority; duties of district.
    (a) A Financial Oversight Panel created under Article 1B of this Code for a district may petition the State Board for the establishment of a School Finance Authority for the district. The petition shall cite the reasons why the creation of a School Finance Authority for the district is necessary. The State Board may grant the petition upon determining that the approval of the petition is in the best educational and financial interests of the district.
    (b) Upon approval of the petition by the State Board all of the following shall occur:
        (1) There is established a body both corporate and
    
politic to be known as the "(Name of School District) School Finance Authority", which in this name shall exercise all authority vested in an Authority by this Article.
        (2) The Financial Oversight Panel is abolished, and
    
all of its rights, property, assets, contracts, and liabilities shall pass to and be vested in the Authority.
        (3) The duties and obligations of the district under
    
Article 1B of this Code shall be transferred and become duties and obligations owed by the district to the School Finance Authority.
    (c) In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Article and the provisions of Article 1B of this Code, the provisions of this Article control.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-20

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-20)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-20. Members of Authority; meetings.
    (a) When a petition for a School Finance Authority is allowed by the State Board under Section 1E-15 of this Code, the State Superintendent shall within 10 days thereafter appoint 5 members to serve on a School Finance Authority for the district. Of the initial members, 2 shall be appointed to serve a term of 2 years and 3 shall be appointed to serve a term of 3 years. Thereafter, each member shall serve for a term of 3 years and until his or her successor has been appointed. The State Superintendent shall designate one of the members of the Authority to serve as its Chairperson. In the event of vacancy or resignation, the State Superintendent shall, within 10 days after receiving notice, appoint a successor to serve out that member's term. The State Superintendent may remove a member for incompetence, malfeasance, neglect of duty, or other just cause.
    Members of the Authority shall be selected primarily on the basis of their experience and education in financial management, with consideration given to persons knowledgeable in education finance. Two members of the Authority shall be residents of the school district that the Authority serves. A member of the Authority may not be a member of the district's school board or an employee of the district nor may a member have a direct financial interest in the district.
    Authority members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed by the State Board for travel and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. Unless paid from bonds issued under Section 1E-65 of this Code, the amount reimbursed members for their expenses shall be charged to the school district as part of any emergency financial assistance and incorporated as a part of the terms and conditions for repayment of the assistance or shall be deducted from the district's general State aid or evidence-based funding as provided in Section 1B-8 of this Code.
    The Authority may elect such officers as it deems appropriate.
    (b) The first meeting of the Authority shall be held at the call of the Chairperson. The Authority shall prescribe the times and places for its meetings and the manner in which regular and special meetings may be called and shall comply with the Open Meetings Act.
    Three members of the Authority shall constitute a quorum. When a vote is taken upon any measure before the Authority, a quorum being present, a majority of the votes of the members voting on the measure shall determine the outcome.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-25

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-25)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-25. General powers. The purposes of the Authority shall be to exercise financial control over the district and to furnish financial assistance so that the district can provide public education within the district's jurisdiction while permitting the district to meet its obligations to its creditors and the holders of its debt. Except as expressly limited by this Article, the Authority shall have all powers granted to a voluntary or involuntary Financial Oversight Panel and to a Financial Administrator under Article 1B of this Code and all other powers necessary to meet its responsibilities and to carry out its purposes and the purposes of this Article, including without limitation all of the following powers, provided that the Authority shall have no power to violate any statutory provision, to impair any contract or obligation of the district, or to terminate any employee without following the statutory procedures for such terminations set forth in this Code:
        (1) To sue and to be sued.
        (2) To make and execute contracts, leases, subleases
    
and all other instruments or agreements necessary or convenient for the exercise of the powers and functions granted by this Article.
        (3) To purchase real or personal property necessary
    
or convenient for its purposes; to execute and deliver deeds for real property held in its own name; and to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of such of its property as, in the judgment of the Authority, is no longer necessary for its purposes.
        (4) To appoint officers, agents, and employees of the
    
Authority, including a chief executive officer, a chief fiscal officer, and a chief educational officer to administer and manage, under the direction of the Authority, the operations and educational programs of the district, in accordance with this Article and all other provisions of this Code; to define their duties and qualifications; and to fix their compensation and employee benefits.
        (5) To transfer to the district such sums of money as
    
are not required for other purposes.
        (6) To borrow money and to issue obligations pursuant
    
to this Article; to fund, refund, or advance refund the same; to provide for the rights of the holders of its obligations; and to repay any advances.
        (7) Subject to the provisions of any contract with or
    
for the benefit of the holders of its obligations, to purchase or redeem its obligations.
        (8) To procure all necessary goods and services for
    
the Authority in compliance with the purchasing laws and requirements applicable to the district.
        (8.5) To take action on behalf of the district as
    
the Authority deems necessary and in accordance with this Article and all other provisions of this Code, based on the recommendation of the chief executive officer, chief educational officer, or chief fiscal officer, and the district shall be bound by such action in all respects as if the action had been approved by the district itself.
        (9) To do any and all things necessary or convenient
    
to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers given to it by this Article.
(Source: P.A. 94-234, eff. 7-14-05.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-30

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-30)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-30. Chief executive officer. The Authority may appoint a chief executive officer who, under the direction of the Authority, shall supervise the Authority's staff, including the chief educational officer and the chief fiscal officer, and shall have ultimate responsibility for implementing the policies, procedures, directives, and decisions of the Authority.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-35

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-35)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-35. Chief educational officer. Upon expiration of the contract of the school district's superintendent who is serving at the time the Authority is established, the Authority shall, following consultation with the district, employ a chief educational officer for the district. The chief educational officer shall report to the Authority or the chief executive officer appointed by the Authority.
    The chief educational officer shall have authority to determine the agenda and order of business at school board meetings, as needed in order to carry forward and implement the objectives and priorities of the Authority in the administration and management of the district.
    The chief educational officer shall have all of the powers and duties of a school district superintendent under this Code and such other duties as may be assigned by the Authority, in accordance with this Code. The district shall not thereafter employ a superintendent during the period that a chief educational officer is serving in the district. The chief educational officer shall hold a Professional Educator License with a superintendent endorsement issued under Article 21B of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-40

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-40)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-40. Chief fiscal officer. The Authority may appoint a chief fiscal officer who, under the direction of the Authority, shall have all of the powers and duties of the district's chief school business official and any other duties regarding budgeting, accounting, and other financial matters that are assigned by the Authority, in accordance with this Code. The district may not employ a chief school business official during the period that the chief fiscal officer is serving in the district. The chief fiscal officer may but is not required to hold an educator license with a chief school business official endorsement issued under Article 21B of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-45

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-45)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-45. Collective bargaining agreements. The Authority shall have the power to negotiate collective bargaining agreements with the district's employees in lieu of and on behalf of the district. Upon concluding bargaining, the district shall execute the agreements negotiated by the Authority, and the district shall be bound by and shall administer the agreements in all respects as if the agreements had been negotiated by the district itself.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-50

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-50)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-50. Deposits and investments.
    (a) The Authority shall have the power to establish checking and whatever other banking accounts it may deem appropriate for conducting its affairs.
    (b) Subject to the provisions of any contract with or for the benefit of the holders of its obligations, the Authority may invest any funds not required for immediate use or disbursement, as provided in the Public Funds Investment Act.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-55

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-55)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-55. Cash accounts and bank accounts.
    (a) The Authority shall require the district or any officer of the district, including the district's treasurer, to establish and maintain separate cash accounts and separate bank accounts in accordance with such rules, standards, and procedures as the Authority may prescribe.
    (b) The Authority shall have the power to assume exclusive administration of the cash accounts and bank accounts of the district, to establish and maintain whatever new cash accounts and bank accounts it may deem appropriate, and to withdraw funds from these accounts for the lawful expenditures of the district.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-60

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-60)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-60. Financial, management, and budgetary structure. Upon direction of the Authority, the district shall reorganize the financial accounts, management, and budgetary systems of the district in whatever manner the Authority deems appropriate to achieve greater financial responsibility and to reduce financial inefficiency.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-65

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-65)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-65. Power to issue bonds.
    (a) The Authority may incur indebtedness by the issuance of negotiable full faith and credit general obligation bonds of the Authority in an outstanding amount not to exceed at any time, including existing indebtedness, 13.8% of the district's most recent equalized assessed valuation, excluding Bonds of the Authority that have been refunded, for (i) the purpose of providing the district with moneys for ordinary and necessary expenditures and other operational needs of the district; (ii) payment or refunding of outstanding debt obligations or tax anticipation warrants of the district, the proceeds of which were used to provide financing for the district; (iii) payment of fees for arrangements as provided in subsection (b) of Section 1E-70 of this Code; (iv) payment of interest on Bonds; (v) establishment of reserves to secure Bonds; (vi) the payment of costs of issuance of Bonds; (vii) payment of principal of or interest or redemption premium on any Bonds or notes of the Authority; and (viii) all other expenditures of the Authority incidental to and necessary or convenient for carrying out its corporate purposes and powers.
    (b) The Authority may from time to time (i) issue Bonds to refund any outstanding Bonds or notes of the Authority, whether the Bonds or notes to be refunded have or have not matured or become redeemable, and (ii) issue Bonds partly to refund Bonds or notes then outstanding and partly for any other purpose set forth in this Section.
    (c) Bonds issued in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section are not subject to any other statutory limitation as to debt, including without limitation that established by the Local Government Debt Limitation Act, and may be issued without referendum.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-70

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-70)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-70. Terms of bonds.
    (a) Whenever the Authority desires or is required to issue Bonds as provided in this Article, it shall adopt a resolution designating the amount of the Bonds to be issued, the purposes for which the proceeds of the Bonds are to be used, and the manner in which the proceeds shall be held pending the application thereof. The Bonds shall be issued in the corporate name of the Authority and shall bear such date or dates and shall mature at such time or times, not exceeding 20 years from their date, as the resolution may provide. The Bonds may be issued as serial bonds payable in installments, as term bonds with sinking fund installments, or as a combination of these as the Authority may determine in the resolution. The Bonds shall be in such denominations as the Authority may determine. The Bonds shall be in such form, carry such registration privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption at such redemption prices, including premium, as the resolution may provide. The Bonds shall be sold by the Authority at public or private sale, as determined by the Authority.
    (b) In connection with the issuance of its Bonds, the Authority may enter into arrangements to provide additional security and liquidity for the Bonds. These may include without limitation municipal bond insurance, letters of credit, lines of credit by which the Authority may borrow funds to pay or redeem its Bonds, and purchase or remarketing arrangements for ensuring the ability of owners of the Authority's Bonds to sell their Bonds or to have their Bonds redeemed. The Authority may enter into contracts and may agree to pay fees to persons providing the arrangements, including from Bond proceeds, but only under circumstances in which the total interest paid or to be paid on the Bonds, together with the fees for the arrangements (being treated as if interest), would not, taken together, cause the Bonds to bear interest, calculated to their absolute maturity, at a rate in excess of the maximum rate allowed by law.
    The resolution of the Authority authorizing the issuance of its Bonds may provide that interest rates may vary from time to time depending upon criteria established by the Authority, which may include without limitation a variation in interest rates as may be necessary to cause the Bonds to be remarketable from time to time at a price equal to their principal amount, and may provide for appointment of a national banking association, bank, trust company, investment banker, or other financial institution to serve as a remarketing agent in that connection. The resolution of the Authority authorizing the issuance of its Bonds may provide that alternative interest rates or provisions shall apply during such times as the Bonds are held by a person providing a letter of credit or other credit enhancement arrangement for those Bonds.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-75

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-75)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-75. Tax levy.
    (a) Before or at the time of issuing any Bonds, the Authority shall provide by resolution for the levy and collection of a direct annual tax upon all the taxable property located within the district without limit as to rate or amount sufficient to pay and discharge the principal thereof at maturity or on sinking fund installment dates and to pay the interest thereon as it falls due. The taxes as levied shall also include additional amounts to the extent that the collections in the prior years were insufficient to pay and discharge the principal thereof at maturity, sinking fund installments, if any, and interest thereon as it fell due, and the amount so collected shall be placed in the debt service reserve fund. The tax shall be in addition to and exclusive of the maximum of all taxes that the Authority or the district is authorized by law to levy for any and all school purposes. The resolution shall be in force upon its adoption.
    (b) The levy shall be for the sole benefit of the holders of the Bonds, and the holders of the Bonds shall have a security interest in and lien upon all rights, claims, and interests of the Authority arising pursuant to the levy and all present and future proceeds of the levy until the principal of and sinking fund installments and interest on the Bonds are paid in full. All proceeds from the levy shall be deposited by each county collector directly in the debt service fund established pursuant to Section 1E-80 of this Code, shall be applied solely for the payment of principal of and sinking fund installments and interest on the Bonds, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
    (c) Upon the filing in the office of the county clerk of each county where the school district is located of a duly certified copy of the resolution, it shall be the duty of each county clerk to extend the tax provided for in the resolution, including an amount determined by the Authority to cover loss and cost of collection and also deferred collections and abatements in the amount of the taxes as extended on the collectors' books. The tax shall be separate and apart from all other taxes of the Authority or the district and shall be separately identified by the collectors.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-80

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-80)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-80. Debt service fund. The Authority shall establish a debt service fund for the Bonds to be maintained by a paying agent, escrow agent, depository, or corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having the power of a trust company within this State, separate and segregated from all other funds and accounts of the Authority and the district. All moneys on deposit in the debt service fund shall be held in trust in the debt service fund for the benefit of the holders of the Bonds, shall be applied solely for the payment of the principal of and sinking fund installment, redemption premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds, and shall not be used for any other purpose. The holders of the Bonds shall have a security interest in and lien upon all such moneys.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-85

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-85)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-85. Debt service reserve fund.
    (a) The Authority may create and establish a debt service reserve fund to be maintained by a paying agent, escrow agent, depository, or corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having the power of a trust company within the State, separate and segregated from all other funds and accounts of the Authority. The Authority may pay the following into the debt service reserve fund:
        (1) any proceeds from the sale of Bonds to the extent
    
provided in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the Bonds; and
        (2) any other moneys that may be available to the
    
Authority for the purpose of the fund.
    (b) The amount to be accumulated in the debt service reserve fund shall be determined by the Authority but shall not exceed the maximum amount of interest, principal, and sinking fund installments due in any succeeding calendar year.
    (c) All moneys on deposit in the debt service reserve fund shall be held in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Bonds, shall be applied solely for the payment of principal of and sinking fund installments and interest on the Bonds to the extent not paid from the debt service fund, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
    (d) Any moneys in the debt service reserve fund in excess of the amount determined by the Authority pursuant to a resolution authorizing the issuance of Bonds may be withdrawn by the Authority and used for any of its lawful purposes.
    (e) In computing the amount of the debt service reserve fund, investments shall be valued as the Authority provides in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the Bonds.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-90

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-90)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-90. Bond anticipation notes.
    (a) After the issuance of Bonds has been authorized, the Authority shall have power to issue from time to time, pursuant to a resolution or resolutions of the Authority, negotiable bond anticipation notes of the Authority in anticipation of the issuance of Bonds.
    (b) Bond anticipation notes shall mature not later than 2 years after the date of issuance, may be made redeemable prior to their maturity, and may be sold in such manner, in such denominations, and at such price or prices and shall bear interest at such rate or rates not to exceed the maximum annual rate authorized by law, as a resolution authorizing the issuance of the bond anticipation notes may provide.
    (c) The bond anticipation notes may be made payable as to both principal and interest from the proceeds of the Bonds. The Authority may provide for payment of interest on the bond anticipation notes from direct annual taxes upon all the taxable property located within the district that are authorized to be levied annually for that purpose without limit as to rate or amount sufficient to pay the interest as it falls due, in the manner, subject to the security interest and lien, and with the effect provided in Section 1E-75 of this Code.
    (d) The Authority is authorized to issue renewal notes in the event it is unable to issue Bonds to pay outstanding bond anticipation notes, on terms the Authority deems reasonable.
    (e) A debt service fund shall be established in the manner provided in Section 1E-80 of this Code by the Authority for the bond anticipation notes, and the proceeds of any tax levy made pursuant to this Section shall be deposited in the fund upon receipt.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-95

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-95)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-95. Vesting powers in trustee or other authorized agent. The resolution authorizing issuance of the Bonds shall vest in a trustee, paying agent, escrow agent, or depository such rights, powers, and duties in trust as the Authority may determine and may contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the holders of the Bonds and limiting such rights and remedies as may be reasonable and proper and not in violation of law, including covenants setting forth the duties of the Authority in relation to the exercise of its corporate powers and the custody, safeguarding, and application of all moneys. The resolution shall provide for the manner in which moneys in the various funds and accounts of the Authority may be invested and the disposition of the earnings on the investments.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-100

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-100)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-100. Discharge of bonds.
    (a) If the Authority pays or causes to be paid to the holders of all Bonds then outstanding the principal, redemption price, if any, and interest to become due on the Bonds, at the times and in the manner stipulated therein and in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the Bonds, then the covenants, agreements, and other obligations of the Authority to the Bondholders shall be discharged and satisfied.
    (b) Bonds or interest installments for the payment or redemption of which moneys have been set aside and held in trust by the trustee or other authorized agent provided for in Section 1E-95 of this Code, through deposit by the Authority of funds for the payment, redemption, or otherwise, at the maturity or redemption date, are deemed to have been paid within the meaning and with the effect expressed in subsection (a) of this Section. All outstanding Bonds of any series, prior to the maturity or redemption date, are deemed to have been paid within the meaning and with the effect expressed in subsection (a) of this Section if (1) there has been deposited with the trustee or other authorized agent either (A) moneys in an amount that is sufficient or (B) direct obligations of the United States of America the principal of and the interest on which, when due, will provide moneys that, together with the moneys, if any, deposited with the trustee or other authorized agent at the same time, are sufficient to pay, when due, the principal, sinking fund installment, or redemption price, if applicable, of and interest due and to become due on the Bonds on and prior to the redemption date, sinking fund installment date, or maturity date, as the case may be, and (2) the Authority has given the trustee or other authorized agent, in form satisfactory to it, irrevocable instructions to give notice to the effect and in accordance with the procedures provided in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the Bonds. Neither direct obligations of the United States of America, moneys deposited with the trustee or other authorized agent, or principal or interest payments on the securities shall be withdrawn or used for any purpose other than, and shall be held in trust for, the payment of the principal or redemption price, if applicable, and interest on the Bonds.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-105

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-105)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-105. Pledge of the State. The State of Illinois pledges to and agrees with the holders of Bonds that the State will not limit or alter the rights and powers vested in the Authority by this Article with respect to the issuance of obligations so as to impair the terms of any contract made by the Authority with these holders or in any way impair the rights and remedies of these holders until the Bonds, together with interest on the Bonds, interest on any unpaid installments of interest, and all costs and expenses in connection with any action or proceedings by or on behalf of these holders, are fully met and discharged or provisions made for their payment. The Authority is authorized to include this pledge and agreement of the State in any resolution or contract with the holders of Bonds.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-110

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-110)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-110. Statutory lien. Any pledge, assignment, lien, or security interest for the benefit of the holders of Bonds or bond anticipation notes, if any, created pursuant to this Article are valid and binding from the time the Bonds are issued, without any physical delivery or further act, and are valid and binding as against and prior to any claims of all other parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the State, the Authority, the district, or any other person, irrespective of whether the other parties have notice.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-115

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-115)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-115. State or district not liable on obligations. Obligations shall not be deemed to constitute (i) a debt or liability of the State, the district, or any political subdivision of the State or district other than the Authority or (ii) a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State, the district, or any political subdivision of the State or district other than the Authority but shall be payable solely from the funds and revenues provided for in this Article. The issuance of obligations shall not directly, indirectly, or contingently obligate the State, the district, or any political subdivision of the State or district other than the Authority to levy any form of taxation therefor or to make any appropriation for their payment. Nothing in this Section shall prevent or be construed to prevent the Authority from pledging its full faith and credit to the payment of obligations. Nothing in this Article shall be construed to authorize the Authority to create a debt of the State or the district within the meaning of the Constitution or laws of Illinois, and all obligations issued by the Authority pursuant to the provisions of this Article are payable and shall state that they are payable solely from the funds and revenues pledged for their payment in accordance with the resolution authorizing their issuance or any trust indenture executed as security therefor. The State or the district shall not in any event be liable for the payment of the principal of or interest on any obligations of the Authority or for the performance of any pledge, obligation, or agreement of any kind whatsoever that may be undertaken by the Authority. No breach of any such pledge, obligation, or agreement may impose any liability upon the State or the district or any charge upon their general credit or against their taxing power.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-120

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-120)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-120. Obligations as legal investments. The obligations issued under the provisions of this Article are hereby made securities in which all public officers and bodies of this State, all political subdivisions of this State, all persons carrying on an insurance business, all banks, bankers, trust companies, saving banks, and savings associations (including savings and loan associations, building and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business), and all credit unions, pension funds, administrators, and guardians who are or may be authorized to invest in bonds or in other obligations of the State may properly and legally invest funds, including capital, in their control or belonging to them. The obligations are also hereby made securities that may be deposited with and may be received by all public officers and bodies of the State, all political subdivisions of the State, and public corporations for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of the State is authorized.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-125

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-125)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-125. Complete authority. This Article, without reference to any other law, shall be deemed full and complete authority for the issuance of Bonds and bond anticipation notes as provided in this Article.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-130

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-130)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-130. Reports.
    (a) The Authority, upon taking office and annually thereafter, shall prepare and submit to the Governor, General Assembly, and State Superintendent a report that includes the audited financial statement for the preceding fiscal year, an approved financial plan, and a statement of the major steps necessary to accomplish the objectives of the financial plan.
    (b) Annual reports shall be submitted on or before March 1 of each year.
    (c) The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act and by filing additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as required under subdivision (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-135

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-135)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-135. Audit of Authority. The Authority shall be subject to audit in the manner provided for the audit of State funds and accounts. A copy of the audit report shall be submitted to the State Superintendent, the Governor, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and the President and Minority Leader of the Senate.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-140

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-140)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-140. Assistance by State agencies, units of local government, and school districts. The district shall render such services to and permit the use of its facilities and resources by the Authority at no charge as may be requested by the Authority. Any State agency, unit of local government, or school district may, within its lawful powers and duties, render such services to the Authority as may be requested by the Authority. Upon request of the Authority, any State agency, unit of local government, or school district is authorized and empowered to loan to the Authority such officers and employees as the Authority may deem necessary in carrying out its functions and duties. Officers and employees so transferred shall not lose or forfeit their employment status or rights.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-145

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-145)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-145. Property of Authority exempt from taxation. The property of the Authority is exempt from taxation.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-150

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-150)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-150. Sanctions.
    (a) No member, officer, employee, or agent of the district may commit the district to any contract or other obligation or incur any liability on behalf of the district for any purpose if the amount of the contract, obligation, or liability is in excess of the amount authorized for that purpose then available under the financial plan and budget then in effect.
    (b) No member, officer, employee, or agent of the district may commit the district to any contract or other obligation on behalf of the district for the payment of money for any purpose required to be approved by the Authority unless the contract or other obligation has been approved by the Authority.
    (c) No member, officer, employee, or agent of the district may take any action in violation of any valid order of the Authority, may fail or refuse to take any action required by any such order, may prepare, present, certify, or report any information, including any projections or estimates, for the Authority or any of its agents that is false or misleading, or, upon learning that any such information is false or misleading, may fail promptly to advise the Authority or its agents.
    (d) In addition to any penalty or liability under any other law, any member, officer, employee, or agent of the district who violates subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this Section is subject to appropriate administrative discipline as may be imposed by the Authority, including, if warranted, suspension from duty without pay, removal from office, or termination of employment.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-155

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-155)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-155. Abolition of Authority. The Authority shall be abolished 10 years after its creation or one year after all its obligations issued under the provisions of this Article have been fully paid and discharged, whichever comes later. However, the State Board, upon recommendation of the Authority and if no obligations are outstanding, may abolish the Authority at any time after the Authority has been in existence for 3 years. Upon the abolition of the Authority, all of its records shall be transferred to the State Board and any property of the Authority shall pass to and be vested in the State Board.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-160

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-160)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with 105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    Sec. 1E-160. Limitations of actions after abolition; indemnification; legal representation.
    (a) Abolition of the Authority pursuant to Section 1E-155 of this Code shall bar any remedy available against the Authority, its members, employees, or agents for any right or claim existing or any liability incurred prior to the abolition unless the action or other proceeding is commenced prior to the expiration of 2 years after the date of the abolition.
    (b) The Authority may indemnify any member, officer, employee, or agent who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she was a member, officer, employee, or agent of the Authority, against expenses (including attorney's fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding) if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Authority and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the Authority and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
    To the extent that a member, officer, employee, or agent of the Authority has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any such action, suit, or proceeding referred to in this subsection (b) or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorney's fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith. Any such indemnification shall be made by the Authority only as authorized in the specific case, upon a determination that indemnification of the member, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct. The determination shall be made (i) by the Authority by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of members who are not parties to the action, suit, or proceeding or (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested members so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
    Reasonable expenses incurred in defending an action, suit, or proceeding shall be paid by the Authority in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, as authorized by the Authority in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the member, officer, employee, or agent to repay the amount, unless it is ultimately determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by the Authority as authorized in this Section.
    Any member, officer, employee, or agent against whom any action, suit, or proceeding is brought may employ his or her own attorney to appear on his or her behalf.
    The right to indemnification accorded by this Section shall not limit any other right to indemnification to which the member, officer, employee, or agent may be entitled. Any rights under this Section shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of any member, officer, employee, or agent of the Authority.
    The Authority may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a member, officer, employee, or agent of the Authority against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Authority would have the power to indemnify him or her against the liability under the provisions of this Section.
    The Authority shall be considered a State agency for purposes of receiving representation by the Attorney General. Members, officers, employees, and agents of the Authority shall be entitled to representation and indemnification under the State Employee Indemnification Act.
(Source: P.A. 92-547, eff. 6-13-02.)

105 ILCS 5/1E-165

    (105 ILCS 5/1E-165)
    (This Section scheduled to be repealed in accordance with this Section)
    Sec. 1E-165. Repeal. When the Authority established pursuant to this Article is abolished pursuant to Section 1E-155, this Article shall be repealed.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 1F

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 1F heading)
ARTICLE 1F. DOWNSTATE SCHOOL FINANCE AUTHORITY
FOR ELEMENTARY DISTRICTS
(Repealed)
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 1G

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 1G heading)
ARTICLE 1G. MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM

105 ILCS 5/1G-1

    (105 ILCS 5/1G-1)
    Sec. 1G-1. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to permit greater flexibility and efficiency in the distribution and use of certain State funds available to local education agencies in order to ensure that students meet or exceed the Illinois Learning Standards in mathematics and science. The State Board of Education shall administer a Mathematics and Science Block Grant Program and award Program funds to eligible recipients upon application. As used in this Section, "school district" shall include those schools designated as "laboratory schools".
(Source: P.A. 93-50, eff. 7-1-03.)

105 ILCS 5/1G-5

    (105 ILCS 5/1G-5)
    Sec. 1G-5. Authorized Uses. Mathematics and Science Block Grant Program funds shall be used in the following manner consistent with application requirements established by the State Board of Education as provided in Section 1G-15 of this Article:
        (1) To expand learning opportunities in grades
    
kindergarten through 8, to ensure that every student meets the Illinois Learning Standards for mathematics, as defined by the learning benchmarks and relevant performance standards for middle and junior high schools, by the end of eighth grade, including standards related to number sense, estimation and measurement, algebra and analytical methods, geometry, data analysis, and probability;
        (2) To expand learning opportunities in grades
    
kindergarten through 8, to ensure that every student meets the Illinois Learning Standards for science, as defined by the learning benchmarks and relevant performance standards for middle and junior high schools, by the end of eighth grade, including standards related to inquiry and design; concepts and principles of science; and science, technology, and society;
        (3) To train and retrain teachers of grades
    
kindergarten through 12 to be more proficient in the teaching of mathematics and science by providing professional development opportunities;
        (4) To improve curriculum, instruction, and
    
assessment relevant to the Illinois Learning Standards for grades kindergarten through 12; and
        (5) To supply classrooms with materials and equipment
    
related to the teaching and learning of mathematics and science.
(Source: P.A. 93-50, eff. 7-1-03.)

105 ILCS 5/1G-10

    (105 ILCS 5/1G-10)
    Sec. 1G-10. Allocation. Mathematics and Science Block Grant Program funds shall be distributed to school districts, subject to appropriation and based upon rules established by the State Board of Education. Distribution of moneys to school districts shall be made in semi-annual installment payments, one payment to be made on or before October 30, and one payment to be made prior to April 30 of each year.
(Source: P.A. 93-50, eff. 7-1-03.)

105 ILCS 5/1G-15

    (105 ILCS 5/1G-15)
    Sec. 1G-15. Application. Mathematics and Science Block Grant Program funds shall be made available to each eligible school district upon completion of an application process that is consistent with rules established by the State Board of Education. The application shall include the planned use of the funds.
(Source: P.A. 93-50, eff. 7-1-03.)

105 ILCS 5/1G-20

    (105 ILCS 5/1G-20)
    Sec. 1G-20. Rules. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 93-50, eff. 7-1-03.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 1H

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 1H heading)
ARTICLE 1H. FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT PANELS
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-1

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-1)
    Sec. 1H-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Financial Oversight Panel Law.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-5

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-5)
    Sec. 1H-5. Findings; purpose; intent.
    (a) The General Assembly finds all of the following:
        (1) A fundamental goal of the people of this State,
    
as expressed in Section 1 of Article X of the Illinois Constitution, is the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities. When a board of education faces financial difficulties, continued operation of the public school system is threatened.
        (2) A sound financial structure is essential to the
    
continued operation of any school system. It is vital to commercial, educational, and cultural interests that public schools remain in operation. To achieve that goal, public school systems must have effective access to the private market to borrow short and long term funds.
        (3) To promote the financial integrity of districts,
    
as defined in this Article, it is necessary to provide for the creation of financial oversight panels with the powers necessary to promote sound financial management and to ensure the continued operation of the public schools.
    (b) It is the purpose of this Article to provide a secure financial basis for the continued operation of public schools. The intention of the General Assembly, in creating this Article, is to establish procedures, provide powers, and impose restrictions to ensure the financial and educational integrity of public school districts, while leaving principal responsibility for the educational policies of public schools to their boards of education, consistent with the requirements for satisfying the public policy and purpose set forth in this Article.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-10

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-10)
    Sec. 1H-10. Definitions. As used in this Article:
    "Budget" means the annual budget of the district required under Section 17-1 of this Code, as in effect from time to time.
    "Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Panel.
    "District" means any school district having a population of not more than 500,000 that has had a Financial Oversight Panel established under this Article.
    "Financial plan" means the financial plan of the district to be developed pursuant to this Article, as in effect from time to time.
    "Fiscal year" means the fiscal year of the district.
    "Obligations" means notes or other short-term debts or liabilities of the Panel.
    "Panel" means a Financial Oversight Panel created under this Article.
    "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
    "State Superintendent" means the State Superintendent of Education.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-15

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-15)
    Sec. 1H-15. Establishment of Financial Oversight Panels; duties of district.
    (a) A school district may petition the State Board for the establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel for the district or the State Board may establish a Panel without a petition from the district. The petition shall cite the reasons why the creation of a Financial Oversight Panel for the district is necessary. In determining whether or not to place a district under a Panel, the State Board shall consider all of the following:
        (1) If a Panel is in the best educational and
    
financial interests of the district.
        (2) If a Panel is in the best interest of other
    
schools in the area and the educational welfare of all the pupils therein.
        (3) Whether the board of education has complied with
    
the requirements of Section 1A-8 of this Code.
    (b) Upon establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel, all of the following shall occur:
        (1) There is established a body both corporate and
    
politic to be known as the "(Name of School District) Financial Oversight Panel", which in this name shall exercise all authority vested in a Panel by this Article.
        (2) The powers and duties of a Financial Oversight
    
Panel established pursuant to this Article shall include the duties and obligations of financial oversight panels established under Article 1B of this Code, in addition to any duties and obligations established under this Article. However, if there is any conflict between the provisions of this Article and the provisions of Article 1B of this Code, the provisions of this Article control.
        (3) The Financial Oversight Panel, the school board,
    
and the district superintendent or chief executive officer shall develop goals and objectives to assist the district in obtaining financial stability. The goals and objectives must be developed as part of the financial plan that the school board is required to develop, adopt, and submit to the Panel in accordance with Section 1B-12 of this Code. The goals and objectives must be formally reviewed at agreed to intervals, but at least one time per year. Review shall include progress made and recommendations and modifications needed to achieve abolition of financial oversight provided for under Section 1H-115 of this Code.
    (c) Any school district having a Financial Oversight Panel established under Article 1B of this Code or any Financial Oversight Panel established under Article 1B may petition the State Board for the establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel under this Article and concurrent dissolution of the Article 1B Panel. All records, papers, books, funds, or other assets or liabilities belonging to the dissolving Financial Oversight Panel shall be transferred to the newly established Financial Oversight Panel.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-20

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-20)
    Sec. 1H-20. Members of Panel; meetings.
    (a) Upon establishment of a Financial Oversight Panel under Section 1H-15 of this Code, the State Superintendent shall within 15 working days thereafter appoint 5 members to serve on a Financial Oversight Panel for the district. Members appointed to the Panel shall serve at the pleasure of the State Superintendent. The State Superintendent shall designate one of the members of the Panel to serve as its Chairperson. In the event of vacancy or resignation, the State Superintendent shall, within 10 days after receiving notice, appoint a successor to serve out that member's term.
    (b) Members of the Panel shall be selected primarily on the basis of their experience and education in financial management, with consideration given to persons knowledgeable in education finance. Two members of the Panel shall be residents of the school district that the Panel serves. A member of the Panel may not be a member of the district's school board or an employee of the district nor may a member have a direct financial interest in the district.
    (c) Panel members may be reimbursed by the State Board for travel and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The amount reimbursed members for their expenses shall be charged to the school district as part of any emergency financial assistance and incorporated as a part of the terms and conditions for repayment of the assistance or shall be deducted from the district's general State aid or evidence-based funding as provided in Section 1H-65 of this Code.
    (d) With the exception of the chairperson, who shall be designated as provided in subsection (a) of this Section, the Panel may elect such officers as it deems appropriate.
    (e) The first meeting of the Panel shall be held at the call of the Chairperson. The Panel shall prescribe the times and places for its meetings and the manner in which regular and special meetings may be called and shall comply with the Open Meetings Act. The Panel shall also comply with the Freedom of Information Act.
    (f) Three members of the Panel shall constitute a quorum. A majority of members present is required to pass a measure.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-25

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-25)
    Sec. 1H-25. General powers.
    (a) The purposes of the Panel shall be to exercise financial control over the district and to furnish financial assistance so that the district can provide public education within the district's jurisdiction while permitting the district to meet its obligations to its creditors and the holders of its debt. Except as expressly limited by this Article, the Panel shall have all powers granted to a voluntary or involuntary Financial Oversight Panel and to a Financial Administrator under Article 1B of this Code and all other powers necessary to meet its responsibilities and to carry out its purposes and the purposes of this Article, including without limitation all of the following powers, provided that the Panel shall have no power to terminate an employee without following the statutory procedures for such terminations set forth in this Code:
        (1) To sue and to be sued.
        (2) To determine at a regular or special meeting that
    
the district has insufficient or inadequate funds or other financial resources with respect to any contract (other than collective bargaining agreements), leases, subleases, and other instruments or agreements applicable to or binding upon the school board, and to make, cancel, modify, or execute contracts (other than collective bargaining agreements), leases, subleases, and all other instruments or agreements necessary, convenient, or otherwise beneficial to the district and consistent with the powers and functions granted by this Article or other applicable law.
        (3) To lease or purchase real or personal property
    
necessary or convenient for its purposes; to execute and deliver deeds for real property held in its own name; and to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of such of its property as, in the judgment of the Panel, is no longer necessary for its purposes.
        (4) To employ officers, agents, and employees of the
    
Panel, to define their duties and qualifications, and to fix their compensation and benefits.
        (5) To transfer to the district such sums of money as
    
are not required for other purposes.
        (6) To borrow money, including without limitation
    
accepting State loans, and to issue obligations pursuant to this Article; to fund, refund, or advance refund the same; to provide for the rights of the holders of its obligations; and to repay any advances.
        (7) To levy all property tax levies that otherwise
    
could be levied by the district if the district fails to certify and return the certificate of tax levy to the county clerk on or before the first Tuesday in November, and to make levies pursuant to Section 1H-65 of this Code.
        (8) Subject to the provisions of any contract with or
    
for the benefit of the holders of its obligations, to purchase or redeem its obligations.
        (9) To procure all necessary goods and services for
    
the Panel in compliance with the purchasing laws and requirements applicable to the district.
        (10) To do any and all things necessary or convenient
    
to carry out its purposes and exercise the powers given to it by this Article.
        (11) To recommend any type of reorganization of the
    
district, in whole or in part, pursuant to Article 7 or 11E of this Code or Section 10-22.22b or 10-22.22c of this Code to the General Assembly if in the Panel's judgment the circumstances so require.
    (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section, the Panel shall have no power to do any of the following:
        (1) Unilaterally cancel or modify any collective
    
bargaining agreement in force upon the date of creation of the Panel.
        (2) Lease, sublease, buy, build, or otherwise acquire
    
any additional school buildings or grounds for or on behalf of the district without prior approval by referendum held pursuant to Section 19-2 or 19-3 of this Code.
        (3) Authorize payments for or incur any debt for any
    
additional school buildings or grounds as specified in subdivision (2) of this subsection (b) without prior approval via referendum pursuant to the provisions of Sections 19-2 through 19-7 of this Code, the provisions of Section 10-22.36 of this Code to the contrary notwithstanding.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-30

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-30)
    Sec. 1H-30. Employees. The Panel may employ individuals under this Section if it is so warranted. These individuals may include any of the following:
        (1) A chief executive officer who shall supervise the
    
Panel's staff, including the chief educational officer and the chief fiscal officer, and shall have ultimate responsibility for implementing the policies, procedures, directives, and decisions of the Panel. The chief executive officer shall have the authority to determine the agenda and order of business at school board meetings, as needed in order to carry forward and implement the objectives and priorities of the school board and Financial Oversight Panel in the administration and management of the district. This individual is not required to hold any license issued under Article 21B of this Code. The chief executive officer shall have the powers and duties as assigned by the Panel in accordance with this Code.
        (2) A chief educational officer, who may be employed
    
by the Panel if there is no superintendent in the district or if the Panel, at a regular or special meeting, finds that cause exists to cancel the contract of the district's superintendent who is serving at the time the Panel is established. Cancellation of an existing superintendent contract may be done only pursuant to the same requirements and in the same manner as the school board may cancel the contract. A chief educational officer employed under this subdivision (2) shall have the powers and duties of a school district superintendent under this Code and such other duties as may be assigned by the Panel in accordance with this Code.
        (3) A chief fiscal officer, who may be employed by
    
the Panel. This individual shall be under the direction of the Panel or the chief executive officer employed by the Panel and shall have all of the powers and duties of the district's chief school business official and any other duties regarding budgeting, accounting, and other financial matters that are assigned by the Panel, in accordance with this Code.
        (4) A superintendent, who shall be under the
    
direction of the Panel or the chief executive officer employed by the Panel and shall have all of the powers and duties of a school district superintendent under this Code assigned by the Panel and such other duties as may be assigned by the Panel in accordance with this Code.
        (5) A chief school business official, who shall have
    
all of the powers and duties of a chief school business official under this Code assigned by the Panel and such other duties as may be assigned by the Panel in accordance with this Code.
    An individual employed by the Panel as a superintendent or a chief school business official under this Section must hold the appropriate license for these positions. Individuals employed by the Panel as a chief executive officer, chief educational officer, or chief fiscal officer under this Section are not required to hold licensure. A chief educational officer under this Section must not be employed by the Panel during a period a superintendent is employed by the district and a chief fiscal officer under this Section must not be employed by the Panel during a period a chief school business official is employed by the district.
    Individuals employed under subdivision (2), (3), (4), or (5) of this Section shall report to the Panel or to the chief executive officer under this Section if there is one.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-35

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-35)
    Sec. 1H-35. School treasurer.
    (a) In Class I county school units and in each district that forms part of a Class II county school unit but that has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of the township in which the district is located and from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer in the Class II county school unit, the Panel may, in its discretion, remove the treasurer appointed or elected by the school board of the district and appoint a new treasurer to succeed the removed treasurer as provided in Section 8-19 of this Code.
    (b) In the case of a district located in a Class II county school unit where such district is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of township trustees and the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer, the Panel may require production of bank reconciliations and other reports or statements as required under Sections 8-6 and 8-13 through 8-15 of this Code.
    (c) All school treasurers appointed or elected pursuant to this Section shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 8-2 through 8-20 and other applicable provisions of the School Code.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-45

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-45)
    Sec. 1H-45. Collective bargaining agreements. In conjunction with the district, the Panel shall have the power to negotiate collective bargaining agreements with the district's employees. Upon union ratification, the district and the Panel shall execute the agreements negotiated by the Panel, and the district shall be bound by and shall administer the agreements in all respects as if the agreements had been negotiated by the district itself.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-50

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-50)
    Sec. 1H-50. Deposits and investments.
    (a) The Panel shall have the power to establish checking and whatever other banking accounts it may deem appropriate for conducting its affairs.
    (b) Subject to the provisions of any contract with or for the benefit of the holders of its obligations, the Panel may invest any funds not required for immediate use or disbursement, as provided in the Public Funds Investment Act.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-55

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-55)
    Sec. 1H-55. Cash accounts and bank accounts.
    (a) The Panel shall require the district or any officer of the district, including the district's treasurer, to establish and maintain separate cash accounts and separate bank accounts in accordance with such rules, standards, and procedures as the Panel may prescribe.
    (b) The Panel shall have the power to assume exclusive administration of the cash accounts and bank accounts of the district, to establish and maintain whatever new cash accounts and bank accounts it may deem appropriate, and to withdraw funds from these accounts for the lawful expenditures of the district.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-60

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-60)
    Sec. 1H-60. Financial, management, and budgetary structure. Upon direction of the Panel, the district shall reorganize the financial accounts, management, and budgetary systems of the district in a manner consistent with rules adopted by the State Board regarding accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, and auditing as the Panel deems appropriate to remedy the conditions that led the Panel to be created and to achieve greater financial responsibility and to reduce financial inefficiency.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-65

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-65)
    Sec. 1H-65. School district emergency financial assistance; grants and loans. The Panel may prepare and file with the State Superintendent a proposal for emergency financial assistance for the school district and for the operations budget of the Panel, in accordance with Section 1B-8 of this Code. A school district may receive both a loan and a grant.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-70

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-70)
    Sec. 1H-70. Tax anticipation warrants, tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation certificates or notes, general State aid or evidence-based funding anticipation certificates, and lines of credit. With the approval of the State Superintendent and provided that the district is unable to secure short-term financing after 3 attempts, a Panel shall have the same power as a district to do the following:
        (1) issue tax anticipation warrants under the
    
provisions of Section 17-16 of this Code against taxes levied by either the school board or the Panel pursuant to Section 1H-25 of this Code;
        (2) issue tax anticipation notes under the provisions
    
of the Tax Anticipation Note Act against taxes levied by either the school board or the Panel pursuant to Section 1H-25 of this Code;
        (3) issue revenue anticipation certificates or notes
    
under the provisions of the Revenue Anticipation Act;
        (4) issue general State aid or evidence-based funding
    
anticipation certificates under the provisions of Section 18-18 of this Code; and
        (5) establish and utilize lines of credit under the
    
provisions of Section 17-17 of this Code.
    Tax anticipation warrants, tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation certificates or notes, general State aid or evidence-based funding anticipation certificates, and lines of credit are considered borrowing from sources other than the State and are subject to Section 1H-65 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-75

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-75)
    Sec. 1H-75. Tax for emergency Financial Oversight Panel financial aid. If the Panel is unable to secure short-term borrowing pursuant to Section 1H-70 of this Code, the Panel:
        (1) based upon an original or amended budget filed by
    
a Financial Oversight Panel and approved by the State Board of Education, may levy a one-time-only tax, in an amount not to exceed 75% of the amount expended by the school district subject to the oversight of the Panel in the immediately preceding year for educational, operations and maintenance, transportation, and municipal retirement purposes; as reflected in the most recently filed annual financial report, and as adjusted by the CPI most recently under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law;
        (2) following approval by the State Board of
    
Education, shall file a certificate of tax levy with the county clerk or clerks with whom the school district must file tax levies, such taxes to be extended against all the property of the school district upon the value of the taxable property within its territory, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue; and
        (3) may issue warrants, or may provide a fund to meet
    
the expenses by issuing and disposing of warrants, drawn against and in anticipation of the tax levied pursuant to this Section, for the payment of the necessary expenses of the district, either for transportation, educational, or all operations and maintenance purposes or for payments to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, as the case may be, to the extent of 75% of the total amount of the tax so levied. The warrants shall show upon their face that they are payable in the numerical order of their issuance solely from such taxes when collected, and shall be received by any collector of taxes in payment of the taxes against which they are issued, and such taxes shall be set apart and held for their payment; every warrant shall bear interest, payable only out of the taxes against which it is drawn, at a rate not exceeding the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, if issued before July 1, 1971 and if issued thereafter at the rate of not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, from the date of its issuance until paid or until notice shall be given by publication in a newspaper or otherwise that the money for its payment is available and that it will be paid on presentation, unless a lower rate of interest is specified therein, in which case the interest shall be computed and paid at the lower rate.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-85

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-85)
    Sec. 1H-85. Obligations as legal investments. The obligations issued under the provisions of this Article are hereby made securities in which all public officers and bodies of this State, all political subdivisions of this State, all persons carrying on an insurance business, all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks, and savings associations (including savings and loan associations, building and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business), and all credit unions, pension funds, administrators, and guardians who are or may be authorized to invest in bonds or in other obligations of the State may properly and legally invest funds, including capital, in their control or belonging to them. The obligations are also hereby made securities that may be deposited with and may be received by all public officers and bodies of the State, all political subdivisions of the State, and public corporations for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of the State is authorized.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-90

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-90)
    Sec. 1H-90. Reports. The Panel, upon taking office and annually thereafter, shall prepare and submit to the State Superintendent a report that includes the audited financial statement for the preceding fiscal year prepared and audited in compliance with the provisions of Sections 3-7 and 3-15.1 of this Code, an approved financial plan, and a statement of the major steps necessary to accomplish the objectives of the financial plan. This report must be submitted annually by March 1 of each year and must detail information from the previous school year. The school board must be allowed to comment on the annual report of the Panel, and the comments of the school board shall be included as an appendix to such annual report of the Panel.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-95

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-95)
    Sec. 1H-95. Audit of Panel. The State Superintendent may require a separate audit of the Panel, otherwise the activities of the Panel must be included in the scope of the audit of the school district. A copy of the audit report covering the Panel must be submitted to the State Superintendent.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-100

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-100)
    Sec. 1H-100. Assistance by State agencies, units of local government, and school districts. The district shall render such services to and permit the use of its facilities and resources by the Panel at no charge as may be requested by the Panel. Any State agency, unit of local government, or school district may, within its lawful powers and duties, render such services to the Panel as may be requested by the Panel. Upon request of the Panel, any State agency, unit of local government, or school district is authorized and empowered to loan to the Panel such officers and employees as the Panel may deem necessary in carrying out its functions and duties. Officers and employees so transferred shall not lose or forfeit their employment status or rights.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-105

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-105)
    Sec. 1H-105. Property of Panel exempt from taxation. The property of the Panel is exempt from taxation.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-110

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-110)
    Sec. 1H-110. Sanctions.
    (a) No member, officer, employee, or agent of the district may commit the district to any contract or other obligation or incur any liability on behalf of the district for any purpose if the amount of the contract, obligation, or liability is in excess of the amount authorized for that purpose then available under the financial plan and budget then in effect.
    (b) No member, officer, employee, or agent of the district may commit the district to any contract or other obligation on behalf of the district for the payment of money for any purpose required to be approved by the Panel unless the contract or other obligation has been approved by the Panel.
    (c) No member, officer, employee, or agent of the district may take any action in violation of any valid order of the Panel, may fail or refuse to take any action required by any such order, may prepare, present, certify, or report any information, including any projections or estimates, for the Panel or any of its agents that is false or misleading, or, upon learning that any such information is false or misleading, may fail promptly to advise the Panel or its agents.
    (d) In addition to any penalty or liability under any other law, any member, officer, employee, or agent of the district who violates subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this Section is subject to appropriate administrative discipline as may be imposed by the Panel, including, if warranted, suspension from duty without pay, removal from office, or termination of employment.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-115

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-115)
    Sec. 1H-115. Abolition of Panel.
    (a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) of this Section, the Panel shall be abolished 10 years after its creation.
    (b) The State Board, upon recommendation of the Panel or petition of the school board, may abolish the Panel at any time after the Panel has been in existence for 3 years if no obligations of the Panel are outstanding or remain undefeased and upon investigation and finding that:
        (1) none of the factors specified in Section 1A-8 of
    
this Code remain applicable to the district; and
        (2) there has been substantial achievement of the
    
goals and objectives established pursuant to the financial plan and required under Section 1H-15 of this Code.
    (c) The Panel of a district that otherwise meets all of the requirements for abolition of a Panel under subsection (b) of this Section, except for the fact that there are outstanding financial obligations of the Panel, may petition the State Board for reinstatement of all of the school board's powers and duties assumed by the Panel; and if approved by the State Board, then:
        (1) the Panel shall continue in operation, but its
    
powers and duties shall be limited to those necessary to manage and administer its outstanding obligations;
        (2) the school board shall once again begin
    
exercising all of the powers and duties otherwise allowed by statute; and
        (3) the Panel shall be abolished as provided in
    
subsection (a) of this Section.
    (d) If the Panel of a district otherwise meets all of the requirements for abolition of a Panel under subsection (b) of this Section, except for outstanding obligations of the Panel, then the district may petition the State Board for abolition of the Panel if the district:
        (1) establishes an irrevocable trust fund, the
    
purpose of which is to provide moneys to defease the outstanding obligations of the Panel; and
        (2) issues funding bonds pursuant to the provisions
    
of Sections 19-8 and 19-9 of this Code.
    A district with a Panel that falls under this subsection (d) shall be abolished as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.
    (e) The duration of a Panel may be continued for more than 10 years after the date of its creation if the State Board extends the Panel's duration under paragraph (3) of subsection (e) of Section 18-8.15 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)

105 ILCS 5/1H-120

    (105 ILCS 5/1H-120)
    Sec. 1H-120. Indemnification; legal representation; limitations of actions after abolition.
    (a) The Panel may indemnify any member, officer, employee, or agent who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she was a member, officer, employee, or agent of the Panel, against expenses (including attorney's fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding) if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Panel and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Panel and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
    To the extent that a member, officer, employee, or agent of the Panel has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any such action, suit, or proceeding referred to in this subsection (b) or in defense of any claim, issue, or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorney's fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith. Any such indemnification shall be made by the Panel only as authorized in the specific case, upon a determination that indemnification of the member, officer, employee, or agent is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct. The determination shall be made (i) by the Panel by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of members who are not parties to the action, suit, or proceeding or (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested members so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
    Reasonable expenses incurred in defending an action, suit, or proceeding shall be paid by the Panel in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, as authorized by the Panel in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the member, officer, employee, or agent to repay the amount, unless it is ultimately determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by the Panel as authorized in this Section.
    Any member, officer, employee, or agent against whom any action, suit, or proceeding is brought may employ his or her own attorney to appear on his or her behalf.
    The right to indemnification accorded by this Section shall not limit any other right to indemnification to which the member, officer, employee, or agent may be entitled. Any rights under this Section shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of any member, officer, employee, or agent of the Panel.
    The Panel may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a member, officer, employee, or agent of the Panel against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Panel could have the power to indemnify him or her against liability under the provisions of this Section.
    (b) The Panel shall be considered a State agency for purposes of receiving representation by the Attorney General. Members, officers, employees, and agents of the Panel shall be entitled to representation and indemnification under the State Employee Indemnification Act.
    (c) Abolition of the Panel pursuant to Section 1H-115 of this Code shall bar any remedy available against the Panel, its members, employees, or agents for any right or claim existing or any liability incurred prior to the abolition, unless the action or other proceeding is commenced prior to the expiration of 2 years after the date of the abolition.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 2

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 2 heading)
ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION -
POWERS AND DUTIES

105 ILCS 5/2-2

    (105 ILCS 5/2-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-2)
    Sec. 2-2. Oath - Bond. Before entering upon their duties the members of the State Board of Education shall take and subscribe the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution. Such oath shall be filed with the Secretary of State.
(Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3)
    Sec. 2-3. Powers and duties. The State Board of Education shall have the powers and duties enumerated in the subsequent sections of this article, and may delegate its authority to the State Superintendent of Education as provided in Section 1A-4.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.1

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.1)
    Sec. 2-3.1. Office - Records. To have an office at the seat of government, and to keep a record of all matters pertaining to the business of such office.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.2

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.2)
    Sec. 2-3.2. Papers, reports, documents. To file all papers, reports and public documents transmitted to it by the school officers of the several counties, for each year separately; and to keep all other public documents, books and papers relative to schools, coming into its hands as State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.2a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.2a)
    Sec. 2-3.2a. Electronic transmission and collection of data and funds. The State Board of Education may require that the transmission or collection of any document, record, form, claim, proposal, other data, or funds, between the State Board of Education and any entity doing business with the State Board of Education, be handled by electronic transmission or collection. The State Board shall establish standards for the electronic transmission and collection of data and funds, including data encryption standards, that must be used by all entities doing business with the State Board. These standards must comply with the Electronic Commerce Security Act.
(Source: P.A. 92-121, eff. 7-20-01.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.3

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.3)
    Sec. 2-3.3. Supervision of public schools.
    To supervise all the public schools in the State.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.4

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.4)
    Sec. 2-3.4. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.5

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.5)
    Sec. 2-3.5. Assist county superintendents.
    To advise and assist county superintendents of schools, addressing to them from time to time circular letters relating to the best manner of conducting schools, constructing and furnishing schoolhouses, and examining and procuring competent teachers.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.6

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.6) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.6)
    Sec. 2-3.6. Rules and policies. To make rules, in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, that are necessary to carry into efficient and uniform effect all laws for establishing and maintaining free schools in the State. The State Board of Education may not adopt any rule or policy that alters the intent of the authorizing law or that supersedes federal or State law. The Board may not make policies affecting school districts that have the effect of rules without following the procedures of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
(Source: P.A. 93-1036, eff. 9-14-04.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.7

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.7) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.7)
    Sec. 2-3.7. Legal adviser of school officers - Opinions. To be the legal adviser of school officers, and, when requested by any school officer, to give an opinion in writing upon any question arising under the school laws of the State.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.7a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.7a) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.7a)
    Sec. 2-3.7a. Advisory committees and their composition. To create, form, or appoint task forces, study committees, blue ribbon panels, commissions, or any other type of organization, by whatever name designated, to study or examine educational policy issues, problems, or concerns. Any task force, study committee, blue ribbon panel, commission, or organization created or appointed by the State Board of Education or the State Superintendent of Education after this amendatory Act takes effect shall include parents or guardians of students involved in or directly affected by the issues, problems, or concerns under study. The parents or guardians appointed to comply with this Section shall not be employed by or administratively connected with any school system or institution of higher learning in Illinois, employed by any educational collective bargaining organization within Illinois, employed by any association of school boards or school administrative officers, employed by the State Board of Education, or members of any school board or board of school trustees of any public or private school, college, university, or technical institution within Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 87-916.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.8

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.8) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.8)
    Sec. 2-3.8. Hear and determine controversies. To hear and determine all controversies arising under the school laws of the State, coming to it by appeal from a regional superintendent of schools.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.9

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.9) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.9)
    Sec. 2-3.9. Grant and suspend teachers' licenses. Subject to the provisions of Article 21B, to grant licenses to such teachers as may be found qualified to receive them and to suspend the operation of any State license for immorality or other unprofessional conduct.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.10

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.10)
    Sec. 2-3.10. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1508. Repealed by P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.11

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.11)
    Sec. 2-3.11. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09. Repealed by P.A. 102-539, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.11b

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.11b)
    Sec. 2-3.11b. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 84-1419. Repealed by P.A. 94-875, eff. 7-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.11c

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.11c)
    Sec. 2-3.11c. Teacher supply and demand report. Through January 1, 2009, to report annually, on or before January 1, on the relative supply and demand for education staff of the public schools to the Governor, to the General Assembly, and to institutions of higher education that prepare teachers, administrators, school service personnel, other certificated individuals, and other professionals employed by school districts or joint agreements. After the report due on January 1, 2009 is submitted, future reports shall be submitted once every 3 years, with the first report being submitted on or before January 1, 2012. The report shall contain the following information:
        (1) the relative supply and demand for teachers,
    
administrators, and other certificated and non-certificated personnel by field, content area, and levels;
        (2) State and regional analyses of fields, content
    
areas, and levels with an over-supply or under-supply of educators; and
        (3) projections of likely high demand and low demand
    
for educators, in a manner sufficient to advise the public, individuals, and institutions regarding career opportunities in education.
(Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09; 97-256, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.11d

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.11d)
    Sec. 2-3.11d. Data on tests required for teacher preparation and licensure. To collect and maintain all of the following data for each institution of higher education engaged in teacher preparation in this State:
        (1) (Blank).
        (2) (Blank).
        (3) The total number of content area tests attempted
    
under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
        (4) The total number of content area tests passed
    
under Section 21B-30 of this Code.
The data regarding content-area tests shall be reported in sum, rather than by separately listing each content area, in order to better protect the identity of the test-takers.
    On or before August 1, 2007, the State Board of Education shall file with the General Assembly and the Governor and shall make available to the public a report listing the institutions of higher education engaged in teacher preparation in this State, along with the data listed in items (1) and (2) of this Section pertinent to each institution.
    On or before October 1, 2012 and every 3 years thereafter, the State Board of Education shall file with the General Assembly and the Governor and shall make available to the public a report listing the institutions of higher education engaged in teacher preparation in this State, along with the data listed in items (1) through (4) of this Section pertinent to each institution.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.12

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.12) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.12)
    Sec. 2-3.12. School building code.
    (a) To prepare for school boards with the advice of the Department of Public Health, the Capital Development Board, and the State Fire Marshal a school building code that will conserve the health and safety and general welfare of the pupils and school personnel and others who use public school facilities.
    (b) Within 2 years after September 23, 1983, and every 10 years thereafter, or at such other times as the State Board of Education deems necessary or the regional superintendent so orders, each school board subject to the provisions of this Section shall again survey its school buildings and effectuate any recommendations in accordance with the procedures set forth herein.
        (1) An architect or engineer licensed in the State of
    
Illinois is required to conduct the surveys under the provisions of this Section and shall make a report of the findings of the survey titled "safety survey report" to the school board.
        (2) The school board shall approve the safety survey
    
report, including any recommendations to effectuate compliance with the code, and submit it to the Regional Superintendent.
        (3) The Regional Superintendent shall render a
    
decision regarding approval or denial and submit the safety survey report to the State Superintendent of Education.
        (4) The State Superintendent of Education shall
    
approve or deny the report including recommendations to effectuate compliance with the code and, if approved, issue a certificate of approval.
        (5) Upon receipt of the certificate of approval, the
    
Regional Superintendent shall issue an order to effect any approved recommendations included in the report. The report shall meet all of the following requirements:
            (A) Items in the report shall be prioritized.
            (B) Urgent items shall be considered as those
        
items related to life safety problems that present an immediate hazard to the safety of students.
            (C) Required items shall be considered as those
        
items that are necessary for a safe environment but present less of an immediate hazard to the safety of students.
            (D) Urgent and required items shall reference a
        
specific rule in the code authorized by this Section that is currently being violated or will be violated within the next 12 months if the violation is not remedied.
        (6) The school board of each district so surveyed
    
and receiving a report of needed recommendations to be made to maintain standards of safety and health of the pupils enrolled shall effectuate the correction of urgent items as soon as achievable to ensure the safety of the students, but in no case more than one year after the date of the State Superintendent of Education's approval of the recommendation.
        (7) Required items shall be corrected in a timely
    
manner, but in no case more than 5 years from the date of the State Superintendent of Education's approval of the recommendation.
        (8) Once each year the school board shall submit a
    
report of progress on completion of any recommendations to effectuate compliance with the code.
    (c) As soon as practicable, but not later than 2 years after January 1, 1993, the State Board of Education shall combine the document known as "Efficient and Adequate Standards for the Construction of Schools" with the document known as "Building Specifications for Health and Safety in Public Schools" together with any modifications or additions that may be deemed necessary. The combined document shall be known as the "Health/Life Safety Code for Public Schools" and shall be the governing code for all facilities that house public school students or are otherwise used for public school purposes, whether such facilities are permanent or temporary and whether they are owned, leased, rented, or otherwise used by the district. Facilities owned by a school district but that are not used to house public school students or are not used for public school purposes shall be governed by separate provisions within the code authorized by this Section.
    (d) The 10 year survey cycle specified in this Section shall continue to apply based upon the standards contained in the "Health/Life Safety Code for Public Schools", which shall specify building standards for buildings that are constructed prior to January 1, 1993 and for buildings that are constructed after that date.
    (e) The "Health/Life Safety Code for Public Schools" shall be the governing code for public schools; however, the provisions of this Section shall not preclude inspection of school premises and buildings pursuant to Section 9 of the Fire Investigation Act, provided that the provisions of the "Health/Life Safety Code for Public Schools", or such predecessor document authorized by this Section as may be applicable are used, and provided that those inspections are coordinated with the Regional Superintendent having jurisdiction over the public school facility.
    (e-5) After the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, all new school building construction governed by the "Health/Life Safety Code for Public Schools" must include in its design and construction a storm shelter that meets the minimum requirements of the ICC/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters (ICC-500), published jointly by the International Code Council and the National Storm Shelter Association. Nothing in this subsection (e-5) precludes the design engineers, architects, or school district from applying a higher life safety standard than the ICC-500 for storm shelters.
    (f) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit the State Fire Marshal or a qualified fire official to whom the State Fire Marshal has delegated his or her authority from conducting a fire safety check in a public school.
    (g) The Regional Superintendent shall address any violations that are not corrected in a timely manner pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 3-14.21 of this Code.
    (h) Any agency having jurisdiction beyond the scope of the applicable document authorized by this Section may issue a lawful order to a school board to effectuate recommendations, and the school board receiving the order shall certify to the Regional Superintendent and the State Superintendent of Education when it has complied with the order.
    (i) The State Board of Education is authorized to adopt any rules that are necessary relating to the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Section.
    (j) The code authorized by this Section shall apply only to those school districts having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants.
    (k) In this Section, a "qualified fire official" means an individual that meets the requirements of rules adopted by the State Fire Marshal in cooperation with the State Board of Education to administer this Section. These rules shall be based on recommendations made by the task force established under Section 2-3.137 (now repealed) of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 98-883, eff. 1-1-15; 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.12a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.12a)
    Sec. 2-3.12a. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 91-89, eff. 7-9-99. Repealed internally, eff. 12-31-99.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.13

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.13)
    Sec. 2-3.13. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1508. Repealed by P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.13a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.13a) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.13a)
    Sec. 2-3.13a. School records; transferring students.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall establish and implement rules requiring all of the public schools and all private or nonpublic elementary and secondary schools located in this State, whenever any such school has a student who is transferring to any other public elementary or secondary school located in this or in any other state, to forward within 10 days of notice of the student's transfer an unofficial record of that student's grades to the school to which such student is transferring. Each public school at the same time also shall forward to the school to which the student is transferring the remainder of the student's school student records as required by the Illinois School Student Records Act. In addition, if a student is transferring from a public school, whether located in this or any other state, from which the student has been suspended or expelled for knowingly possessing in a school building or on school grounds a weapon as defined in the Gun Free Schools Act (20 U.S.C. 8921 et seq.), for knowingly possessing, selling, or delivering in a school building or on school grounds a controlled substance or cannabis, or for battering a staff member of the school, and if the period of suspension or expulsion has not expired at the time the student attempts to transfer into another public school in the same or any other school district: (i) any school student records required to be transferred shall include the date and duration of the period of suspension or expulsion; and (ii) with the exception of transfers into the Department of Juvenile Justice school district, the student shall not be permitted to attend class in the public school into which he or she is transferring until the student has served the entire period of the suspension or expulsion imposed by the school from which the student is transferring, provided that the school board may approve the placement of the student in an alternative school program established under Article 13A of this Code. A school district may adopt a policy providing that if a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any public or private school in this or any other state, the student must complete the entire term of the suspension or expulsion before being admitted into the school district. This policy may allow placement of the student in an alternative school program established under Article 13A of this Code, if available, for the remainder of the suspension or expulsion. Each public school and each private or nonpublic elementary or secondary school in this State shall within 10 days after the student has paid all of his or her outstanding fines and fees and at its own expense forward an official transcript of the scholastic records of each student transferring from that school in strict accordance with the provisions of this Section and the rules established by the State Board of Education as herein provided.
    (b) The State Board of Education shall develop a one-page standard form that Illinois school districts are required to provide to any student who is moving out of the school district and that contains the information about whether or not the student is "in good standing" and whether or not his or her medical records are up-to-date and complete. As used in this Section, "in good standing" means that the student is not being disciplined by a suspension or expulsion, but is entitled to attend classes. No school district is required to admit a new student who is transferring from another Illinois school district unless he or she can produce the standard form from the student's previous school district enrollment. No school district is required to admit a new student who is transferring from an out-of-state public school unless the parent or guardian of the student certifies in writing that the student is not currently serving a suspension or expulsion imposed by the school from which the student is transferring.
    (c) The State Board of Education shall, by rule, establish a system to provide for the accurate tracking of transfer students. This system shall, at a minimum, require that a student be counted as a dropout in the calculation of a school's or school district's annual student dropout rate unless the school or school district to which the student transferred (known hereafter in this subsection (c) as the transferee school or school district) sends notification to the school or school district from which the student transferred (known hereafter in this subsection (c) as the transferor school or school district) documenting that the student has enrolled in the transferee school or school district. This notification must occur on or before July 31 following the school year during which the student withdraws from the transferor school or school district or the student shall be counted in the calculation of the transferor school's or school district's annual student dropout rate. A request by the transferee school or school district to the transferor school or school district seeking the student's academic transcripts or medical records shall be considered without limitation adequate documentation of enrollment. Each transferor school or school district shall keep documentation of such transfer students for the minimum period provided in the Illinois School Student Records Act. All records indicating the school or school district to which a student transferred are subject to the Illinois School Student Records Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-1423, eff. 8-3-10.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.14

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.14) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.14)
    Sec. 2-3.14. Representative government.
    To put into effect the provisions of Sections 27-3 and 27-4 relative to representative government.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.15

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.15) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.15)
    Sec. 2-3.15. Designation of statistics. To designate the reports relating to public schools which school officers are required to submit to the county superintendent of schools. In Class I county school units, and in each school district which forms a part of a Class II county school unit but which is not subject to the jurisdiction of the trustees of schools of any township in which such school district is located, all financial reports shall be signed by the teacher, principal or superintendent of schools.
    Any person who makes a false affidavit or knowingly swears or affirms falsely to any matter or thing required by the terms of this Act to be sworn or affirmed is guilty of perjury.
(Source: P.A. 86-1441; 87-473.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.16

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.16)
    Sec. 2-3.16. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.17

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.17) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.17)
    Sec. 2-3.17. Information furnished by regional superintendents. To require the regional superintendent of schools to furnish the State Board with such information as it may desire to include in its report to the General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.17a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.17a) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.17a)
    Sec. 2-3.17a. Financial audits by Auditor General. The Auditor General shall annually cause an audit to be made, as of June 30th of each year, of the financial statements of all accounts, funds and other moneys in the care, custody or control of the regional superintendent of schools of each educational service region in the State and of each educational service center established under Section 2-3.62 of this Code other than an educational service center serving a school district in a city having a population exceeding 500,000. The audit shall be conducted in accordance with Generally Accepted Governmental Auditing Standards and shall include an examination of supporting books and records and a representative sample of vouchers for distributions and expenditures. A regional office of education or educational service center may utilize a cash basis, modified cash basis, or generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis of accounting to prepare the financial statements for the audit. On February 15 of each year, the Auditor General shall notify the Legislative Audit Commission in writing of the completion or of the reasons for the noncompletion of each audit required by this Section to be made as of the preceding June 30. An audit report shall be prepared for each audit made pursuant to this Section, and all such audit reports shall be kept on file in the office of the Auditor General, published on the Auditor General's website, and distributed in accordance with Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act. Each audit shall be made in such manner as to determine, and each audit report shall be prepared in such manner as to state:
        (1) The balances on hand of all accounts, funds and
    
other moneys in the care, custody or control of the regional superintendent of schools or educational service center at the beginning of the fiscal year being audited;
        (2) the amount of funds received during the fiscal
    
year by source;
        (3) the amount of funds distributed or otherwise paid
    
by the regional superintendent of schools or educational service center to each school treasurer in his or her educational service region or area, including the purpose of such distribution or payment and the fund or account from which such distribution or payment is made;
        (4) the amounts paid or otherwise disbursed by the
    
regional superintendent of schools or educational service center -- other than the amounts distributed or paid by the regional superintendent of schools or educational service center to school treasurers as described in paragraph (3) above -- for all other purposes and expenditures, including the fund or account from which such payments or disbursements are made and the purpose thereof; and
        (5) the balances on hand of all accounts, funds and
    
other moneys in the care, custody or control of the regional superintendent of schools or educational service center at the end of the fiscal year being audited.
    The Auditor General shall adopt rules and regulations relative to the time and manner by which the regional superintendent of schools or educational service center shall present for inspection or make available to the Auditor General, or to the agents designated by the Auditor General to make an audit and prepare an audit report pursuant to this Section, all financial statements, books, records, vouchers for distributions and expenditures, and records of accounts, funds and other moneys in the care, custody or control of the regional superintendent of schools or educational service center and required for purposes of making such audit and preparing an audit and preparing an audit report. All rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education under this Section before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly shall continue in effect as the rules and regulations of the Auditor General, until they are modified or abolished by the Auditor General.
    The Auditor General shall require the regional superintendent of schools of each educational service region or administrator of each educational service center to promptly implement all recommendations based on audit findings resulting from a violation of law made in audits prepared pursuant to this Section, unless the Auditor General, upon review, determines, with regard to any such finding, that implementation of the recommendation is not appropriate.
(Source: P.A. 102-25, eff. 6-25-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.17b

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.17b)
    Sec. 2-3.17b. School Funds; payment to school districts, other education agencies, and providers. To prepare and send vouchers to the State Comptroller for the payment of funds due school districts, other education agencies, and providers of services for programs administered by the State Board of Education from the State school funds.
(Source: P.A. 88-641, eff. 9-9-94.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.19

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.19) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.19)
    Sec. 2-3.19. Reports by trustees.
    To require the trustees of schools of each township to make, at any time, a report similar to that required of trustees of schools on or before July 15 next preceding each regular session of the General Assembly.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.20

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.20) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.20)
    Sec. 2-3.20. Reports-Special charter districts.
    To require annual reports from the authorities maintaining schools by authority of special charters.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.21

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.21)
    Sec. 2-3.21. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.22

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.22) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.22)
    Sec. 2-3.22. Withholding school funds or compensation of regional superintendent of schools. To require the State Comptroller to withhold from the regional superintendent of schools the amount due the regional superintendent of schools for his compensation, until the reports, statements, books, vouchers and other records provided for in Sections 2-3.17, 2-3.17a and 3-15.8 have been furnished.
(Source: P.A. 88-641, eff. 9-9-94.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.23

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.23) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.23)
    Sec. 2-3.23. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98. Repealed internally, eff. 7-1-98.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.24

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.24) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.24)
    Sec. 2-3.24. Withholding funds from school officer or teacher. To require the Comptroller, regional superintendent of schools, trustees, township treasurer, directors or other school officer to withhold from any township, district, officer or teacher any part of the common school, township or other school fund until such treasurer, officer or teacher has made all schedules, reports and returns required of him by this Act and until such officer has executed and filed all official bonds and accounted for all common school, township or other school funds which have come into his hands.
(Source: P.A. 88-641, eff. 9-9-94.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25)
    Sec. 2-3.25. Standards for schools.
    (a) To determine for all types of schools conducted under this Act efficient and adequate standards for the physical plant, heating, lighting, ventilation, sanitation, safety, equipment and supplies, instruction and teaching, curriculum, library, operation, maintenance, administration and supervision, and to issue, refuse to issue or revoke certificates of recognition for schools or school districts pursuant to standards established hereunder; to determine and establish efficient and adequate standards for approval of credit for courses given and conducted by schools outside of the regular school term.
    (a-5) On or before July 1, 2021, the State Board of Education must adopt revised social science learning standards that are inclusive and reflective of all individuals in this country.
    (b) Whenever it appears that a secondary or unit school district may be unable to offer courses enabling students in grades 9 through 12 to meet the minimum preparation and admission requirements for public colleges and universities adopted by the Board of Higher Education, the State Board of Education shall assist the district in reviewing and analyzing its existing curriculum with particular reference to the educational needs of all pupils of the district and the sufficiency of existing and future revenues and payments available to the district for development of a curriculum which will provide maximum educational opportunity to pupils of the district. The review and analysis may consider achievement of this goal not only through implementation of traditional classroom methods but also through development of and participation in joint educational programs with other school districts or institutions of higher education, or alternative programs employing modern technological methods including but not limited to the use of television, telephones, computers, radio and other electronic devices.
(Source: P.A. 101-654, eff. 3-8-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25a) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25a)
    Sec. 2-3.25a. "School district" defined; additional standards.
    (a) For the purposes of State accountability in this Section and Sections 3.25b, 3.25c, 3.25e, and 3.25f of this Code, "school district" includes other public entities responsible for administering public schools, such as cooperatives, joint agreements, charter schools, special charter districts, regional offices of education, local agencies, and the Department of Human Services.
    (b) In addition to the standards established pursuant to Section 2-3.25, the State Board of Education shall develop standards for student performance, such as proficiency levels on State assessments, and school improvement, such as annual summative designations, for all school districts and their individual schools. The State Board of Education is prohibited from having separate performance standards for students based on race or ethnicity.
    The accountability system that produces the school improvement designations shall be outlined in the State Plan that the State Board of Education submits to the federal Department of Education pursuant to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. If the federal Every Student Succeeds Act ceases to require a State Plan, the State Board of Education shall develop a written plan in consultation with the Balanced Accountability Committee created under subsection (b-5) of this Section.
    (b-5) The Balanced Accountability Measure Committee is created and shall consist of the following individuals: a representative of a statewide association representing regional superintendents of schools, a representative of a statewide association representing principals, a representative of an association representing principals in a city having a population exceeding 500,000, a representative of a statewide association representing school administrators, a representative of a statewide professional teachers' organization, a representative of a different statewide professional teachers' organization, an additional representative from either statewide professional teachers' organization, a representative of a professional teachers' organization in a city having a population exceeding 500,000, a representative of a statewide association representing school boards, and a representative of a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code. The head of each association or entity listed in this paragraph shall appoint its respective representative. The State Superintendent of Education, in consultation with the Committee, may appoint no more than 2 additional individuals to the Committee, which individuals shall serve in an advisory role and must not have voting or other decision-making rights.
    The Balanced Accountability Measure Committee shall meet no less than 4 times per year to discuss the accountability system set forth in the State Plan pursuant to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act and to provide stakeholder feedback and recommendations to the State Board of Education with regard to the State Plan, which the State Board shall take into consideration. On or before completion of the 2019-2020 school year and no less than once every 3 years thereafter, the Balanced Accountability Measure Committee shall assess the implementation of the State Plan and, if necessary, make recommendations to the State Board for any changes. The Committee shall consider accountability recommendations made by the Illinois P-20 Council established under Section 22-45 of this Code, the Illinois Early Learning Council created under the Illinois Early Learning Council Act, and any other stakeholder group established by the State Board in relation to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. The State Board shall provide to the Committee an annual report with data and other information collected from entities identified by the State Board as learning partners, including, but not limited to, data and information on the learning partners' effectiveness, geographic distribution, and cost to serve as part of a comprehensive statewide system of support.
    The State Board of Education, in collaboration with the Balanced Accountability Measure Committee set forth in this subsection (b-5), shall adopt rules that further implementation in accordance with the requirements of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25b

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25b) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25b)
    Sec. 2-3.25b. Recognition levels and annual summative designations. The State Board of Education shall, consistent with adopted recognition standards, provide for levels of recognition or nonrecognition. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules governing the procedures whereby school districts may appeal a recognition level.
    The State Board of Education shall have the authority to collect from schools and school districts the information, data, test results, student performance and school improvement indicators as may be necessary to implement and carry out the purposes of this Act and to implement and carry out the issuance of school improvement designations via the accountability system identified in Section 2-3.25a of this Code. Schools and school districts that fail to submit accurate data within the State Board of Education's timeframes may have federal funds withheld.
(Source: P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25c

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25c) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25c)
    Sec. 2-3.25c. Rewards. The State Board of Education shall implement a system of rewards for school districts, and the schools themselves, through a process that recognizes schools in improvement status that are (i) high-poverty, high-performing schools that are closing achievement gaps or are excelling in academic achievement; (ii) schools that have sustained high performance serving identified student groups; (iii) schools that have substantial growth over the 3 years immediately preceding the year in which recognition is awarded; and (iv) schools that have demonstrated the most progress in improving student outcomes of student groups identified for Targeted, Comprehensive, or Intensive School Improvement.
(Source: P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25d

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25d)
    Sec. 2-3.25d. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 99-193, eff. 7-30-15. Repealed by P.A. 100-1046, eff. 8-23-18.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25d-5

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25d-5)
    Sec. 2-3.25d-5. Targeted, Comprehensive, and Intensive schools.
    (a) Beginning in 2018, a school designated as "Comprehensive" shall be defined as:
        (1) a school that is among the lowest performing 5%
    
of schools in this State based on the multi-measures accountability system defined in the State Plan, with respect to the performance of the "all students" group;
        (2) any high school with a graduation rate of less
    
than 67%;
        (2.5) any school that has completed a full 4-year
    
cycle of Targeted School Improvement but remains identified for Targeted Support for one or more of the same student groups originally identified for Targeted Support; or
        (3) (blank).
    The State Board of Education shall work with districts with one or more schools in Comprehensive School Improvement Status to perform a needs assessment to determine the district's core functions that are areas of strength and weakness. The results from the needs assessment shall be used by the district and school to identify goals and objectives for improvement. The needs assessment shall include, at a minimum, a review of the following areas: student performance on State assessments; student performance on local assessments; finances, including resource allocation reviews; governance, including effectiveness of school leadership; student engagement opportunities and access to those opportunities; instructional practices; standards-aligned curriculum; school climate and culture survey results; family and community engagement; reflective stakeholder engagement; continuous school improvement practices; educator and employee quality, including staff continuity and turnover rates; and alignment of professional development to continuous improvement efforts.
    (b) Beginning in 2018, a school designated as "Targeted" shall be defined as a school in which one or more student groups is performing at or below the level of the "all students" group of schools designated Comprehensive, as defined in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Section.
    (c) Beginning in 2023, a school designated as "Intensive" shall be defined as a school that has completed a full 4-year cycle of Comprehensive School Improvement but does not meet the criteria to exit that status, as defined in the State Plan referenced in subsection (b) of Section 2-3.25a of this Code, at the end of the cycle.
    (d) All schools in school improvement status, including Comprehensive, Targeted, and Intensive schools, must complete a school-level needs assessment and develop and implement a continuous improvement plan.
(Source: P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25e

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25e)
    Sec. 2-3.25e. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 93-470, eff. 8-8-03. Repealed by P.A. 94-875, eff. 7-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25e-5

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25e-5)
    Sec. 2-3.25e-5. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 99-193, eff. 7-30-15. Repealed by P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25f

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25f) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25f)
    Sec. 2-3.25f. State interventions.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall provide technical assistance to schools in school improvement status to assist with the development and implementation of Improvement Plans.
    Schools or school districts that fail to make reasonable efforts to implement an approved Improvement Plan may suffer loss of State funds by school district, attendance center, or program as the State Board of Education deems appropriate.
    (a-5) (Blank).
    (b) Schools that receive Targeted Support or Comprehensive Support designations shall enter a 4-year cycle of school improvement status. If, at the end of the 4-year cycle, the school fails to meet the exit criteria specified in the State Plan referenced in subsection (b) of Section 2-3.25a of this Code, the school shall escalate to a more intensive intervention. Targeted Support schools that remain Targeted for one or more of the same student groups as in the initial identification after completion of a 4-year cycle of Targeted School Improvement shall be redesignated as Comprehensive Support schools, as provided in paragraph (2.5) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.25d-5 of this Code. Comprehensive Support schools that remain in the lowest-performing 5% after completion of a 4-year cycle of Comprehensive School Improvement shall be redesignated as Intensive Support schools and shall escalate through more rigorous, tiered support, developed in consultation with the Balanced Accountability Measure Committee and other relevant stakeholder groups, which may ultimately result in the (i) change of recognition status of the school district or school to nonrecognized or (ii) authorization for the State Superintendent of Education to direct the reassignment of pupils or direct the reassignment or replacement of school or school district personnel. If a school district is nonrecognized in its entirety, for any reason, including those not related to performance in the accountability system, it shall automatically be dissolved on July 1 following that nonrecognition and its territory realigned with another school district or districts by the regional board of school trustees in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 7-11 of the School Code. The effective date of the nonrecognition of a school shall be July 1 following the nonrecognition.
    (b-5) The State Board of Education shall also develop a system to provide assistance and resources to lower performing school districts. At a minimum, the State Board shall identify school districts to receive Intensive, Comprehensive, and Targeted Support. The school district shall provide the exclusive bargaining representative with a 5-day notice that the district has had one or more schools within the district identified as being in Comprehensive or Intensive School Improvement Status. In addition, the State Board may, by rule, develop other categories of low-performing schools and school districts to receive services.
    The State Board of Education shall work with districts with one or more schools in Comprehensive or Intensive School Improvement Status, through technical assistance and professional development, based on the results of the needs assessment under Section 2-3.25d-5 of this Code, to develop and implement a continuous improvement plan that would increase outcomes for students. The plan for continuous improvement shall be based on the results of the needs assessment and shall be used to determine the types of services that are to be provided to each Comprehensive and Intensive School. Potential services may include, but are not limited to, monitoring adult and student practices, reviewing and reallocating district resources, developing a district and school leadership team, providing access to curricular content area specialists, and providing online resources and professional development.
    The support provided by a vendor or learning partner approved to support a school's continuous improvement plan related to English language arts must be based on the comprehensive literacy plan for the State developed by the State Board of Education under Section 2-3.196, as added by Public Act 103-402.
    The State Board of Education may require districts with one or more Comprehensive or Intensive Schools identified as having deficiencies in one or more core functions of the needs assessment to undergo an accreditation process.
    (c) All federal requirements apply to schools and school districts utilizing federal funds under Title I, Part A of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
(Source: P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23; 103-735, eff. 1-1-25.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25f-5

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25f-5)
    Sec. 2-3.25f-5. Independent Authority.
    (a) The General Assembly finds all of the following:
        (1) A fundamental goal of the people of this State,
    
as expressed in Section 1 of Article X of the Illinois Constitution, is the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities. When a school board faces governance difficulties, continued operation of the public school system is threatened.
        (2) Sound school board governance, academic
    
achievement, and sound financial structure are essential to the continued operation of any school system. It is vital to commercial, educational, and cultural interests that public schools remain in operation. To achieve that goal, public school systems must have effective leadership.
        (3) To promote the sound operation of districts, as
    
defined in this Section, it may be necessary to provide for the creation of independent authorities with the powers necessary to promote sound governance, sound academic planning, and sound financial management and to ensure the continued operation of the public schools.
        (4) It is the purpose of this Section to provide for
    
a sound basis for the continued operation of public schools. The intention of the General Assembly, in creating this Section, is to establish procedures, provide powers, and impose restrictions to ensure the educational integrity of public school districts.
    (b) As used in this Section:
    "Board" means a school board of a district.
    "Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Independent Authority.
    "District" means any school district having a population of not more than 500,000.
    "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
    "State Superintendent" means the State Superintendent of Education.
    (c) The State Board has the power to direct the State Superintendent to remove a board. Boards may be removed when the criteria provided for in subsection (d) of this Section are met. At no one time may the State Board remove more than 4 school boards and establish Independent Authorities pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section.
    If the State Board proposes to direct the State Superintendent to remove a board from a district, board members shall receive individual written notice of the intended removal. Written notice must be provided at least 30 calendar days before a hearing is held by the State Board. This notice shall identify the basis for proposed removal.
    Board members are entitled to a hearing, during which time each board member shall have the opportunity to respond individually, both orally and through written comments, to the basis laid out in the notice. Written comments must be submitted to the State Board on or before the hearing.
    Board members are entitled to be represented by counsel at the hearing, but counsel must not be paid with district funds, unless the State Board decides that the board will not be removed and then the board members may be reimbursed for all reasonable attorney's fees by the district.
    The State Board shall make a final decision on removal immediately following the hearing or at its next regularly scheduled or special meeting. In no event may the decision be made later than the next regularly scheduled meeting.
    The State Board shall issue a final written decision. If the State Board directs the State Superintendent to remove the board, the State Superintendent shall do so within 30 days after the written decision. Following the removal of the board, the State Superintendent shall establish an Independent Authority pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section.
    If there is a financial oversight panel operating in the district pursuant to Article 1B or 1H of this Code, the State Board may, at its discretion, abolish the panel.
    (d) The State Board may require districts with one or more schools in Intensive Support status that have been identified as having deficiencies in one or more core functions of the needs assessment, as described in subsection (b-5) of Section 2-3.25f of this Code, to seek accreditation through an independent accreditation organization chosen by the State Board and paid for by the State. The State Board may direct the State Superintendent to remove board members pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section in any district in which the district is unable to obtain accreditation in whole or in part due to reasons specifically related to school board governance. When determining if a district has failed to meet the standards for accreditation specifically related to school board governance, the accreditation entity shall take into account the overall academic, fiscal, and operational condition of the district and consider whether the board has failed to protect district assets, to direct sound administrative and academic policy, to abide by basic governance principles, including those set forth in district policies, and to conduct itself with professionalism and care and in a legally, ethically, and financially responsible manner. When considering if a board has failed in these areas, the accreditation entity shall consider some or all of the following factors:
        (1) Failure to protect district assets by, without
    
limitation, incidents of fiscal fraud or misappropriation of district funds; acts of neglecting the district's building conditions; a failure to meet regularly scheduled, payroll-period obligations when due; a failure to abide by competitive bidding laws; a failure to prevent an audit finding of material internal control weaknesses; a failure to comply with required accounting principles; a failure to develop and implement a comprehensive, risk-management plan; a failure to provide financial information or cooperate with the State Superintendent; or a failure to file an annual financial report, an annual budget, a deficit reduction plan, or other financial information as required by law.
        (2) Failure to direct sound administrative and
    
academic policy by, without limitation, hiring staff who do not meet minimal certification requirements for the positions being filled or who do not meet the customary qualifications held by those occupying similar positions in other school districts; a failure to avoid conflicts of interest as it relates to hiring or other contractual obligations; a failure to provide minimum graduation requirements and curricular requirements of the School Code and regulations; a failure to provide a minimum school term as required by law; or a failure to adopt and implement policies and practices that promote conditions that support student learning, effective instruction, and assessment that produce equitable and challenging learning experiences for all students.
        (3) Failure to abide by basic governance principles
    
by, without limitation, a failure to comply with the mandated oath of office; a failure to adopt and abide by sound local governance policies; a failure to abide by the principle that official action by the board occurs only through a duly-called and legally conducted meeting of the board; a failure to abide by majority decisions of the board; a failure to protect the privacy of students; a failure to ensure that board decisions and actions are in accordance with defined roles and responsibilities; or a failure of the board to protect, support, and respect the autonomy of a system to accomplish goals for improvement in student learning and instruction and to manage day-to-day operations of the school system and its schools, including maintaining the distinction between the board's roles and responsibilities and those of administrative leadership.
        (4) Failure to conduct itself in a legally,
    
ethically, and financially responsible manner by, without limitation, a failure to act in accordance with the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Illinois and within the scope of State and federal laws; laws, including a failure to comply with provisions of the School Code, the Open Meetings Act, and the Freedom of Information Act and federal and State laws that protect the rights of protected categories of students; a failure to comply with all district policies and procedures and all State rules; or a failure to comply with the governmental entities provisions of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, including the gift ban and prohibited political activities provisions.
    (e) Upon removal of the board, the State Superintendent shall establish an Independent Authority. Upon establishment of an Independent Authority, there is established a body both corporate and politic to be known as the "(Name of the School District) Independent Authority", which in this name shall exercise all of the authority vested in an Independent Authority by this Section and by the name may sue and be sued in all courts and places where judicial proceedings are had.
    (f) Upon establishment of an Independent Authority under subsection (e) of this Section, the State Superintendent shall, within 30 working days thereafter and in consultation with State and locally elected officials, appoint 5 or 7 members to serve on an Independent Authority for the district. Members appointed to the Independent Authority shall serve at the pleasure of the State Superintendent. The State Superintendent shall designate one of the members of the Independent Authority to serve as its chairperson. In the event of vacancy or resignation, the State Superintendent shall, within 15 working days after receiving notice, appoint a successor to serve out that member's term. If the State Board has abolished a financial oversight panel pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, the State Superintendent may appoint former members of the panel to the Independent Authority. These members may serve as part of the 5 or 7 members or may be appointed in addition to the 5 or 7 members, with the Independent Authority not to exceed 9 members in total.
    Members of the Independent Authority must be selected primarily on the basis of their experience and knowledge in education policy and governance, with consideration given to persons knowledgeable in the operation of a school district. A member of the Independent Authority must be a registered voter as provided in the general election law, must not be a school trustee, and must not be a child sex offender as defined in Section 11-9.3 of the Criminal Code of 2012. A majority of the members of the Independent Authority must be residents of the district that the Independent Authority serves. A member of the Independent Authority may not be an employee of the district, nor may a member have a direct financial interest in the district.
    Independent Authority members may be reimbursed by the district for travel if they live more than 25 miles away from the district's headquarters and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The amount reimbursed members for their expenses must be charged to the school district.
    With the exception of the Chairperson, the Independent Authority may elect such officers as it deems appropriate.
    The first meeting of the Independent Authority must be held at the call of the Chairperson. The Independent Authority shall prescribe the times and places for its meetings and the manner in which regular and special meetings may be called and shall comply with the Open Meetings Act.
    All Independent Authority members must complete the training required of school board members under Section 10-16a of this Code.
    (g) The purpose of the Independent Authority is to operate the district. The Independent Authority shall have all of the powers and duties of a board and all other powers necessary to meet its responsibilities and to carry out its purpose and the purposes of this Section and that may be requisite or proper for the maintenance, operation, and development of any school or schools under the jurisdiction of the Independent Authority. This grant of powers does not release an Independent Authority from any duty imposed upon it by this Code or any other law.
    The Independent Authority shall have no power to unilaterally cancel or modify any collective bargaining agreement in force upon the date of creation of the Independent Authority.
    (h) The Independent Authority may prepare and file with the State Superintendent a proposal for emergency financial assistance for the school district and for the operations budget of the Independent Authority, in accordance with Section 1B-8 of this Code. A district may receive both a loan and a grant.
    (i) An election for board members must not be held in a district upon the establishment of an Independent Authority and is suspended until the next regularly scheduled school board election that takes place no less than 2 years following the establishment of the Independent Authority. For this first election, 3 school board members must be elected to serve out terms of 4 years and until successors are elected and have qualified. Members of the Independent Authority are eligible to run for election in the district, provided that they meet all other eligibility requirements of Section 10-10 of this Code. Following this election, the school board shall consist of the newly elected members and any remaining members of the Independent Authority. The majority of this board must be residents of the district. The State Superintendent must appoint new members who are residents to the Independent Authority if necessary to maintain this majority. At the next school board election, 4 school board members must be elected to serve out terms of 4 years and until successors are elected and have qualified. For purposes of these first 2 elections, the school board members must be elected at-large. In districts where board members were previously elected using an alternative format pursuant to Article 9 of this Code, following these first 2 elections, the voting shall automatically revert back to the original form. Following the election, any remaining Independent Authority members shall serve in the district as an oversight panel until such time as the district meets the governance standards necessary to achieve accreditation. If some or all of the Independent Authority members have been elected to the board, the State Superintendent may, in his or her discretion, appoint new members to the Independent Authority pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section. The school board shall get approval of all actions by the Independent Authority during the time the Independent Authority serves as an oversight panel.
    Board members who were removed pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section are ineligible to run for school board in the district for 10 years following the abolition of the Independent Authority pursuant to subsection (l) of this Section. However, board members who were removed pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section and were appointed to the Independent Authority by the State Superintendent are eligible to run for school board in the district.
    (j) The Independent Authority, upon its members taking office and annually thereafter and upon request, shall prepare and submit to the State Superintendent a report on the state of the district, including without limitation the academic improvement and financial situation of the district. This report must be submitted annually on or before March 1 of each year. The State Superintendent shall provide copies of any and all reports to the regional office of education for the district and to the State Senator and Representative representing the area where the district is located.
    (k) The district shall render such services to and permit the use of its facilities and resources by the Independent Authority at no charge as may be requested by the Independent Authority. Any State agency, unit of local government, or school district may, within its lawful powers and duties, render such services to the Independent Authority as may be requested by the Independent Authority.
    (l) An Independent Authority must be abolished when the district, following the election of the full board, meets the governance standards necessary to achieve accreditation status by an independent accreditation agency chosen by the State Board. The abolition of the Independent Authority shall be done by the State Board and take place within 30 days after the determination of the accreditation agency.
    Upon abolition of the Independent Authority, all powers and duties allowed by this Code to be exercised by a school board shall be transferred to the elected school board.
    (m) The Independent Authority must be indemnified through insurance purchased by the district. The district shall purchase insurance through which the Independent Authority is to be indemnified.
    The district retains the duty to represent and to indemnify Independent Authority members following the abolition of the Independent Authority for any cause of action or remedy available against the Independent Authority, its members, its employees, or its agents for any right or claim existing or any liability incurred prior to the abolition.
    The insurance shall indemnify and protect districts, Independent Authority members, employees, volunteer personnel authorized in Sections 10-22.34, 10-22.34a, and 10-22.34b of this Code, mentors of certified or licensed staff as authorized in Article 21A and Sections 2-3.53a, 2-3.53b, and 34-18.33 of this Code, and student teachers against civil rights damage claims and suits, constitutional rights damage claims and suits, and death and bodily injury and property damage claims and suits, including defense thereof, when damages are sought for negligent or wrongful acts alleged to have been committed in the scope of employment, under the direction of the Independent Authority, or related to any mentoring services provided to certified or licensed staff of the district. Such indemnification and protection shall extend to persons who were members of an Independent Authority, employees of an Independent Authority, authorized volunteer personnel, mentors of certified or licensed staff, or student teachers at the time of the incident from which a claim arises. No agent may be afforded indemnification or protection unless he or she was a member of an Independent Authority, an employee of an Independent Authority, an authorized volunteer, a mentor of certified or licensed staff, or a student teacher at the time of the incident from which the claim arises.
    (n) The State Board may adopt rules as may be necessary for the administration of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25g) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25g)
    Sec. 2-3.25g. Waiver or modification of mandates within the School Code and administrative rules and regulations.
    (a) In this Section:
        "Board" means a school board or the governing board
    
or administrative district, as the case may be, for a joint agreement.
        "Eligible applicant" means a school district, joint
    
agreement made up of school districts, or regional superintendent of schools on behalf of schools and programs operated by the regional office of education.
        "Implementation date" has the meaning set forth in
    
Section 24A-2.5 of this Code.
        "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
    (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this School Code or any other law of this State to the contrary, eligible applicants may petition the State Board of Education for the waiver or modification of the mandates of this School Code or of the administrative rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education. Waivers or modifications of administrative rules and regulations and modifications of mandates of this School Code may be requested when an eligible applicant demonstrates that it can address the intent of the rule or mandate in a more effective, efficient, or economical manner or when necessary to stimulate innovation or improve student performance. Waivers of mandates of the School Code may be requested when the waivers are necessary to stimulate innovation or improve student performance or when the applicant demonstrates that it can address the intent of the mandate of the School Code in a more effective, efficient, or economical manner. Waivers may not be requested from laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to special education, teacher educator licensure, teacher tenure and seniority, or Section 5-2.1 of this Code or from compliance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95). Eligible applicants may not seek a waiver or seek a modification of a mandate regarding the requirements for (i) student performance data to be a significant factor in teacher or principal evaluations or (ii) teachers and principals to be rated using the 4 categories of "excellent", "proficient", "needs improvement", or "unsatisfactory". On September 1, 2014, any previously authorized waiver or modification from such requirements shall terminate.
    (c) Eligible applicants, as a matter of inherent managerial policy, and any Independent Authority established under Section 2-3.25f-5 of this Code may submit an application for a waiver or modification authorized under this Section. Each application must include a written request by the eligible applicant or Independent Authority and must demonstrate that the intent of the mandate can be addressed in a more effective, efficient, or economical manner or be based upon a specific plan for improved student performance and school improvement. Any eligible applicant requesting a waiver or modification for the reason that intent of the mandate can be addressed in a more economical manner shall include in the application a fiscal analysis showing current expenditures on the mandate and projected savings resulting from the waiver or modification. Applications and plans developed by eligible applicants must be approved by the board or regional superintendent of schools applying on behalf of schools or programs operated by the regional office of education following a public hearing on the application and plan and the opportunity for the board or regional superintendent to hear testimony from staff directly involved in its implementation, parents, and students. The time period for such testimony shall be separate from the time period established by the eligible applicant for public comment on other matters.
    (c-5) If the applicant is a school district, then the district shall post information that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the public hearing on its Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing. If the district is requesting to increase the fee charged for driver education authorized pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of this Code, the website information shall include the proposed amount of the fee the district will request. All school districts must publish a notice of the public hearing at least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the hearing. Districts requesting to increase the fee charged for driver education shall include in the published notice the proposed amount of the fee the district will request. If the applicant is a joint agreement or regional superintendent, then the joint agreement or regional superintendent shall post information that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the public hearing on its Internet website at least 14 days prior to the hearing. If the joint agreement or regional superintendent is requesting to increase the fee charged for driver education authorized pursuant to Section 27-24.2 of this Code, the website information shall include the proposed amount of the fee the applicant will request. All joint agreements and regional superintendents must publish a notice of the public hearing at least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in each school district that is a member of the joint agreement or that is served by the educational service region that sets forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the hearing, provided that a notice appearing in a newspaper generally circulated in more than one school district shall be deemed to fulfill this requirement with respect to all of the affected districts. Joint agreements or regional superintendents requesting to increase the fee charged for driver education shall include in the published notice the proposed amount of the fee the applicant will request. The eligible applicant must notify either electronically or in writing the affected exclusive collective bargaining agent and those State legislators representing the eligible applicant's territory of its intent to seek approval of a waiver or modification and of the hearing to be held to take testimony from staff. The affected exclusive collective bargaining agents shall be notified of such public hearing at least 7 days prior to the date of the hearing and shall be allowed to attend such public hearing. The eligible applicant shall attest to compliance with all of the notification and procedural requirements set forth in this Section.
    (d) A request for a waiver or modification of administrative rules and regulations or for a modification of mandates contained in this School Code shall be submitted to the State Board of Education within 15 days after approval by the board or regional superintendent of schools. The application as submitted to the State Board of Education shall include a description of the public hearing. Following receipt of the waiver or modification request, the State Board shall have 45 days to review the application and request. If the State Board fails to disapprove the application within that 45-day period, the waiver or modification shall be deemed granted. The State Board may disapprove any request if it is not based upon sound educational practices, endangers the health or safety of students or staff, compromises equal opportunities for learning, or fails to demonstrate that the intent of the rule or mandate can be addressed in a more effective, efficient, or economical manner or have improved student performance as a primary goal. Any request disapproved by the State Board may be appealed to the General Assembly by the eligible applicant as outlined in this Section.
    A request for a waiver from mandates contained in this School Code shall be submitted to the State Board within 15 days after approval by the board or regional superintendent of schools. The application as submitted to the State Board of Education shall include a description of the public hearing. The description shall include, but need not be limited to, the means of notice, the number of people in attendance, the number of people who spoke as proponents or opponents of the waiver, a brief description of their comments, and whether there were any written statements submitted. The State Board shall review the applications and requests for completeness and shall compile the requests in reports to be filed with the General Assembly. The State Board shall file reports outlining the waivers requested by eligible applicants and appeals by eligible applicants of requests disapproved by the State Board with the Senate and the House of Representatives before each March 1 and October 1.
    The report shall be reviewed by a panel of 4 members consisting of:
        (1) the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
        (2) the Minority Leader of the House of
    
Representatives;
        (3) the President of the Senate; and
        (4) the Minority Leader of the Senate.
The State Board of Education may provide the panel recommendations on waiver requests. The members of the panel shall review the report submitted by the State Board of Education and submit to the State Board of Education any notice of further consideration to any waiver request within 14 days after the member receives the report. If 3 or more of the panel members submit a notice of further consideration to any waiver request contained within the report, the State Board of Education shall submit the waiver request to the General Assembly for consideration. If less than 3 panel members submit a notice of further consideration to a waiver request, the waiver may be approved, denied, or modified by the State Board. If the State Board does not act on a waiver request within 10 days, then the waiver request is approved. If the waiver request is denied by the State Board, it shall submit the waiver request to the General Assembly for consideration.
    The General Assembly may disapprove any waiver request submitted to the General Assembly pursuant to this subsection (d) in whole or in part within 60 calendar days after each house of the General Assembly next convenes after the waiver request is submitted by adoption of a resolution by a record vote of the majority of members elected in each house. If the General Assembly fails to disapprove any waiver request or appealed request within such 60-day period, the waiver or modification shall be deemed granted. Any resolution adopted by the General Assembly disapproving a report of the State Board in whole or in part shall be binding on the State Board.
    (e) An approved waiver or modification may remain in effect for a period not to exceed 5 school years and may be renewed upon application by the eligible applicant. However, such waiver or modification may be changed within that 5-year period by a board or regional superintendent of schools applying on behalf of schools or programs operated by the regional office of education following the procedure as set forth in this Section for the initial waiver or modification request. If neither the State Board of Education nor the General Assembly disapproves, the change is deemed granted.
    (f) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17; 100-782, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25h

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25h) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25h)
    Sec. 2-3.25h. Technical assistance; State support services. Schools, school districts, local school councils, school improvement panels, and any Independent Authority established under Section 2-3.25f-5 of this Code may receive technical assistance that the State Board of Education shall make available. Such technical assistance shall include without limitation assistance in the areas of curriculum evaluation, the instructional process, student performance, school environment, staff effectiveness, school and community relations, parental involvement, resource management, leadership, data analysis processes and tools, school improvement plan guidance and feedback, information regarding scientifically based research-proven curriculum and instruction, and professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators.
(Source: P.A. 98-1155, eff. 1-9-15.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25i

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25i) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25i)
    Sec. 2-3.25i. Rules. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of Public Act 87-559 and this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. The State Board of Education may waive any of its rules or regulations which conflict with Public Act 87-559 or this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly except those requirements for special education and teacher licensure.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25j

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25j) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.25j)
    Sec. 2-3.25j. Implementation. Commencing with the 1992-93 school year and thereafter the provisions of this amendatory Act and any rules adopted hereunder shall be implemented on a schedule identified by the State Board of Education and incorporated as an integral part of the recognition process of the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 93-470, eff. 8-8-03.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25k

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25k)
    Sec. 2-3.25k. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-398, eff. 8-20-95. Repealed by P.A. 93-470, eff. 8-8-03.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25m

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25m)
    Sec. 2-3.25m. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 93-470, eff. 8-8-03. Repealed by P.A. 99-193, eff. 7-30-15.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25n

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25n)
    Sec. 2-3.25n. Every Student Succeeds Act; requirements and construction.
    (a) The federal Every Student Succeeds Act requires that each state develop and implement a single, statewide accountability system applicable to all schools and school districts.
    (b) As provided in the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, nothing in this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly shall be construed to alter or otherwise affect the rights, remedies, and procedures afforded school district or school employees under federal, State, or local law (including applicable rules, regulations, or court orders) or under the terms of collective bargaining agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other agreements between such employees and their employers.
    (c) The State Board of Education may identify a school district as eligible for targeted and comprehensive services under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.
(Source: P.A. 100-1046, eff. 8-23-18.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.25o

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.25o)
    Sec. 2-3.25o. Registration and recognition of non-public elementary and secondary schools.
    (a) Findings. The General Assembly finds and declares (i) that the Constitution of the State of Illinois provides that a "fundamental goal of the People of the State is the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities" and (ii) that the educational development of every school student serves the public purposes of the State. In order to ensure that all Illinois students and teachers have the opportunity to enroll and work in State-approved educational institutions and programs, the State Board of Education shall provide for the voluntary registration and recognition of non-public elementary and secondary schools.
    (b) Registration. All non-public elementary and secondary schools in the State of Illinois may voluntarily register with the State Board of Education on an annual basis. Registration shall be completed in conformance with procedures prescribed by the State Board of Education. Information required for registration shall include assurances of compliance (i) with federal and State laws regarding health examination and immunization, attendance, length of term, and nondiscrimination, including assurances that the school will not prohibit hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture, including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists, and (ii) with applicable fire and health safety requirements.
    (c) Recognition. All non-public elementary and secondary schools in the State of Illinois may voluntarily seek the status of "Non-public School Recognition" from the State Board of Education. This status may be obtained by compliance with administrative guidelines and review procedures as prescribed by the State Board of Education. The guidelines and procedures must recognize that some of the aims and the financial bases of non-public schools are different from public schools and will not be identical to those for public schools, nor will they be more burdensome. The guidelines and procedures must also recognize the diversity of non-public schools and shall not impinge upon the noneducational relationships between those schools and their clientele.
    (c-5) Prohibition against recognition. A non-public elementary or secondary school may not obtain "Non-public School Recognition" status unless the school requires all certified and non-certified applicants for employment with the school, after July 1, 2007, to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal history records check as a condition of employment to determine if such applicants have been convicted of any of the enumerated criminal or drug offenses set forth in Section 21B-80 of this Code or have been convicted, within 7 years of the application for employment, of any other felony under the laws of this State or of any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as a felony under the laws of this State.
    Authorization for the check shall be furnished by the applicant to the school, except that if the applicant is a substitute teacher seeking employment in more than one non-public school, a teacher seeking concurrent part-time employment positions with more than one non-public school (as a reading specialist, special education teacher, or otherwise), or an educational support personnel employee seeking employment positions with more than one non-public school, then only one of the non-public schools employing the individual shall request the authorization. Upon receipt of this authorization, the non-public school shall submit the applicant's name, sex, race, date of birth, social security number, fingerprint images, and other identifiers, as prescribed by the Illinois State Police, to the Illinois State Police.
    The Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation shall furnish, pursuant to a fingerprint-based criminal history records check, records of convictions, forever and hereafter, until expunged, to the president or principal of the non-public school that requested the check. The Illinois State Police shall charge that school a fee for conducting such check, which fee must be deposited into the State Police Services Fund and must not exceed the cost of the inquiry. Subject to appropriations for these purposes, the State Superintendent of Education shall reimburse non-public schools for fees paid to obtain criminal history records checks under this Section.
    A non-public school may not obtain recognition status unless the school also performs a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database, as authorized by the Sex Offender Community Notification Law, and the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database, as authorized by the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, for each applicant for employment, after July 1, 2007, to determine whether the applicant has been adjudicated of a sex offense or of a murder or other violent crime against youth. The checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database must be conducted by the non-public school once for every 5 years that an applicant remains employed by the non-public school.
    Any information concerning the record of convictions obtained by a non-public school's president or principal under this Section is confidential and may be disseminated only to the governing body of the non-public school or any other person necessary to the decision of hiring the applicant for employment. A copy of the record of convictions obtained from the Illinois State Police shall be provided to the applicant for employment. Upon a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database, the non-public school shall notify the applicant as to whether or not the applicant has been identified in the Sex Offender Database as a sex offender. Any information concerning the records of conviction obtained by the non-public school's president or principal under this Section for a substitute teacher seeking employment in more than one non-public school, a teacher seeking concurrent part-time employment positions with more than one non-public school (as a reading specialist, special education teacher, or otherwise), or an educational support personnel employee seeking employment positions with more than one non-public school may be shared with another non-public school's principal or president to which the applicant seeks employment. Any unauthorized release of confidential information may be a violation of Section 7 of the Criminal Identification Act.
    No non-public school may obtain recognition status that knowingly employs a person, hired after July 1, 2007, for whom an Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint-based criminal history records check and a Statewide Sex Offender Database check has not been initiated or who has been convicted of any offense enumerated in Section 21B-80 of this Code or any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as one or more of those offenses. No non-public school may obtain recognition status under this Section that knowingly employs a person who has been found to be the perpetrator of sexual or physical abuse of a minor under 18 years of age pursuant to proceedings under Article II of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
    In order to obtain recognition status under this Section, a non-public school must require compliance with the provisions of this subsection (c-5) from all employees of persons or firms holding contracts with the school, including, but not limited to, food service workers, school bus drivers, and other transportation employees, who have direct, daily contact with pupils. Any information concerning the records of conviction or identification as a sex offender of any such employee obtained by the non-public school principal or president must be promptly reported to the school's governing body.
    Prior to the commencement of any student teaching experience or required internship (which is referred to as student teaching in this Section) in any non-public elementary or secondary school that has obtained or seeks to obtain recognition status under this Section, a student teacher is required to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal history records check. Authorization for and payment of the costs of the check must be furnished by the student teacher to the chief administrative officer of the non-public school where the student teaching is to be completed. Upon receipt of this authorization and payment, the chief administrative officer of the non-public school shall submit the student teacher's name, sex, race, date of birth, social security number, fingerprint images, and other identifiers, as prescribed by the Illinois State Police, to the Illinois State Police. The Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall furnish, pursuant to a fingerprint-based criminal history records check, records of convictions, forever and hereinafter, until expunged, to the chief administrative officer of the non-public school that requested the check. The Illinois State Police shall charge the school a fee for conducting the check, which fee must be passed on to the student teacher, must not exceed the cost of the inquiry, and must be deposited into the State Police Services Fund. The school shall further perform a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database, as authorized by the Sex Offender Community Notification Law, and of the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database, as authorized by the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, for each student teacher. No school that has obtained or seeks to obtain recognition status under this Section may knowingly allow a person to student teach for whom a criminal history records check, a Statewide Sex Offender Database check, and a Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database check have not been completed and reviewed by the chief administrative officer of the non-public school.
    A copy of the record of convictions obtained from the Illinois State Police must be provided to the student teacher. Any information concerning the record of convictions obtained by the chief administrative officer of the non-public school is confidential and may be transmitted only to the chief administrative officer of the non-public school or his or her designee, the State Superintendent of Education, the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, or, for clarification purposes, the Illinois State Police or the Statewide Sex Offender Database or Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database. Any unauthorized release of confidential information may be a violation of Section 7 of the Criminal Identification Act.
    No school that has obtained or seeks to obtain recognition status under this Section may knowingly allow a person to student teach who has been convicted of any offense that would subject him or her to license suspension or revocation pursuant to Section 21B-80 of this Code or who has been found to be the perpetrator of sexual or physical abuse of a minor under 18 years of age pursuant to proceedings under Article II of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
    Any school that has obtained or seeks to obtain recognition status under this Section may not prohibit hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture, including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists.
    (d) Public purposes. The provisions of this Section are in the public interest, for the public benefit, and serve secular public purposes.
    (e) Definition. For purposes of this Section, a non-public school means any non-profit, non-home-based, and non-public elementary or secondary school that is in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and attendance at which satisfies the requirements of Section 26-1 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 102-360, eff. 1-1-22; 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.26

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.26) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.26)
    Sec. 2-3.26. Federal funds. For the purpose of promoting and coordinating school programs for which federal allotments are available, to cooperate with the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare in the establishment of such standards as may be deemed necessary by the State Board of Education, and to accept and expend federal funds made available for such purpose.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.27

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.27) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.27)
    Sec. 2-3.27. Budgets and accounting practices-Forms and procedures.
    To formulate and approve forms, procedure and regulations for school district accounts and budgets required by this Act reflecting the gross amount of income and expenses, receipts and disbursements and extending a net surplus or deficit on operating items, to advise and assist the officers of any district in respect to budgets and accounting practices and in the formulation and use of such books, records and accounts or other forms as may be required to comply with the provisions of this Act; to publish and keep current pamphlets or manuals in looseleaf form relating to budgetary and accounting procedure or similar topics; to make all rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Act relating to budgetary procedure and accounting, such rules and regulations to include but not to be limited to the establishment of a decimal classification of accounts; to confer with various district, county and State officials or take such other action as may be reasonably required to carry out the provisions of this Act relating to budgets and accounting.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.28

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.28) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.28)
    Sec. 2-3.28. Rules and regulations of budget and accounting systems. To prescribe rules and regulations defining what shall constitute a budget and accounting system required under this Act. The rules and regulations shall prescribe the minimum extent of verification, the type of audit, the extent of the audit report and shall require compliance with statutory requirements and standards and such requirements as the State Board of Education deems necessary for an adequate budget and accounting system.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.30

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.30) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.30)
    Sec. 2-3.30. Census for special education. To require on or before December 22 of each year reports as to the census of all children 3 years of age through 21 years of age inclusive of the types described in definitions under the rules authorized in Section 14-1.02 who were receiving special education and related services on December 1 of the current school year.
    To require an annual report, on or before December 22 of each year, from the Department of Corrections containing a census of all children 3 years of age through 21 years of age inclusive of the types described in Section 14-1.02 who were receiving special education services on December 1 of the current school year within State facilities. Such report shall be submitted pursuant to rules and regulations issued by the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.31

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.31) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.31)
    Sec. 2-3.31. Data Division. To maintain a Data Division staffed with competent, full-time persons whose duty it shall be to secure, compile, catalog, publish and preserve information and data relative to the public school system of Illinois, making such comparison as will assist the General Assembly in determining the priorities of educational programs to be of value to the public school system of Illinois and of other states.
(Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.32

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.32) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.32)
    Sec. 2-3.32. Auditing department. To maintain a division of audits whose duty it shall be to establish a system to perform audits, on a sample basis, of claims for state moneys relative to the public school system of Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 98-739, eff. 7-16-14.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.33

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.33) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.33)
    Sec. 2-3.33. Recomputation of claims. To recompute within 3 years from the final date for filing of a claim any claim for general State aid reimbursement to any school district and to recompute and adjust any such claims within 6 years from the final date for filing when there has been an adverse court or administrative agency decision on the merits affecting the tax revenues of the school district. However, no such adjustment shall be made regarding equalized assessed valuation unless the district's equalized assessed valuation is changed by greater than $250,000 or 2%. Any adjustments for claims recomputed for the 2016-2017 school year and prior school years shall be applied to the apportionment of evidence-based funding in Section 18-8.15 of this Code beginning in the 2017-2018 school year and thereafter. However, the recomputation of a claim for evidence-based funding for a school district shall not require the recomputation of claims for all districts, and the State Board of Education shall only make recomputations of evidence-based funding for those districts where an adjustment is required. The State Board is authorized to and shall apply corrections to data used in evidence-based funding calculations that may result in current year adjustments and shall recover funds previously scheduled to be distributed or previously distributed to an Organizational Unit or specially funded unit during a fiscal year in accordance with Section 18-8.15 of this Code.
    Except in the case of an adverse court or administrative agency decision, no recomputation of a State aid claim shall be made pursuant to this Section as a result of a reduction in the assessed valuation of a school district from the assessed valuation of the district reported to the State Board of Education by the Department of Revenue under Section 18-8.05 or 18-8.15 of this Code unless the requirements of Section 16-15 of the Property Tax Code and Section 2-3.84 of this Code are complied with in all respects.
    This paragraph applies to all requests for recomputation of a general State aid or evidence-based funding claim received after June 30, 2003. In recomputing a general State aid or evidence-based funding claim that was originally calculated using an extension limitation equalized assessed valuation under paragraph (3) of subsection (G) of Section 18-8.05 of this Code or Section 18-8.15 of this Code, a qualifying reduction in equalized assessed valuation shall be deducted from the extension limitation equalized assessed valuation that was used in calculating the original claim.
    From the total amount of general State aid or evidence-based funding to be provided to districts, adjustments as a result of recomputation under this Section together with adjustments under Section 2-3.84 must not exceed $25 million, in the aggregate for all districts under both Sections combined, of the general State aid or evidence-based funding appropriation in any fiscal year; if necessary, amounts shall be prorated among districts. If it is necessary to prorate claims under this paragraph, then that portion of each prorated claim that is approved but not paid in the current fiscal year may be resubmitted as a valid claim in the following fiscal year.
(Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 4-19-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.33a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.33a)
    Sec. 2-3.33a. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02. Repealed by P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.34

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.34)
    Sec. 2-3.34. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 1959. Repealed by P.A. 94-108, eff. 7-1-05.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.35

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.35)
    Sec. 2-3.35. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-651, eff. 7-11-02. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.36

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.36) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.36)
    Sec. 2-3.36. Gifts, grants, legacies. To accept and expend gifts, grants or legacies from any source when made for educational purposes if such purposes have been authorized in advance by resolution of the General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 83-388.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.37

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.37)
    Sec. 2-3.37. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 78-505. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.38

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.38)
    Sec. 2-3.38. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 80-1403. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.39

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.39) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.39)
    Sec. 2-3.39. Department of Transitional Bilingual Education. To establish a Department of Transitional Bilingual Education. In selecting staff for the Department of Transitional Bilingual Education the State Board of Education shall give preference to persons who are natives of foreign countries where languages to be used in transitional bilingual education programs are the predominant languages. The Department of Transitional Bilingual Education has the power and duty to:
        (1) Administer and enforce the provisions of Article
    
14C of this Code including the power to promulgate any necessary rules and regulations.
        (2) Study, review, and evaluate all available
    
resources and programs that, in whole or in part, are or could be directed towards meeting the language capability needs of child English learners and adult English learners residing in the State.
        (3) Gather information about the theory and practice
    
of bilingual education in this State and elsewhere, and encourage experimentation and innovation in the field of bilingual education.
        (4) Provide for the maximum practical involvement of
    
parents of bilingual children, transitional bilingual education teachers, representatives of community groups, educators, and laymen knowledgeable in the field of bilingual education in the formulation of policy and procedures relating to the administration of Article 14C of this Code.
        (5) Consult with other public departments and
    
agencies, including but not limited to the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Public Welfare, the Division of Employment Security, the Commission Against Discrimination, and the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in connection with the administration of Article 14C of this Code.
        (6) Make recommendations in the areas of preservice
    
and in-service training for transitional bilingual education teachers, curriculum development, testing and testing mechanisms, and the development of materials for transitional bilingual education programs.
        (7) Undertake any further activities which may assist
    
in the full implementation of Article 14C of this Code and to make an annual report to the General Assembly to include an evaluation of the program, the need for continuing such a program, and recommendations for improvement.
        The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly
    
shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15; 100-1148, eff. 12-10-18.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.40

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.40)
    Sec. 2-3.40. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 86-553. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.41

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.41) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.41)
    Sec. 2-3.41. Chronic truants and truancy prevention. The State Board of Education is empowered to enter into contracts with public or private agencies for the provision of educational services to chronic truants and for the prevention of truancy including training and developmental assistance provided an appropriation is made specifically for such purpose.
(Source: P.A. 84-1420.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.42

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.42) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.42)
    Sec. 2-3.42. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98. Repealed internally, eff. 7-1-98.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.43

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.43)
    Sec. 2-3.43. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 83-287. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.44.

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.44.) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.44)
    Sec. 2-3.44. Ethnic school program standards. To establish minimum standards for foreign language instruction in ethnic schools. Such standards shall seek to insure that the level of foreign language instruction in the ethnic school is at least as high as the level of foreign language instruction in public high schools. An ethnic school is a part time private school which teaches the foreign language of a particular ethnic group as well as the culture, geography, history and other aspects of a particular ethnic group.
(Source: P.A. 83-1362.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.45

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.45) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.45)
    Sec. 2-3.45. Approval of ethnic schools instruction. To approve ethnic schools programs for the purpose of teaching a foreign language if such programs meet the minimum standards established for such programs by the State Board of Education. The Board shall consider for approval only those ethnic schools which voluntarily apply to the Board for approval.
(Source: P.A. 83-1362.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.47

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.47) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.47)
    Sec. 2-3.47. The State Board of Education shall annually submit a budget recommendation to the Governor and General Assembly that contains recommendations for funding for pre-school through grade 12 through Fiscal Year 2026. For Fiscal Year 2027, and annually thereafter, the State Board of Education shall submit a budget recommendation to the Governor and General Assembly that contains recommendations for funding for kindergarten through grade 12.
(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.47a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.47a)
    Sec. 2-3.47a. Strategic plan.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall develop and maintain a continuing comprehensive strategic plan for elementary and secondary education. The strategic plan shall address how the State Board of Education will focus its efforts to increase equity in all Illinois schools and shall include, without limitation, all of the following topic areas:
        (1) Service and support to school districts to
    
improve student performance.
        (2) Programs to improve equitable and strategic
    
resource allocation in all schools.
        (3) Efforts to enhance the social-emotional
    
well-being of Illinois students.
        (4) (Blank).
        (5) (Blank).
        (6) (Blank).
        (7) (Blank).
        (8) (Blank).
        (9) (Blank).
        (10) (Blank).
        (11) (Blank).
        (12) (Blank).
        (13) (Blank).
        (14) Attraction and retention of diverse and
    
qualified teachers and leaders.
        (15) (Blank).
The State Board of Education shall consult with the educational community, hold public hearings, and receive input from all interested groups in drafting the strategic plan.
    (b) To meet the requirements of this Section, the State Board of Education shall issue to the Governor and General Assembly a preliminary report within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly and a final 5-year strategic plan within one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. Thereafter, the State Board shall annually review the strategic plan and, if necessary, update its contents. The State Board shall provide updates regarding the topic areas contained in the strategic plan and any updates to its contents, if applicable, to the Governor and General Assembly on or before July 1 of each year.
(Source: P.A. 102-539, eff. 8-20-21; 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.48

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.48) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.48)
    Sec. 2-3.48. Evaluation institutes. To conduct such inservice institutes on evaluation of certified personnel as are necessary to make such training available to all public school district administrators who evaluate other certified personnel. To report to the employing school board the absence of any administrator registered for such training but not in attendance.
(Source: P.A. 84-972.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.49

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.49) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.49)
    Sec. 2-3.49. Review of evaluation plans. To review evaluation plans submitted by school districts and make public its comments thereon. To reject as unacceptable any plan in which evaluation is to be conducted by administrators who lack the training described in Section 24A-3.
(Source: P.A. 84-972.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.50

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.50) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.50)
    Sec. 2-3.50. Conduct of evaluations. To supply a consulting teacher, as defined in subsection (g) of Section 24A-5, to a district requiring one under the mandates of that Section, and to conduct an evaluation of school district personnel when so required by Section 24A-6.
(Source: P.A. 84-972.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.51

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.51) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.51)
    Sec. 2-3.51. Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. To improve the reading and study skills of children from kindergarten through sixth grade in school districts. The State Board of Education is authorized to administer a Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. As used in this Section:
    "School district" includes those schools designated as "laboratory schools".
    "Scientifically based reading research" means the application of rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant to reading development, reading instruction, and reading difficulties. The term includes research that employs systematic, empirical methods that draw on observation or experiment, involves rigorous data analysis that is adequate to test the stated hypotheses and to justify the general conclusions drawn, relies on measurements or observational methods that provide valid data across evaluators and observers and across multiple measurements and observations, and has been accepted by peer-reviewed journal or approved by a panel of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, objective and scientific review.
    (a) Funds for the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program shall be distributed to school districts on the following basis: 70% of monies shall be awarded on the prior year's best 3 months average daily attendance and 30% shall be distributed on the number of economically disadvantaged (E.C.I.A. Chapter I) pupils in the district, provided that the State Board may distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of the monies appropriated for the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program for the purpose of providing teacher training and re-training in the teaching of reading. Program funds shall be distributed to school districts in 2 semi-annual installments, one payment on or before October 30, and one payment prior to April 30, of each year. The State Board shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this program. Programs provided with grant funds shall not replace quality classroom reading instruction, but shall instead supplement such instruction.
    (a-5) Reading Improvement Block Grant Program funds shall be used by school districts in the following manner:
        (1) to hire reading specialists, reading teachers,
    
and reading aides in order to provide early reading intervention in kindergarten through grade 2 and programs of continued reading support for students in grades 3 through 6;
        (2) in kindergarten through grade 2, to establish
    
short-term tutorial early reading intervention programs for children who are at risk of failing to learn to read; these programs shall (i) focus on scientifically based research and best practices with proven long-term results, (ii) identify students in need of help no later than the middle of first grade, (iii) provide ongoing training for teachers in the program, (iv) focus instruction on strengthening a student's phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension skills, (v) provide a means to document and evaluate student growth, and (vi) provide properly trained staff;
        (3) to continue direct reading instruction for grades
    
3 through 6;
        (4) in grades 3 through 6, to establish programs of
    
support for students who demonstrate a need for continued assistance in learning to read and in maintaining reading achievement; these programs shall (i) focus on scientifically based research and best practices with proven long-term results, (ii) provide ongoing training for teachers and other staff members in the program, (iii) focus instruction on strengthening a student's phonics, fluency, and comprehension skills in grades 3 through 6, (iv) provide a means to evaluate and document student growth, and (v) provide properly trained staff;
        (5) in grades K through 6, to provide classroom
    
reading materials for students; each district may allocate up to 25% of the funds for this purpose; and
        (6) to provide a long-term professional development
    
program for classroom teachers, administrators, and other appropriate staff; the program shall (i) focus on scientifically based research and best practices with proven long-term results, (ii) provide a means to evaluate student progress in reading as a result of the training, (iii) and be provided by approved staff development providers.
    (a-10) Reading Improvement Block Grant Program funds shall be made available to each eligible school district submitting an approved application developed by the State Board beginning with the 1998-99 school year. Applications shall include a proposed assessment method or methods for measuring the reading growth of students who receive direct instruction as a result of the funding and the impact of staff development activities on student growth in reading. Such methods may include the reading portion of the assessments required under Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code. At the end of each school year the district shall report performance of progress results to the State Board. Districts not demonstrating performance progress using an approved assessment method shall not be eligible for funding in the third or subsequent years until such progress is established.
    (a-15) The State Superintendent of Education, in cooperation with the school districts participating in the program, shall annually report to the leadership of the General Assembly on the results of the Reading Improvement Block Grant Program and the progress being made on improving the reading skills of students in kindergarten through the sixth grade.
    (b) (Blank).
    (c) (Blank).
    (d) Grants under the Reading Improvement Program shall be awarded provided there is an appropriation for the program, and funding levels for each district shall be prorated according to the amount of the appropriation.
    (e) (Blank).
    (f) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.51a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.51a)
    Sec. 2-3.51a. Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. To improve the reading and study skills of children from seventh through twelfth grade in school districts. The State Board of Education is authorized to administer a Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program. As used in this Section, "school district" includes those schools designated as laboratory schools.
    (a) Funds for the Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program shall be distributed to school districts on the following basis: 70% of moneys shall be awarded on the prior year's best 3 months average daily attendance and 30% shall be distributed on the number of economically disadvantaged (E.C.I.A. Chapter I) pupils in the district, provided that the State Board may distribute an amount not to exceed 2% of the moneys appropriated for the Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program for the purpose of providing teacher training and re-training in the teaching of reading. Program funds shall be distributed to school districts in 2 semi-annual installments, one payment on or before October 30 and one payment prior to April 30 of each year. The State Board shall adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of this program.
    (b) Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program funds shall be used by school districts in the following manner to support students in grades 7 through 12 who are reading significantly below grade level:
        (1) to continue direct reading instruction for grades
    
7 through 12, focusing on the application of reading skills for understanding informational text;
        (2) to focus on and to commit time and resources to
    
the reading of rich literature;
        (3) to conduct intense vocabulary, spelling, and
    
related writing programs that promote better understanding of language and words;
        (4) to provide professional development based on
    
scientifically based research and best practices and delivered by providers approved by the State Board of Education; and
        (5) to increase the availability of reading
    
specialists and teacher aides trained in research-based reading intervention or improvement practices or both.
    (c) Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program funds shall be made available to each eligible school district submitting an approved application developed by the State Board, beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. Applications shall include a proposed assessment method or methods for measuring student reading skills. Such methods may include the reading portion of State tests. At the end of each school year the district shall report assessment results to the State Board. Districts not demonstrating performance progress using an approved assessment method shall not be eligible for funding in the third or subsequent years until such progress is established.
    (d) The State Superintendent of Education, in cooperation with the school districts participating in the program, shall annually report to the leadership of the General Assembly on the results of the Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program and the progress being made on improving the reading skills of students in grades 7 through 12.
    (e) Grants under the Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program shall be awarded provided there is an appropriation for the program, and funding levels for each district shall be prorated according to the amount of the appropriation. Funding for the program established under Section 2-3.51 of this Code shall not be reduced in order to fund the Continued Reading Improvement Block Grant Program.
(Source: P.A. 93-53, eff. 7-1-03.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.51.5

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.51.5)
    Sec. 2-3.51.5. School Safety and Educational Improvement Block Grant Program. To improve the level of education and safety of students from kindergarten through grade 12 in school districts and State-recognized, non-public schools. The State Board of Education is authorized to fund a School Safety and Educational Improvement Block Grant Program.
    (1) For school districts, the program shall provide funding for school safety, textbooks and software, electronic textbooks and the technological equipment necessary to gain access to and use electronic textbooks, teacher training and curriculum development, school improvements, school report cards under Section 10-17a, and criminal history records checks under Sections 10-21.9 and 34-18.5. For State-recognized, non-public schools, the program shall provide funding for secular textbooks and software, criminal history records checks, and health and safety mandates to the extent that the funds are expended for purely secular purposes. A school district or laboratory school as defined in Section 18-8, 18-8.05, or 18-8.15 is not required to file an application in order to receive the categorical funding to which it is entitled under this Section. Funds for the School Safety and Educational Improvement Block Grant Program shall be distributed to school districts and laboratory schools based on the prior year's best 3 months average daily attendance. Funds for the School Safety and Educational Improvement Block Grant Program shall be distributed to State-recognized, non-public schools based on the average daily attendance figure for the previous school year provided to the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall develop an application that requires State-recognized, non-public schools to submit average daily attendance figures. A State-recognized, non-public school must submit the application and average daily attendance figure prior to receiving funds under this Section. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this program.
    (2) Distribution of moneys to school districts and State-recognized, non-public schools shall be made in 2 semi-annual installments, one payment on or before October 30, and one payment prior to April 30, of each fiscal year.
    (3) Grants under the School Safety and Educational Improvement Block Grant Program shall be awarded provided there is an appropriation for the program, and funding levels for each district shall be prorated according to the amount of the appropriation.
    (4) The provisions of this Section are in the public interest, are for the public benefit, and serve secular public purposes.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.52

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.52)
    Sec. 2-3.52. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 84-126. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.52A

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.52A) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.52A)
    Sec. 2-3.52A. Pilot programs. The State Board of Education may, pursuant to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act and appropriations for such purposes, establish educator preparation pilot programs. Such programs shall be conducted in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Such rules shall provide for, but not be limited to, advisory councils and annual reports on the progress of the pilot programs.
(Source: P.A. 100-1046, eff. 8-23-18.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.53

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.53) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.53)
    Sec. 2-3.53. Administrators' Academy. The State Board of Education shall cause to be established an Illinois Administrators' Academy. This Academy shall develop programs which provide for development of skills in the areas of instructional staff development, school improvement, school accountability, effective communication skills, public school relations, evaluation of personnel, including documentation of employee performance and remediation of unsatisfactory employee performance.
    By January 1, 1986, the State Board of Education shall establish a schedule by which administrators throughout Illinois must receive training through the Academy.
(Source: P.A. 87-1076.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.53a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.53a)
    Sec. 2-3.53a. New principal mentoring program.
    (a) Beginning on July 1, 2007, and subject to an annual appropriation by the General Assembly, to establish a new principal mentoring program for new principals. Any individual who is first hired as a principal on or after July 1, 2007 shall participate in a new principal mentoring program for the duration of his or her first year as a principal and must complete the program in accordance with the requirements established under this Section and by the State Board of Education by rule or, for a school district created by Article 34 of this Code, in accordance with the provisions of Section 34-18.33 of this Code. School districts created by Article 34 are not subject to the requirements of subsection (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (i), (j), (k), (l), or (m) of this Section. Any individual who is first hired as a principal on or after July 1, 2008 may participate in a second year of mentoring if it is determined by the State Superintendent of Education that sufficient funding exists for such participation. The new principal mentoring program shall match an experienced principal who meets the requirements of subsection (b) of this Section with each new principal in order to assist the new principal in the development of his or her professional growth and to provide guidance.
    (b) Any individual who has been a principal in Illinois for 3 or more years and who has demonstrated success as an instructional leader, as determined by the State Board by rule, is eligible to apply to be a mentor under a new principal mentoring program. Eligible mentors shall be selected by approved entities and shall complete mentoring training provided by an approved entity set forth by the State Board by rule.
    (c) Subject to annual appropriation by the General Assembly, the State Board shall establish a competitive grant program to support the new principal mentoring program and shall approve one or more eligible entities to provide services to new principals under the program. Approval of eligible entities shall be valid for 3 years. Eligible entities are defined as regional offices of education, intermediate service centers, Illinois higher education institutions, statewide organizations representing principals, and school districts. Approved entities shall be responsible for mentor training, pairing mentors and new principals, and all other administrative aspects of providing mentoring services as provided by the State Board by rule.
    (d) A mentor shall be assigned to a new principal based on (i) similarity of grade level or type of school, (ii) learning needs of the new principal, and (iii) accessibility of the mentor to the new principal. The principal, in collaboration with the mentor, shall identify areas for improvement of the new principal's professional growth, including, but not limited to, professional growth in the areas addressed in the Illinois Performance Standards for School Leaders.
The mentor shall not provide input into a new principal's evaluation that is completed in accordance with Article 24A of this Code.
    (e) On or before July 1, 2008 and on or after July 1 of each year thereafter, the State Board shall evaluate the new principal mentoring training program in collaboration with the approved entities. Each new principal and his or her mentor must complete a verification form developed by the State Board in order to certify their completion of a new principal mentoring program.
    (f) The requirements of this Section do not apply to any individual who has previously served as an assistant principal in Illinois acting under an administrative endorsement for 5 or more years and who is hired as a principal by the school district in which the individual last served as an assistant principal, although such an individual may choose to participate in this program or may be required to participate in the program by the individual's employing school district.
    (g) The State Board may adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of this Section.
    (h) On an annual basis, the State Superintendent of Education shall determine whether appropriations are likely to be sufficient to require operation of the new principal mentoring program for the coming year.
    (i) If the State Superintendent of Education determines that appropriations are not likely sufficient to serve all anticipated first year principals in any given year, then the new principal mentoring program shall be voluntary and priority access to mentoring services shall be given to first year principals in the highest need schools, as determined by the State Superintendent of Education. The new principal mentoring program shall only be available to second year principals if the State Superintendent of Education first determines that appropriations are likely sufficient to serve all anticipated first year principals. If mentoring services are extended to second year principals and if appropriations are not sufficient to serve all second year principals who wish to participate in the new principal mentoring program, priority access to mentoring services shall be given to second year principals who are in the highest need schools, as determined by the State Superintendent of Education.
    (j) The State Superintendent of Education may determine on a yearly basis the number of mentoring hours required for first year principals and the number of mentoring hours required for second year principals.
    (k) The State Superintendent of Education may determine on a yearly basis the amount of compensation to be provided to first year principal mentors, second year principal mentors, and approved entities.
    (l) Contact hours for mentors and principals may be in person, by telephone, online, or by any other mechanism that allows for synchronous communication between the mentor and new principal. The State Board may, by rule, require a minimum number of in-person contact hours.
    (m) Using funds from the new principal mentoring program, the State Board may contract with an independent party to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the program.
(Source: P.A. 102-521, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.53b

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.53b)
    Sec. 2-3.53b. New superintendent mentoring program.
    (a) Beginning on July 1, 2009 and subject to an annual appropriation by the General Assembly, to establish a new superintendent mentoring program for new superintendents. Any individual who begins serving as a superintendent in this State on or after July 1, 2009 and has not previously served as a school district superintendent in this State shall participate in the new superintendent mentoring program for the duration of his or her first 2 school years as a superintendent and must complete the program in accordance with the requirements established by the State Board of Education by rule. The new superintendent mentoring program shall match an experienced superintendent who meets the requirements of subsection (b) of this Section with each new superintendent in his or her first 2 school years in that position in order to assist the new superintendent in the development of his or her professional growth and to provide guidance during the new superintendent's first 2 school years of service.
    (b) Any individual who has actively served as a school district superintendent in this State for 3 or more years and who has demonstrated success as an instructional leader, as determined by the State Board of Education by rule, is eligible to apply to be a mentor under the new superintendent mentoring program. Mentors shall complete mentoring training through a provider selected by the State Board of Education and shall meet any other requirements set forth by the State Board and by the school district employing the mentor.
    (c) Under the new superintendent mentoring program, a provider selected by the State Board of Education shall assign a mentor to a new superintendent based on (i) similarity of grade level or type of school district, (ii) learning needs of the new superintendent, and (iii) geographical proximity of the mentor to the new superintendent. The new superintendent, in collaboration with the mentor, shall identify areas for improvement of the new superintendent's professional growth, including, but not limited to, each of the following:
        (1) Analyzing data and applying it to practice.
        (2) Aligning professional development and
    
instructional programs.
        (3) Building a professional learning community.
        (4) Effective school board relations.
        (5) Facilitating effective meetings.
        (6) Developing distributive leadership practices.
        (7) Facilitating organizational change.
    The mentor must not be required to provide an evaluation of the new superintendent on the basis of the mentoring relationship.
    (d) From January 1, 2010 until May 15, 2010 and from January 1 until May 15 each year thereafter, each mentor and each new superintendent shall complete a survey of progress of the new superintendent on a form developed by the school district. On or before September 1, 2010 and on or before September 1 of each year thereafter, the provider selected by the State Board of Education shall submit a detailed annual report to the State Board of how the appropriation for the new superintendent mentoring program was spent, details on each mentor-mentee relationship, and a qualitative evaluation of the outcomes. The provider shall develop a verification form that each new superintendent and his or her mentor must complete and submit to the provider to certify completion of each year of the new superintendent mentoring program by July 15 immediately following the school year just completed.
    (e) The requirements of this Section do not apply to any individual who has previously served as an assistant superintendent in a school district in this State acting under an administrative certificate for 5 or more years and who, on or after July 1, 2009, begins serving as a superintendent in the school district where he or she had served as an assistant superintendent immediately prior to being named superintendent, although such an individual may choose to participate in the new superintendent mentoring program or may be required to participate by the school district. The requirements of this Section do not apply to any superintendent or chief executive officer of a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code.
    (f) The State Board may adopt any rules that are necessary for the implementation of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 96-62, eff. 7-23-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.54

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.54)
    Sec. 2-3.54. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 84-1308. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.55

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.55)
    Sec. 2-3.55. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 85-1046. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.55A

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.55A)
    Sec. 2-3.55A. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 85-322. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.56

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.56) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.56)
    Sec. 2-3.56. Evaluation institutes. To conduct as a part of the Administrators' Academy such inservice institutes on evaluation of certified personnel as are necessary to make such training available to all public school district administrators who evaluate other certified personnel. To report to the employing school board the absence of any administrator registered for such training but not in attendance.
(Source: P.A. 84-126.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.57

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.57) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.57)
    Sec. 2-3.57. Review of evaluation plans. To review evaluation plans submitted by school districts and make public its comments thereon. To reject as unacceptable any plan in which evaluation is to be conducted by administrators who lack the training described in Section 24A-3.
(Source: P.A. 84-126.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.58

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.58) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.58)
    Sec. 2-3.58. Conduct of evaluations. To supply a consulting teacher, as defined in subsection (g) of Section 24A-5, to a district requiring one under the mandates of that Section, and to conduct an evaluation of school district personnel when so required by Section 24A-6.
(Source: P.A. 84-126.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.59

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.59) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.59)
    Sec. 2-3.59. Staff development programs. School districts, cooperatives or joint agreements with a governing board or board of control, administrative agents for educational service centers, and regional superintendents acting on behalf of such entities shall conduct staff development programs and may contract with not-for-profit organizations to conduct summer staff development program institutes which specify outcome goals, including the improvement of specific instructional competencies, and which conform to locally developed plans.
(Source: P.A. 94-875, eff. 7-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.60

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.60)
    Sec. 2-3.60. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 84-1283. Repealed by P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.61

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.61)
    Sec. 2-3.61. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 93-21, eff. 7-1-03. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.61a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.61a)
    Sec. 2-3.61a. 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant Program.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall be the designated agency responsible for the administration of programs under Part I of Subchapter X of Chapter 70 of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
    (b) The State Board of Education shall establish and implement a 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant Program, in accordance with federal guidelines, to provide grants to support whole child-focused after-school programs that are aligned with the regular academic programs of a school and the academic needs of students. These grants shall be used to help those students who attend high-poverty, low-performing schools meet State and local performance standards in core academic subjects and, if applicable, increase school day attendance and improve social-emotional skills and to offer opportunities for families of participating students to have meaningful engagement in their children's education that are linked to learning and healthy development outcomes. If appropriate, external stakeholder feedback shall be gathered and used to inform the grant application.
    The State Board of Education shall award grants to eligible applicants that are of sufficient size and scope to implement effective after-school programs, to ensure reasonable success of achieving the goals identified in the grant application, and to offer those activities that are necessary to achieve these goals and performance indicators and measures with a direct link to student achievement.
    (c) Using State funds, subject to appropriation, and any federal funds received for this purpose, the State Board of Education may establish any other grant programs that are necessary to establish high-quality, academically based, after-school programs that include family-centered education activities.
    (d) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 100-1046, eff. 8-23-18.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.62

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.62) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.62)
    Sec. 2-3.62. Educational service centers.
    (a) A regional network of educational service centers shall be established by the State Board of Education to coordinate and combine existing services in a manner which is practical and efficient and to provide new services to schools as provided in this Section. Services to be made available by such centers shall include the planning, implementation and evaluation of:
        (1) (blank);
        (2) computer technology education;
        (3) mathematics, science and reading resources for
    
teachers including continuing education, inservice training and staff development.
    The centers may provide training, technical assistance, coordination and planning in other program areas such as school improvement, school accountability, financial planning, consultation, and services, career guidance, early childhood education, alcohol/drug education and prevention, comprehensive personal health and safety education and comprehensive sexual health education, electronic transmission of data from school districts to the State, alternative education and regional special education, and telecommunications systems that provide distance learning. Such telecommunications systems may be obtained through the Department of Central Management Services pursuant to Section 405-270 of the Department of Central Management Services Law (20 ILCS 405/405-270). The programs and services of educational service centers may be offered to private school teachers and private school students within each service center area provided public schools have already been afforded adequate access to such programs and services.
    Upon the abolition of the office, removal from office, disqualification for office, resignation from office, or expiration of the current term of office of the regional superintendent of schools, whichever is earlier, the chief administrative officer of the centers serving that portion of a Class II county school unit outside of a city of 500,000 or more inhabitants shall have and exercise, in and with respect to each educational service region having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants and in and with respect to each school district located in any such educational service region, all of the rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities theretofore vested by law in and exercised and performed by the regional superintendent of schools for that area under the provisions of this Code or any other laws of this State.
    The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this Section. The rules shall include detailed standards which delineate the scope and specific content of programs to be provided by each Educational Service Center, as well as the specific planning, implementation and evaluation services to be provided by each Center relative to its programs. The Board shall also provide the standards by which it will evaluate the programs provided by each Center.
    (b) Centers serving Class 1 county school units shall be governed by an 11-member board, 3 members of which shall be public school teachers nominated by the local bargaining representatives to the appropriate regional superintendent for appointment and no more than 3 members of which shall be from each of the following categories, including but not limited to superintendents, regional superintendents, school board members and a representative of an institution of higher education. The members of the board shall be appointed by the regional superintendents whose school districts are served by the educational service center. The composition of the board will reflect the revisions of this amendatory Act of 1989 as the terms of office of current members expire.
    (c) The centers shall be of sufficient size and number to assure delivery of services to all local school districts in the State.
    (d) From monies appropriated for this program the State Board of Education shall provide grants paid from the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund to qualifying Educational Service Centers applying for such grants in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education to implement this Section.
    (e) The governing authority of each of the 18 regional educational service centers shall appoint a comprehensive personal health and safety education and comprehensive sexual health education advisory board consisting of 2 parents, 2 teachers, 2 school administrators, 2 school board members, 2 health care professionals, one library system representative, and the director of the regional educational service center who shall serve as chairperson of the advisory board so appointed. Members of the comprehensive personal health and safety education and comprehensive sexual health education advisory boards shall serve without compensation. Each of the advisory boards appointed pursuant to this subsection shall develop a plan for regional teacher-parent comprehensive personal health and safety education and comprehensive sexual health education training sessions and shall file a written report of such plan with the governing board of their regional educational service center. The directors of each of the regional educational service centers shall thereupon meet, review each of the reports submitted by the advisory boards and combine those reports into a single written report which they shall file with the Citizens Council on School Problems prior to the end of the regular school term of the 1987-1988 school year.
    (f) The 14 educational service centers serving Class I county school units shall be disbanded on the first Monday of August, 1995, and their statutory responsibilities and programs shall be assumed by the regional offices of education, subject to rules and regulations developed by the State Board of Education. The regional superintendents of schools elected by the voters residing in all Class I counties shall serve as the chief administrators for these programs and services.
(Source: P.A. 102-522, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.62a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.62a)
    Sec. 2-3.62a. Regional services. The State Board of Education is granted the power to provide the following regional services, either through a regional administrative technology center or otherwise:
        (1) Coordinate the delivery of educational resources
    
and support services statewide, including assistance in complying with State and federal law.
        (2) Issue annual report cards, in conjunction with
    
school report cards under Section 10-17a of this Code and in cooperation with school districts, for regional offices of education, grading without limitation all of the following:
            (A) The efficiency and effectiveness of school
        
districts served resulting from technical assistance and program support.
            (B) The regional delivery of quality services.
            (C) School district satisfaction.
            (D) Delivery of support services that enhance
        
student performance.
        (3) Direct services provided to assist schools
    
designated as not meeting Illinois learning and federal student performance standards.
        (4) Support programs and services to close the
    
achievement gap.
        (5) Assist school districts in pooling
    
administrative or other services and facilitate cooperation among school districts that may be able to achieve economies of scale through shared services. The State Board of Education may exercise this power in cooperation with regional superintendents of schools. The State Board shall not have the power to require a school district to enter into a shared service agreement.
(Source: P.A. 93-1036, eff. 9-14-04.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.63

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.63) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.63)
    Sec. 2-3.63. Local learning objectives and assessment. Each school district may set student learning objectives which meet or exceed goals established by the State and to also establish local goals for excellence in education. If established, such objectives and goals shall be disseminated to the public along with information on the degree to which they are being achieved, and if not, what appropriate actions are being taken. As part of its local assessment system each district shall identify the grade levels used to document progress to parents, the community, and the State in all the fundamental learning areas described in Section 27-1.
(Source: P.A. 94-875, eff. 7-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.64

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.64)
    Sec. 2-3.64. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 97-86, eff. 1-1-12. Repealed by P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a)
    Sec. 2-3.64a. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 90-789, eff. 8-14-98. Repealed by P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-5

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-5)
    Sec. 2-3.64a-5. State goals and assessment.
    (a) For the assessment and accountability purposes of this Section, "students" includes those students enrolled in a public or State-operated elementary school, secondary school, or cooperative or joint agreement with a governing body or board of control, a charter school operating in compliance with the Charter Schools Law, a school operated by a regional office of education under Section 13A-3 of this Code, or a public school administered by a local public agency or the Department of Human Services.
    (b) The State Board of Education shall establish the academic standards that are to be applicable to students who are subject to State assessments under this Section. The State Board of Education shall not establish any such standards in final form without first providing opportunities for public participation and local input in the development of the final academic standards. Those opportunities shall include a well-publicized period of public comment and opportunities to file written comments.
    (c) Beginning no later than the 2014-2015 school year, the State Board of Education shall annually assess all students enrolled in grades 3 through 8 in English language arts and mathematics.
    Beginning no later than the 2017-2018 school year, the State Board of Education shall annually assess all students in science at one grade in grades 3 through 5, at one grade in grades 6 through 8, and at one grade in grades 9 through 12.
    The State Board of Education shall annually assess schools that operate a secondary education program, as defined in Section 22-22 of this Code, in English language arts and mathematics. The State Board of Education shall administer no more than 3 assessments, per student, of English language arts and mathematics for students in a secondary education program. One of these assessments shall be recognized by this State's public institutions of higher education, as defined in the Board of Higher Education Act, for the purpose of student application or admissions consideration. The assessment administered by the State Board of Education for the purpose of student application to or admissions consideration by institutions of higher education must be administered on a school day during regular student attendance hours, and student profile information collected by the assessment shall be made available to the State's public institutions of higher education in a timely manner.
    Students who do not take the State's final accountability assessment or its approved alternate assessment may not receive a regular high school diploma unless the student is exempted from taking the State assessments under subsection (d) of this Section because the student is enrolled in a program of adult and continuing education, as defined in the Adult Education Act, or the student is identified by the State Board of Education, through rules, as being exempt from the assessment.
    The State Board of Education shall not assess students under this Section in subjects not required by this Section.
    Districts shall inform their students of the timelines and procedures applicable to their participation in every yearly administration of the State assessments. The State Board of Education shall establish periods of time in each school year during which State assessments shall occur to meet the objectives of this Section.
    The requirements of this subsection do not apply if the State Board of Education has received a waiver from the administration of assessments from the U.S. Department of Education.
    (d) Every individualized educational program as described in Article 14 shall identify if the State assessment or components thereof require accommodation for the student. The State Board of Education shall develop rules governing the administration of an alternate assessment that may be available to students for whom participation in this State's regular assessments is not appropriate, even with accommodations as allowed under this Section.
    Students receiving special education services whose individualized educational programs identify them as eligible for the alternative State assessments nevertheless shall have the option of also taking this State's regular final accountability assessment, which shall be administered in accordance with the eligible accommodations appropriate for meeting these students' respective needs.
    All students determined to be English learners shall participate in the State assessments. The scores of those students who have been enrolled in schools in the United States for less than 12 months may not be used for the purposes of accountability. Any student determined to be an English learner shall receive appropriate assessment accommodations, including language supports, which shall be established by rule. Approved assessment accommodations must be provided until the student's English language skills develop to the extent that the student is no longer considered to be an English learner, as demonstrated through a State-identified English language proficiency assessment.
    (e) The results or scores of each assessment taken under this Section shall be made available to the parents of each student.
    In each school year, the scores attained by a student on the final accountability assessment must be placed in the student's permanent record pursuant to rules that the State Board of Education shall adopt for that purpose in accordance with Section 3 of the Illinois School Student Records Act. In each school year, the scores attained by a student on the State assessments administered in grades 3 through 8 must be placed in the student's temporary record.
    (f) All schools shall administer the State's academic assessment of English language proficiency to all children determined to be English learners.
    (g) All schools in this State that are part of the sample drawn by the National Center for Education Statistics, in collaboration with their school districts and the State Board of Education, shall administer the academic assessments under the National Assessment of Educational Progress carried out under Section 411(b)(2) of the federal National Education Statistics Act of 1994 (20 U.S.C. 9010) if the U.S. Secretary of Education pays the costs of administering the assessments.
    (h) (Blank).
    (i) For the purposes of this subsection (i), "academically based assessments" means assessments consisting of questions and answers that are measurable and quantifiable to measure the knowledge, skills, and ability of students in the subject matters covered by the assessments. All assessments administered pursuant to this Section must be academically based assessments. The scoring of academically based assessments shall be reliable, valid, and fair and shall meet the guidelines for assessment development and use prescribed by the American Psychological Association, the National Council on Measurement in Education, and the American Educational Research Association.
    The State Board of Education shall review the use of all assessment item types in order to ensure that they are valid and reliable indicators of student performance aligned to the learning standards being assessed and that the development, administration, and scoring of these item types are justifiable in terms of cost.
    (j) The State Superintendent of Education shall appoint a committee of no more than 21 members, consisting of parents, teachers, school administrators, school board members, assessment experts, regional superintendents of schools, and citizens, to review the State assessments administered by the State Board of Education. The Committee shall select one of its members as its chairperson. The Committee shall meet on an ongoing basis to review the content and design of the assessments (including whether the requirements of subsection (i) of this Section have been met), the time and money expended at the local and State levels to prepare for and administer the assessments, the collective results of the assessments as measured against the stated purpose of assessing student performance, and other issues involving the assessments identified by the Committee. The Committee shall make periodic recommendations to the State Superintendent of Education and the General Assembly concerning the assessments.
    (k) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 103-204, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-10

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-10)
    Sec. 2-3.64a-10. Kindergarten assessment.
    (a) For the purposes of this Section, "kindergarten" includes both full-day and half-day kindergarten programs.
    (b) Beginning no later than the 2021-2022 school year, the State Board of Education shall annually assess all public school students entering kindergarten using a common assessment tool, unless the State Board determines that a student is otherwise exempt. The common assessment tool must assess multiple developmental domains, including literacy, language, mathematics, and social and emotional development. The assessment must be valid, reliable, and developmentally appropriate to formatively assess a child's development and readiness for kindergarten.
    (c) Results from the assessment may be used by the school to understand the child's development and readiness for kindergarten, to tailor instruction, and to measure the child's progress over time. Assessment results may also be used to identify a need for the professional development of teachers and early childhood educators and to inform State-level and district-level policies and resource allocation.
    The school shall make the assessment results available to the child's parent or guardian.
    The assessment results may not be used (i) to prevent a child from enrolling in kindergarten or (ii) as the sole measure used in determining the grade promotion or retention of a student.
    (d) On an annual basis, the State Board shall report publicly, at a minimum, data from the assessment for the State overall and for each school district. The State Board's report must disaggregate data by race and ethnicity, household income, students who are English learners, and students who have an individualized education program.
    (e) The State Superintendent of Education shall appoint a committee of no more than 22 members, including the Secretary of Early Childhood or the Secretary's designee, parents, teachers, school administrators, assessment experts, regional superintendents of schools, state policy advocates, early childhood administrators, and other stakeholders, to review, on an ongoing basis, the content and design of the assessment, the collective results of the assessment as measured against kindergarten-readiness standards, and other issues involving the assessment as identified by the committee.
    The committee shall make periodic recommendations to the State Superintendent of Education and the General Assembly concerning the assessments.
    (f) The State Board may adopt rules to implement and administer this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-635, eff. 11-30-21 (See Section 10 of P.A. 102-671 for effective date of P.A. 102-209); 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-15

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.64a-15)
    Sec. 2-3.64a-15. Restrictions on prekindergarten through grade 2 assessments.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Diagnostic and screening purposes" means for the purpose of determining if individual students need remedial instruction or to determine eligibility for special education, early intervention, bilingual education, dyslexia services, advanced academic programs as defined in Section 14A-17 of this Code, or other related educational services. Any assessment used to determine eligibility for special education or related services must be consistent with Section 614 of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. "Diagnostic and screening purposes" includes the identification and evaluation of students with disabilities. "Diagnostic and screening purposes" does not include any assessment in which student scores are used to rate or rank a classroom, program, teacher, school, school district, or jurisdiction.
    "Standardized assessment" means an assessment that requires all student test takers to answer the same questions, or a selection of questions from a common bank of questions, in the same manner or substantially the same questions in the same manner. "Standardized assessment" does not include an observational assessment tool used to satisfy the requirements of Section 2-3.64a-10.
    (b) The State Board of Education may not develop, purchase, or require a school district to administer, develop, or purchase a standardized assessment for students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 2, other than for diagnostic and screening purposes.
    (c) The State Board of Education may not provide funding for any standardized assessment of students enrolled or preparing to enroll in prekindergarten through grade 2, other than for diagnostic and screening purposes.
    (d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit the ability of a classroom teacher or school district to develop, purchase, administer, or score an assessment for an individual classroom, grade level, or group of grade levels in any subject area in prekindergarten through the grade 2.
    (e) Nothing in this Section limits procedures used by a school or school district for child find under 34 CFR 300.111(c) or evaluation under 34 CFR 300.304.
    (f) Nothing in this Section restricts the use of an annual assessment of English proficiency of all English learners to comply with Section 1111(b)(2)(G) of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
(Source: P.A. 102-875, eff. 5-13-22; 103-946, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.64b

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.64b)
    Sec. 2-3.64b. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 96-109, eff. 7-30-09. Repealed by P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.64c

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.64c)
    Sec. 2-3.64c. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 98-1075, eff. 8-26-14. Repealed internally, eff. 6-1-15.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.65

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.65)
    Sec. 2-3.65. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 84-126. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.65a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.65a)
    Sec. 2-3.65a. Arts and foreign language education grant program. There is created an arts and foreign language education grant program to fund arts education and foreign language education programs in the public schools, subject to appropriation to the State Board of Education. The grants shall be for the purpose of supporting arts and foreign language education in the schools, with an emphasis on ensuring that art and foreign language courses are available as part of a school's core curriculum. The State Board of Education shall enter into an agreement with the Illinois Arts Council to cooperate in administering and awarding grants under the program.
(Source: P.A. 94-835, eff. 6-6-06.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.66

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.66) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.66)
    Sec. 2-3.66. Truants' alternative and optional education programs. To establish projects to offer modified instructional programs or other services designed to prevent students from dropping out of school, including programs pursuant to Section 2-3.41, and to serve as a part time or full time option in lieu of regular school attendance and to award grants to local school districts, educational service regions or community college districts from appropriated funds to assist districts in establishing such projects. The education agency may operate its own program or enter into a contract with another not-for-profit entity to implement the program. The projects shall allow dropouts, up to and including age 21, potential dropouts, including truants, uninvolved, unmotivated and disaffected students, as defined by State Board of Education rules and regulations, to enroll, as an alternative to regular school attendance, in an optional education program which may be established by school board policy and is in conformance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Truants' Alternative and Optional Education programs funded pursuant to this Section shall be planned by a student, the student's parents or legal guardians, unless the student is 18 years or older, and school officials and shall culminate in an individualized optional education plan. Such plan shall focus on academic or vocational skills, or both, and may include, but not be limited to, evening school, summer school, community college courses, adult education, preparation courses for high school equivalency testing, vocational training, work experience, programs to enhance self concept and parenting courses. School districts which are awarded grants pursuant to this Section shall be authorized to provide day care services to children of students who are eligible and desire to enroll in programs established and funded under this Section, but only if and to the extent that such day care is necessary to enable those eligible students to attend and participate in the programs and courses which are conducted pursuant to this Section. School districts and regional offices of education may claim general State aid under Section 18-8.05 or evidence-based funding under Section 18-8.15 for students enrolled in truants' alternative and optional education programs, provided that such students are receiving services that are supplemental to a program leading to a high school diploma and are otherwise eligible to be claimed for general State aid under Section 18-8.05 or evidence-based funding under Section 18-8.15, as applicable.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.66a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.66a) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.66a)
    Sec. 2-3.66a. WECE program. The State Board of Education is authorized to develop and establish a work experience and career exploration program. Such program, if established as authorized by this Section shall be designed to provide career related classroom instruction and cooperative work experience for 14 and 15 year old potential dropouts who are full time students in the regular school program. Participation in any work experience and career exploration program established under this Section shall provide school credit for successful completion of the class and paid work experience. The purpose of the program shall be to help academically disadvantaged students with the following special services: (1) basic education development and enrichment leading to improved self-image; (2) career education coupled with work training experiences, not exceeding 23 hours per week, provided by the private sector; and (3) motivation leading to continuation in school after age 16.
    The State Board of Education is authorized to fund school district work experience and career exploration programs, with priority being given to those school districts which have annual dropout rate data and unemployment rates greater than the Statewide average for the previous year.
    Funds for a work experience and career exploration program established under this Section shall be distributed to eligible school districts based on relative ability to pay factors and upon the number of economically disadvantaged students (E.C.I.A. Chapter I pupils) in the districts. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for implementation and continuation of any work experience and career exploration program established as authorized by this Section.
    From funds distributed for purposes of this Section, the State Board of Education is authorized to approve applications from qualifying school districts to help meet each such district's costs of employing teacher coordinators, teacher coordinators' travel expenses, student transportation costs and added training costs to employers.
    Each person employed as a teacher coordinator pursuant to this Section shall possess one year (2,000 hours) of employment in an occupation or occupations directly related to those career or employment areas with respect to which classroom instruction or cooperative work experience is to be provided under the program, and 6 semester hours of formal coursework in the area of organization and administration of work experience and career exploration education, including techniques of coordinating on-the-job experiences and individualized instructional methodology.
    Each work experience and career exploration program shall be limited to a minimum of 12 students and a maximum of 25 students per full-time teacher coordinator. Student limitation is based on the need for individual instruction and supervision time equivalent to one-half hour or more per week per student. Also, each qualified teacher coordinator shall be required to provide a minimum of 200 minutes of instruction per week on general and specific topics related to careers and employment.
    School district applications for participation in a work experience and career exploration program established under this Section shall be approved by the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 86-1441.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.66b

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.66b)
    Sec. 2-3.66b. IHOPE Program.
    (a) There is established the Illinois Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education (IHOPE) Program. The State Board of Education shall implement and administer the IHOPE Program. The goal of the IHOPE Program is to develop a comprehensive system in this State to re-enroll significant numbers of high school dropouts in programs that will enable them to earn their high school diploma.
    (b) The IHOPE Program shall award grants, subject to appropriation for this purpose, to educational service regions and a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code from appropriated funds to assist in establishing instructional programs and other services designed to re-enroll high school dropouts. From any funds appropriated for the IHOPE Program, the State Board of Education may use up to 5% for administrative costs, including the performance of a program evaluation and the hiring of staff to implement and administer the program.
    The IHOPE Program shall provide incentive grant funds for regional offices of education and a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code to develop partnerships with school districts, public community colleges, and community groups to build comprehensive plans to re-enroll high school dropouts in their regions or districts.
    Programs funded through the IHOPE Program shall allow high school dropouts, up to and including age 21 notwithstanding Section 26-2 of this Code, to re-enroll in an educational program in conformance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Programs may include without limitation comprehensive year-round programming, evening school, summer school, community college courses, adult education, vocational training, work experience, programs to enhance self-concept, and parenting courses. Any student in the IHOPE Program who wishes to earn a high school diploma must meet the prerequisites to receiving a high school diploma specified in Section 27-22 of this Code and any other graduation requirements of the student's district of residence. Any student who successfully completes the requirements for his or her graduation shall receive a diploma identifying the student as graduating from his or her district of residence.
    (c) In order to be eligible for funding under the IHOPE Program, an interested regional office of education or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code shall develop an IHOPE Plan to be approved by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall develop rules for the IHOPE Program that shall set forth the requirements for the development of the IHOPE Plan. Each Plan shall involve school districts, public community colleges, and key community programs that work with high school dropouts located in an educational service region or the City of Chicago before the Plan is sent to the State Board for approval. No funds may be distributed to a regional office of education or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code until the State Board has approved the Plan.
    (d) A regional office of education or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code may operate its own program funded by the IHOPE Program or enter into a contract with other not-for-profit entities, including school districts, public community colleges, and not-for-profit community-based organizations, to operate a program.
    A regional office of education or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code that receives an IHOPE grant from the State Board of Education may provide funds under a sub-grant, as specified in the IHOPE Plan, to other not-for-profit entities to provide services according to the IHOPE Plan that was developed. These other entities may include school districts, public community colleges, or not-for-profit community-based organizations or a cooperative partnership among these entities.
    (e) In order to distribute funding based upon the need to ensure delivery of programs that will have the greatest impact, IHOPE Program funding must be distributed based upon the proportion of dropouts in the educational service region or school district, in the case of a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code, to the total number of dropouts in this State. This formula shall employ the dropout data provided by school districts to the State Board of Education.
    A regional office of education or a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code may claim State aid under Section 18-8.05 or 18-8.15 of this Code for students enrolled in a program funded by the IHOPE Program, provided that the State Board of Education has approved the IHOPE Plan and that these students are receiving services that are meeting the requirements of Section 27-22 of this Code for receipt of a high school diploma and are otherwise eligible to be claimed for general State aid under Section 18-8.05 of this Code or evidence-based funding under Section 18-8.15 of this Code, including provisions related to the minimum number of days of pupil attendance pursuant to Section 10-19 of this Code and the minimum number of daily hours of school work required under Section 10-19.05 and any exceptions thereto as defined by the State Board of Education in rules.
    (f) IHOPE categories of programming may include the following:
        (1) Full-time programs that are comprehensive,
    
year-round programs.
        (2) Part-time programs combining work and study
    
scheduled at various times that are flexible to the needs of students.
        (3) Online programs and courses in which students
    
take courses and complete on-site, supervised tests that measure the student's mastery of a specific course needed for graduation. Students may take courses online and earn credit or students may prepare to take supervised tests for specific courses for credit leading to receipt of a high school diploma.
        (4) Dual enrollment in which students attend high
    
school classes in combination with community college classes or students attend community college classes while simultaneously earning high school credit and eventually a high school diploma.
    (g) In order to have successful comprehensive programs re-enrolling and graduating low-skilled high school dropouts, programs funded through the IHOPE Program shall include all of the following components:
        (1) Small programs (70 to 100 students) at a
    
separate school site with a distinct identity. Programs may be larger with specific need and justification, keeping in mind that it is crucial to keep programs small to be effective.
        (2) Specific performance-based goals and outcomes
    
and measures of enrollment, attendance, skills, credits, graduation, and the transition to college, training, and employment.
        (3) Strong, experienced leadership and teaching
    
staff who are provided with ongoing professional development.
        (4) Voluntary enrollment.
        (5) High standards for student learning, integrating
    
work experience, and education, including during the school year and after school, and summer school programs that link internships, work, and learning.
        (6) Comprehensive programs providing extensive
    
support services.
        (7) Small teams of students supported by full-time
    
paid mentors who work to retain and help those students graduate.
        (8) A comprehensive technology learning center with
    
Internet access and broad-based curriculum focusing on academic and career subject areas.
        (9) Learning opportunities that incorporate action
    
into study.
    (h) Programs funded through the IHOPE Program must report data to the State Board of Education as requested. This information shall include, but is not limited to, student enrollment figures, attendance information, course completion data, graduation information, and post-graduation information, as available.
    (i) Rules must be developed by the State Board of Education to set forth the fund distribution process to regional offices of education and a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code, the planning and the conditions upon which an IHOPE Plan would be approved by State Board, and other rules to develop the IHOPE Program.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17; 101-12, eff. 7-1-19.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.67

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.67)
    Sec. 2-3.67. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 84-126. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.68

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.68)
    Sec. 2-3.68. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 85-1440. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.69

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.69) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.69)
    Sec. 2-3.69. Tutoring services. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations defining basic requirements which must be met by students of institutions of higher education who are selected by such institutions to furnish tutoring services under the Educational Partnership Act, as now or hereafter amended.
(Source: P.A. 84-1308.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.70

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.70)
    Sec. 2-3.70. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97. Repealed by P.A. 98-739, eff. 7-16-14.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.71

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.71) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.71)
    Sec. 2-3.71. Grants for preschool educational programs.
    (a) Preschool program.
        (1) Through June 30, 2026, the State Board of
    
Education shall implement and administer a grant program under the provisions of this subsection which shall consist of grants to public school districts and other eligible entities, as defined by the State Board of Education, to conduct voluntary preschool educational programs for children ages 3 to 5 which include a parent education component. A public school district which receives grants under this subsection may subcontract with other entities that are eligible to conduct a preschool educational program. These grants must be used to supplement, not supplant, funds received from any other source.
        (1.5) On and after July 1, 2026, the Department of
    
Early Childhood shall implement and administer a grant program for school districts and other eligible entities, as defined by the Department, to conduct voluntary preschool educational programs for children ages 3 to 5 which include a parent education component. A public school district which receives grants under this subsection may subcontract with other entities that are eligible to conduct a preschool educational program. These grants must be used to supplement, not supplant, funds received from any other source.
        (2) (Blank).
        (3) Except as otherwise provided under this
    
subsection (a), any teacher of preschool children in the program authorized by this subsection shall hold a Professional Educator License with an early childhood education endorsement.
        (3.5) Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year and
    
until the 2028-2029 school year, an individual may teach preschool children in an early childhood program under this Section if he or she holds a Professional Educator License with an early childhood education endorsement or with short-term approval for early childhood education or he or she pursues a Professional Educator License and holds any of the following:
            (A) An ECE Credential Level of 5 awarded by the
        
Department of Human Services under the Gateways to Opportunity Program developed under Section 10-70 of the Department of Human Services Act.
            (B) An Educator License with Stipulations with a
        
transitional bilingual educator endorsement and he or she has (i) passed an early childhood education content test or (ii) completed no less than 9 semester hours of postsecondary coursework in the area of early childhood education.
        (4) (Blank).
        (4.5) Through June 30, 2026, the State Board of
    
Education shall provide the primary source of funding through appropriations for the program. On and after July 1, 2026, the Department of Early Childhood shall provide the primary source of funding through appropriations for the program. Such funds shall be distributed to achieve a goal of "Preschool for All Children" for the benefit of all children whose families choose to participate in the program. Based on available appropriations, newly funded programs shall be selected through a process giving first priority to qualified programs serving primarily at-risk children and second priority to qualified programs serving primarily children with a family income of less than 4 times the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2). For purposes of this paragraph (4.5), at-risk children are those who because of their home and community environment are subject to such language, cultural, economic and like disadvantages to cause them to have been determined as a result of screening procedures to be at risk of academic failure. Through June 30, 2026, such screening procedures shall be based on criteria established by the State Board of Education. On and after July 1, 2026, such screening procedures shall be based on criteria established by the Department of Early Childhood.
        Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (4.5),
    
grantees under the program must enter into a memorandum of understanding with the appropriate local Head Start agency. This memorandum must be entered into no later than 3 months after the award of a grantee's grant under the program, except that, in the case of the 2009-2010 program year, the memorandum must be entered into no later than the deadline set by the State Board of Education for applications to participate in the program in fiscal year 2011, and must address collaboration between the grantee's program and the local Head Start agency on certain issues, which shall include without limitation the following:
            (A) educational activities, curricular
        
objectives, and instruction;
            (B) public information dissemination and access
        
to programs for families contacting programs;
            (C) service areas;
            (D) selection priorities for eligible children to
        
be served by programs;
            (E) maximizing the impact of federal and State
        
funding to benefit young children;
            (F) staff training, including opportunities for
        
joint staff training;
            (G) technical assistance;
            (H) communication and parent outreach for smooth
        
transitions to kindergarten;
            (I) provision and use of facilities,
        
transportation, and other program elements;
            (J) facilitating each program's fulfillment of
        
its statutory and regulatory requirements;
            (K) improving local planning and collaboration;
        
and
            (L) providing comprehensive services for the
        
neediest Illinois children and families.
    Through June 30, 2026, if the appropriate local Head
    
Start agency is unable or unwilling to enter into a memorandum of understanding as required under this paragraph (4.5), the memorandum of understanding requirement shall not apply and the grantee under the program must notify the State Board of Education in writing of the Head Start agency's inability or unwillingness. The State Board of Education shall compile all such written notices and make them available to the public. On and after July 1, 2026, if the appropriate local Head Start agency is unable or unwilling to enter into a memorandum of understanding as required under this paragraph (4.5), the memorandum of understanding requirement shall not apply and the grantee under the program must notify the Department of Early Childhood in writing of the Head Start agency's inability or unwillingness. The Department of Early Childhood shall compile all such written notices and make them available to the public.
        (5) Through June 30, 2026, the State Board of
    
Education shall develop and provide evaluation tools, including tests, that school districts and other eligible entities may use to evaluate children for school readiness prior to age 5. The State Board of Education shall require school districts and other eligible entities to obtain consent from the parents or guardians of children before any evaluations are conducted. The State Board of Education shall encourage local school districts and other eligible entities to evaluate the population of preschool children in their communities and provide preschool programs, pursuant to this subsection, where appropriate.
        (5.1) On and after July 1, 2026, the Department of
    
Early Childhood shall develop and provide evaluation tools, including tests, that school districts and other eligible entities may use to evaluate children for school readiness prior to age 5. The Department of Early Childhood shall require school districts and other eligible entities to obtain consent from the parents or guardians of children before any evaluations are conducted. The Department of Early Childhood shall encourage local school districts and other eligible entities to evaluate the population of preschool children in their communities and provide preschool programs, pursuant to this subsection, where appropriate.
        (6) Through June 30, 2026, the State Board of
    
Education shall report to the General Assembly by November 1, 2018 and every 2 years thereafter on the results and progress of students who were enrolled in preschool educational programs, including an assessment of which programs have been most successful in promoting academic excellence and alleviating academic failure. Through June 30, 2026, the State Board of Education shall assess the academic progress of all students who have been enrolled in preschool educational programs.
        Through fiscal year 2026, on or before November 1 of
    
each fiscal year in which the General Assembly provides funding for new programs under paragraph (4.5) of this Section, the State Board of Education shall report to the General Assembly on what percentage of new funding was provided to programs serving primarily at-risk children, what percentage of new funding was provided to programs serving primarily children with a family income of less than 4 times the federal poverty level, and what percentage of new funding was provided to other programs.
        (6.1) On and after July 1, 2026, the Department of
    
Early Childhood shall report to the General Assembly by November 1, 2026 and every 2 years thereafter on the results and progress of students who were enrolled in preschool educational programs, including an assessment of which programs have been most successful in promoting academic excellence and alleviating academic failure. On and after July 1, 2026, the Department of Early Childhood shall assess the academic progress of all students who have been enrolled in preschool educational programs. Beginning in fiscal year 2027, on or before November 1 of each fiscal year in which the General Assembly provides funding for new programs under paragraph (4.5) of this Section, the Department of Early Childhood shall report to the General Assembly on what percentage of new funding was provided to programs serving primarily at-risk children, what percentage of new funding was provided to programs serving primarily children with a family income of less than 4 times the federal poverty level, and what percentage of new funding was provided to other programs.
        (7) Due to evidence that expulsion practices in the
    
preschool years are linked to poor child outcomes and are employed inconsistently across racial and gender groups, early childhood programs receiving State funds under this subsection (a) shall prohibit expulsions. Planned transitions to settings that are able to better meet a child's needs are not considered expulsion under this paragraph (7).
            (A) When persistent and serious challenging
        
behaviors emerge, the early childhood program shall document steps taken to ensure that the child can participate safely in the program; including observations of initial and ongoing challenging behaviors, strategies for remediation and intervention plans to address the behaviors, and communication with the parent or legal guardian, including participation of the parent or legal guardian in planning and decision-making.
            (B) The early childhood program shall, with
        
parental or legal guardian consent as required, utilize a range of community resources, if available and deemed necessary, including, but not limited to, developmental screenings, referrals to programs and services administered by a local educational agency or early intervention agency under Parts B and C of the federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act, and consultation with infant and early childhood mental health consultants and the child's health care provider. The program shall document attempts to engage these resources, including parent or legal guardian participation and consent attempted and obtained. Communication with the parent or legal guardian shall take place in a culturally and linguistically competent manner.
            (C) If there is documented evidence that all
        
available interventions and supports recommended by a qualified professional have been exhausted and the program determines in its professional judgment that transitioning a child to another program is necessary for the well-being of the child or his or her peers and staff, with parent or legal guardian permission, both the current and pending programs shall create a transition plan designed to ensure continuity of services and the comprehensive development of the child. Communication with families shall occur in a culturally and linguistically competent manner.
            (D) Nothing in this paragraph (7) shall preclude
        
a parent's or legal guardian's right to voluntarily withdraw his or her child from an early childhood program. Early childhood programs shall request and keep on file, when received, a written statement from the parent or legal guardian stating the reason for his or her decision to withdraw his or her child.
            (E) In the case of the determination of a serious
        
safety threat to a child or others or in the case of behaviors listed in subsection (d) of Section 10-22.6 of this Code, the temporary removal of a child from attendance in group settings may be used. Temporary removal of a child from attendance in a group setting shall trigger the process detailed in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of this paragraph (7), with the child placed back in a group setting as quickly as possible.
            (F) Early childhood programs may utilize and the
        
Department of Early Childhood, State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services shall recommend training, technical support, and professional development resources to improve the ability of teachers, administrators, program directors, and other staff to promote social-emotional development and behavioral health, to address challenging behaviors, and to understand trauma and trauma-informed care, cultural competence, family engagement with diverse populations, the impact of implicit bias on adult behavior, and the use of reflective practice techniques. Support shall include the availability of resources to contract with infant and early childhood mental health consultants.
            (G) Through June 30, 2026, early childhood
        
programs shall annually report to the State Board of Education, and, beginning in fiscal year 2020, the State Board of Education shall make available on a biennial basis, in an existing report, all of the following data for children from birth to age 5 who are served by the program:
                (i) Total number served over the course of
            
the program year and the total number of children who left the program during the program year.
                (ii) Number of planned transitions to another
            
program due to children's behavior, by children's race, gender, disability, language, class/group size, teacher-child ratio, and length of program day.
                (iii) Number of temporary removals of a child
            
from attendance in group settings due to a serious safety threat under subparagraph (E) of this paragraph (7), by children's race, gender, disability, language, class/group size, teacher-child ratio, and length of program day.
                (iv) Hours of infant and early childhood
            
mental health consultant contact with program leaders, staff, and families over the program year.
            (G-5) On and after July 1, 2026, early childhood
        
programs shall annually report to the Department of Early Childhood, and beginning in fiscal year 2028, the Department of Early Childhood shall make available on a biennial basis, in a report, all of the following data for children from birth to age 5 who are served by the program:
                (i) Total number served over the course of
            
the program year and the total number of children who left the program during the program year.
                (ii) Number of planned transitions to another
            
program due to children's behavior, by children's race, gender, disability, language, class/group size, teacher-child ratio, and length of program day.
                (iii) Number of temporary removals of a child
            
from attendance in group settings due to a serious safety threat under subparagraph (E) of this paragraph (7), by children's race, gender, disability, language, class/group size, teacher-child ratio, and length of program day.
                (iv) Hours of infant and early childhood
            
mental health consultant contact with program leaders, staff, and families over the program year.
            (H) Changes to services for children with an
        
individualized education program or individual family service plan shall be construed in a manner consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
        The Department of Early Childhood, in consultation
    
with the Department of Children and Family Services, shall adopt rules to administer this paragraph (7).
    (b) (Blank).
    (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, grantees may serve children ages 0 to 12 of essential workers if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. For the purposes of this subsection, essential workers include those outlined in Executive Order 20-8 and school employees. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to administer this subsection.
    (d) Paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(1.5), (a)(4.5), (a)(5), (a)(5.1), (a)(6), (a)(6.1), and (a)(7) and subsection (c) of this Section are inoperative on and after July 1, 2026.
(Source: P.A. 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.71a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.71a) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.71a)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2026)
    Sec. 2-3.71a. Grants for early childhood parental training programs. The State Board of Education shall implement and administer a grant program consisting of grants to public school districts and other eligible entities, as defined by the State Board of Education, to conduct early childhood parental training programs for the parents of children in the period of life from birth to kindergarten. A public school district that receives grants under this Section may contract with other eligible entities to conduct an early childhood parental training program. These grants must be used to supplement, not supplant, funds received from any other source. A school board or other eligible entity shall employ appropriately qualified personnel for its early childhood parental training program, including but not limited to certified teachers, counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers.
    (a) As used in this Section, "parental training" means and includes instruction in the following:
        (1) Child growth and development, including prenatal
    
development.
        (2) Childbirth and child care.
        (3) Family structure, function and management.
        (4) Prenatal and postnatal care for mothers and
    
infants.
        (5) Prevention of child abuse.
        (6) The physical, mental, emotional, social, economic
    
and psychological aspects of interpersonal and family relationships.
        (7) Parenting skill development.
    The programs shall include activities that require substantial participation and interaction between parent and child.
    (b) The Board shall annually award funds through a grant approval process established by the State Board of Education, providing that an annual appropriation is made for this purpose from State, federal or private funds. Nothing in this Section shall preclude school districts from applying for or accepting private funds to establish and implement programs.
    (c) The State Board of Education shall assist those districts and other eligible entities offering early childhood parental training programs, upon request, in developing instructional materials, training teachers and staff, and establishing appropriate time allotments for each of the areas included in such instruction.
    (d) School districts and other eligible entities may offer early childhood parental training courses during that period of the day which is not part of the regular school day. Residents of the community may enroll in such courses. The school board or other eligible entity may establish fees and collect such charges as may be necessary for attendance at such courses in an amount not to exceed the per capita cost of the operation thereof, except that the board or other eligible entity may waive all or part of such charges if it determines that the parent is indigent or that the educational needs of the parent require his or her attendance at such courses.
    (e) Parents who participate in early childhood parental training programs under this Section may be eligible for reasonable reimbursement of any incidental transportation and child care expenses from the school district receiving funds pursuant to this Section.
    (f) Districts and other eligible entities receiving grants pursuant to this Section shall coordinate programs created under this Section with other preschool educational programs, including "at-risk" preschool programs, special and vocational education, and related services provided by other governmental agencies and not-for-profit agencies.
    (g) The State Board of Education shall report to the General Assembly by July 1, 1991, on the results of the programs funded pursuant to this Section and whether a need continues for such programs.
    (h) After July 1, 2006, any parental training services funded pursuant to this Section on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly shall continue to be funded pursuant to this Section, subject to appropriation and the meeting of program standards. Any additional parental training services must be funded, subject to appropriation, through preschool education grants pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of this Code for families with children ages 3 to 5 and through prevention initiative grants pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 2-3.89 of this Code for expecting families and those with children from birth to 3 years of age.
    (i) Early childhood programs under this Section are subject to the requirements under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of this Code.
    (j) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2026.
(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.72

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.72)
    Sec. 2-3.72. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 84-1308. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.73

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.73) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.73)
    Sec. 2-3.73. Missing child program. The State Board of Education shall administer and implement a missing child program in accordance with the provisions of this Section. Upon receipt of each periodic information bulletin from the Illinois State Police pursuant to Section 6 of the Intergovernmental Missing Child Recovery Act of 1984, the State Board of Education shall promptly disseminate the information to each school district in this State and to the principal or chief administrative officer of every nonpublic elementary and secondary school in this State registered with the State Board of Education. Upon receipt of such information, each school board shall compare the names on the bulletin to the names of all students presently enrolled in the schools of the district. If a school board or its designee determines that a missing child is attending one of the schools within the school district, or if the principal or chief administrative officer of a nonpublic school is notified by school personnel that a missing child is attending that school, the school board or the principal or chief administrative officer of the nonpublic school shall immediately give notice of this fact to the Illinois State Police and the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the area where the missing child resides or attends school.
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.74

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.74)
    Sec. 2-3.74. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 84-1308. Repealed by P.A. 97-256, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.76

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.76) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.76)
    Sec. 2-3.76. The State Board of Education shall be the State agency responsible for ensuring that educational services are provided to all eligible children in Illinois. This shall enhance the ability of the State Board to guarantee that an appropriate education is made available to each eligible child regardless of which agency places a child or is responsible for its care and custody. In order to fully implement this Section the State Board shall have the authority to ensure that the educational programs provided by the Department of Human Services and the Department of Corrections, the educational components of the residential schools operated by the Department of Human Services, and the educational placements paid for by the Department of Children and Family Services shall meet the standards of programs that shall be provided to all eligible children.
(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.77

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.77) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.77)
    Sec. 2-3.77. Temporary relocation expenses.
    (a) The State Board of Education may distribute loan or grant moneys appropriated for temporary relocation expenses incurred by school districts as a result of fires, earthquakes, tornados, mine subsidence, or other natural or man-made disasters which destroy school buildings, or as a result of the condemnation of a school building under Section 3-14.22. The State Board of Education shall by rule prescribe those expenses which qualify as temporary relocation expenses and the manner of determining and reporting the same, provided that such expenses shall be deemed to include amounts reasonably required to be expended for the lease, rental, and renovation of educational facilities and for additional transportation and other expenses directly associated with the temporary relocation and housing of the normal operations, activities, and affairs of a school district.
    (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), no moneys appropriated to the State Board of Education for purposes of distribution in accordance with the provisions of this Section shall be distributed to any school district unless the school board of such district, as an express condition of any such distribution, agrees to levy the tax provided for by Section 17-2.2c at the maximum rate permitted thereunder and to pay to the State of Illinois for deposit in the Temporary Relocation Expenses Revolving Grant Fund (i) all proceeds of such tax attributable to the first year and succeeding years for which the tax is levied after moneys appropriated for purposes of this Section have been distributed to the school district, and (ii) all insurance proceeds which become payable to the district under those provisions of any contract or policy of insurance which provide reimbursement for or other coverage against loss with respect to any temporary relocation expenses of the school district; provided, that the aggregate of any tax and insurance proceeds paid by the school district to the State pursuant to this Section shall not exceed in amount the moneys distributed to the school district pursuant to this Section.
    (c) The State Board of Education may, from appropriations made for this purpose from the Temporary Relocation Expenses Revolving Grant Fund, make grants that do not require repayment to school districts that qualify for temporary relocation assistance under this Section to the extent that the amount of temporary relocation expenses incurred by a district exceeds the amount that the district is able to repay to the State through insurance proceeds and the tax levy authorized in Section 17-2.2c.
    (d) The Temporary Relocation Expenses Revolving Grant Fund is hereby established as a special fund within the State treasury. Appropriations and amounts that school districts repay to the State under subsection (b) of this Section shall be deposited into that Fund. If the balance in that Fund exceeds $3,000,000, the excess shall be transferred into the General Revenue Fund.
    (e) The State Board of Education shall promulgate such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section, as are necessary to provide for the distribution of loan and grant moneys and for the repayment of loan moneys distributed pursuant to this Section.
(Source: P.A. 96-102, eff. 7-29-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.78

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.78) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.78)
    Sec. 2-3.78. Rights of children with disabilities to free appropriate public education. The State Board of Education is encouraged to use free access radio and television to inform the public of the right of all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education under this Code and the Education of the Handicapped Act, as amended.
(Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.79

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.79) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.79)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2026)
    Sec. 2-3.79. Pilot programs and special education services for preschool children with disabilities from birth to age 3. The State Board of Education may enter into contracts with public or not-for-profit private organizations or agencies to establish model pilot programs which provide services to children with disabilities from birth up to the age of 3 years. Annual grants shall be awarded on a competitive basis pursuant to established criteria provided that there is an annual appropriation for this purpose. Public or not-for-profit private organizations or agencies that are providing services to children with disabilities up to the age of 3 years prior to September 22, 1985 are eligible to receive grants awarded pursuant to this Section.
    Each pilot program shall include, but not be limited to: a process for identification of infants with disabilities in the region; community awareness of the project and the services provided; an intervention system; methods to assess and diagnose infants with disabilities; written individual treatment programs that include parental involvement; an interdisciplinary treatment approach to include other agencies and not-for-profit organizations; and a written evaluation submitted to the State Board of Education at the end of the grant period.
    An Interagency Coordination Council shall be established consisting of a representative of the State Superintendent of Education who shall serve as chairman, and one representative from the following departments appointed by the respective directors or secretary: Children and Family Services, Public Health, Human Services, Public Aid, and the Division of Specialized Care for Children of the University of Illinois. The council shall recommend criteria to the State Board of Education for the awarding of grants pursuant to this Section and shall assist in coordinating the services provided by agencies to the children with disabilities described in this Section.
    A report containing recommendations concerning all of the pilot programs shall be submitted by the State Board of Education to the General Assembly by January of 1989. The report which shall analyze the results of the pilot programs funded under this Section and make recommendations concerning existing and proposed programs shall include, but not be limited to: recommendations for staff licensure and qualifications; the number of children and families eligible for services statewide; the cost of serving the children and their families; the types of services to be provided; and designs for the most effective delivery systems of these services.
    This Section is repealed on July 1, 2026.
(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.80

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.80) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.80)
    Sec. 2-3.80. (a) The General Assembly recognizes that agriculture is the most basic and singularly important industry in the State, that agriculture is of central importance to the welfare and economic stability of the State, and that the maintenance of this vital industry requires a continued source of trained and qualified individuals for employment in agriculture and agribusiness. The General Assembly hereby declares that it is in the best interests of the people of the State of Illinois that a comprehensive education program in agriculture be created and maintained by the State's public school system in order to ensure an adequate supply of trained and skilled individuals and to ensure appropriate representation of racial and ethnic groups in all phases of the industry. It is the intent of the General Assembly that a State program for agricultural education shall be a part of the curriculum of the public school system K through adult, and made readily available to all school districts which may, at their option, include programs in education in agriculture as a part of the curriculum of that district.
    (b) The State Board of Education shall adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Section. The rules and regulations shall not create any new State mandates on school districts as a condition of receiving federal, State, and local funds by those entities. It is in the intent of the General Assembly that, although this Section does not create any new mandates, school districts are strongly advised to follow the guidelines set forth in this Section.
    (c) The State Superintendent of Education shall assume responsibility for the administration of the State program adopted under this Section throughout the public school system as well as the articulation of the State program to the requirements and mandates of federally assisted education. There is currently within the State Board of Education an agricultural education unit to assist school districts in the establishment and maintenance of educational programs pursuant to the provisions of this Section. The staffing of the unit shall at all times be comprised of an appropriate number of full-time employees who shall serve as program consultants in agricultural education and shall be available to provide assistance to school districts. At least one consultant shall be responsible for the coordination of the State program, as Head Consultant. At least one consultant shall be responsible for the coordination of the activities of student and agricultural organizations and associations.
    (d) A committee of 13 agriculturalists representative of the various and diverse areas of the agricultural industry in Illinois shall be established to at least develop a curriculum and overview the implementation of the Build Illinois through Quality Agricultural Education plans of the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education and to advise the State Board of Education on vocational agricultural education, including the administration of the agricultural education line item appropriation and agency rulemaking that affects agricultural education educators. The committee shall be composed of the following:
        (1) 3 agriculturalists representing the Illinois
    
Leadership Council for Agricultural Education;
        (2) 3 agriculturalists;
        (3) 2 secondary agriculture teachers;
        (4) one representative of "Ag In The Classroom";
        (5) one community college agriculture teacher;
        (6) one adult agriculture educator;
        (7) one university agriculture teacher educator; and
        (8) one FFA representative.
    All members of the committee shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The terms of all members so appointed shall be for 3 years, except that of the members initially appointed, 5 shall be appointed to serve for terms of one year, 4 shall be appointed to serve for terms of 2 years, and 4 shall be appointed to serve for terms of 3 years. All members of the committee shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. Subject to a requirement that committee members in office before January 1, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-463) may serve the full term to which they were appointed, the appointment of committee members to terms that commence on or after January 1, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-463) shall be made in a manner that gives effect at the earliest possible time to the changes that are required by Public Act 102-463 in the representative composition of the committee's membership.
    Vacancies in terms shall be filled by appointment of the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for the extent of the unexpired term.
    The State Board of Education shall implement a Build Illinois through Quality Agricultural Education plan following receipt of these recommendations, which shall be made available on or before March 31, 1987. Recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, the development of a curriculum and a strategy for the purpose of establishing a source of trained and qualified individuals in agriculture, a strategy for articulating the State program in agricultural education throughout the public school system, and a consumer education outreach strategy regarding the importance of agriculture in Illinois.
    The committee of agriculturalists shall serve without compensation.
    (e) A school district that offers a secondary agricultural education program that is approved for State and federal funding must ensure that, at a minimum, all of the following are available to its secondary agricultural education students:
        (1) An instructional sequence of courses approved by
    
the State Board of Education.
        (2) A State and nationally affiliated FFA (Future
    
Farmers of America) chapter that is integral to instruction and is not treated solely as an extracurricular activity.
        (3) A mechanism for ensuring the involvement of all
    
secondary agricultural education students in formal, supervised, agricultural-experience activities and programs.
    (f) Nothing in this Section may prevent those secondary agricultural education programs that are in operation before January 1, 2007 (the effective date of Public Act 94-855) and that do not have an active State and nationally affiliated FFA chapter from continuing to operate or from continuing to receive funding from the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 102-463, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.80a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.80a)
    Sec. 2-3.80a. Agricultural science teacher education.
    (a) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall develop an agricultural science teacher education training continuum beginning at the secondary level and shall provide grants to the following:
        (1) institutions of higher education that offer
    
State-approved agricultural science teacher preparation programs; and
        (2) public community colleges in this State that
    
provide an articulated agricultural science teacher education course of study.
    (b) The funds provided by the State Board of Education under subsection (a) of this Section may be used to support the following activities:
        (1) Teacher education candidate recruitment and
    
retention incentives.
        (2) Having Master teachers and practitioners assist
    
with various aspects of the recruitment of potential candidates and the preparation of those candidates as skilled and qualified teachers of agricultural education.
        (3) Establishing, delivering, arranging for, or
    
providing financial support for professional development experiences for new agricultural science teachers during their first 5 years of teaching.
        (4) Professional development for faculty in
    
universities' agricultural education teacher preparation programs and for community college agriculture faculty responsible for instruction in agricultural education teacher preparation transfer programs.
(Source: P.A. 95-153, eff. 1-1-08; 96-404, eff. 8-13-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.80b

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.80b)
    Sec. 2-3.80b. Agriculture education teacher grant program.
    (a) As used in this Section:
    "New agriculture education program" means an agriculture education program approved by the State Board of Education in a school district that has not had an agriculture education program for a period of 10 years or more prior to the date of application for a grant under this Section.
    "Personal services cost" means the cost of a teacher providing 60 additional days, which shall mean 400 additional hours, outside the teacher's regularly scheduled teaching duties for the benefit of agriculture education. The 400 additional hours shall be any activity that is to the benefit of agriculture education, as defined by the State Board of Education by rule, regardless of the time of year the activity occurs.
    (b) Subject to appropriation to the State Board of Education, there is created an agriculture education teacher grant program to fund personal services costs for agriculture education teachers in school districts. The grants shall be for the purpose of assisting school districts with paying for personal services costs of agriculture education teachers.
    (c) A school district may apply for a grant to fund an amount not to exceed 50% of the personal services cost for an agriculture education teacher under this Section. However, a school district that is creating a new agriculture education program may apply for a grant to fund an amount not to exceed 100% of an agriculture teacher's personal services cost in the first and second year of the new agriculture education program and an amount not to exceed 80% of an agriculture teacher's personal services cost in the third and fourth years of the new agriculture education program. A school district may apply for a grant for more than one teacher under this Section.
    (d) A school district that applies for a grant under this Section or offers any extended contract for agriculture education shall base its personal services costs on the reasonably expected personal services cost for the teacher based on the cost of the teacher's regularly scheduled teaching duties.
    (e) The State Board of Education shall create a statewide system for an agriculture education teacher to track his or her additional hours completed pursuant to a grant under this Section.
    (f) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 99-826, eff. 1-1-17.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.80c

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.80c)
    Sec. 2-3.80c. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 100-118, eff. 8-15-17. Repealed internally, eff. 2-1-19.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.80d

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.80d)
    Sec. 2-3.80d. Agricultural Education Pre-Service Teacher Internship Program.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Pre-service teaching student" means a student who is a declared agricultural education major accepted into an approved agricultural teacher education program at a public university in this State and who has completed at least 30 credit hours and has maintained, at a minimum, a 2.5 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent.
    "Illinois agricultural company" means any company in this State that has an interest in the agricultural industry, as determined by the pre-service teaching student's public university.
    (b) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education must, in consultation with the Board of Higher Education, develop an Agricultural Education Pre-Service Teacher Internship Program, beginning at the secondary education level, for pre-service teaching students that consists of both of the following:
        (1) At a minimum, an 8-week experience or 300 hours
    
of experience to prepare the pre-service teaching student for in-classroom experiences, including, but not limited to, experiences in the 5 career clusters for Illinois agricultural education through partnerships with Illinois agricultural companies. The 5 career clusters include agricultural business management, agricultural mechanics and technology, horticulture services operations and management, agricultural sciences, and natural resources conservation management.
        (2) Both in-classroom lectures and hands-on, applied
    
learning.
    (c) Subject to appropriation, the State Board must award grants to a pre-service teaching student enrolled in the Internship Program under subsection (b), which may be used by the student to support all of the following activities:
        (1) A stipend not to exceed $7,500 for a pre-service
    
teaching student's completion of the Internship Program, distributed in monthly installments.
        (2) Lodging for a pre-service teaching student while
    
participating in the Internship Program.
        (3) Reimbursement for meals, not to exceed the per
    
diem rate established by the Internal Revenue Service, for a pre-service teaching student while participating in the Internship Program.
        (4) Any reasonable costs for participation in the
    
Internship Program charged by any participating Illinois agricultural company.
(Source: P.A. 101-554, eff. 8-23-19.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.81

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.81) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.81)
    Sec. 2-3.81. Alternative education diplomas. The State Board of Education shall award diplomas to students who successfully complete alternative education programs, including those programs which utilize student learning objectives and goals, when such programs are approved by the State Superintendent of Education and the organization providing the alternative program does not have the authority to award secondary education diplomas.
(Source: P.A. 84-1383; 84-1438.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.82

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.82)
    Sec. 2-3.82. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 84-1438. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.83

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.83) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.83)
    Sec. 2-3.83. Individual transition plan model pilot program.
    (a) The General Assembly finds that transition services for special education students in secondary schools are needed for the increasing numbers of students exiting school programs. Therefore, to ensure coordinated and timely delivery of services, the State shall establish a model pilot program to provide such services. Local school districts, using joint agreements and regional service delivery systems for special and vocational education selected by the Governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, shall have the primary responsibility to convene transition planning meetings for these students who will require post-school adult services.
    (b) For purposes of this Section:
        (1) "Post-secondary Service Provider" means a
    
provider of services for adults who have any developmental disability as defined in Section 1-106 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code or who are persons with one or more disabilities as defined in the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Act.
        (2) "Individual Education Plan" means a written
    
statement for an exceptional child that provides at least a statement of: the child's present levels of educational performance, annual goals and short-term instructional objectives; specific special education and related services; the extent of participation in the regular education program; the projected dates for initiation of services; anticipated duration of services; appropriate objective criteria and evaluation procedures; and a schedule for annual determination of short-term objectives.
        (3) "Individual Transition Plan" (ITP) means a
    
multi-agency informal assessment of a student's needs for post-secondary adult services including but not limited to employment, post-secondary education or training and residential independent living.
        (4) "Developmental Disability" means "developmental
    
disability" as defined in Section 1-106 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.
        (5) "Exceptional Characteristic" means any disabling
    
or exceptional characteristic which interferes with a student's education including, but not limited to, a determination that the student has a severe or profound mental disability, has mental disability but is trainable, is deaf-blind, or has some other health impairment.
    (c) The model pilot program required by this Section shall be established and administered by the Governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities in conjunction with the case coordination pilot projects established by the Department of Human Services pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Community Services Act, as amended.
    (d) The model pilot program shall include the following features:
        (1) Written notice shall be sent to the student and,
    
when appropriate, his or her parent or guardian giving the opportunity to consent to having the student's name and relevant information shared with the local case coordination unit and other appropriate State or local agencies for purposes of inviting participants to the individual transition plan meeting.
        (2) Meetings to develop and modify, as needed, an
    
Individual Transition Plan shall be conducted annually for all students with a developmental disability in the pilot program area who are age 16 or older and who are receiving special education services for 50% or more of their public school program. These meetings shall be convened by the local school district and conducted in conjunction with any other regularly scheduled meetings such as the student's annual individual educational plan meeting. The Governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities shall cooperate with and may enter into any necessary written agreements with the Department of Human Services and the State Board of Education to identify the target group of students for transition planning and the appropriate case coordination unit to serve these individuals.
        (3) The ITP meetings shall be co-chaired by the
    
individual education plan coordinator and the case coordinator. The ITP meeting shall include but not be limited to discussion of the following: the student's projected date of exit from the public schools; his projected post-school goals in the areas of employment, residential living arrangement and post-secondary education or training; specific school or post-school services needed during the following year to achieve the student's goals, including but not limited to vocational evaluation, vocational education, work experience or vocational training, placement assistance, independent living skills training, recreational or leisure training, income support, medical needs and transportation; and referrals and linkage to needed services, including a proposed time frame for services and the responsible agency or provider. The individual transition plan shall be signed by participants in the ITP discussion, including but not limited to the student's parents or guardian, the student (where appropriate), multi-disciplinary team representatives from the public schools, the case coordinator and any other individuals who have participated in the ITP meeting at the discretion of the individual education plan coordinator, the developmental disability case coordinator or the parents or guardian.
        (4) At least 10 days prior to the ITP meeting, the
    
parents or guardian of the student shall be notified in writing of the time and place of the meeting by the local school district. The ITP discussion shall be documented by the assigned case coordinator, and an individual student file shall be maintained by each case coordination unit. One year following a student's exit from public school the case coordinator shall conduct a follow up interview with the student.
        (5) Determinations with respect to individual
    
transition plans made under this Section shall not be subject to any due process requirements prescribed in Section 14-8.02 of this Code.
    (e) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 102-972, eff. 1-1-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.84

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.84) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.84)
    Sec. 2-3.84. In calculating the amount of State aid to be apportioned to the various school districts in this State, the State Board of Education shall incorporate and deduct the total aggregate adjustments to assessments made by the State Property Tax Appeal Board or Cook County Board of Appeals, as reported pursuant to Section 16-15 of the Property Tax Code or Section 129.1 of the Revenue Act of 1939 by the Department of Revenue, from the equalized assessed valuation that is otherwise to be utilized in the initial calculation.
    From the total amount of general State aid or evidence-based funding to be provided to districts, adjustments under this Section together with adjustments as a result of recomputation under Section 2-3.33 must not exceed $25 million, in the aggregate for all districts under both Sections combined, of the general State aid or evidence-based funding appropriation in any fiscal year; if necessary, amounts shall be prorated among districts. If it is necessary to prorate claims under this paragraph, then that portion of each prorated claim that is approved but not paid in the current fiscal year may be resubmitted as a valid claim in the following fiscal year.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.85

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.85)
    Sec. 2-3.85. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 85-1209. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.86

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.86) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.86)
    Sec. 2-3.86. The State Board of Education may conduct on-site auditing at the classrooms of any school district for the purpose of verifying attendance records.
(Source: P.A. 85-1209.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.87

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.87)
    Sec. 2-3.87. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 85-1209. Repealed by P.A. 97-256, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.88

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.88)
    Sec. 2-3.88. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 85-1209. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.89

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.89) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.89)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2026)
    Sec. 2-3.89. Programs concerning services to at-risk children and their families.
    (a) The State Board of Education may provide grants to eligible entities, as defined by the State Board of Education, to establish programs which offer coordinated services to at-risk infants and toddlers and their families. Each program shall include a parent education program relating to the development and nurturing of infants and toddlers and case management services to coordinate existing services available in the region served by the program. These services shall be provided through the implementation of an individual family service plan. Each program will have a community involvement component to provide coordination in the service system.
    (b) The State Board of Education shall administer the programs through the grants to public school districts and other eligible entities. These grants must be used to supplement, not supplant, funds received from any other source. School districts and other eligible entities receiving grants pursuant to this Section shall conduct voluntary, intensive, research-based, and comprehensive prevention services, as defined by the State Board of Education, for expecting parents and families with children from birth to age 3 who are at-risk of academic failure. A public school district that receives a grant under this Section may subcontract with other eligible entities.
    (c) The State Board of Education shall report to the General Assembly by July 1, 2006 and every 2 years thereafter, using the most current data available, on the status of programs funded under this Section, including without limitation characteristics of participants, services delivered, program models used, unmet needs, and results of the programs funded.
    (d) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2026.
(Source: P.A. 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.90

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.90)
    Sec. 2-3.90. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 86-1477. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.91

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.91)
    Sec. 2-3.91. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 86-1477. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.92

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.92)
    Sec. 2-3.92. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.93

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.93)
    Sec. 2-3.93. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.94

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.94)
    Sec. 2-3.94. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.95

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.95)
    Sec. 2-3.95. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 86-822. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.96

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.96) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.96)
    Sec. 2-3.96. Waiver of school fees. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations governing waiver of school fees authorized in Sections 10-20.13 and 34-21.6. Board regulations shall require that each school district adopt written policies for the administration of the waiver of school fees. Such policies shall include, but not be limited to: standards for determination of eligibility, procedures for notice to parents and procedures for resolving disputes regarding the administration of the waiver of school fees.
(Source: P.A. 86-195; 86-1028.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.97

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.97)
    Sec. 2-3.97. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 86-1028. Repealed by P.A. 96-1423, eff. 8-3-10.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.98

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.98) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.98)
    Sec. 2-3.98. Transition program for persons with developmental disabilities. The State Board of Education shall establish and implement, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services, a pilot program for the provision of transitional, educational services to persons with a developmental disability 18 years of age or older who have completed public school programs.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.99

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.99)
    Sec. 2-3.99. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 86-1028. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.100

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.100)
    Sec. 2-3.100. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 86-1028. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.101

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.101)
    Sec. 2-3.101. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 91-830, eff. 7-1-00. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.102

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.102)
    Sec. 2-3.102. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 87-895. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.103

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.103) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.103)
    Sec. 2-3.103. Salary and benefit survey. For each school year, the State Board of Education shall conduct, in each school district, a school district salary and benefits survey covering the district's licensed and educational support personnel. However, the collection of information covering educational support personnel must be limited to districts with 1,000 or more students enrolled.
    A survey form shall be developed and furnished by the State Board of Education to each school district on or before October 1 of the school year covered by the survey, and each school district shall submit a completed survey to the State Board of Education on or before February 1 of the school year covered by the survey.
    The State Board of Education shall compile, by April 30 of the school year covered by the survey, a statewide salary and benefit survey report based upon the surveys completed and submitted for that school year by the individual school districts as required by this Section, and shall make the survey report available to all school districts and to all "employee organizations" as defined in Section 2 of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act.
    The data required to be reported by each school district on the salary and benefits survey developed and furnished under this Section for the school year covered by the survey shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
        (1) the district's estimated fall enrollment;
        (2) with respect to both its licensed and educational
    
support personnel employees:
            (A) whether the district has a salary schedule,
        
salary policy but no salary schedule, or no salary policy and no salary schedule;
            (B) when each such salary schedule or policy of
        
the district was or will be adopted;
            (C) whether there is a negotiated agreement
        
between the school board and any teacher, educational support personnel or other employee organization and, if so, the affiliation of the local of such organization, together with the month and year of expiration of the negotiated agreement and whether it contains a fair share provision; and if there is no such negotiated agreement but the district does have a salary schedule or policy, a brief explanation of the manner in which each such salary schedule or policy was developed prior to its adoption by the school board, including a statement of whether any meetings between the school board and the superintendent leading up to adoption of the salary schedule or policy were based upon, or were conducted without any discussions between the superintendent and the affected teachers, educational support personnel or other employees;
            (D) whether the district's salary program,
        
policies or provisions are based upon merit or performance evaluation of individual teachers, educational support personnel or other employees, and whether they include: severance pay provisions; early retirement incentives; sick leave bank provisions; sick leave accumulation provisions and, if so, to how many days; personal, business or emergency leave with pay and, if so, the number of days; or direct reimbursement in whole or in part for expenses, such as tuition and materials, incurred in acquiring additional college credit;
            (E) whether school board paid or tax sheltered
        
retirement contributions are included in any existing salary schedule or policy of the school district; what percent (if any) of the salary of each different licensed and educational support personnel employee classification (using the employee salary which reflects the highest regularly scheduled step in that classification on the salary schedule or policy of the district) is school board paid to an employee retirement system; the highest scheduled salary and the level of education or training required to reach the highest scheduled salary in each licensed and educational support personnel employee classification; using annual salaries from the school board's salary schedule or policy for each licensed and educational support personnel employee classification (and excluding from such salaries items of individual compensation resulting from extra-curricular duties, employment beyond the regular school year and longevity service pay, but including additional compensation such as grants and cost of living bonuses that are received by all employees in a classification or by all employees in a classification who are at the maximum experience level), the beginning, maximum and specified intermediate salaries reported to an employee retirement system (including school board paid or tax sheltered retirement contributions, but excluding fringe benefits) for each educational or training category within each licensed and educational support personnel employee classification; and the completed years of experience required to reach such maximum regularly scheduled and highest scheduled salaries;
            (F) whether the school district provides
        
longevity pay beyond the last annual regular salary increase available under the district's salary schedule or policy; and if so, the maximum earnings with longevity for each educational or training category specified by the State Board of Education in its survey form (based on salary reported to an employee's retirement system, including school board paid and tax sheltered retirement contributions, but excluding fringe benefits, and with maximum longevity step numbers and completed years of experience computed as provided in the survey form);
            (G) for each dental, disability, hospitalization,
        
life, prescription or vision insurance plan, cafeteria plan or other fringe benefit plan sponsored by the school board: (i) a statement of whether such plan is available to full time teachers or other licensed personnel covered by a district salary schedule or policy, whether such plan is available to full time educational support personnel covered by a district salary schedule or policy, and whether all full time employees to whom coverage under such plan is available are entitled to receive the same benefits under that plan; and (ii) the total annual cost of coverage under that plan for a covered full time employee who is at the highest regularly scheduled step on the salary schedule or policy of the district applicable to such employee, the percent of that total annual cost paid by the school board, the total annual cost of coverage under that plan for the family of that employee, and the percent of that total annual cost for family coverage paid by the school board.
    In addition, each school district shall provide to the State Board of Education, on or before February 1 of the school year covered by the survey, as required by this Section, a copy of each salary schedule, salary policy, and negotiated agreement which is identified or otherwise referred to in the completed survey form.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.104

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.104) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.104)
    Sec. 2-3.104. State mandate reports. The State Board of Education shall prepare an annual report listing all new State mandates applicable to the common schools during the school year covered by the report, excluding only those mandates that relate to school elections. The annual report shall set forth for each listed mandate the date or approximate date that the mandate became effective and the cost of implementing that mandate during the school year covered by the report; provided that if the mandate has not been in effect for the entire school year covered by the report, the estimated annual cost of implementing that mandate shall be set forth in that report, and provided that if the mandate exists because of a federal law, rule or regulation, the report shall note that fact. Each annual report prepared by the State Board of Education shall be filed by the State Board of Education with the General Assembly on or before March 1 of the calendar year, beginning with calendar year 1992, and shall cover only the school year ending during the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the annual report is required to be filed.
(Source: P.A. 102-539, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.105

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.105) (from Ch. 122, par. 2-3.105)
    Sec. 2-3.105. Services to educational service regions and school districts. Commencing July 1, 1994 and thereafter, the State Board of Education through the office of the State Superintendent of Education shall have and exercise, in and with respect to an educational service region located in a city of 500,000 or more inhabitants, and in and with respect to each school district located in any such educational service region, all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities theretofore vested in and exercised and performed by the regional superintendent of schools in that educational service region under the provisions of this Act or any other law of this State.
(Source: P.A. 96-893, eff. 7-1-10.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.105a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.105a)
    Sec. 2-3.105a. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95. Repealed by P.A. 91-46, eff. 6-30-99.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.106

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.106)
    Sec. 2-3.106. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.107

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.107)
    Sec. 2-3.107. Test administration ethics. The State Board of Education shall develop a code of ethics for test administration and shall provide assistance to school districts upon request in the implementation of the code. The code of ethics shall at least include a procedure to be followed and safeguards to be observed in the administration of tests.
(Source: P.A. 87-1039; 88-45; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.108

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.108)
    Sec. 2-3.108. Volunteer service credit program. The State Board of Education shall offer guidance and assistance to any school district that chooses to establish a volunteer service credit program under Section 27-22.3.
(Source: P.A. 87-1082; 88-45.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.109

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.109)
    Sec. 2-3.109. Service region as local education agency. The State Board shall define local education agency to include an otherwise qualified educational service region when determining eligibility for any grant, loan, program authorization or other assistance provided to local education agencies by the State Board.
(Source: P.A. 87-1124; 88-45.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.109a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.109a)
    Sec. 2-3.109a. Laboratory schools grant eligibility. A laboratory school as defined in Section 18-8 or 18-8.15 may apply for and be eligible to receive, subject to the same restrictions applicable to school districts, any grant administered by the State Board of Education that is available for school districts.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.109b

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.109b)
    Sec. 2-3.109b. Vocational center grant eligibility. An area vocational center, as designated by the State Board of Education, may apply for and be eligible to receive any school maintenance grant, federal or State technology grant, or other competitive grant administered by the State Board of Education that is available for school districts, subject to the same restrictions applicable to school districts.
(Source: P.A. 92-56, eff. 7-12-01.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.110

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.110)
    Sec. 2-3.110. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 88-118. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.111

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.111)
    Sec. 2-3.111. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94. Repealed by P.A. 97-256, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.112

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.112)
    Sec. 2-3.112. Service evaluation reports.
    (a) The Service Evaluation Committee is hereby created to design and develop, under the direction of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, a form to be used by school districts as provided in this Section to annually evaluate the nature and quality of the services furnished to those school districts by the State Board of Education and the regional offices of education. The Service Evaluation Committee shall be composed of 7 members, consisting of one member from each of the following entities, designated in each case by the governing board of the entity from which the member is designated:
        (1) the Regional Superintendents Association;
        (2) the staff employed by the State Board of
    
Education;
        (3) the Illinois Parent Teacher Association;
        (4) the Illinois Education Association;
        (5) the Illinois Federation of Teachers;
        (6) the Illinois Association of School Boards; and
        (7) the Illinois Association of School Administrators.
Members of the Service Evaluation Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the governing board of the entity by which they are designated to serve as members of the Committee. Committee members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for the reasonable expenses which they necessarily incur in the performance of their responsibilities as members of the Committee.
    (b) Under the direction of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Committee, at periodic intervals not to exceed 3 years, shall review the form to be used for the evaluation and make any modifications in the form that it determines are necessary. The design, development, and any modifications that are to be made to the form shall be determined not later than August 1 of each year, beginning in 1998.
    (c) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall cause the form of evaluation as last designed, developed, or modified under this Section to be printed and distributed to the board of education of each school district in the State not later than September 1 of each year, beginning in 1998.
    (d) The president of the board of education is authorized to cause the evaluation form to be completed and may sign the form as president of the board of education and forward the completed form to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor not later than November 1 of each year, beginning in 1998. Before completing and signing the evaluation form, the president, acting through the board of education, shall request and receive comments, opinions, and other input from the district's administrators, teachers, and teacher organizations to assist the board of education in evaluating, rating, and reporting, on the form to be transmitted to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the nature and quality of the services furnished to the district by the State Board of Education and the regional office of education for the educational service region in which the school district is located.
    (e) The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall review and tally the results of all evaluation forms received from the several school districts of the State and submit a written report of the evaluation results to the Governor, the General Assembly, the members of the State Board of Education, and each of the several regional superintendents of schools not later than December 15 of each year, beginning in 1998. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor, in making the annual written report required by this subsection, shall not report, publish, or otherwise release the evaluation results separately for any regional offices of education but instead the evaluation results with respect to the regional offices of education shall be tallied and reported on an aggregate or composite basis, in such manner as to avoid reporting evaluation results on a regional office of education by regional office of education basis.
    (f) This Section is subject to the provisions of Section 405-500 of the Department of Central Management Services Law (20 ILCS 405/405-500).
(Source: P.A. 90-96, eff. 1-1-98; 90-498, eff. 1-1-98; 90-609, eff. 6-30-98; 91-239, 1-1-00.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.113

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.113)
    Sec. 2-3.113. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-626, eff. 8-9-96. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.114

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.114)
    Sec. 2-3.114. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.115

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.115)
    Sec. 2-3.115. Tech Prep Programs.
    (a) Programs of academic credit. The State Superintendent of Education is encouraged to establish a program of academic credit for Tech Prep work based learning for secondary school students with an interest in pursuing such career training. The program may be instituted by any school district seeking to provide its secondary school students with an opportunity to participate in Tech Prep work based learning programs.
    (b) Partnership for Careers grants. The State Board of Education may make grants, subject to appropriations for such purpose, to school districts to be used for Tech Prep Partnership for Careers programs. School districts must submit joint applications for the grants along with one or more companies who commit to (i) make off-campus, privately owned facilities available for the use of the program, (ii) provide significant financial contributions to the program in order to supplement State grants, and (iii) provide career opportunities for students who successfully complete the program training. The State Board of Education may use a portion of the funds appropriated for the program to promote its availability and successes with school districts, businesses, and communities.
(Source: P.A. 90-649, eff. 7-24-98.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.116

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.116)
    Sec. 2-3.116. Electronic transfer of funds to school districts, regional offices of education, and other providers. The State Board of Education shall, in consultation with the regional superintendents of schools and with the advice and approval of the Comptroller, adopt and implement rules establishing a system for the electronic transfer of funds to school districts, regional offices of education, and other providers entitled to payment under programs administered by the State Board of Education. Beginning July 1, 2002, all payments for school districts, regional offices of education, and other providers entitled to payment under programs administered by the State Board of Education must be disbursed by the Comptroller through electronic funds transfer, except as the State Board of Education otherwise directs. If a school district entitled to payment wishes an electronic payment to be made to the district's regional office of education on the district's behalf, the school board, with the approval of the regional office of education, must provide a resolution to the State Board of Education directing that the electronic deposit be made into the account of the regional office of education.
(Source: P.A. 92-121, eff. 7-20-01.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.117

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.117)
    Sec. 2-3.117. School Technology Program.
    (a) The State Board of Education is authorized to provide technology-based learning resources to school districts to improve educational opportunities and student achievement throughout the State. These resources may include reimbursements for the cost of tuition incurred by a school district for approved online courses accessed through the State Board of Education's Illinois Virtual Course Catalog Program.
        (1) A school district shall be eligible for
    
reimbursement for the cost of each virtual class accessed through the Illinois Virtual Course Catalog program and successfully completed by a student of the school district, to the extent appropriated funds are available for such reimbursements.
        (2) A school district shall claim reimbursement on
    
forms and through a process prescribed by the State Board of Education.
    (b) The State Board of Education is authorized, to the extent funds are available, to establish a statewide support system for information, professional development, technical assistance, network design consultation, leadership, technology planning consultation, and information exchange; to expand school district connectivity; and to increase the quantity and quality of student and educator access to on-line resources, experts, and communications avenues from moneys appropriated for the purposes of this Section.
    (b-5) The State Board of Education may enter into intergovernmental contracts or agreements with other State agencies, public community colleges, public libraries, public and private colleges and universities, museums on public land, and other public agencies in the areas of technology, telecommunications, and information access, under such terms as the parties may agree, provided that those contracts and agreements are in compliance with the Department of Central Management Services' mandate to provide telecommunications services to all State agencies.
    (c) (Blank).
    (d) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.117a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.117a)
    Sec. 2-3.117a. School Technology Revolving Loan Program.
    (a) The State Board of Education is authorized to administer a School Technology Revolving Loan Program from funds appropriated from the School Technology Revolving Loan Fund for the purpose of making the financing of school technology hardware improvements affordable and making the integration of technology in the classroom possible. School technology loans shall be made available to public school districts, charter schools, area vocational centers, laboratory schools, and State-recognized, non-public schools to purchase technology hardware for eligible grade levels on a 2-year rotating basis: grades 9 through 12 in fiscal year 2004 and each second year thereafter and grades K through 8 in fiscal year 2005 and each second year thereafter. However, priority shall be given to public school districts, charter schools, area vocational centers, and laboratory schools that apply prior to October 1 of each year.
    The State Board of Education shall determine the interest rate the loans shall bear which shall not be greater than 50% of the rate for the most recent date shown in the 20 G.O. Bonds Index of average municipal bond yields as published in the most recent edition of The Bond Buyer, published in New York, New York. The repayment period for School Technology Revolving Loans shall not exceed 3 years. Participants shall use at least 90% of the loan proceeds for technology hardware investments for students and staff (including computer hardware, technology networks, related wiring, and other items as defined in rules adopted by the State Board of Education) and up to 10% of the loan proceeds for computer furniture. No participant whose equalized assessed valuation per pupil in average daily attendance is at the 99th percentile and above for all districts of the same type shall be eligible to receive a School Technology Revolving Loan under the provisions of this Section for that year.
    The State Board of Education shall have the authority to adopt all rules necessary for the implementation and administration of the School Technology Revolving Loan Program, including, but not limited to, rules defining application procedures, prescribing a maximum amount per pupil that may be requested annually, requiring appropriate local commitments for technology investments, prescribing a mechanism for disbursing loan funds in the event requests exceed available funds, specifying collateral, prescribing actions necessary to protect the State's interest in the event of default, foreclosure, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions of the loans, and prescribing a mechanism for reclaiming any items or equipment purchased with the loan funds in the case of the closure of a non-public school.
    (b) There is created in the State treasury the School Technology Revolving Loan Fund. The State Board shall have the authority to make expenditures from the Fund pursuant to appropriations made for the purposes of this Section, including refunds. There shall be deposited into the Fund such amounts, including but not limited to:
        (1) Transfers from the School Infrastructure Fund;
        (2) All receipts, including principal and interest
    
payments, from any loan made from the Fund;
        (3) All proceeds of assets of whatever nature
    
received by the State Board as a result of default or delinquency with respect to loans made from the Fund;
        (4) Any appropriations, grants, or gifts made to the
    
Fund; and
        (5) Any income received from interest on investments
    
of money in the Fund.
(Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09; 96-783, eff. 8-28-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.118

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.118)
    Sec. 2-3.118. Technology utilization. The State Superintendent of Education shall, from funds appropriated for that purpose, provide assistance to public schools for the implementation or improved utilization of technology, such as support for the development of communication networks and infrastructure, efforts to promote the use of technology in the classroom, and the initiation of technology leadership and capacity-building activities. Assistance may include the provision of staff development resources, curriculum planning and implementation resources, the establishment of demonstration sites, and the integration of technology into school improvement activities.
(Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.119

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.119)
    Sec. 2-3.119. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-610, eff. 8-6-96. Repealed by P.A. 89-698, eff. 1-14-97.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.119a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.119a)
    Sec. 2-3.119a. School STEAM Grant Program.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall administer the School STEAM Grant Program from the funds appropriated from the School STEAM Grant Program Fund for the purpose of making science, technology, engineering, art, and math programming available to low-income students in disadvantaged neighborhoods. School STEAM grants shall be made available to public schools, charter schools, area vocational centers, and laboratory schools in which the percentage of students classified as low income exceeds the State average. Grant recipients shall use grant proceeds to conduct, or contract with a third party to conduct, programming that educates, encourages, and promotes obtaining skills and career opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Priority shall be given to programs that provide hands-on experience and programs that focus on promoting young women to enter into the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
    (b) The State Board of Education may adopt all rules necessary for the implementation and administration of the STEAM Grant Program, including, but not limited to, rules defining application procedures and prescribing a mechanism for disbursing grant funds if requests exceed available funds.
    (c) There is created in the State treasury the School STEAM Grant Program Fund. The State Board shall have the authority to make expenditures from the Fund pursuant to appropriations made for the purposes of this Section. There shall be deposited into the Fund such amounts, including, but not limited to:
        (1) transfers from the State Lottery Fund pursuant to
    
Section 21.12 of the Illinois Lottery Law; and
        (2) any appropriations, grants, or gifts made to the
    
Fund.
(Source: P.A. 101-561, eff. 8-23-19.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.120

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.120)
    Sec. 2-3.120. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 94-91, eff. 7-1-05. Repealed by P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.121

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.121)
    Sec. 2-3.121. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 90-463, eff. 8-17-97. Repealed by P.A. 94-91, eff. 7-1-05.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.122

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.122)
    Sec. 2-3.122. Dissection alternatives. The State Board of Education shall make available to school districts sources of information concerning alternatives to the dissection of animals. Such information may include, but need not be limited to, names, addresses, and contact personnel of organizations that offer free instructional and teaching materials as alternatives to dissection.
(Source: P.A. 90-566, eff. 1-2-98.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.123

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.123)
    Sec. 2-3.123. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 94-196, eff. 7-12-05. Repealed by P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.124

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.124)
    Sec. 2-3.124. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.125

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.125)
    Sec. 2-3.125. Arts and humanities organizations and cultural institutions. The State Board of Education is authorized to reimburse not-for-profit arts and humanities organizations and cultural institutions of Illinois, including but not limited to, museums and theater or dance companies, for the costs of providing educational programs to public elementary and secondary school students.
(Source: P.A. 90-361, eff. 1-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.126

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.126)
    Sec. 2-3.126. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01. Repealed internally, eff. 7-16-03.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.127

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.127)
    Sec. 2-3.127. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 91-143, eff. 7-16-99. Repealed internally, eff. 7-16-03.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.127a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.127a)
    Sec. 2-3.127a. The State Board of Education Special Purpose Trust Fund. The State Board of Education Special Purpose Trust Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The State Board of Education shall deposit all indirect costs recovered from federal programs into the State Board of Education Special Purpose Trust Fund. These funds may be used by the State Board of Education for its ordinary and contingent expenses. Additionally and unless specifically directed to be deposited into other funds, all moneys received by the State Board of Education from gifts, grants, royalty payments, or donations from any source, public or private, shall be deposited into the State Board of Education Special Purpose Trust Fund. These funds shall be used, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, by the State Board of Education for the purposes established by the gifts, grants, royalty payments, or donations. Any royalty payments received by the State Board of Education as a result of licensing agreements or any other agreements entered into by the State Board of Education, regardless of the original fund source, shall be deposited into the State Board of Education Special Purpose Trust Fund and, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, shall be expended in a manner consistent with law.
(Source: P.A. 102-792, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.128

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.128)
    Sec. 2-3.128. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01. Repealed by P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.129

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.129)
    Sec. 2-3.129. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01. Repealed by P.A. 94-600, eff. 8-16-05.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.130

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.130)
    Sec. 2-3.130. Isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint rules; grant program; third-party assistance; goals and plans.
    (a) For purposes of this Section, "isolated time out", "physical restraint", and "time out" have the meanings given to those terms under Section 10-20.33.
    (b) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules governing the use of isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint in special education nonpublic facilities and the public schools. The rules shall include provisions governing the documentation and reporting that is required each time these interventions are used.
    The rules adopted by the State Board shall include a procedure by which a person who believes a violation of Section 10-20.33 or 34-18.20 has occurred may file a complaint. The rules adopted by the State Board shall include training requirements that must be included in training programs used to train and certify school personnel.
    The State Board shall establish procedures for progressive enforcement actions to ensure that schools fully comply with the documentation and reporting requirements for isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint established by rule, which shall include meaningful and appropriate sanctions for the failure to comply, including the failure to report to the parent or guardian and to the State Board, the failure to timely report, and the failure to provide detailed documentation.
    (c) Subject to appropriation, the State Board shall, by adoption of emergency rules under subsection (rr) of Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act if it so chooses, create a grant program for school districts, special education nonpublic facilities approved under Section 14-7.02 of this Code, and special education cooperatives to implement school-wide, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed practices, positive behavioral interventions and supports, and restorative practices within a multi-tiered system of support aimed at reducing the need for interventions, such as isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint. The State Board shall give priority in grant funding to those school districts, special education nonpublic facilities approved under Section 14-7.02 of this Code, and special education cooperatives that submit a plan to achieve a significant reduction or elimination in the use of isolated time out and physical restraint in less than 3 years.
    (d) Subject to the Illinois Procurement Code, the Illinois School Student Records Act, the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act, and the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the State Board may contract with a third party to provide assistance with the oversight and monitoring of the use of isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint by school districts.
    (e) For the purpose of this subsection and subsection (f), "entity" means a school district, a special education nonpublic school approved under Section 14-7.02 of this Code and located in this State, or a special education cooperative to the extent the cooperative operates separate schools or programs within schools.
    The State Board shall establish goals within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, with specific benchmarks, for entities to accomplish the systemic reduction of isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint within 3 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. The State Board shall engage in meaningful consultation with stakeholders to establish the goals, including in the review and evaluation of the data submitted. The State Board shall also consult stakeholders in efforts to develop strategies to measure and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the use of isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint. Each entity shall create a time out and physical restraint oversight team that includes, but is not limited to, teachers, paraprofessionals, school service personnel, and administrators to develop (i) an entity-specific plan for reducing and eventually eliminating the use of isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint in accordance with the goals and benchmarks established by the State Board and (ii) procedures to implement the plan developed by the team.
    The progress toward the reduction and eventual elimination of the use of isolated time out and physical restraint shall be measured by the reduction in the overall number of incidents of those interventions and the total number of students subjected to those interventions. In limited cases, upon written application made by an entity and approved by the State Board based on criteria developed by the State Board to show good cause, the reduction in the use of those interventions may be measured by the frequency of the use of those interventions on individual students and the student population as a whole. The State Board shall specify a date for submission of the plans. Entities shall submit a report once each year for 3 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly to the State Board on the progress made toward achieving the goals and benchmarks established by the State Board and modify their plans as necessary to satisfy those goals and benchmarks. Entities shall notify parents and guardians that the plans and reports are available for review. On or before June 30, 2023, the State Board shall issue a report to the General Assembly on the progress made by entities to achieve those goals and benchmarks. The required plans shall include, but not be limited to, the specific actions that are to be taken to:
        (1) reduce and eventually eliminate a reliance on
    
isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint for behavioral interventions and develop noncoercive environments;
        (2) develop individualized student plans that are
    
oriented toward prevention of the use of isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint with the intent that a plan be separate and apart from a student's individualized education program or a student's plan for services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
        (3) ensure that appropriate personnel are fully
    
informed of the student's history, including any history of physical or sexual abuse, and other relevant medical and mental health information, except that any disclosure of student information must be consistent with federal and State laws and rules governing student confidentiality and privacy rights; and
        (4) support a vision for cultural change that
    
reinforces the following:
            (A) positive behavioral interventions and support
        
rather than isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint;
            (B) effective ways to de-escalate situations to
        
avoid isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint;
            (C) crisis intervention techniques that use
        
alternatives to isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint; and
            (D) use of debriefing meetings to reassess what
        
occurred and why it occurred and to think through ways to prevent use of the intervention the next time.
    (f) An entity, as defined in subsection (e), is exempt from the requirement to submit a plan and the annual reports under subsection (e) if the entity is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the State Board that (i) within the previous 3 years, the entity has never engaged in the use of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint and (ii) the entity has adopted a written policy that prohibits the use isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint on a student and is able to demonstrate the enforcement of that policy.
    (g) The State Board shall establish a system of ongoing review, auditing, and monitoring to ensure that entities comply with the documentation and reporting requirements and meet the State Board's established goals and benchmarks for reducing and eventually eliminating the use of isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint.
(Source: P.A. 102-339, eff. 8-13-21; 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.131

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.131)
    Sec. 2-3.131. Transitional assistance payments.
    (a) If the amount that the State Board of Education will pay to a school district from fiscal year 2004 appropriations, as estimated by the State Board of Education on April 1, 2004, is less than the amount that the State Board of Education paid to the school district from fiscal year 2003 appropriations, then, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall make a fiscal year 2004 transitional assistance payment to the school district in an amount equal to the difference between the estimated amount to be paid from fiscal year 2004 appropriations and the amount paid from fiscal year 2003 appropriations.
    (b) If the amount that the State Board of Education will pay to a school district from fiscal year 2005 appropriations, as estimated by the State Board of Education on April 1, 2005, is less than the amount that the State Board of Education paid to the school district from fiscal year 2004 appropriations, then the State Board of Education shall make a fiscal year 2005 transitional assistance payment to the school district in an amount equal to the difference between the estimated amount to be paid from fiscal year 2005 appropriations and the amount paid from fiscal year 2004 appropriations.
    (c) If the amount that the State Board of Education will pay to a school district from fiscal year 2006 appropriations, as estimated by the State Board of Education on April 1, 2006, is less than the amount that the State Board of Education paid to the school district from fiscal year 2005 appropriations, then the State Board of Education shall make a fiscal year 2006 transitional assistance payment to the school district in an amount equal to the difference between the estimated amount to be paid from fiscal year 2006 appropriations and the amount paid from fiscal year 2005 appropriations.
    (d) If the amount that the State Board of Education will pay to a school district from fiscal year 2007 appropriations, as estimated by the State Board of Education on April 1, 2007, is less than the amount that the State Board of Education paid to the school district from fiscal year 2006 appropriations, then the State Board of Education, subject to appropriation, shall make a fiscal year 2007 transitional assistance payment to the school district in an amount equal to the difference between the estimated amount to be paid from fiscal year 2007 appropriations and the amount paid from fiscal year 2006 appropriations.
    (e) Subject to appropriation, beginning on July 1, 2007, the State Board of Education shall adjust prior year information for the transitional assistance calculations under this Section in the event of the creation or reorganization of any school district pursuant to Article 11E of this Code, the dissolution of an entire district and the annexation of all of its territory to one or more other districts pursuant to Article 7 of this Code, or a boundary change whereby the enrollment of the annexing district increases by 90% or more as a result of annexing territory detached from another district pursuant to Article 7 of this Code.
    (f) If the amount that the State Board of Education will pay to a school district from fiscal year 2008 appropriations, as estimated by the State Board of Education on April 1, 2008, is less than the amount that the State Board of Education paid to the school district from fiscal year 2007 appropriations, then the State Board of Education, subject to appropriation, shall make a fiscal year 2008 transitional assistance payment to the school district in an amount equal to the difference between the estimated amount to be paid from fiscal year 2008 appropriations and the amount paid from fiscal year 2007 appropriations.
    (g) If the amount that the State Board of Education will pay to a school district from fiscal year 2009 appropriations, as estimated by the State Board of Education on April 1, 2009, is less than the amount that the State Board of Education paid to the school district from fiscal year 2008 appropriations, then the State Board of Education, subject to appropriation, shall make a fiscal year 2009 transitional assistance payment to the school district in an amount equal to the difference between the estimated amount to be paid from fiscal year 2009 appropriations and the amount paid from fiscal year 2008 appropriations.
(Source: P.A. 94-69, eff. 7-1-05; 94-835, eff. 6-6-06; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-707, eff. 1-11-08; 95-744, eff. 7-18-08.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.132

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.132)
    Sec. 2-3.132. Sharing information on school lunch applicants. The State Board of Education shall, whenever requested by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid), agree in writing with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (as the State agency that administers the State Medical Assistance Program as provided in Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act and the State Children's Health Insurance Program as provided in Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act) to share with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services information on applicants for free or reduced-price lunches. This sharing of information shall be for the sole purpose of helping the Department of Healthcare and Family Services identify and enroll children in the State Medical Assistance Program or the State Children's Health Insurance Program or both as allowed under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1758(b)(2)(C)(iii)(IV) and under the restrictions set forth in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1758(b)(2)(C)(vi) and (vii). The State Board of Education may not adopt any rule that would prohibit a child from receiving any form of subsidy or benefit due to his or her parent or guardian withholding consent under Section 22-35 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.133

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.133)
    Sec. 2-3.133. Homework assistance information for parents. The State Board of Education shall provide information on its Internet web site regarding strategies that parents can use to assist their children in successfully completing homework assignments. The State Board of Education shall notify all school districts about this information's availability on the State Board of Education's Internet web site.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.134

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.134)
    Sec. 2-3.134. Persistently dangerous schools. The State Board of Education shall maintain data and publish a list of persistently dangerous schools on an annual basis.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.135

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.135)
    Sec. 2-3.135. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 95-949, eff. 8-29-08. Repealed internally, eff. 8-31-10.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.136

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.136)
    Sec. 2-3.136. Funding for class size reduction.
    (a) Class size reduction funding shall assist schools that meet the criteria established by this Section for the award of funds.
    (a-5) Funds shall be awarded pursuant to application. The form and manner of applications and the criteria for the award of funds shall be prescribed by the State Board of Education.
    Funding awarded to eligible schools under this Section shall be used and applied by the schools to defray the costs and expenses of reducing class size to a level that is evidence-based. If a school's facilities are inadequate to allow for the specified class size, then funding may be used for, but is not limited to, support for professional learning.
    (b) (Blank).
    (c) (Blank).
    (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt any rules, consistent with the requirements of this Section, that are necessary to implement and administer this Section.
(Source: P.A. 99-193, eff. 7-30-15; 100-1046, eff. 8-23-18.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.136a

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.136a)
    Sec. 2-3.136a. Class size report.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Class" means a setting in which organized instruction of academic course content is regularly provided to a group of students for a given scheduled period of time.
    "Class instructor" means a teacher who has been assigned to teach students in a class at a public school.
    "Class section" means a single class where a class instructor is assigned to teach more than one class per school day.
    "Class size" means the number of students in a class who appear on the class roster and for whom the class instructor is primarily responsible and accountable.
    "Pupil-teacher ratio" means the total number of students in a school divided by the total number of teachers working in that school.
    "Teacher" means an individual instructing students at a public school.
    (b) No later than January 31, 2021, and annually thereafter, the State Board of Education must make available on its website all of the following information:
        (1) The total number of teachers actively employed
    
within each school district, listed by individual school.
        (2) The pupil-teacher ratios for each school district.
        (3) The number of class instructors, by grade level
    
and subject, in each school district.
        (4) The class size for each class and class section
    
at each school in a school district and the total number of classes or class sections in each school that exceeds the class size guidelines under paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of Section 18-8.15.
(Source: P.A. 101-451, eff. 1-1-20.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.137

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.137)
    Sec. 2-3.137. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09. Repealed by P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.138

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.138)
    Sec. 2-3.138. School health recognition program. The State Board of Education shall establish a school health recognition program that:
        (1) publicly identifies those schools that have
    
implemented programs to increase the level of physical activity of their students;
        (2) publicly identifies those schools that have
    
adopted policies or implemented programs to promote healthy nutritional choices for their students; and
        (3) allows recognized schools to share best practices
    
and model services with other schools throughout the State.
(Source: P.A. 94-190, eff. 7-12-05; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.139

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.139)
    Sec. 2-3.139. School wellness policies; taskforce.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall establish a State goal that all school districts have a wellness policy that is consistent with recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which recommendations include the following:
        (1) nutrition guidelines for all foods sold on school
    
campus during the school day;
        (2) setting school goals for nutrition education and
    
physical activity;
        (3) establishing community participation in creating
    
local wellness policies; and
        (4) creating a plan for measuring implementation of
    
these wellness policies.
    The Department of Public Health, the Department of Human Services, and the State Board of Education shall form an interagency working group to publish model wellness policies and recommendations. Sample policies shall be based on CDC recommendations for nutrition and physical activity. The State Board of Education shall distribute the model wellness policies to all school districts before June 1, 2006.
    (b) There is created the School Wellness Policy Taskforce, consisting of the following members:
        (1) One member representing the State Board of
    
Education, appointed by the State Board of Education.
        (2) One member representing the Department of Public
    
Health, appointed by the Director of Public Health.
        (3) One member representing the Department of Human
    
Services, appointed by the Secretary of Human Services.
        (4) One member of an organization representing the
    
interests of school nurses in this State, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (5) One member of an organization representing the
    
interests of school administrators in this State, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (6) One member of an organization representing the
    
interests of school boards in this State, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (7) One member of an organization representing the
    
interests of regional superintendents of schools in this State, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (8) One member of an organization representing the
    
interests of parent-teacher associations in this State, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (9) One member of an organization representing the
    
interests of pediatricians in this State, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (10) One member of an organization representing the
    
interests of dentists in this State, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (11) One member of an organization representing the
    
interests of dieticians in this State, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (12) One member of an organization that has an
    
interest and expertise in heart disease, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (13) One member of an organization that has an
    
interest and expertise in cancer, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (14) One member of an organization that has an
    
interest and expertise in childhood obesity, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (15) One member of an organization that has an
    
interest and expertise in the importance of physical education and recreation in preventing disease, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (16) One member of an organization that has an
    
interest and expertise in school food service, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (17) One member of an organization that has an
    
interest and expertise in school health, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (18) One member of an organization that campaigns
    
for programs and policies for healthier school environments, appointed by the interagency working group.
        (19) One at-large member with a doctorate in
    
nutrition, appointed by the State Board of Education.
    Members of the taskforce shall serve without compensation. The taskforce shall meet at the call of the State Board of Education. The taskforce shall report its identification of barriers to implementing school wellness policies and its recommendations to reduce those barriers to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before January 1, 2006. The taskforce shall report its recommendations on statewide school nutrition standards to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before January 1, 2007. The taskforce shall report its evaluation of the effectiveness of school wellness policies to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before January 1, 2008. The evaluation shall review a sample size of 5 to 10 school districts. Reports shall be made to the General Assembly by filing copies of each report as provided in Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act. Upon the filing of the last report, the taskforce is dissolved.
    (c) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.
    (d) Nothing in this Section may be construed as a curricular mandate on any school district.
(Source: P.A. 94-199, eff. 7-12-05; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.140

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.140)
    Sec. 2-3.140. Child abduction prevention instruction. The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Illinois State Police, shall develop child abduction prevention instruction for inclusion in elementary and secondary school curricula throughout the State. The State Board of Education and the Illinois State Police shall encourage the inclusion of the child abduction prevention instruction in private elementary and secondary school curricula throughout the State.
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.141

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.141)
    Sec. 2-3.141. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07. Repealed internally, eff. 12-31-10.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.142

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.142)
    Sec. 2-3.142. Grants to Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium. Subject to appropriations for this purpose, the State Board of Education shall provide grants to the Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium for aid in providing training programs and facilitating interns to improve the educational and mental health services of children in this State.
(Source: P.A. 95-102, eff. 1-1-08; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.143

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.143)
    Sec. 2-3.143. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 95-707, eff. 1-11-08. Repealed by P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.144

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.144)
    Sec. 2-3.144. Community college enrollments. The State Board of Education shall annually assemble all data reported to the State Board of Education under Section 10-21.4 or 34-8 of this Code by district superintendents, relating to the number of high school students in the educational service region who are enrolled in accredited courses at any community college, together with the name and number of the course or courses that each such student is taking, assembled both by individual school district and by educational service region totals.
(Source: P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.145

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.145)
    Sec. 2-3.145. Special education expenditure and receipt report. The State Board of Education shall issue an annual report to the General Assembly and Governor identifying each school district's special education expenditures; receipts received from State, federal, and local sources; and net special education expenditures over receipts received, if applicable. Expenditures and receipts shall be calculated in a manner specified by the State Board using data obtained from the Annual Financial Report, the Funding and Child Tracking System, and district enrollment information. This report must be issued on or before May 1, 2008 and on or before each May 1 thereafter.
(Source: P.A. 95-555, eff. 8-30-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.146

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.146)
    Sec. 2-3.146. Severely overcrowded schools grant program. There is created a grant program, subject to appropriation, for severely overcrowded schools. The State Board of Education shall administer the program. Grant funds may be used for purposes of relieving overcrowding. In order for a school district to be eligible for a grant under this Section, (i) the main administrative office of the district must be located in a city of 85,000 or more in population, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, and (ii) the school district must have a district-wide percentage of low-income students of 70% or more, as identified by the 2005-2006 School Report Cards published by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall distribute the funds on a proportional basis with no single district receiving more than 75% of the funds in any given year. The State Board of Education may adopt rules as needed for the implementation and distribution of grants under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.147

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.147)
    Sec. 2-3.147. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 96-1551, eff. 7-1-11. Repealed by P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.148

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.148)
    Sec. 2-3.148. Disability history and awareness campaign. The State Board of Education shall promote an annual campaign about disability history and awareness in this State. The campaign shall be designed to increase public awareness and respect for people with disabilities who comprise a substantial percentage of this State's population, teach future generations that people with disabilities have a rich history and have made valuable contributions throughout this State and the United States, and teach future generations that disability is a natural part of life and that people with disabilities have a right to be treated with civil, legal, and human rights and as full human beings above all else.
(Source: P.A. 96-191, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.149

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.149)
    Sec. 2-3.149. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10. Repealed by P.A. 102-413, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.150

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.150)
    Sec. 2-3.150. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10. Repealed internally, eff. 1-16-13.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.151

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.151)
    Sec. 2-3.151. Green career and technical education programs.
    (a) As used in this Section, "green industries" means industries that contribute directly to preserving or enhancing environmental quality by reducing waste and pollution or producing sustainable products using sustainable processes and materials and that provide opportunities for advancement along a career track of increasing skills and wages. Green industries include any of the following:
        (1) Energy system retrofits to increase energy
    
efficiency and conservation.
        (2) The production and distribution of biofuels and
    
vehicle retrofits for biofuels.
        (3) Building design and construction that meet the
    
equivalent of the best available technology in energy and environmental design standards.
        (4) Organic and community food production.
        (5) The manufacture of products from non-toxic,
    
environmentally certified or recycled materials.
        (6) The manufacture and production of sustainable
    
technologies, including, but not limited to, solar panels, wind turbines, and fuel cells.
        (7) Solar technology installation and maintenance.
        (8) Recycling, green composting, and large-scale
    
reuse of construction and demolition materials and debris.
        (9) Water system retrofits to increase water
    
efficiency and conservation.
        (10) Horticulture.
    (b) It is the purpose and intent of this Section to establish a State grant program that develops secondary programs that introduce students to developing green industries.
    (c) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish a State grant program that develops, through a competitive process, 2-year pilot programs to assist in the creation and promotion of green career and technical education programs in public secondary schools in this State. Preference must be given to proposals that include the integration of academic and career and technical education content, arranged in sequences of courses that lead to post-secondary completion.
    (d) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of this Section.
    (e) The State Board of Education may use up to 5% of the funds appropriated for the purposes of this Section for administrative costs, including the hiring of positions for the implementation and administration of the grant program, provided that if no appropriation is made to the State Board for a given fiscal year for the purposes of the grant program, then the State Board is not required to make any expenditures in support of the program during that fiscal year.
(Source: P.A. 96-659, eff. 8-25-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.152

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.152)
    Sec. 2-3.152. Community schools.
    (a) This Section applies beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.
    (b) The General Assembly finds all of the following:
        (1) All children are capable of success.
        (2) Schools are the centers of vibrant communities.
        (3) Strong families build strong educational
    
communities.
        (4) Children succeed when adults work together to
    
foster positive educational outcomes.
        (5) Schools work best when families take active roles
    
in the education of children.
        (6) Schools today are limited in their ability to
    
dedicate time and resources to provide a wide range of educational opportunities to students because of the focus on standardized test outcomes.
        (7) By providing learning opportunities outside of
    
normal school hours, including programs on life skills and health, students are more successful academically, more engaged in their communities, safer, and better prepared to make a successful transition from school to adulthood.
        (8) A community school is a public school or
    
nonpublic school that establishes a set of strategic partnerships between the school and other community resources that promote student achievement, positive learning conditions, and the well-being of students by providing wraparound services and that actively partners with its community to leverage existing resources and identify new resources to support the transformation of the school to provide enrichment and additional life skill opportunities for students, parents, and community members at-large. Each community school is unique because its programming is designed by and for the school staff, in partnership with parents, community stakeholders, and students.
        (9) Community schools currently exist in this State
    
in urban, rural, and suburban communities.
        (10) Research shows that community schools have a
    
powerful positive impact on students, as demonstrated by increased academic success, a positive change in attitudes toward school and learning, and decreased behavioral problems.
        (11) After-school and evening programs offered by
    
community schools provide academic enrichment consistent with the Illinois Learning Standards and general school curriculum; an opportunity for physical fitness activities for students, fine arts programs, structured learning "play" time, and other recreational opportunities; a safe haven for students; and work supports for working families.
        (12) Community schools are cost-effective because
    
they leverage existing resources provided by local, State, federal, and private sources and bring programs to the schools, where the students are already congregated.
    (c) Subject to an appropriation or the availability of State or federal funding for such purposes, the State Board of Education shall make grants available to fund community schools and to enhance programs at community schools. A request-for-proposal process must be used in awarding grants under this subsection (c). Proposals may be submitted on behalf of a school, a school district, or a consortium of 2 or more schools or school districts. Proposals must be evaluated and scored on the basis of criteria consistent with this Section and other factors developed and adopted by the State Board of Education. Technical assistance in grant writing must be made available to schools, school districts, or consortia of school districts through the State Board of Education directly or through a resource and referral directory established and maintained by the State Board of Education.
    (d) As used in this subsection (d), "trauma-informed intervention" means a method for understanding and responding to an individual with symptoms of chronic interpersonal trauma or traumatic stress.
    In order to qualify for a community school grant under this Section, a school may, at a minimum, provide the following:
        (1) Before and after-school programming each school
    
day to meet the identified needs of students.
        (2) Weekend programming.
        (3) Summer programming.
        (4) A local advisory group comprised of school
    
leadership, parents, and community stakeholders that establishes school-specific programming goals, assesses program needs, and oversees the process of implementing expanded programming.
        (5) A program director, resource coordinator, or
    
community school coordinator who is responsible for establishing a local advisory group, assessing the needs of students and community members, identifying programs to meet those needs, developing the before and after-school, weekend, and summer programming and overseeing the implementation of programming to ensure high quality, efficiency, and robust participation.
        (6) Programming that includes academic excellence
    
aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards, life skills, healthy minds and bodies, parental support, trauma-informed intervention, and community engagement and that promotes staying in school and non-violent behavior and non-violent conflict resolution.
        (7) Maintenance of attendance records in all
    
programming components.
        (8) Maintenance of measurable data showing annual
    
participation and the impact of programming on the participating children and adults.
        (9) Documentation of true collaboration between the
    
school and community stakeholders, including local governmental units, civic organizations, families, businesses, and social service providers.
        (10) A non-discrimination policy ensuring that the
    
community school does not condition participation upon race, ethnic origin, religion, sex, or disability.
        (11) Wraparound services, including:
            (A) safe transportation to school;
            (B) vision and dental care services;
            (C) established or expanded school-based health
        
center services;
            (D) additional social workers, mentors,
        
counselors, psychologists, and restorative practice coaches and enhancing physical wellness, including providing healthy food for in-school and out-of-school time and linkages to community providers;
            (E) enhanced behavioral health services,
        
including access to mental health practitioners and providing professional development to school staff to provide trauma-informed interventions;
            (F) family and community engagement and support,
        
including informing parents of academic course offerings, language classes, workforce development training, opportunities for children, and available social services, as well as educating families on how to monitor a child's learning;
            (G) student enrichment experiences; and
            (H) professional development for teachers and
        
school staff to quickly identify students who are in need of these resources.
(Source: P.A. 103-265, eff. 6-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.153

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.153)
    Sec. 2-3.153. Survey of learning conditions.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall administer a climate survey, identified by and paid for by the State Board of Education, to provide feedback from, at a minimum, students in grades 4 through 12 and teachers on the instructional environment within a school. Each school district shall annually administer the climate survey in every public school attendance center by a date specified by the State Superintendent of Education, and data resulting from the instrument's administration must be provided to the State Board of Education. The survey component that requires completion by the teachers must be administered during teacher meetings or professional development days or at other times that would not interfere with the teachers' regular classroom and direct instructional duties. The State Superintendent shall publicly report on the survey indicators of learning conditions resulting from administration of the instrument at the individual school, district, and State levels and shall identify whether the indicators result from an anonymous administration of the instrument.
    (b) A school district may elect to use, on a district-wide basis and at the school district's sole cost and expense, an alternate climate survey of learning conditions instrument pre-approved by the State Superintendent under subsection (c) of this Section in lieu of the State-adopted climate survey, provided that:
        (1) the school district notifies the State Board of
    
Education, on a form provided by the State Superintendent, of its intent to administer an alternate climate survey on or before a date established by the State Superintendent for each school;
        (2) the notification submitted to the State Board
    
under paragraph (1) of this subsection (b) must be accompanied by a certification signed by the president of the local teachers' exclusive bargaining representative and president of the school board indicating that the alternate survey has been agreed to by the teachers' exclusive bargaining representative and the school board;
        (3) the school district's administration of the
    
alternate instrument, including providing to the State Board of Education data and reports suitable to be published on school report cards and the State School Report Card Internet website, is performed in accordance with the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section; and
        (4) the alternate instrument is administered each
    
school year.
    (c) The State Superintendent, in consultation with teachers, principals, superintendents, and other appropriate stakeholders, shall administer an approval process through which at least 2, but not more than 3, alternate survey of learning conditions instruments will be approved by the State Superintendent following a determination by the State Superintendent that each approved instrument:
        (1) meets all requirements of subsection (a) of this
    
Section;
        (2) provides a summation of indicator results of the
    
alternative survey by a date established by the State Superintendent in a manner that allows the indicator results to be included on school report cards pursuant to Section 10-17a of this Code by October 31 of the school year following the instrument's administration;
        (3) provides summary reports for each district and
    
attendance center intended for parents and community stakeholders;
        (4) meets scale reliability requirements using
    
accepted testing measures;
        (5) provides research-based evidence linking
    
instrument content to one or more improved student outcomes; and
        (6) has undergone and documented testing to prove
    
validity and reliability.
The State Superintendent shall periodically review and update the list of approved alternate survey instruments, provided that at least 2, but no more than 3, alternate survey instruments shall be approved for use during any school year.
    (d) Nothing contained in this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly repeals, supersedes, invalidates, or nullifies final decisions in lawsuits pending on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly in Illinois courts involving the interpretation of Public Act 97-8.
(Source: P.A. 100-1046, eff. 8-23-18.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.154

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.154)
    Sec. 2-3.154. Low Performing Schools Intervention Program. From any funds appropriated to the State Board of Education for the purposes of intervening in low performing schools, the State Superintendent may, in his or her discretion, select school districts and schools in which to directly or indirectly intervene; provided however that such school districts and schools are within the lowest 5% in terms of performance in the State as determined by the State Superintendent. Intervention may take the form of a needs assessment or additional, more intensive intervention, as determined by the State Superintendent. Expenditures from funds appropriated for this purpose may include, without limitation, contracts, grants and travel to support the intervention.
(Source: P.A. 97-72, eff. 7-1-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.155

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.155)
    Sec. 2-3.155. Textbook block grant program.
    (a) The provisions of this Section are in the public interest, for the public benefit, and serve secular public purposes.
    (b) As used in this Section, "textbook" means any book or book substitute that a pupil uses as a text or text substitute, including electronic textbooks. "Textbook" includes books, reusable workbooks, manuals, whether bound or in loose-leaf form, instructional computer software, and electronic textbooks and the technological equipment necessary to gain access to and use electronic textbooks intended as a principal source of study material for a given class or group of students. "Textbook" also includes science curriculum materials in a kit format that includes pre-packaged consumable materials if (i) it is shown that the materials serve as a textbook substitute, (ii) the materials are for use by the pupils as a principal learning source, (iii) each component of the materials is integrally necessary to teach the requirements of the intended course, (iv) the kit includes teacher guidance materials, and (v) the purchase of individual consumable materials is not allowed.
    (c) Subject to annual appropriation by the General Assembly, the State Board of Education is authorized to provide annual funding to public school districts and State-recognized, non-public schools serving students in grades kindergarten through 12 for the purchase of selected textbooks. The textbooks authorized to be purchased under this Section are limited without exception to textbooks for use in any public school and that are secular, non-religious, non-sectarian, and non-discriminatory as to any of the characteristics under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Textbooks authorized to be purchased under this Section must include the roles and contributions of all people protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act. Each public school district and State-recognized, non-public school shall, subject to appropriations for that purpose, receive a per pupil grant for the purchase of secular and non-discriminatory textbooks. The per pupil grant amount must be calculated by the State Board of Education utilizing the total appropriation made for these purposes divided by the most current student enrollment data available.
    (d) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as necessary for the implementation of this Section and to ensure the religious neutrality of the textbook block grant program, as well as provide for the monitoring of all textbooks authorized in this Section to be purchased directly by State-recognized, nonpublic schools serving students in grades kindergarten through 12.
(Source: P.A. 101-17, eff. 6-14-19; 101-227, eff. 7-1-20; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.156

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.156)
    Sec. 2-3.156. Mathematics curriculum models.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall, immediately following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, coordinate the acquisition, adaptation, and development of middle and high school mathematics curriculum models to aid school districts and teachers in implementing standards for all students. The acquisition, adaptation, and development process shall include the input of representatives of statewide educational organizations and stakeholders, including without limitation all of the following:
        (1) Representatives of a statewide mathematics
    
professional organization.
        (2) Representatives of statewide teacher
    
organizations.
        (3) Representatives of statewide school
    
administrator organizations.
        (4) Experts in higher education mathematics
    
instruction.
        (5) Experts in curriculum design.
        (6) Experts in professional development design.
        (7) State education policymakers and advisors.
        (8) A representative from the Department of Commerce
    
and Economic Opportunity.
        (9) Higher education faculty.
        (10) Representatives of statewide school board
    
organizations.
        (11) Representatives of statewide principal
    
organizations.
    (b) The curriculum models under this Section shall include without limitation all of the following:
        (1) Scope-and-sequence descriptions for middle and
    
high school mathematics progressions, building content and skill acquisition across the grades.
        (2) Recommendations of curricula for the final year
    
of mathematics or math-equivalent instruction before graduation.
        (3) Sample lesson plans to illustrate instructional
    
materials and methods for specific standards.
        (4) Model high school course designs that
    
demonstrate effective student pathways to mathematics-standards attainment by graduation.
        (5) Training programs for teachers and
    
administrators, to be made available in both traditional and electronic formats for regional and local delivery.
    (c) The curriculum models under this Section must be completed no later than March 1, 2013.
    (d) The curriculum models and training programs under this Section must be made available to all school districts, which may choose to adopt or adapt the models in lieu of developing their own mathematics curricula. The Illinois P-20 Council shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the extent and effect of utilization of the curriculum models by school districts. Within 4 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, State mathematics test results and higher education mathematics remediation data must be used to gauge the effectiveness of high school mathematics instruction and the extent of standards attainment and be used to guide the continuous improvement of the mathematics curriculum and instruction.
(Source: P.A. 97-704, eff. 1-1-13.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.157

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.157)
    Sec. 2-3.157. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 98-756, eff. 7-16-14. Repealed internally, eff. 1-2-14.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.158

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.158)
    Sec. 2-3.158. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 98-790, eff. 7-25-14. Repealed internally, eff. 12-31-15.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.159

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.159)
    Sec. 2-3.159. State Seal of Biliteracy.
    (a) In this Section, "foreign language" means any language other than English, including all modern languages, Latin, American Sign Language, Native American languages, and native languages.
    (b) The State Seal of Biliteracy program is established to recognize public and non-public high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English. School district and non-public school participation in this program is voluntary.
    (c) The purposes of the State Seal of Biliteracy are as follows:
        (1) To encourage pupils to study languages.
        (2) To certify attainment of biliteracy.
        (3) To provide employers with a method of
    
identifying people with language and biliteracy skills.
        (4) To provide universities with an additional
    
method to recognize applicants seeking admission.
        (5) To prepare pupils with 21st century skills.
        (6) To recognize the value of foreign language and
    
native language instruction in public and non-public schools.
        (7) To strengthen intergroup relationships, affirm
    
the value of diversity, and honor the multiple cultures and languages of a community.
    (d) The State Seal of Biliteracy certifies attainment of a high level of proficiency, sufficient for meaningful use in college and a career, by a graduating public or non-public high school pupil in one or more languages in addition to English.
    (e) The State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to establish the criteria that pupils must achieve to earn a State Seal of Biliteracy, which may include without limitation attainment of units of credit in English language arts and languages other than English and passage of such assessments of foreign language proficiency as may be approved by the State Board of Education for this purpose. These rules shall ensure that the criteria that pupils must achieve to earn a State Seal of Biliteracy meet the course credit criteria established under subsection (i) of this Section.
    (e-5) To demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency for eligibility to receive a State Seal of Biliteracy under this Section, the State Board of Education shall allow a pupil to provide his or her school district with evidence of completion of any of the following, in accordance with guidelines for proficiency adopted by the State Board:
        (1) An AP (Advanced Placement) English Language and
    
Composition Exam.
        (2) An English language arts dual credit course.
        (3) Transitional coursework in English language arts
    
articulated in partnership with a public community college as an ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) College and Career Readiness Indicator.
    (f) The State Board of Education shall do both of the following:
        (1) Prepare and deliver to participating school
    
districts and non-public schools an appropriate mechanism for designating the State Seal of Biliteracy on the diploma and transcript of the pupil indicating that the pupil has been awarded a State Seal of Biliteracy by the State Board of Education.
        (2) Provide other information the State Board of
    
Education deems necessary for school districts and non-public schools to successfully participate in the program.
    (g) A school district or non-public school that participates in the program under this Section shall do both of the following:
        (1) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify
    
pupils who have earned a State Seal of Biliteracy.
        (2) Make the appropriate designation on the
    
diploma and transcript of each pupil who earns a State Seal of Biliteracy.
    (h) No fee shall be charged to a pupil to receive the designation pursuant to this Section. Notwithstanding this prohibition, costs may be incurred by the pupil in demonstrating proficiency, including without limitation any assessments required under subsection (e) of this Section.
    (i) For admissions purposes, each public university in this State shall accept the State Seal of Biliteracy as equivalent to 2 years of foreign language coursework taken during high school if a student's high school transcript indicates that he or she will be receiving or has received the State Seal of Biliteracy.
    (j) Each public community college and public university in this State shall establish criteria to translate a State Seal of Biliteracy into course credit based on foreign language course equivalencies identified by the community college's or university's faculty and staff and, upon request from an enrolled student, the community college or university shall award foreign language course credit to a student who has received a State Seal of Biliteracy. Students enrolled in a public community college or public university who have received a State Seal of Biliteracy must request course credit for their seal within 3 academic years after graduating from high school.
(Source: P.A. 101-222, eff. 1-1-20; 101-503, eff. 8-23-19; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.160

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.160)
    Sec. 2-3.160. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15. Repealed internally, eff. July 1, 2015. P.A. 99-65 contained an extension of the internal repealer, but did not take effect until July 16, 2015.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.161

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.161)
    Sec. 2-3.161. Definition of dyslexia; reading instruction advisory group; handbook.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall incorporate, in both general education and special education, the following definition of dyslexia:
        Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is
    
neurobiological in origin. Dyslexia is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.
    (b) (Blank).
    (c) The State Board of Education shall develop and maintain a handbook to be made available on its Internet website that provides guidance for pupils, parents or guardians, and teachers on the subject of dyslexia. The handbook shall include, but is not limited to:
        (1) guidelines for teachers and parents or guardians
    
on how to identify signs of dyslexia;
        (2) a description of educational strategies that have
    
been shown to improve the academic performance of pupils with dyslexia; and
        (3) a description of resources and services available
    
to pupils with dyslexia, parents or guardians of pupils with dyslexia, and teachers.
    The State Board shall review the handbook once every 4 years to update, if necessary, the guidelines, educational strategies, or resources and services made available in the handbook.
(Source: P.A. 102-539, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.162

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.162)
    Sec. 2-3.162. Student discipline report; school discipline improvement plan.
    (a) On or before October 31, 2015 and on or before October 31 of each subsequent year, the State Board of Education, through the State Superintendent of Education, shall prepare a report on student discipline in all school districts in this State, including State-authorized charter schools. This report shall include data from all public schools within school districts, including district-authorized charter schools. This report must be posted on the Internet website of the State Board of Education. The report shall include data on the issuance of out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, and removals to alternative settings in lieu of another disciplinary action, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, gender, age, grade level, whether a student is an English learner, incident type, and discipline duration.
    (b) The State Board of Education shall analyze the data under subsection (a) of this Section on an annual basis and determine the top 20% of school districts for the following metrics:
        (1) Total number of out-of-school suspensions divided
    
by the total district enrollment by the last school day in September for the year in which the data was collected, multiplied by 100.
        (2) Total number of out-of-school expulsions divided
    
by the total district enrollment by the last school day in September for the year in which the data was collected, multiplied by 100.
        (3) Racial disproportionality, defined as the
    
overrepresentation of students of color or white students in comparison to the total number of students of color or white students on October 1st of the school year in which data are collected, with respect to the use of out-of-school suspensions and expulsions, which must be calculated using the same method as the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights uses.
    The analysis must be based on data collected over 3 consecutive school years, beginning with the 2014-2015 school year.
    Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, the State Board of Education shall require each of the school districts that are identified in the top 20% of any of the metrics described in this subsection (b) for 3 consecutive years to submit a plan identifying the strategies the school district will implement to reduce the use of exclusionary disciplinary practices or racial disproportionality or both, if applicable. School districts that no longer meet the criteria described in any of the metrics described in this subsection (b) for 3 consecutive years shall no longer be required to submit a plan.
    This plan may be combined with any other improvement plans required under federal or State law.
    The calculation of the top 20% of any of the metrics described in this subsection (b) shall exclude all school districts, State-authorized charter schools, and special charter districts that issued fewer than a total of 10 out-of-school suspensions or expulsions, whichever is applicable, during the school year. The calculation of the top 20% of the metric described in subdivision (3) of this subsection (b) shall exclude all school districts with an enrollment of fewer than 50 white students or fewer than 50 students of color.
    The plan must be approved at a public school board meeting and posted on the school district's Internet website. Within one year after being identified, the school district shall submit to the State Board of Education and post on the district's Internet website a progress report describing the implementation of the plan and the results achieved.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15; 99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.163

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.163)
    Sec. 2-3.163. PUNS database information for students and parents or guardians.
    (a) The General Assembly makes all of the following findings:
        (1) Pursuant to Section 10-26 of the Department of
    
Human Services Act, the Department of Human Services maintains a statewide database known as the PUNS database that records information about individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities who are potentially in need of services.
        (2) The Department of Human Services uses the data on
    
PUNS to select individuals for services as funding becomes available, to develop proposals and materials for budgeting, and to plan for future needs.
        (3) The PUNS database is available for adults with
    
intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities who have unmet service needs anticipated in the next 5 years. The PUNS database is also available for children with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities with unmet service needs.
        (4) Registration to be included on the PUNS database
    
is the first step toward receiving developmental disabilities services in this State. A child or an adult who is not on the PUNS database will not be in queue for State developmental disabilities services.
        (5) Lack of awareness and information about the PUNS
    
database results in underutilization or delays in registration for the PUNS database by students with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities and their parents or guardians.
    (a-5) The purpose of this Section is to ensure that each student with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability who has an individualized education program ("IEP") and the student's parents or guardian are informed about the PUNS database, where to register for the PUNS database, and whom they can contact for information about the PUNS database and the PUNS database registration process. This Section is not intended to change the PUNS database registration process established by the Department of Human Services or to impose any responsibility on the State Board of Education or a school district to register students for the PUNS database.
    (a-10) As used in this Section, "PUNS" means the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services database or PUNS database developed and maintained by the Department of Human Services pursuant to Section 10-26 of the Department of Human Services Act.
    (b) The State Board of Education may work in consultation with the Department of Human Services and with school districts to ensure that all students with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities and their parents or guardians are informed about the PUNS database, as described in subsections (c), (c-5), and (d) of this Section.
    (c) The Department of Human Services, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall develop and implement an online, computer-based training program for at least one designated employee in every public school in this State to educate the designated employee or employees about the PUNS database and steps required to register students for the PUNS database, including the documentation and information parents or guardians will need for the registration process. The training shall include instruction on identifying and contacting the appropriate developmental disabilities Independent Service Coordination agency ("ISC") to register students for the PUNS database. The training of the designated employee or employees shall also include information about organizations and programs available in this State that offer assistance to families in understanding the PUNS database and navigating the PUNS database registration process. Each school district shall post on its public website and include in its student handbook the names of the designated trained employee or employees in each school within the school district.
    (c-5) During the student's annual IEP review meeting, if the student has an intellectual disability or a developmental disability, the student's IEP team shall determine the student's PUNS database registration status based upon information provided by the student's parents or guardian or by the student. If it is determined that the student is not registered for the PUNS database or if it is unclear whether the student is registered for the PUNS database, the parents or guardian and the student shall be referred to a designated employee of the public school who has completed the training described in subsection (c). The designated trained employee shall provide the student's parents or guardian and the student with the name, location, and contact information of the appropriate ISC to contact in order to register the student for the PUNS database. The designated trained employee shall also identify for the parents or guardian and the student the information and documentation they will need to complete the PUNS database registration process with the ISC, and shall also provide information to the parents or guardian and the student about organizations and programs available in this State that offer information to families about the PUNS database and the PUNS database registration process.
    (d) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, through school districts, shall provide to the parents and guardians of each student with an IEP a copy of the latest version of the Department of Human Services's guide titled "Understanding PUNS: A Guide to Prioritization for Urgency of Need for Services" each year at the annual review meeting for the student's individualized education program.
    (e) (Blank).
    (f) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall expand its selection of individuals from the PUNS database to include individuals who receive services through the Children and Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities - Support Waiver.
(Source: P.A. 102-57, eff. 7-9-21; 103-504, eff. 1-1-24; 103-546, eff. 8-11-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.164

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.164)
    Sec. 2-3.164. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 99-642, eff. 7-28-16. Repealed internally, eff. 12-16-20.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.165

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.165)
    Sec. 2-3.165. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 99-642, eff. 7-28-16. Repealed internally, eff. 6-1-16)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.166

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.166)
    Sec. 2-3.166. Youth suicide awareness and prevention.
    (a) This Section may be referred to as Ann Marie's Law.
    (b) The State Board of Education shall do both of the following:
        (1) In consultation with a youth suicide prevention
    
organization operating in this State and organizations representing school boards and school personnel, develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention policy that is consistent with subsection (c) of this Section.
        (2) Compile, develop, and post on its publicly
    
accessible Internet website both of the following, which may include materials already publicly available:
            (A) Recommended guidelines and educational
        
materials for training and professional development.
            (B) Recommended resources and age-appropriate
        
educational materials on youth suicide awareness and prevention.
    (c) The model policy developed by the State Board of Education under subsection (b) of this Section and any policy adopted by a school board under subsection (d) of this Section shall include all of the following:
        (1) A statement on youth suicide awareness and
    
prevention.
        (2) Protocols for administering youth suicide
    
awareness and prevention education to staff and students.
        (3) Methods of prevention, including procedures for
    
early identification and referral of students at risk of suicide.
        (4) Methods of intervention, including procedures
    
that address an emotional or mental health safety plan for students identified as being at increased risk of suicide, including those students who:
            (A) suffer from a mental health disorder;
            (B) suffer from a substance abuse disorder;
            (C) engage in self-harm or have previously
        
attempted suicide;
            (D) reside in an out-of-home placement;
            (E) are experiencing homelessness;
            (F) are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or
        
questioning (LGBTQ);
            (G) are bereaved by suicide; or
            (H) have a medical condition or certain types of
        
disabilities.
        (5) Methods of responding to a student or staff
    
suicide or suicide attempt.
        (6) Reporting procedures.
        (7) Recommended resources on youth suicide awareness
    
and prevention programs, including current contact information for such programs.
    (d) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, each school board shall review and update its current suicide awareness and prevention policy to be consistent with subsection (c) of this Section or adopt an age-appropriate youth suicide awareness and prevention policy consistent with subsection (c) of this Section, inform each school district employee and the parent or legal guardian of each student enrolled in the school district of such policy, and post such policy on the school district's publicly accessible Internet website. The policy adopted by a school board under this subsection (d) may be based upon the model policy developed by the State Board of Education under subsection (b) of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-267, eff. 7-1-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.167

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.167)
    Sec. 2-3.167. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17. Repealed internally, eff. 7-1-18.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.168

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.168)
    Sec. 2-3.168. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17. Repealed by P.A. 102-458, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.169

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.169)
    Sec. 2-3.169. State Global Scholar Certification.
    (a) The State Global Scholar Certification Program is established to recognized public and nonpublic high school graduates who have attained global competence. State Global Scholar Certification shall be awarded beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. School district or nonpublic school participation in this certification is voluntary.
    (b) The purposes of State Global Scholar Certification are as follows:
        (1) To recognize the value of a global education.
        (2) To certify attainment of global competence.
        (3) To provide employers with a method of identifying
    
globally competent employees.
        (4) To provide colleges and universities with an
    
additional method to recognize applicants seeking admission.
        (5) To prepare students with 21st century skills.
        (6) To encourage the development of a globally ready
    
workforce in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), manufacturing, agriculture, and service sectors.
    (c) State Global Scholar Certification confirms attainment of global competence, sufficient for meaningful use in college and a career, by a graduating public or nonpublic high school student.
    (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to establish the criteria that students must achieve to earn State Global Scholar Certification, which shall minimally include attainment of 6 globally focused courses, service learning experiences, global collaboration or dialogue, and passage of a capstone project demonstrating global competency, as approved by the participating school district or nonpublic school for this purpose.
    (e) The State Board of Education shall do both of the following:
        (1) Prepare and deliver to participating school
    
districts or nonpublic schools an appropriate mechanism for designating State Global Scholar Certification on the diploma and transcript of a student indicating that the student has been awarded State Global Scholar Certification by the State Board of Education.
        (2) Provide other information the State Board of
    
Education deems necessary for school districts or nonpublic schools to successfully participate in the certification.
    (f) A school district or nonpublic school that participates in certification under this Section shall do both of the following:
        (1) Maintain appropriate records in order to identify
    
students who have earned State Global Scholar Certification.
        (2) Make the appropriate designation on the diploma
    
and transcript of each student who earns State Global Scholar Certification.
    (g) No fee may be charged to a student to receive the designation pursuant to the Section. Notwithstanding this prohibition, costs may be incurred by the student in demonstrating proficiency.
    (h) The State Board of Education shall adopt such rules as may be necessary to provide students attending schools that do not offer State Global Scholar Certification the opportunity to earn State Global Scholar Certification remotely beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. These rules shall include, but are not limited to, a list of all school courses and course codes derived from the State Board of Education's Illinois State Course Catalog and Illinois Virtual Course Catalog that are designated as and qualify as globally focused coursework.
    If the provider of the online course determines and can demonstrate that a student meets all of the criteria required to earn State Global Scholar Certification, then the school district or nonpublic school shall designate that the student has earned State Global Scholar Certification on the student's diploma and transcript.
    A school district or nonpublic school shall provide, upon the request of a student, evidence to the student that the student has completed at least 6 globally focused courses required to earn State Global Scholar Certification for the student to submit to the provider of the online course.
    A student enrolled in a school district or nonpublic school that awarded State Global Scholar Certification prior to the 2026-2027 school year and offered a course to complete the capstone project requirement prior to the 2026-2027 school year may not earn State Global Scholar Certification remotely under this subsection (h).
(Source: P.A. 103-352, eff. 7-28-23; 103-979, eff. 1-1-25.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.170

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.170)
    Sec. 2-3.170. Property tax relief pool grants.
    (a) As used in this Section,
    "EAV" means equalized assessed valuation as defined under Section 18-8.15 of this Code.
    "Property tax multiplier" equals one minus the square of the school district's Local Capacity Percentage, as defined in Section 18-8.15 of this Code.
    "Local capacity percentage multiplier" means one minus the school district's Local Capacity Percentage, as defined in Section 18-8.15.
    "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
    (b) Subject to appropriation, the State Board shall provide grants to eligible school districts that provide tax relief to the school district's residents, which may be no greater than 1% of EAV for a unit district, 0.69% of EAV for an elementary school district, or 0.31% of EAV for a high school district, as provided in this Section.
    (b-5) School districts may apply for property tax relief under this Section concurrently to setting their levy for the fiscal year. The intended relief may not be greater than 1% of the EAV for a unit district, 0.69% of the EAV for an elementary school district, or 0.31% of the EAV for a high school district, multiplied by the school district's local capacity percentage multiplier. The State Board shall process applications for relief, providing a grant to those districts with the highest adjusted operating tax rate, as determined by those districts with the highest percentage of the simple average adjusted operating tax rate of districts of the same type, either elementary, high school, or unit, first, in an amount equal to the intended relief multiplied by the property tax multiplier. The State Board shall provide grants to school districts in order of priority until the property tax relief pool is exhausted. If more school districts apply for relief under this subsection than there are funds available, the State Board must distribute the grants and prorate any remaining funds to the final school district that qualifies for grant relief. The abatement amount for that district must be equal to the grant amount divided by the property tax multiplier.
    If a school district receives the State Board's approval of a grant under this Section by March 1 of the fiscal year, the school district shall present a duly authorized and approved abatement resolution by March 30 of the fiscal year to the county clerk of each county in which the school files its levy, authorizing the county clerk to lower the school district's levy by the amount designated in its application to the State Board. When the preceding requisites are satisfied, the county clerk shall reduce the amount collected for the school district by the amount indicated in the school district's abatement resolution for that fiscal year.
    (c) (Blank).
    (d) School districts seeking grants under this Section shall apply to the State Board each year. All applications to the State Board for grants shall include the amount of the tax relief intended by the school district.
    (e) Each year, based on the most recent available data provided by school districts pursuant to Section 18-8.15 of this Code, the State Board shall calculate the order of priority for grant eligibility under subsection (b-5) and publish a list of the school districts eligible for relief. The State Board shall provide grants in the manner provided under subsection (b-5).
    (f) The State Board shall publish a final list of eligible grant recipients and provide payment of the grants by March 1 of each year.
    (g) If notice of eligibility from the State Board is received by a school district by March 1, then by March 30, the school district shall file an abatement of its property tax levy in an amount equal to the grant received under this Section divided by the property tax multiplier. Payment of all grant amounts shall be made by June 1 each fiscal year. The State Superintendent of Education shall establish the timeline in such cases in which notice cannot be made by March 1.
    (h) The total property tax relief allowable to a school district under this Section shall be calculated based on the total amount of reduction in the school district's aggregate extension. The total grant shall be equal to the reduction, multiplied by the property tax multiplier. The reduction shall be equal to 1% of a district's EAV for a unit school district, 0.69% for an elementary school district, or 0.31% for a high school district, multiplied by the school district's local capacity percentage multiplier.
    (i) If the State Board does not expend all appropriations allocated pursuant to this Section, then any remaining funds shall be allocated pursuant to Section 18-8.15 of this Code.
    (j) The State Board shall prioritize payments under Section 18-8.15 of this Code over payments under this Section, if necessary.
    (k) Any grants received by a school district shall be included in future calculations of that school district's Base Funding Minimum under Section 18-8.15 of this Code. Beginning with Fiscal Year 2020, if a school district receives a grant under this Section, the school district must present to the county clerk a duly authorized and approved abatement resolution by March 30 for the year in which the school district receives the grant and the successive fiscal year following the receipt of the grant, authorizing the county clerk to lower the school district's levy by the amount designated in its original application to the State Board. After receiving a resolution, the county clerk must reduce the amount collected for the school district by the amount indicated in the school district's abatement resolution for that fiscal year. If a school district does not abate in this amount for the successive fiscal year, the grant amount may not be included in the school district's Base Funding Minimum under Section 18-8.15 in the fiscal year following the tax year in which the abatement is not authorized and in any future fiscal year thereafter, and the county clerk must notify the State Board of the increase no later 30 days after it occurs.
    (l) In the immediate 2 consecutive tax years following receipt of a Property Tax Pool Relief Grant, the aggregate extension base of any school district receiving a grant under this Section, for purposes of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, shall include the tax relief the school district provided in the previous taxable year under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.171

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.171)
    Sec. 2-3.171. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 100-863, eff. 8-14-18. Repealed by P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.172

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.172)
    Sec. 2-3.172. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 100-863, eff. 8-14-18. Repealed by P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.173

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.173)
    Sec. 2-3.173. Substitute teachers; recruiting firms.
    (a) In this Section, "recruiting firm" means a company with expertise in finding qualified applicants for positions and screening those potential workers for an employer.
    (b) By January 1, 2019, the State Board of Education shall implement a program and adopt rules to allow school districts to supplement their substitute teacher recruitment for elementary and secondary schools with the use of recruiting firms, subject to the other provisions of this Section. To qualify for the program, a school district shall demonstrate to the State Board that, because of the severity of its substitute teacher shortage, it is unable to find an adequate amount of substitute or retired teachers and has exhausted all other efforts. Substitute teachers provided by a recruiting firm must adhere to all mandated State laws, rules, and screening requirements for substitute teachers not provided by a recruiting firm and must be paid on the same wage scale as substitute teachers not provided by a recruiting firm. This Section shall not be construed to require school districts to use recruiting firms for substitute teachers. A school district may not use a recruiting firm under this Section to circumvent any collective bargaining agreements or State laws, rules, or screening requirements for teachers. A school district may not reduce the number of full-time staff members of a department as a result of hiring a substitute teacher recruiting firm. In the event of a teacher's strike, a school district may not use a recruiting firm to hire a substitute teacher.
    (c) A school district organized under Article 34 of this Code may contract with a substitute teacher recruiting firm under this Section only if the district meets the following requirements:
        (1) certifies to the State Board of Education that it
    
has adequate funds to fill and pay for all substitute teacher positions;
        (2) prioritizes existing substitute teachers over
    
substitute teachers from recruiting firms;
        (3) files copies of all substitute teacher contracts
    
with the State Board of Education; and
        (4) requires that the substitute teacher recruiting
    
firm file an annual report with the school district that would include the number of substitute teachers that were placed in the district, the total cost of the contract to the district, and the percentage of substitute teacher openings that were filled.
    (d) A substitute teacher recruiting firm may enter into an agreement with a labor organization that has a collective bargaining agreement with a school district.
(Source: P.A. 100-813, eff. 8-13-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.174

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.174)
    Sec. 2-3.174. Supporting Future Teachers Program.
    (a) In this Section:
    "English learner" means a child included in the definition of "English learners" under Section 14C-2 of this Code.
    "Low-income student" means a student that would be included in an Organizational Unit's Low-Income Count, as calculated under Section 18-8.15 of this Code.
    "Program" means the Supporting Future Teachers Program established under this Section.
    "Qualified participant" means a high school graduate who: (i) can demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English or is a recipient of a State Seal of Biliteracy or, at any one time during pre-kindergarten through grade 12, was identified as a low-income student; and (ii) is a member of the community in which the participating school district is located. A "qualified participant" must be enrolled in an educator preparation program approved by the State Board of Education at a regionally accredited institution of higher education in this State.
    "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
    (b) Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the State Board shall establish and maintain the Supporting Future Teachers Program to assist qualified participants in acquiring a Professional Educator License.
    (c) Each participating school district shall partner with an educator preparation program approved by the State Board at a regionally accredited institution of higher education in this State. Each qualified participant enrolled in the Program through the school district must be enrolled at least part-time each semester at that institution of higher education in its educator preparation program and be working toward a Professional Educator License.
    (d) A qualified participant shall no longer qualify for the Program if at any time the participating school district or the institution of higher education determines that the qualified participant is no longer making substantial progress toward a degree in an approved educator preparation program.
    (e) Throughout each semester of participation in the Program, the qualified participant must be employed by the participating school district and working under the supervision of a school district employee. Duties of the qualified participant may include, but are not limited to (i) working in cooperation with his or her supervisor under this subsection (e) to create classroom curriculum and lesson plans and (ii) working with and mentoring English learners or low-income students on a one-on-one basis.
    Each participating school district may use appropriate State, federal, or local revenue to employ the qualified participant.
    (f) At the end of each school year of the Program, each participating school district shall submit data to the State Board detailing all of the following:
        (1) The number of qualified participants enrolled in
    
the Program.
        (2) The costs associated with the Program.
        (3) The duties assigned to each qualified participant
    
by his or her supervisor.
        (4) The current status of each qualified participant
    
in his or her educator preparation program.
        (5) The qualified participant's Illinois Educator
    
Identification Number, if available.
        (6) Any other information requested by the State
    
Board.
    (g) Prior to the 2023-2024 school year, the State Board shall electronically submit a report to the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate detailing the first 4 years of the program, including, but not limited to, the following information:
        (1) The participating school districts in the Program.
        (2) The number of qualified participants enrolled in
    
the Program.
        (3) The costs associated with the Program per school
    
district.
        (4) A summary of the duties assigned to qualified
    
participants by school district supervisors.
        (5) Any other information as determined by the State
    
Board.
    (h) The State Board may establish and adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.
    (i) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require a school district to participate in the Program.
(Source: P.A. 100-982, eff. 8-19-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.175

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.175)
    Sec. 2-3.175. Registered apprenticeship program.
    (a) In this Section, "registered apprenticeship program" means an industry-based occupational training program of study with standards reviewed and approved by the United States Department of Labor that meets each of the following characteristics:
        (1) Apprentices in the program are at all times
    
employed by a company participating in the program.
        (2) The program features a structured combination of
    
on-the-job learning supported by related technical classroom instruction, met either by a high school or a public community college.
        (3) Apprentices in the program are paid a training
    
wage of not less than the State minimum wage, which escalates throughout the life of the apprenticeship, and employment is continued with the company following conclusion of the apprenticeship for a period of not less than 2 years.
        (4) Apprentices in the program earn an
    
industry-related occupational skills certificate and a high school diploma.
        (5) Apprentices in the program may earn postsecondary
    
credit toward a certificate or degree, as applicable. "Registered apprenticeship program" does not include an apprenticeship program related to construction, as defined under the Employee Classification Act.
    (b) No later than 6 months after August 20, 2018 (the effective date of Public Act 100-992), the State Board of Education shall initiate a rulemaking proceeding to adopt rules as may be necessary to allow students of any high school in this State who are 16 years of age or older to participate in registered apprenticeship programs. The rules shall include the waiver of all non-academic requirements mandated for graduation from a high school under this Code that would otherwise prohibit or prevent a student from participating in a registered apprenticeship program.
(Source: P.A. 100-992, eff. 8-20-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.176

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.176)
    Sec. 2-3.176. Transfers to Governor's Grant Fund. In addition to any other transfers that may be provided for by law, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer from the SBE Federal Agency Services Fund and the SBE Federal Department of Education Fund into the Governor's Grant Fund such amounts as may be directed in writing by the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 101-10, eff. 6-5-19; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.177

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.177)
    Sec. 2-3.177. Transfers to DHS Special Purposes Trust Fund. In addition to any other transfers that may be provided for by law, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer from the SBE Federal Agency Services Fund into the DHS Special Purposes Trust Fund such amounts as may be directed in writing by the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 101-10, eff. 6-5-19.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.178

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.178)
    Sec. 2-3.178. K-12 Recycling Grant Program.
    (a) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education must create and administer the K-12 Recycling Grant Program to provide grants to school districts for the implementation or improvement of a school's recycling program. A school district that applies for a grant under this Section may receive a maximum grant amount of $5,000 per school in that district and may use the grant funds only to implement or improve a school's recycling program.
    (b) The State Board must adopt rules to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 101-10, eff. 6-5-19.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.179

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.179)
    Sec. 2-3.179. Work-based learning database.
    (a) In this Section, "work-based learning" means an educational strategy that provides students with real-life work experiences in which they can apply academic and technical skills and develop their employability.
    (b) The State Board must develop a work-based learning database to help facilitate relationships between school districts and businesses and expand work-based learning in this State.
(Source: P.A. 101-389, eff. 8-16-19; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.180

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.180)
    Sec. 2-3.180. School safety and security grants. Subject to appropriation or private donations, the State Board of Education shall award grants to school districts to support school safety and security. Grant funds may be used for school security improvements, including professional development, safety-related upgrades to school buildings, equipment, including metal detectors and x-ray machines, and facilities, including school-based health centers. The State Board must prioritize the distribution of grants under this Section to school districts designated as Tier 1 or Tier 2 under Section 18-8.15.
(Source: P.A. 101-413, eff. 1-1-20; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.181

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.181)
    Sec. 2-3.181. Safe Schools and Healthy Learning Environments Grant Program.
    (a) The State Board of Education, subject to appropriation, is authorized to award competitive grants on an annual basis under a Safe Schools and Healthy Learning Environments Grant Program. The goal of this grant program is to promote school safety and healthy learning environments by providing schools with additional resources to implement restorative interventions and resolution strategies as alternatives to exclusionary discipline, and to address the full range of students' intellectual, social, emotional, physical, psychological, and moral developmental needs.
    (b) To receive a grant under this program, a school district must submit with its grant application a plan for implementing evidence-based and promising practices that are aligned with the goal of this program. The application may include proposals to (i) hire additional school support personnel, including, but not limited to, restorative justice practitioners, school psychologists, school social workers, and other mental and behavioral health specialists; (ii) use existing school-based resources, community-based resources, or other experts and practitioners to expand alternatives to exclusionary discipline, mental and behavioral health supports, wraparound services, or drug and alcohol treatment; and (iii) provide training for school staff on trauma-informed approaches to meeting students' developmental needs, addressing the effects of toxic stress, restorative justice approaches, conflict resolution techniques, and the effective utilization of school support personnel and community-based services. For purposes of this subsection, "promising practices" means practices that present, based on preliminary information, potential for becoming evidence-based practices.
    Grant funds may not be used to increase the use of school-based law enforcement or security personnel. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit school districts from involving law enforcement personnel when necessary and allowed by law.
    (c) The State Board of Education, subject to appropriation for the grant program, shall annually disseminate a request for applications to this program, and funds shall be distributed annually. The criteria to be considered by the State Board of Education in awarding the funds shall be (i) the average ratio of school support personnel to students in the target schools over the preceding 3 school years, with priority given to applications with a demonstrated shortage of school support personnel to meet student needs; and (ii) the degree to which the proposal articulates a comprehensive approach for reducing exclusionary discipline while building safe and healthy learning environments. Priority shall be given to school districts that meet the metrics under subsection (b) of Section 2-3.162.
    (d) The State Board of Education, subject to appropriation for the grant program, shall produce an annual report on the program in cooperation with the school districts participating in the program. The report shall include available quantitative information on the progress being made in reducing exclusionary discipline and the effects of the program on school safety and school climate. This report shall be posted on the State Board of Education's website by October 31 of each year, beginning in 2020.
    (e) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the implementation of this program.
(Source: P.A. 101-438, eff. 8-20-19; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.182

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.182)
    Sec. 2-3.182. Annual census of personnel holding school support personnel endorsements.
    (a) In this Section:
    "School support personnel endorsement" means an endorsement affixed to a Professional Educator License as referenced in subparagraph (G) of paragraph (2) of Section 21B-25 of this Code.
    "Special education joint agreement" means an entity formed pursuant to Section 10-22.31 of this Code.
    (b) No later than December 1, 2023 and each December 1st annually thereafter, the State Board of Education must make available on its website the following information for each school district as of October 1st of each year beginning in 2022:
        (1) The total number of personnel with a school
    
support personnel endorsement and, for each endorsement area:
            (A) those actively employed on a full-time basis
        
by the school district;
            (B) those actively employed on a part-time basis
        
by the school district; and
            (C) those actively employed by a special
        
education joint agreement providing services to students in the school district.
        (2) The total number of students enrolled in the
    
school district and, of that total, the number of students with an individualized education program or a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
(Source: P.A. 102-302, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.183

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.183)
    Sec. 2-3.183. Review of university admission coursework.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall make the review compiled under Section 9.40 of the Board of Higher Education Act available to the public on its Internet website.
    (b) To ensure that every public high school student understands the course expectations for admission into a public university in this State, a school district must make available to students in grades 8 through 12 and their parents or guardians the review compiled under Section 9.40 of the Board of Higher Education Act before the student's course schedule is finalized for the student's particular grade level.
    (c) To ensure that a public high school student is not excluded from enrolling in a public university in this State because of a lack of access to required or recommended coursework, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year and each school year thereafter, every public high school must provide access to each course identified in the review compiled under Section 9.40 of the Board of Higher Education Act to any of its students who request to enroll in the course. If the public high school is unable to offer the course through the school district, the public high school must find an alternative way to offer the course to the student, which may include partnering with another school district, a community college district, an institution of higher education, or some other course provider. No student shall be excluded from participation in a course identified in the review due to financial reasons. Any course offered pursuant to this Section as a dual credit course shall be developed and offered in accordance with the Dual Credit Quality Act.
(Source: P.A. 101-654, eff. 3-8-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.185

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.185)
    Sec. 2-3.185. Computer science standards and courses. On or before December 1, 2021, the State Board of Education shall:
        (1) develop or adopt rigorous learning standards in
    
the area of computer science; and
        (2) analyze and revise, if appropriate, existing
    
course titles dedicated to computer science or develop a short list of existing course titles that are recommended for computer science courses.
(Source: P.A. 101-654, eff. 3-8-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.186

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.186)
    Sec. 2-3.186. Freedom Schools; grant program.
    (a) The General Assembly recognizes and values the contributions that Freedom Schools make to enhance the lives of Black students. The General Assembly makes all of the following findings:
        (1) The fundamental goal of the Freedom Schools of
    
the 1960s was to provide quality education for all students, to motivate active civic engagement, and to empower disenfranchised communities. The renowned and progressive curriculum of Freedom Schools allowed students of all ages to experience a new and liberating form of education that directly related to the imperatives of their lives, their communities, and the Freedom Movement.
        (2) Freedom Schools continue to demonstrate the
    
proven benefits of critical civic engagement and intergenerational effects by providing historically disadvantaged students, including African American students and other students of color, with quality instruction that fosters student confidence, critical thinking, and social and emotional development.
        (3) Freedom Schools offer culturally relevant
    
learning opportunities with the academic and social supports that Black children need by utilizing quality teaching, challenging and engaging curricula, wrap-around supports, a positive school climate, and strong ties to family and community. Freedom Schools have a clear focus on results.
        (4) Public schools serve a foundational role in the
    
education of over 2,000,000 students in this State.
    (b) The State Board of Education shall establish a Freedom School network to supplement the learning taking place in public schools by awarding one or more grants as set forth in subsection (e) to create Freedom Schools with a mission to improve the odds for children in poverty by using a research-based and multicultural curriculum for disenfranchised communities most affected by the opportunity gap and learning loss caused by the pandemic, and by expanding the teaching of African American history, developing leadership skills, and providing an understanding of the tenets of the civil rights movement. The teachers in Freedom Schools must be from the local community, with an emphasis on historically disadvantaged youth, including African American students and other students of color, so that (i) these individuals have access to jobs and teaching experiences that serve as a long-term pipeline to educational careers and the hiring of minority educators in public schools, (ii) these individuals are elevated as content experts and community leaders, and (iii) Freedom School students have access to both mentorship and equitable educational resources.
    (c) A Freedom School shall intentionally and imaginatively implement strategies that focus on all of the following:
        (1) Racial justice and equity.
        (2) Transparency and building trusting
    
relationships.
        (3) Self-determination and governance.
        (4) Building on community strengths and community
    
wisdom.
        (5) Utilizing current data, best practices, and
    
evidence.
        (6) Shared leadership and collaboration.
        (7) A reflective learning culture.
        (8) A whole-child approach to education.
        (9) Literacy.
    (d) The State Board of Education, in the establishment of Freedom Schools, shall strive for authentic parent and community engagement during the development of Freedom Schools and their curriculum. Authentic parent and community engagement includes all of the following:
        (1) A shared responsibility that values equal
    
partnerships between families and professionals.
        (2) Ensuring that students and families who are
    
directly impacted by Freedom School policies and practices are the decision-makers in the creation, design, implementation, and assessment of those policies and practices.
        (3) Genuine respect for the culture and diversity
    
of families.
        (4) Relationships that center around the goal of
    
supporting family well-being and children's development and learning.
    (e) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall establish and implement a grant program to provide grants to public schools, public community colleges, and not-for-profit, community-based organizations to facilitate improved educational outcomes for historically disadvantaged students, including African American students and other students of color in grades pre-kindergarten through 12 in alignment with the integrity and practices of the Freedom School model established during the civil rights movement. Grant recipients under the program may include, but are not limited to, entities that work with the Children's Defense Fund or offer established programs with proven results and outcomes. The State Board of Education shall award grants to eligible entities that demonstrate a likelihood of reasonable success in achieving the goals identified in the grant application, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
        (1) Engaging, culturally relevant, and challenging
    
curricula.
        (2) High-quality teaching.
        (3) Wrap-around supports and opportunities.
        (4) Positive discipline practices, such as
    
restorative justice.
        (5) Inclusive leadership.
    (f) The Freedom Schools Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. The Fund shall consist of appropriations from the General Revenue Fund, grant funds from the federal government, and donations from educational and private foundations. All money in the Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, by the State Board of Education for the purposes of this Section and to support related activities.
    (g) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-209, eff. 11-30-21 (See Section 5 of P.A. 102-671 for effective date of P.A. 102-209); 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.187

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.187)
    Sec. 2-3.187. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 102-671, eff. 11-30-21. Repealed internally, eff. 1-1-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.188

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.188)
    Sec. 2-3.188. Resource guide.
    (a) By July 1, 2023, the State Board of Education, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, as needed, shall develop and maintain a resource guide that shall be made available on the State Board's Internet website. The resource guide shall provide guidance for pupils, parents or guardians, and teachers about sexual abuse response and prevention resources available in their community. The resource guide shall, at a minimum, provide all of the following information:
        (1) Contact information, the location, and a list of
    
the services provided by or available through accredited children's advocacy centers.
        (2) Contact information and a list of the services
    
offered by organizations that provide medical evaluations and treatment to victims of child sexual abuse.
        (3) Contact information and a list of the services
    
offered by organizations that provide mental health evaluations and services to victims and the families of victims of child sexual abuse.
        (4) Contact information of organizations
    
that offer legal assistance to and provide advocacy on behalf of victims of child sexual abuse.
    (b) At the beginning of the school year, each school district, charter school, or nonpublic school shall notify the parents or guardians of enrolled students of the availability of the resource guide. Each school district, charter school, or nonpublic school shall furnish the resource guide to a student's parent or guardian at the request of the parent or guardian and may also make the resource guide available on its Internet website.
    (c) The State Board of Education shall periodically review the information contained in the resource guide and update the information as necessary.
(Source: P.A. 102-676, eff. 12-3-21.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.189

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.189)
    Sec. 2-3.189. School unused food sharing plan. School districts shall incorporate a food sharing plan for unused food into their local wellness policy under Section 2-3.139. The food sharing plan shall focus on needy students, with the plan being developed and supported jointly by the district's local health department. Participants in the child nutrition programs, the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) shall adhere to the provisions of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, as well as accompanying guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the Food Donation Program, to ensure that any leftover food items are properly donated in order to combat potential food insecurity in their communities. For the purpose of this Section, "properly" means in accordance with all federal regulations and State and local health and sanitation codes.
(Source: P.A. 102-359, eff. 8-13-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.190

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.190)
    Sec. 2-3.190. Anaphylactic policy for school districts.
    (a) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, shall establish an anaphylactic policy for school districts setting forth guidelines and procedures to be followed both for the prevention of anaphylaxis and during a medical emergency resulting from anaphylaxis. The policy shall be developed after consultation with the advisory committee established pursuant to Section 5 of the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act. In establishing the policy required under this Section, the State Board shall consider existing requirements and current and best practices for schools regarding allergies and anaphylaxis. The State Board must also consider the voluntary guidelines for managing food allergies in schools issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
    (b) The anaphylactic policy established under subsection (a) shall include the following:
        (1) A procedure and treatment plan, including
    
emergency protocols and responsibilities for school nurses and other appropriate school personnel, for responding to anaphylaxis.
        (2) Requirements for a training course for
    
appropriate school personnel on preventing and responding to anaphylaxis.
        (3) A procedure and appropriate guidelines for the
    
development of an individualized emergency health care plan for children with a food or other allergy that could result in anaphylaxis.
        (4) A communication plan for intake and
    
dissemination of information provided by this State regarding children with a food or other allergy that could result in anaphylaxis, including a discussion of methods, treatments, and therapies to reduce the risk of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.
        (5) Strategies for reducing the risk of exposure to
    
anaphylactic causative agents, including food and other allergens.
        (6) A communication plan for discussion with
    
children who have developed adequate verbal communication and comprehension skills and with the parents or guardians of all children about foods that are safe and unsafe and about strategies to avoid exposure to unsafe food.
    (c) At least once each calendar year, each school district shall send a notification to the parents or guardians of all children under the care of a school to make them aware of the anaphylactic policy. The notification shall include contact information for parents and guardians to engage further with the school to learn more about individualized aspects of the policy.
    (d) At least 6 months after August 20, 2021 (the effective date of Public Act 102-413), the anaphylactic policy established under subsection (a) shall be forwarded by the State Board to the school board of each school district in this State. Each school district shall implement or update, as appropriate, its anaphylactic policy in accordance with those developed by the State Board within 6 months after receiving the anaphylactic policy from the State Board.
    (e) The anaphylactic policy established under subsection (a) shall be reviewed and updated, if necessary, at least once every 3 years.
    (f) The State Board shall post the anaphylactic policy established under subsection (a) and resources regarding allergies and anaphylaxis on its website.
    (g) The State Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-413, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.191

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.191)
    Sec. 2-3.191. State Education Equity Committee.
    (a) The General Assembly finds that this State has an urgent and collective responsibility to achieve educational equity by ensuring that all policies, programs, and practices affirm the strengths that each and every child brings with diverse backgrounds and life experiences and by delivering the comprehensive support, programs, and educational opportunities children need to succeed.
    (b) The State Education Equity Committee is created within the State Board of Education to strive toward ensuring equity in education for all children from birth through grade 12.
    (c) The Committee shall consist of the State Superintendent of Education or the State Superintendent's designee, who shall serve as chairperson, and one member from each of the following organizations appointed by the State Superintendent:
        (1) At least 2 educators who each represent a
    
different statewide professional teachers' organization.
        (2) A professional teachers' organization located in
    
a city having a population exceeding 500,000.
        (3) A statewide association representing school
    
administrators.
        (4) A statewide association representing regional
    
superintendents of schools.
        (5) A statewide association representing school board
    
members.
        (6) A statewide association representing school
    
principals.
        (7) A school district serving a community with a
    
population of 500,000 or more.
        (8) A parent-led organization.
        (9) A student-led organization.
        (10) One community organization that works to foster
    
safe and healthy environments through advocacy for immigrant families and ensuring equitable opportunities for educational advancement and economic development.
        (11) An organization that works for economic,
    
educational, and social progress for African Americans and promotes strong sustainable communities through advocacy, collaboration, and innovation.
        (12) One statewide organization whose focus is to
    
narrow or close the achievement gap between students of color and their peers.
        (13) An organization that advocates for healthier
    
school environments in this State.
        (14) One statewide organization that advocates for
    
partnerships among schools, families, and the community, provides access to support, and removes barriers to learning and development, using schools as hubs.
        (15) One organization that advocates for the health
    
and safety of Illinois youth and families by providing capacity building services.
        (16) An organization dedicated to advocating for
    
public policies to prevent homelessness.
        (17) Other appropriate State agencies as determined
    
by the State Superintendent.
        (18) An organization that works for economic,
    
educational, and social progress for Native Americans and promotes strong sustainable communities through advocacy, collaboration, and innovation.
        (19) A individual with a disability or a statewide
    
organization representing or advocating on behalf of individuals with disabilities. As used in this paragraph, "disability" has the meaning given to that term in Section 10 of the Disabilities Services Act of 2003.
    Members appointed to the Committee must reflect, as much as possible, the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of this State.
    (d) Members appointed by the State Superintendent shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses, including travel, from funds appropriated to the State Board of Education for that purpose, subject to the rules of the appropriate travel control board.
    (e) The Committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson, but shall meet no less than 3 times a year.
    (f) The Committee shall recognize that, while progress has been made, much remains to be done to address systemic inequities and ensure each and every child is equipped to reach the child's fullest potential and shall:
        (1) guide its work through the principles of equity,
    
equality, collaboration, and community;
        (2) focus its work around the overarching goals of
    
student learning, learning conditions, and elevating educators, all underpinned by equity;
        (3) identify evidence-based practices or policies
    
around these goals to build on this State's progress of ensuring educational equity for all its students in all aspects of birth through grade 12 education; and
        (4) seek input and feedback on identified
    
evidence-based practices or policies from stakeholders, including, but not limited to, parents, students, and educators that reflect the rich diversity of Illinois students.
    (g) The Committee shall submit its recommendations to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education no later than January 31, 2022. By no later than December 15, 2023 and each year thereafter, the Committee shall report to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education about the additional progress that has been made to achieve educational equity.
    (h) As part of the report required under subsection (g), by no later than December 15, 2024, the Committee shall provide recommendations that may assist the State Board of Education in identifying diverse subject matter experts to help inform policy through task forces, committees, and commissions the State Board oversees.
    (i) On and after January 31, 2025, subsection (h) is inoperative.
(Source: P.A. 102-458, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-422, eff. 8-4-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.192

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.192)
    Sec. 2-3.192. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23. Repealed internally, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.195

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.195)
    Sec. 2-3.195. Direct support professional training program. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and continuing for not less than 2 years, the State Board of Education shall make available a model program of study that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as a direct support professional. By July 1, 2025, the Department of Human Services shall submit recommendations developed in consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations representing community-based providers serving children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and education practitioners, including, but not limited to, teachers, administrators, special education directors, and regional superintendents of schools, to the State Board for the training that would be required in order to complete the model program of study.
(Source: P.A. 102-874, eff. 1-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-175, eff. 6-30-23; 103-998, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.196

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.196)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2029)
    Sec. 2-3.196. Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation reporting.
    (a) The requirements of this Section are subject to appropriation.
    (b) The State Board of Education shall build data collection systems to allow the collection of data on reported allegations of the conduct described in paragraph (1). Beginning on August 1 of the year after the systems are implemented and for each reporting school year beginning on August 1 and ending on July 31 thereafter, each school district, charter school, and nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school shall disclose to the State Board of Education all of the following information:
        (1) The total number of reported allegations of
    
discrimination, harassment, or retaliation against students received by each school district, charter school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school during the reporting school year, defined as August 1 to July 31, in each of the following categories:
            (A) sexual harassment;
            (B) discrimination or harassment on the basis of
        
race, color, or national origin;
            (C) discrimination or harassment on the basis of
        
sex;
            (D) discrimination or harassment on the basis of
        
religion;
            (E) discrimination or harassment on the basis of
        
disability; and
            (F) retaliation.
        (2) The status of allegations, as of the last day of
    
the reporting period, in each category under paragraph (1).
        Allegations shall be reported as unfounded, founded,
    
or investigation pending by the school district, charter school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school.
    (c) A school district, charter school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school may not include in any disclosures required under this Section any information by which an individual may be personally identified, including the name of the victim or victims or those accused of an act of alleged discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.
    (d) If a school district, charter school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school fails to disclose the information required in subsection (b) of this Section by July 31 of the reporting school year, the State Board of Education shall provide a written request for disclosure to the school district, charter school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school, thereby providing the period of time in which the required information must be disclosed. If a school district, charter school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school fails to disclose the information within 14 days after receipt of that written request, the State Board of Education may petition the Department of Human Rights to initiate a charge of a civil rights violation pursuant to Section 5A-102 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
    (e) The State Board of Education shall publish an annual report aggregating the information reported by school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary schools under subsection (b) of this Section. Data included in the report shall not be publicly attributed to any individual school district, charter school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school. The report shall include the number of incidents reported between August 1 and July 31 of the preceding reporting school year, based on each of the categories identified under paragraph (1) of this subsection (b).
    The annual report shall be filed with the Department of Human Rights and the General Assembly and made available to the public by July 1 of the year following the reporting school year. Data submitted by a school district, charter school, or nonpublic, nonsectarian elementary or secondary school to comply with this Section is confidential and exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.
    (f) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules deemed necessary for implementation of this Section.
    (g) This Section is repealed on July 1, 2029.
(Source: P.A. 103-472, eff. 8-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.197

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.197)
    Sec. 2-3.197. Imagination Library of Illinois; grant program. To promote the development of a comprehensive statewide initiative for encouraging preschool age children to develop a love of reading and learning, the State Board of Education is authorized to develop, fund, support, promote, and operate the Imagination Library of Illinois Program, which is hereby established. For purposes of this Section, "State program" means the Imagination Library of Illinois Program.
    (a) State program funds shall be used to provide, through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, one age-appropriate book, per month, to each registered child from birth to age 5 in participating counties. Books shall be sent monthly to each registered child's home at no cost to families. Subject to an annual appropriation, the State Board of Education shall contribute the State's matching funds per the cost-sharing framework established by Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for the State program. The State program shall contribute the 50% match of funds required of local programs participating in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Local program partners shall match the State program funds to provide the remaining 50% match of funds required by Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
        (1) The Imagination Library of Illinois Fund is
    
hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury. The State Board of Education may accept gifts, grants, awards, donations, matching contributions, appropriations, interest income, public or private bequests, and cost sharings from any individuals, businesses, governments, or other third-party sources, and any federal funds. All moneys received under this Section shall be deposited into the Imagination Library of Illinois Fund. Any moneys that are unobligated or unexpended at the end of a fiscal year shall remain in the Imagination Library of Illinois Fund, shall not lapse into the General Revenue Fund, and shall be available to the Board for expenditure in the next fiscal year, subject to appropriation. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, this Fund is not subject to sweeps, administrative chargebacks, or any other fiscal or budgetary maneuver that in any way would transfer any amount from this Fund into any other fund of the State.
        (2) Moneys received under this Section are subject
    
to appropriation by the General Assembly and may only be expended for purposes consistent with the conditions under which the moneys were received, including, but not limited to, the following:
            (i) Moneys in the Fund shall be used to provide
        
age-appropriate books on a monthly basis, at home, to each child registered in the Imagination Library of Illinois Program, from birth through their fifth birthday, at no cost to families, through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
            (ii) Subject to availability, moneys in the
        
Fund shall be allocated to qualified local entities that provide a dollar-for-dollar match for the program. As used in this Section, "qualified local entity" means any existing or new local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library affiliate.
            (iii) Moneys in the Fund may be used by the
        
State Board of Education to pay for administrative expenses of the State program, including associated operating expenses of the State Board of Education or any nonprofit entity that coordinates the State program pursuant to subsection (b).
    (b) The State Board of Education shall coordinate with a nonprofit entity qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to operate the State program. That organization must be organized solely to promote and encourage reading by the children of the State, for the purpose of implementing this Section.
    (c) The State Board of Education shall provide oversight of the nonprofit entity that operates the State program pursuant to subsection (b) to ensure the nonprofit entity does all of the following:
        (1) Promotes the statewide development of local Dolly
    
Parton's Imagination Library programs.
        (2) Advances and strengthens local Dolly Parton's
    
Imagination Library programs with the goal of increasing enrollment.
        (3) Develops community engagement.
        (4) Develops, promotes, and coordinates a public
    
awareness campaign to make donors aware of the opportunity to donate to the affiliate programs and make the public aware of the opportunity to register eligible children to receive books through the program.
        (5) Administers the local match requirement and
    
coordinates the collection and remittance of local program costs for books and mailing.
        (6) Develops statewide marketing and communication
    
plans.
        (7) Solicits donations, gifts, and other funding
    
from statewide partners to financially support local Dolly Parton's Imagination Library programs.
        (8) Identifies and applies for available grant
    
awards.
    (d) The State Board of Education shall make publicly available on an annual basis information regarding the number of local programs that exist, where the local programs are located, the number of children that are enrolled in the program, the number of books that have been provided, and those entities or organizations that serve as local partners.
    (e) The State Board of Education may adopt rules as may be needed for the administration of the Imagination Library of Illinois Program.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.198

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.198)
    Sec. 2-3.198. Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program.
    (a) Subject to appropriation, beginning in Fiscal Year 2024, the State Board of Education shall administer a 3-year Teacher Vacancy Grant Pilot Program for the allocation of formula grant funds to school districts to support the reduction of unfilled teaching positions throughout the State. The State Board shall identify which districts are eligible to apply for a 3-year grant under this Section by reviewing the State Board's Fiscal Year 2023 annual unfilled teaching positions report to determine which districts designated as Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 under Section 18-8.15 have the greatest need for funds. Based on the National Center for Education Statistics locale classifications, 60% of eligible districts shall be rural districts and 40% of eligible districts shall be urban districts. Continued funding for the grant in Fiscal Year 2025 and Fiscal Year 2026 is subject to appropriation. The State Board shall post, on its website, information about the grant program and the list of identified districts that are eligible to apply for a grant under this subsection.
    (b) A school district that is determined to be eligible for a grant under subsection (a) and that chooses to participate in the program must submit an application to the State Board that describes the relevant context for the need for teacher vacancy support, suspected causes of teacher vacancies in the district, and the district's plan in utilizing grant funds to reduce unfilled teaching positions throughout the district. If an eligible school district chooses not to participate in the program, the State Board shall identify a potential replacement district by using the same methodology described in subsection (a).
    (c) Grant funds awarded under this Section may be used for financial incentives to support the recruitment and hiring of teachers, programs and incentives to strengthen teacher pipelines, or investments to sustain teachers and reduce attrition among teachers. Grant funds shall be used only for the purposes outlined in the district's application to the State Board to reduce unfilled teaching positions. Grant funds shall not be used for any purposes not approved by the State Board.
    (d) A school district that receives grant funds under this Section shall submit an annual report to the State Board that includes, but is not limited to, a summary of all grant-funded activities implemented to reduce unfilled teaching positions, progress towards reducing unfilled teaching positions, the number of unfilled teaching positions in the district in the preceding fiscal year, the number of new teachers hired during the program, the teacher attrition rate, the number of individuals participating in any programs designed to reduce attrition, the number of teachers retained using support of the grant funds, participation in any strategic pathway programs created under the program, and the number of and participation in any new pathways into teaching positions created under the program.
    (e) No later than March 1, 2027, the State Board shall submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the efficacy of the pilot program that includes a summary of the information received under subsection (d) and an overview of its activities to support grantees.
(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.199

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.199)
    Sec. 2-3.199. Computer Science Equity Grant Program.
    (a) Subject to appropriation, the State Board shall establish a competitive grant program to support the development or enhancement of computer science programs in the K-12 schools. Eligible entities are regional offices of education, intermediate service centers, State higher education institutions, schools designated as laboratory schools, and school districts. Approved entities shall be responsible for ensuring that appropriate facilities are available and educators are appropriately trained on the use of any technologies or devices acquired for the purposes of the grant.
    (b) Computer Science Equity Grant Program funds shall be used in the following manner consistent with application requirements established by the State Board of Education as provided in this Article:
        (1) to expand learning opportunities in grades K-12
    
to ensure that all students have access to computer science coursework that is aligned to rigorous State standards and emerging labor market needs;
        (2) to train and retrain teachers of grades K-12 to
    
be more proficient in the teaching of computer science by providing professional development opportunities;
        (3) to supply classrooms with materials and equipment
    
related to the teaching and learning of computer science; and
        (4) to more effectively recruit and better serve K-12
    
learners who are underrepresented in the computer science labor market for enrollment in computer science coursework.
    (c) Computer Science Equity Grant Program funds shall be made available to each eligible entity upon completion of an application process that is consistent with rules established by the State Board of Education. The application shall include the planned use of the funds; identification of need for the funds that is supported by local, regional, and state data; a plan for long-term sustainability; and a long-term plan for continuous improvement.
    (d) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules as may be necessary to implement the provision of this Article, including, but not limited to, the identification of additional prioritization areas for each competitive grant application cycle that are within the scope of the authorized uses. Priority consideration for all applications will be given for proposals that intend to serve a majority of learners or teachers with gender or racial/ethnic identities that are underrepresented in the computer science labor market.
    (e) Up to 2 renewals of the grant will be allowed, providing the entity awarded satisfactorily completes programmatic reporting and meets program objectives commensurate with application requirements set forth by the State Board of Education.
    (f) Grants under the Computer Science Equity Grant Program and funding levels for satisfactory applications may be prorated according to the amount appropriated.
(Source: P.A. 103-264, eff. 1-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.200

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.200)
    Sec. 2-3.200. State Board of Education literacy assistance.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall adopt and make available all of the following to each publicly funded school district by July 1, 2024:
        (1) A rubric by which districts may evaluate
    
curricula and select and implement evidence-based, culturally inclusive core reading instruction programs aligned with the comprehensive literacy plan for the State described in subsection (c).
        (2) A template to support districts when developing
    
comprehensive, district-wide literacy plans that include support for special student populations, including, at a minimum, students with disabilities, multilingual students, and bidialectal students.
        (3) Guidance on evidence-based practices for
    
effective structures for training and deploying literacy coaches to support teachers and close opportunity gaps among student demographic groups.
    (b) On or before January 1, 2025, the State Board of Education shall develop and make available training opportunities for educators in teaching reading that are aligned with the comprehensive literacy plan described in subsection (c) and consistent with State learning standards. This support may include:
        (1) the development of a microcredential or a series
    
of microcredentials in literacy instruction aligned with the comprehensive literacy plan described in subsection (c) to be affixed to educator licenses upon successful demonstration of the skill or completion of the required coursework or assessment, or both, or online training modules on literacy instruction, aligned with the comprehensive literacy plan described in subsection (c) and consistent with State learning standards, accepted for continuing professional development units; and
        (2) the creation and dissemination of a tool that
    
school districts, educators, and the public may use to evaluate professional development and training programs related to literacy instruction.
    (c) In consultation with education stakeholders, the State Board of Education shall develop and adopt a comprehensive literacy plan for the State on or before January 31, 2024. The comprehensive literacy plan shall consider, without limitation, evidence-based research and culturally and linguistically sustaining pedagogical approaches to meet the needs of all students and shall, at a minimum, do all of the following:
        (1) Consider core instructional literacy practices
    
and practices related to the unique needs of and support for specific student populations, including, at a minimum, students with disabilities, multilingual students, and bidialectal students, and the resources and support, including professional learning for teachers, needed to effectively implement the literacy instruction.
        (2) Provide guidance related to screening tools, the
    
administration of such screening tools, and the interpretation of the resulting data to identify students at risk of reading difficulties in grades kindergarten through 2. This guidance shall outline instances in which dyslexia screenings and other universal screeners are appropriate for use with English learners.
        (3) Provide guidance related to early literacy
    
intervention for students in grades kindergarten through 2 for schools to implement with students at risk of reading difficulties, as well as literacy intervention for students in grades 3 through 12 demonstrating reading difficulties.
        (4) Consider the impact of second language
    
acquisition and bilingual education on reading instruction in the student's native language and English.
        (5) Define key terminology, such as "evidence-based".
        (6) Contextualize the interaction between elements of
    
the plan and existing laws and regulations that have overlapping components, such as a multi-tiered system of support.
        (7) Focus on a comprehensive range of elements of
    
literacy, including phonological awareness; decoding (phonics); encoding (spelling); vocabulary development, including morphology, oracy, and reading fluency; and reading comprehension, including syntax and background and content knowledge.
(Source: P.A. 103-402, eff. 7-28-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.201

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.201)
    Sec. 2-3.201. Children's Adversity Index. The Illinois State Board of Education shall develop a community or district-level Children's Adversity Index ("index") to measure community childhood trauma exposure across the population of children 3 through 18 years of age by May 31, 2025. This cross-agency effort shall be led by the State Board of Education and must include agencies that both collect the data and will have an ultimate use for the index information, including, but not limited to, the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Innovation and Technology, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the Department of Children and Family Services, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. The State Board of Education may also involve non-agency personnel with relevant expertise. The index shall be informed by research and include both adverse incident data, such as the number or rates of students and families experiencing homelessness and the number or percentages of children who have had contact with the child welfare system, and indicators of aspects of a child's environment that can undermine the child's sense of safety, stability, and bonding, including growing up in a household with caregivers struggling with substance disorders or instability due to parent or guardian separation or incarceration of a parent or guardian, sibling, or other member of the household, or exposure to community violence. The index shall provide information that allows for measuring progress, comparing school districts to the State average, and that enables the index to be updated at least every 2 years. The data shall be made publicly available. The initial development of the index should leverage available data. Personally identifiable information of any individual shall not be revealed within this index.
(Source: P.A. 103-413, eff. 1-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.202

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.202)
    Sec. 2-3.202. Clothing resource materials. By no later than July 1, 2024, the State Board of Education shall make available to schools resource materials developed in consultation with stakeholders regarding a student wearing or accessorizing the student's graduation attire with general items that may be used by the student to associate with, identify, or declare the student's cultural, ethnic, or religious identity or any other protected characteristic or category identified in subsection (Q) of Section 1-103 of the Illinois Human Rights Act. The State Board of Education shall make the resource materials available on its Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 103-463, eff. 8-4-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.203

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.203)
    Sec. 2-3.203. Mental health screenings.
    (a) On or before December 15, 2023, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Officer, Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Team, and the Office of the Governor, shall file a report with the Governor and the General Assembly that includes recommendations for implementation of mental health screenings in schools for students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12. This report must include a landscape scan of current district-wide screenings, recommendations for screening tools, training for staff, and linkage and referral for identified students.
    (b) On or before October 1, 2024, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Team, the Office of the Governor, and relevant stakeholders as needed shall release a strategy that includes a tool for measuring capacity and readiness to implement universal mental health screening of students. The strategy shall build upon existing efforts to understand district needs for resources, technology, training, and infrastructure supports. The strategy shall include a framework for supporting districts in a phased approach to implement universal mental health screenings. The State Board of Education shall issue a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on school district readiness and plan for phased approach to universal mental health screening of students on or before April 1, 2025.
(Source: P.A. 103-546, eff. 8-11-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-885, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/2-3.204

    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.204)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-641)
    Sec. 2-3.204. Type 1 diabetes informational materials.
    (a) The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Department of Public Health, shall develop type 1 diabetes informational materials for the parents and guardians of students. The informational materials shall be made available to each school district and charter school on the State Board's Internet website. Each school district and charter school shall post the informational materials on the school district's or charter school's website, if any.
    (b) Information developed pursuant to this Section may include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
        (1) A description of type 1 diabetes.
        (2) A description of the risk factors and warning
    
signs associated with type 1 diabetes.
        (3) A recommendation regarding a student displaying
    
warning signs associated with type 1 diabetes that the parent or guardian of the student should immediately consult with the student's primary care provider to determine if immediate screening for type 1 diabetes is appropriate.
        (4) A description of the screening process for type 1
    
diabetes and the implications of test results.
        (5) A recommendation that, following a type 1
    
diabetes diagnosis, the parent or guardian should consult with the student's primary care provider to develop an appropriate treatment plan, which may include consultation with and examination by a specialty care provider, including, but not limited to, a properly qualified endocrinologist.
(Source: P.A. 103-641, eff. 7-1-24.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-736)
    Sec. 2-3.204. Air quality resources. The State Board of Education shall, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, compile resources for elementary and secondary schools relating to indoor air quality in schools, including best practices for assessing and maintaining ventilation systems and information on any potential State or federal funding sources that may assist a school in identifying ventilation needs. The State Board of Education shall compile these resources in consultation with stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Department of Public Health, local public health professionals, ventilation professionals affiliated with a Department of Labor apprenticeship program, licensed design professionals, representatives from regional offices of education, school district administrators, teachers, or any other relevant professionals, stakeholders, or representatives of State agencies. No later than 30 days after resources are compiled under this Section, the State Board of Education shall implement outreach strategies to make the compiled resources available to elementary and secondary schools, including publication of the compiled resources on the State Board of Education's website. The State Board of Education may, in consultation with the Department of Public Health or any other relevant stakeholders, update the compiled resources as necessary.
(Source: P.A. 103-736, eff. 1-1-25.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 3

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 3 heading)
ARTICLE 3. REGIONAL
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

105 ILCS 5/3-0.01

    (105 ILCS 5/3-0.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-0.01)
    Sec. 3-0.01. "County superintendent of schools" and "regional superintendent of schools" defined - Application of Article.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided by subsection (b), after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1975, the chief administrative officer of an educational service region shall be designated and referred to as the "regional superintendent of schools" or the "regional superintendent" and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993 the office held by the chief administrative officer shall be designated and referred to as the "regional office of education". For purposes of the School Code and except as otherwise provided by subsection (b), any reference to "county superintendent of schools" or "county superintendent" means the regional superintendent of schools.
    (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Article, but subject to subsection (b-1), in educational service regions containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants, the office of regional superintendent of schools is abolished. Subject to Section 2-3.105 of this Code, all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities theretofore vested by law in, and exercised and performed by the regional superintendent of schools and by any assistant regional superintendents or other assistants or employees in the office of the regional superintendent of schools being abolished shall be vested in, exercised and performed by the chief administrative officer of the educational service centers established pursuant to Section 2-3.62 of this Code for any educational service region containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants. Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, in an educational service region containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants: (i) all books, records, maps, papers and other documents belonging to or subject to the control or disposition of the former regional superintendent of schools by virtue of his office shall be transferred and delivered to the State Board of Education; (ii) possession or control over all moneys, deposits and accounts in the possession or subject to the control or disposition of the former regional superintendent of schools by virtue of his office, including but not limited to undistributed or unexpended moneys drawn from, and all amounts on deposit in, the county, institute and supervisory expense funds, shall be transferred to and placed under the control and disposition of the State Board of Education, excepting only those moneys or accounts, if any, the source of which is the county treasury, for proper redistribution to the educational service centers; and (iii) all other equipment, furnishings, supplies and other personal property belonging to or subject to the control or disposition of the former regional superintendent of schools by virtue of his office, excepting only those items which were provided by the county board, shall be transferred and delivered to the State Board of Education. Any reference in this Code to "regional superintendent of schools" or "regional superintendent", or "county superintendent of schools" or "county superintendent" shall mean, with respect to any educational service region containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants in which the office of regional superintendent of schools is abolished, the chief administrative officer of the educational service centers established pursuant to Section 2-3.62 of this Code for the educational service region. Upon and after the first Monday of August 1995, references in this Code and elsewhere to educational service regions of 2,000,000 or fewer inhabitants shall exclude any educational service region containing a city of 500,000 or more inhabitants and references in this Code and elsewhere to educational service regions of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants shall mean an educational service region containing a city of 500,000 or more inhabitants regardless of the actual population of the region.
    (b-1) References to "regional superintendent" shall also include the chief administrative officer of the educational service centers established under Section 2-3.62 of this Code and serving that portion of a Class II county outside a city of 500,000 or more population.
    (c) This Article applies to the regional superintendent of a multicounty educational service region formed under Article 3A as well as to a single county or partial county region, except that in case of conflict between the provisions of this Article and of Article 3A in the case of a multicounty region, the provisions of Article 3A shall apply. Any reference to "county" or to "educational service region" in this Article means a regional office of education.
(Source: P.A. 98-647, eff. 6-13-14.)

105 ILCS 5/3-1

    (105 ILCS 5/3-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-1)
    Sec. 3-1. Election; eligibility. Quadrennially there shall be elected in every county, except those which have been consolidated into a multicounty educational service region under Article 3A and except those having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants, a regional superintendent of schools, who shall enter upon the discharge of his duties on the first Monday of August next after his election; provided, however, that the term of office of each regional superintendent of schools in office on June 30, 2003 is terminated on July 1, 2003, except that an incumbent regional superintendent of schools shall continue to serve until his successor is elected and qualified, and each regional superintendent of schools elected at the general election in 2002 and every four years thereafter shall assume office on the first day of July next after his election. No one is eligible to file his petition at any primary election for the nomination as candidate for the office of regional superintendent of schools nor to enter upon the duties of such office either by election or appointment unless he possesses the following qualifications: (1) he is of good character, (2) he has a master's degree, (3) he has earned at least 20 semester hours of credit in professional education at the graduate level, (4) he holds a valid all grade supervisory license, a valid State limited supervisory license, a valid state life supervisory license, or a valid administrative license, (5) he has had at least 4 years experience in teaching, and (6) he was engaged for at least 2 years of the 4 previous years in full time teaching or supervising in the common public schools or serving as a county superintendent of schools or regional superintendent of schools for an educational service region in the State of Illinois.
    No petition of any candidate for nomination for the office of regional superintendent of schools may be filed and no such candidate's name may be placed on a primary or general election ballot, unless such candidate files as part of his petition a certificate from the State Board of Education certifying that from the records of its office such candidate has the qualifications required by this Section; however, any incumbent filing his petition for nomination for a succeeding term of office shall not be required to attach such certificate to his petition of candidacy.
    Nomination papers filed under this Section are not valid unless the candidate named therein files with the county clerk or State Board of Elections a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Such receipt shall be so filed either previously during the calendar year in which his nomination papers were filed or within the period for the filing of nomination papers in accordance with the general election law.
    The changes in qualifications made by Public Act 76-1563 do not affect the right of an incumbent to seek reelection.
    On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this Section shall have no application in any educational service region having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants; provided further that no election shall be held in November of 1994 or at any other time after July 1, 1992 for the office of regional superintendent of schools in any county or educational service region having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/3-1.1

    (105 ILCS 5/3-1.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-1.1)
    Sec. 3-1.1. Eligible voters. Whenever a unit school district is located in more than one educational service region, a qualified elector residing in that unit school district but outside of the educational service region administered by the regional superintendent of schools having supervision and control over that unit school district shall be eligible to vote in any election held to elect the regional superintendent of schools of the educational service region that is administered by the regional superintendent of schools who has supervision and control over that unit school district, but the elector shall not also be eligible to vote in the election held to elect the regional superintendent of schools of the educational service region in which the elector resides.
    Not less than 100 days before each general primary election, the regional superintendent of schools shall certify to the State Board of Elections a list of each unit school district under his or her supervision and control and each county in which all or any part of each of those districts is located. The State Board of Elections shall certify each of those unit school districts and counties to the appropriate election authorities within 20 days after receiving the list certified by the regional superintendent of schools.
    The election authority in a single county educational service region whose regional superintendent of schools exercises supervision and control over a unit school district that is located in that single county educational service region and in one or more other educational service regions shall certify to the election authority of each of those other educational service regions in which the unit school district is located the candidates for the office of the regional superintendent of schools exercising supervision and control over that unit school district.
(Source: P.A. 87-328; 88-535.)

105 ILCS 5/3-2

    (105 ILCS 5/3-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-2)
    Sec. 3-2. Oath of office - Bond - Salary. Before entering upon his or her duties a regional superintendent of schools shall take and subscribe the oath prescribed by the Constitution and execute a bond payable to the People of the State of Illinois with 2 or more responsible persons having an interest in real estate as sureties (or, if the county is self-insured, the county through its self-insurance program may provide bonding), to be approved by the county board in a penalty of not less than $100,000, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his or her duties and upon the delivery to his or her successor in office of all monies, books, papers and property in his or her custody as such regional superintendent of schools.
    This bond shall be filed in the office of the county clerk, and action upon it may be maintained by any corporate body interested, for the benefit of any township or fund injured by any breach of its condition.
    If any vacancy in the office of regional superintendent of schools occurs, such vacancy shall be filled in the manner provided by Section 3A-6.
    Regional Superintendents of Schools shall receive the salary provided by Section 3-2.5.
    On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this Section shall have no application in any educational service region having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 88-387; 89-233, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/3-2.5

    (105 ILCS 5/3-2.5)
    Sec. 3-2.5. Salaries.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the regional superintendents of schools shall receive for their services an annual salary according to the population, as determined by the last preceding federal census, of the region they serve, as set out in the following schedule:
SALARIES OF REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS
    POPULATION OF REGION           ANNUAL SALARY
    61,000 to 99,999              $78,000
    100,000 to 999,999            $81,500
    1,000,000 and over            $83,500
    Beginning July 1, 2023, all regional superintendents of schools shall receive the same salary regardless of the population of the region they serve. The salary shall be equal to the middle annual salary tier.
    The changes made by Public Act 86-98 in the annual salary that the regional superintendents of schools shall receive for their services shall apply to the annual salary received by the regional superintendents of schools during each of their elected terms of office that commence after July 26, 1989 and before the first Monday of August, 1995.
    The changes made by Public Act 89-225 in the annual salary that regional superintendents of schools shall receive for their services shall apply to the annual salary received by the regional superintendents of schools during their elected terms of office that commence after August 4, 1995 and end on August 1, 1999.
    The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly in the annual salary that the regional superintendents of schools shall receive for their services shall apply to the annual salary received by the regional superintendents of schools during each of their elected terms of office that commence on or after August 2, 1999.
    Beginning July 1, 2000, the salary that the regional superintendent of schools receives for his or her services shall be adjusted annually to reflect the percentage increase, if any, in the most recent Consumer Price Index, as defined and officially reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, except that no annual increment may exceed 2.9%. If the percentage of change in the Consumer Price Index is a percentage decrease, the salary that the regional superintendent of schools receives shall not be adjusted for that year.
    When regional superintendents are authorized by the School Code to appoint assistant regional superintendents, the assistant regional superintendent shall receive an annual salary based on his or her qualifications and computed as a percentage of the salary of the regional superintendent to whom he or she is assistant, as set out in the following schedule:
SALARIES OF ASSISTANT REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENTS
    QUALIFICATIONS OF             PERCENTAGE OF SALARY
    ASSISTANT REGIONAL            OF REGIONAL
    SUPERINTENDENT               SUPERINTENDENT
    Bachelor's degree plus
    State license valid
    for supervising.              75%    
    Master's degree plus
    State license valid
    for supervising.              90%    
    However, in any region in which the appointment of more than one assistant regional superintendent is authorized, whether by Section 3-15.10 of this Code or otherwise, not more than one assistant may be compensated at the 90% rate and any other assistant shall be paid at not exceeding the 75% rate, in each case depending on the qualifications of the assistant.
    The salaries provided in this Section plus an amount for other employment-related compensation or benefits for regional superintendents and assistant regional superintendents are payable monthly by the State Board of Education out of the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund through a specific appropriation to that effect in the State Board of Education budget. The State Comptroller in making his or her warrant to any county for the amount due it from the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund shall deduct from it the several amounts for which warrants have been issued to the regional superintendent, and any assistant regional superintendent, of the educational service region encompassing the county since the preceding apportionment from the Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund.
    County boards may provide for additional compensation for the regional superintendent or the assistant regional superintendents, or for each of them, to be paid quarterly from the county treasury.
    (b) (Blank).
    (c) If the State pays all or any portion of the employee contributions required under Section 16-152 of the Illinois Pension Code for employees of the State Board of Education, it shall also, subject to appropriation in the State Board of Education budget for such payments to Regional Superintendents and Assistant Regional Superintendents, pay the employee contributions required of regional superintendents of schools and assistant regional superintendents of schools on the same basis, but excluding any contributions based on compensation that is paid by the county rather than the State.
    This subsection (c) applies to contributions based on payments of salary earned after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, except that in the case of an elected regional superintendent of schools, this subsection does not apply to contributions based on payments of salary earned during a term of office that commenced before the effective date of this amendatory Act.
    (d) References to "regional superintendent" in this Section shall also include the chief administrative officer of the educational service centers established under Section 2-3.62 of this Code and serving that portion of a Class II county school unit outside of a city with a population of 500,000 or more inhabitants. References to "assistant regional superintendent" in this Section shall include one assistant appointed by the chief administrative officer of the educational service centers established under Section 2-3.62 of this Code and serving that portion of a Class II county school unit outside of a city with a population of 500,000 or more inhabitants. For the purposes of calculating regional superintendent and assistant regional superintendent salaries for educational service centers established under Section 2-3.62 of this Code, populations shall be established by subtracting from the total county population the population of a city with 500,000 or more inhabitants, divided by the number of educational service centers in the county.
(Source: P.A. 103-110, eff. 6-29-23.)

105 ILCS 5/3-3

    (105 ILCS 5/3-3)
    Sec. 3-3. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 87-1251. Repealed by P.A. 103-110, eff. 6-29-23.)

105 ILCS 5/3-5

    (105 ILCS 5/3-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-5)
    Sec. 3-5. Report of official acts. The county superintendent shall present under oath or affirmation to the county board at its meeting in September and as nearly quarterly thereafter as it may have regular or special meetings, a report of all his acts as county superintendent, including a list of all the schools visited with the dates of visitation.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/3-6

    (105 ILCS 5/3-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-6)
    Sec. 3-6. Financial report - Presentation of books and vouchers for inspection. The regional superintendent shall report, in writing, to the county board, on or before January 1 of each year, stating, (1) the balance on hand at the time of the last report, and all receipts since that date, with the sources from which they were derived; (2) the amount distributed to each of the school treasurers in his county; (3) any balance on hand. At the same time he shall present for inspection his books and vouchers for all expenditures, and submit in writing a statement of the condition of the institute fund and of any other funds in his care, custody or control.
(Source: P.A. 81-624.)

105 ILCS 5/3-6.1

    (105 ILCS 5/3-6.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-6.1)
    Sec. 3-6.1. Presentation of records for financial audit. Each regional superintendent of schools, whether for a multicounty or for a single county educational service region, shall present for inspection or otherwise make available to the Auditor General, or to the agents designated by the Auditor General, all financial statements, books, vouchers and other records required to be so presented or made available pursuant to Section 2-3.17a and the rules and regulations of the Auditor General pursuant to that Section.
(Source: P.A. 92-544, eff. 6-12-02.)

105 ILCS 5/3-7

    (105 ILCS 5/3-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-7)
    Sec. 3-7. Failure to prepare and forward information. If the trustees of schools of any township in Class II county school units, or any school district which forms a part of a Class II county school unit but which is not subject to the jurisdiction of the trustees of schools of any township in which such district is located, or any school district in any Class I county school units fail to prepare and forward or cause to be prepared and forwarded to the regional superintendent of schools, reports required by this Act, the regional superintendent of schools shall furnish such information or he shall employ a person or persons to furnish such information, as far as practicable. Such person shall have access to the books, records and papers of the school district to enable him or them to prepare such reports, and the school district shall permit such person or persons to examine such books, records and papers at such time and such place as such person or persons may desire for the purpose aforesaid. For such services the regional superintendent of schools shall bill the district an amount to cover the cost of preparation of such reports if he employs a person to prepare such reports.
    Each school district shall, as of June 30 of each year, cause an audit of its accounts to be made by a person lawfully qualified to practice public accounting as regulated by the Illinois Public Accounting Act. Such audit shall include financial statements of the district applicable to the type of records required by other sections of this Act and in addition shall set forth the scope of audit and shall include the professional opinion signed by the auditor, or if such an opinion is denied by the auditor, shall set forth the reasons for such denial. Each school district shall on or before October 15 of each year, submit an original and one copy of such audit to the regional superintendent of schools in the educational service region having jurisdiction in which case the regional superintendent of schools shall be relieved of responsibility in regard to the accounts of the school district. If any school district fails to supply the regional superintendent of schools with a copy of such audit report on or before October 15, or within such time extended by the regional superintendent of schools from that date, not to exceed 60 days, then it shall be the responsibility of the regional superintendent of schools having jurisdiction to cause such audit to be made by employing an accountant licensed to practice in the State of Illinois to conduct such audit and shall bill the district for such services, or shall with the personnel of his office make such audit to his satisfaction and bill the district for such service. In the latter case, if the audit is made by personnel employed in the office of the regional superintendent of schools having jurisdiction, then the regional superintendent of schools shall not be relieved of the responsibility as to the accountability of the school district. The copy of the audit shall be forwarded by the regional superintendent to the State Board of Education on or before November 15 of each year and shall be filed by the State Board of Education.
    Each school district that is the administrative district for several school districts operating under a joint agreement as authorized by this Act shall, as of June 30 each year, cause an audit of the accounts of the joint agreement to be made by a person lawfully qualified to practice public accounting as regulated by the Illinois Public Accounting Act. Such audit shall include financial statements of the operation of the joint agreement applicable to the type of records required by this Act and, in addition, shall set forth the scope of the audit and shall include the professional opinion signed by the auditor, or if such an opinion is denied, the auditor shall set forth the reason for such denial. Each administrative district of a joint agreement shall on or before October 15 each year, submit an original and one copy of such audit to the regional superintendent of schools in the educational service region having jurisdiction in which case the regional superintendent of schools shall be relieved of responsibility in regard to the accounts of the joint agreement. The copy of the audit shall be forwarded by the regional superintendent to the State Board of Education on or before November 15 of each year and shall be filed by the State Board of Education. The cost of such an audit shall be apportioned among and paid by the several districts who are parties to the joint agreement, in the same manner as other costs and expenses accruing to the districts jointly.
    The State Board of Education shall determine the adequacy of the audits. All audits shall be kept on file in the office of the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 86-1441; 87-473.)

105 ILCS 5/3-8

    (105 ILCS 5/3-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-8)
    Sec. 3-8. School treasurer's bond - Duties of regional superintendent. Whenever the bond of any school treasurer, approved by the trustees of schools or school board as required by law, is filed with the regional superintendent of schools, he shall carefully examine it, and if it is found to be in all respects according to law, and the sureties sufficient, he shall endorse his approval thereon, and file it with the papers of his office; but if the bond is in any respect defective, or if the penalty is or sureties are insufficient, he shall return it for correction. When the bond has been received and filed, the superintendent shall, on demand, deliver to the school treasurer a written statement certifying that his bond has been approved and filed and that the school treasurer is entitled to the care and custody, on demand, of all moneys and securities belonging to the township or district for which he is treasurer and all books and papers pertaining to his office. The regional superintendent of schools shall file with the State Board of Education before September 1 in each year an affidavit showing which treasurers of school districts under his supervision and control are properly bonded.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/3-9

    (105 ILCS 5/3-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-9)
    Sec. 3-9. School funds; apportionment and payment. Whenever the regional superintendent receives amounts due to local school districts, the regional superintendent shall apportion and distribute the moneys to the appropriate local school districts as directed. No part of the State or other school funding, however, shall be paid to any school treasurer or other persons authorized to receive it unless such treasurer has filed the required bond, or if reelected, has renewed the bond and filed it as required by law.
(Source: P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

105 ILCS 5/3-9.1

    (105 ILCS 5/3-9.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-9.1)
    Sec. 3-9.1. Investment of funds. Funds of the educational service region are public funds within the meaning of the Public Funds Investment Act and may be invested by the educational service region as provided in that Act, except as otherwise provided in this Code.
    Any educational service region, with the approval of its regional superintendent of schools, is authorized to enter into agreements of any definite or indefinite term regarding the deposit, redeposit, investment, reinvestment or withdrawal of educational service region funds, including, without limitation, agreements with other educational service regions, agreements with community college districts authorized by Section 3-47 of the Public Community College Act and agreements with township and school treasurers authorized by Section 8-7 of this Code.
    Each educational service region is permitted to (i) combine moneys of the educational service region for the purpose of investing the moneys and (ii) join with other educational service regions, community college districts, and township and school treasurers in investing educational service region funds, community college funds and school funds. Those joint investments shall be made only in investments authorized by law for the investment of educational service region funds or, in the case of investments made jointly with community colleges and school and township treasurers, in investments authorized by law for the investment of educational service region funds, community college funds and school funds. When moneys of more than one fund of a single educational service region are combined for investment purposes or when moneys of an educational service region are combined with moneys of other educational service regions or moneys of community college districts and school districts, the moneys combined for that purpose shall be accounted for separately in all respects, and the earnings from that investment shall be separately and individually computed and recorded, and credited to the fund or educational service region, community college district or school district, as the case may be, for which the investment was acquired.
(Source: P.A. 87-968; 88-641, eff. 9-9-94.)

105 ILCS 5/3-9.5

    (105 ILCS 5/3-9.5)
    Sec. 3-9.5. Interfund loans allowed. A regional office of education is allowed to make interfund loans. If a regional office of education makes an interfund loan, then it must repay the loan by the end of the fiscal year.
(Source: P.A. 92-169, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/3-10

    (105 ILCS 5/3-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-10)
    Sec. 3-10. Controversies - opinion and advice - Appeal. In all controversies arising under the school law, the opinion and advice of the regional superintendent shall first be sought, whence appeal may be taken upon a written statement of facts certified by the regional superintendent to the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/3-11

    (105 ILCS 5/3-11)
    Sec. 3-11. Institutes or inservice training workshops.
    (a) In counties of less than 2,000,000 inhabitants, the regional superintendent may arrange for or conduct district, regional, or county institutes, or equivalent professional educational experiences, not more than 4 days annually. Of those 4 days, 2 days may be used as a teachers, administrators, and school support personnel workshop, when approved by the regional superintendent, up to 2 days may be used for conducting parent-teacher conferences, or up to 2 days may be utilized as parental institute days as provided in Section 10-22.18d. School support personnel may be exempt from a workshop if the workshop is not relevant to the work they do. A school district may use one of its 4 institute days on the last day of the school term. "Institute" or "Professional educational experiences" means any educational gathering, demonstration of methods of instruction, visitation of schools or other institutions or facilities, sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness seminar, or training in First Aid (which may include cardiopulmonary resuscitation or defibrillator training) held or approved by the regional superintendent and declared by the regional superintendent to be an institute day, or parent-teacher conferences. With the concurrence of the State Superintendent of Education, the regional superintendent may employ such assistance as is necessary to conduct the institute. Two or more adjoining counties may jointly hold an institute. Institute instruction shall be free to holders of licenses good in the county or counties holding the institute and to those who have paid an examination fee and failed to receive a license.
    In counties of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants, the regional superintendent may arrange for or conduct district, regional, or county inservice training workshops, or equivalent professional educational experiences, not more than 4 days annually. Of those 4 days, 2 days may be used as a teachers, administrators, and school support personnel workshop, when approved by the regional superintendent, up to 2 days may be used for conducting parent-teacher conferences, or up to 2 days may be utilized as parental institute days as provided in Section 10-22.18d. School support personnel may be exempt from a workshop if the workshop is not relevant to the work they do. A school district may use one of those 4 days on the last day of the school term. "Inservice Training Workshops" or "Professional educational experiences" means any educational gathering, demonstration of methods of instruction, visitation of schools or other institutions or facilities, sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness seminar, or training in First Aid (which may include cardiopulmonary resuscitation or defibrillator training) held or approved by the regional superintendent and declared by the regional superintendent to be an inservice training workshop, or parent-teacher conferences. With the concurrence of the State Superintendent of Education, the regional superintendent may employ such assistance as is necessary to conduct the inservice training workshop. With the approval of the regional superintendent, 2 or more adjoining districts may jointly hold an inservice training workshop. In addition, with the approval of the regional superintendent, one district may conduct its own inservice training workshop with subject matter consultants requested from the county, State or any State institution of higher learning.
    Such institutes as referred to in this Section may be held on consecutive or separate days at the option of the regional superintendent having jurisdiction thereof.
    Whenever reference is made in this Act to "institute", it shall be construed to include the inservice training workshops or equivalent professional educational experiences provided for in this Section.
    Any institute advisory committee existing on April 1, 1995, is dissolved and the duties and responsibilities of the institute advisory committee are assumed by the regional office of education advisory board.
    Districts providing inservice training programs shall constitute inservice committees, 1/2 of which shall be teachers, 1/4 school service personnel and 1/4 administrators to establish program content and schedules.
    In addition to other topics not listed in this Section, the teachers institutes may include training committed to health conditions of students; social-emotional learning; developing cultural competency; identifying warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior in youth; domestic and sexual violence and the needs of expectant and parenting youth; protections and accommodations for students; educator ethics; responding to child sexual abuse and grooming behavior; and effective instruction in violence prevention and conflict resolution. Institute programs in these topics shall be credited toward hours of professional development required for license renewal as outlined in subsection (e) of Section 21B-45.
    (b) In this subsection (b):
    "Trauma" is defined according to an event, an experience, and effects. Individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual's functioning and mental, physical, social, or emotional well-being. Collective trauma is a psychological reaction to a traumatic event shared by any group of people. This may include, but is not limited to, community violence, experiencing racism and discrimination, and the lack of the essential supports for well-being, such as educational or economic opportunities, food, health care, housing, and community cohesion. Trauma can be experienced by anyone, though it is disproportionately experienced by members of marginalized groups. Systemic and historical oppression, such as racism, is often at the root of this inequity. Symptoms may vary at different developmental stages and across different cultural groups and different communities.
    "Trauma-responsive learning environments" means learning environments developed during an ongoing, multiyear-long process that typically progresses across the following 3 stages:
        (1) A school or district is "trauma aware" when it:
            (A) has personnel that demonstrate a foundational
        
understanding of a broad definition of trauma that is developmentally and culturally based; includes students, personnel, and communities; and recognizes the potential effect on biological, cognitive, academic, and social-emotional functioning; and
            (B) recognizes that traumatic exposure can impact
        
behavior and learning and should be acknowledged in policies, strategies, and systems of support for students, families, and personnel.
        (2) A school or district is "trauma responsive" when
    
it progresses from awareness to action in the areas of policy, practice, and structural changes within a multi-tiered system of support to promote safety, positive relationships, and self-regulation while underscoring the importance of personal well-being and cultural responsiveness. Such progress may:
            (A) be aligned with the Illinois Quality
        
Framework and integrated into a school or district's continuous improvement process as evidence to support allocation of financial resources;
            (B) be assessed and monitored by a
        
multidisciplinary leadership team on an ongoing basis; and
            (C) involve the engagement and capacity building
        
of personnel at all levels to ensure that adults in the learning environment are prepared to recognize and respond to those impacted by trauma.
        (3) A school or district is healing centered when it
    
acknowledges its role and responsibility to the community, fully responds to trauma, and promotes resilience and healing through genuine, trusting, and creative relationships. Such school or district may:
            (A) promote holistic and collaborative approaches
        
that are grounded in culture, spirituality, civic engagement, and equity; and
            (B) support agency within individuals, families,
        
and communities while engaging people in collective action that moves from transactional to transformational.
    "Whole child" means using a child-centered, holistic, equitable lens across all systems that prioritizes physical, mental, and social-emotional health to ensure that every child is healthy, safe, supported, challenged, engaged, and protected.
    Starting with the 2024-2025 school year, institutes shall provide instruction on trauma-informed practices and include the definitions of trauma, trauma-responsive learning environments, and whole child set forth in this subsection (b) before the first student attendance day of each school year.
(Source: P.A. 103-413, eff. 1-1-24; 103-542, eff. 7-1-24 (see Section 905 of P.A. 103-563 for effective date of P.A. 103-542); 103-603, eff. 1-1-25; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/3-11.5

    (105 ILCS 5/3-11.5)
    Sec. 3-11.5. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11. Repealed by P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/3-12

    (105 ILCS 5/3-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-12)
    Sec. 3-12. Institute fund.
    (a) All license registration fees and a portion of renewal and duplicate fees shall be kept by the regional superintendent as described in Section 21-16 or 21B-40 of this Code, together with a record of the names of the persons paying them. Such fees shall be deposited into the institute fund and shall be used by the regional superintendent to defray expenses associated with the work of the regional professional development review committees established pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (g) of Section 21-14 of this Code to advise the regional superintendent, upon his or her request, and to hear appeals relating to the renewal of teaching licenses, in accordance with Section 21-14 of this Code; to defray expenses connected with improving the technology necessary for the efficient processing of licenses; to defray all costs associated with the administration of teaching licenses; to defray expenses incidental to teachers' institutes, workshops or meetings of a professional nature that are designed to promote the professional growth of teachers or for the purpose of defraying the expense of any general or special meeting of teachers or school personnel of the region, which has been approved by the regional superintendent.
    (b) In addition to the use of moneys in the institute fund to defray expenses under subsection (a) of this Section, the State Superintendent of Education, as authorized under Section 2-3.105 of this Code, shall use moneys in the institute fund to defray all costs associated with the administration of teaching licenses within a city having a population exceeding 500,000. Moneys in the institute fund may also be used by the State Superintendent of Education to support educator recruitment and retention programs within a city having a population exceeding 500,000, to support educator preparation programs within a city having a population exceeding 500,000 as those programs seek national accreditation, and to provide professional development aligned with the requirements set forth in Section 21B-45 of this Code within a city having a population exceeding 500,000. A majority of the moneys in the institute fund must be dedicated to the timely and efficient processing of applications and for the renewal of licenses.
    (c) The regional superintendent shall on or before January 1 of each year post on the regional office of education's website (1) the balance on hand in the institute fund at the beginning of the previous year; (2) all receipts within the previous year deposited in the fund, with the sources from which they were derived; (3) the amount distributed from the fund and the purposes for which such distributions were made; and (4) the balance on hand in the fund.
(Source: P.A. 103-110, eff. 6-29-23.)

105 ILCS 5/3-13

    (105 ILCS 5/3-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-13)
    Sec. 3-13. Truant officer - Duties. Each county superintendent of schools shall appoint a county truant officer. Such appointee shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by the county board, together with his necessary traveling expenses, to be paid out of the county treasury. He shall file his acceptance with the county clerk and shall take and subscribe an oath of office. He shall perform the duties of truant officer in all the school districts of the county; provided, that the school board in any school district may appoint one or more truant officers and fix his or their compensation, which shall be paid by the district.
    The county superintendent of schools shall furnish the county truant officer, at the opening of the schools, with a list of the teachers and superintendents employed in his county other than in school districts that employ truant officers.
(Source: P.A. 88-50.)

105 ILCS 5/3-13.5

    (105 ILCS 5/3-13.5)
    Sec. 3-13.5. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 96-798, eff. 10-28-09. Repealed internally, eff. 8-2-10.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14)
    Sec. 3-14. Duties of regional superintendent. The regional superintendent of schools shall perform the duties enumerated in the following Sections preceding Section 3-15.
(Source: P.A. 93-404, eff. 8-1-03.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.1

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.1)
    Sec. 3-14.1. New bond. To execute, upon notice by the county board, a new bond, conditioned and approved as the first bond.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.2

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.2)
    Sec. 3-14.2. Supervision and control of school districts. Except in regions established within that portion of a Class II county school unit outside of a city of 500,000 or more inhabitants, the county superintendent of schools shall exercise supervision and control over all school districts within the county. If a district is divided by a county line or lines the county superintendent in the county where the majority of the children attend school at the time the district is organized shall exercise supervision and control over all aspects of supervision, reports, and financial accounting of the district until it has been determined by the State Superintendent of Education that 60 per cent of the children attend school in another county or that a majority of the children have attended a school in another county for three consecutive years and the school board has adopted a resolution requesting the supervision and control be transferred to the county superintendent in the county in which the majority of children attend school. The county superintendent under whose direction a school district has been established shall retain supervision and control until July 1 following the date of the election establishing the district. Whenever a change in supervision and control shall result from a change in school district boundaries, population shifts, or other cause, such change in supervision and control shall not be effective until July 1 following the date of its determination. All references to the county superintendent of schools, in relation to school districts, in this Act shall be interpreted to mean the county superintendent of schools having supervision and control of the district or districts as defined in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 96-893, eff. 7-1-10.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.3

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.3)
    Sec. 3-14.3. Township fund lands. To sell township fund lands, issue certificates of purchase, report to the county board and the Secretary of State in the manner provided in Article 15 of this Code, and perform all other duties pertaining thereto.
(Source: P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.4

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.4)
    Sec. 3-14.4. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.5

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.5)
    Sec. 3-14.5. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.6

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.6) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.6)
    Sec. 3-14.6. Directions to teacher and school officers. To give teachers and school officers such directions in the science, art and methods of teaching, and in regard to courses of study, as he deems expedient.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.7

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.7) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.7)
    Sec. 3-14.7. Official adviser and assistant of school officers and teachers. To act as the official adviser and assistant of the school officers and teachers in his region. In the performance of this duty he shall carry out the advice of the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.8

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.8) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.8)
    Sec. 3-14.8. Teachers' institute and other meetings. To conduct a teachers' institute, to insure that instruction in the warning signs of suicidal behavior in adolescents and teens and intervention techniques are offered at such an institute, to aid and encourage the formation of other teachers' meetings, and to assist in their management.
(Source: P.A. 85-297.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.9

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.9) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.9)
    Sec. 3-14.9. Elevation of standard of teaching - Improvement of schools. To labor in every practicable way to elevate the standard of teaching and improve the condition of the common schools of his county.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.11

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.11)
    Sec. 3-14.11. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 87-473. Repealed by P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.12

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.12) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.12)
    Sec. 3-14.12. Examine evidences of indebtedness. In Class II county school units with respect to townships wherein trustees of schools maintain jurisdiction and in which township funds have not heretofore been liquidated and distributed, to examine all notes, bonds, mortgages, and other evidences of indebtedness which the township or school treasurer holds officially with respect to such fund or funds, and if he or she finds that the papers are not in proper form or that the securities are insufficient, he or she shall so state, in writing, to the trustees of schools or school board.
(Source: P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.15

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.15) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.15)
    Sec. 3-14.15. Returns, reports, statements. To file and keep all the returns of elections required to be returned to him and the reports and statements returned by school treasurers and trustees of schools.
(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.16

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.16) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.16)
    Sec. 3-14.16. Census. To take a special census of a school district when petitioned by 10% or 1,500 legal voters, whichever is less, to determine if such district has the proper type of school board, either of directors or a board of education, required by this Act. The expense of such census shall be a school district expense. If such census shows that the proper type of board does not exist, then such regional superintendent shall immediately notify the school district and certify to the proper election authorities that an election shall be held at the time next provided for the regular election of school district officers and in the manner provided by the general election law to select an entirely new board of the type legally required. The length of term of each of the members of the new board shall be determined in the manner provided for such type of board in this Act.
(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.17

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.17) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.17)
    Sec. 3-14.17. Notice of amount of money distributed. To notify the presidents of boards of trustees and the clerks and secretaries of school districts, on or before September 30, annually, of the amount of money distributed by him to the school treasurer, with the date of distribution.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.18

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.18) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.18)
    Sec. 3-14.18. Map - Numbering of districts. To keep in his office a map of his county on a scale of not less than two inches to the mile and to indicate thereon the boundary lines and numbers of all school districts. Districts shall be numbered consecutively. If a new district composed of parts of two or more counties is formed, the county superintendents of such counties shall agree upon a number by which the district shall be designated, which number shall not be a duplicate of any number in either of such counties.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.19

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.19)
    Sec. 3-14.19. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.20

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.20) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.20)
    Sec. 3-14.20. Building plans and specifications. To inspect the building plans and specifications, including but not limited to plans and specifications for the heating, ventilating, lighting, seating, water supply, toilets and safety against fire of public school rooms and buildings submitted to him by school boards, and to approve all those which comply substantially with the building code authorized in Section 2-3.12.
    If a municipality or, in the case of an unincorporated area, a county or, if applicable, a fire protection district wishes to be notified of plans and specifications received by a regional office of education for any future construction or alteration of a public school facility located within that entity's jurisdiction, then the entity must register this wish with the regional superintendent of schools. Within 10 days after the regional superintendent of schools receives the plans and specifications from a school board and prior to the bidding process, he or she shall notify, in writing, the registered municipality and, if applicable, the registered fire protection district where the school that is being constructed or altered lies that plans and specifications have been received. In the case of an unincorporated area, the registered county shall be notified. If the municipality, fire protection district, or county requests a review of the plans and specifications, then the school board shall submit a copy of the plans and specifications. The municipality and, if applicable, the fire protection district or the county may comment in writing on the plans and specifications based on the building code authorized in Section 2-3.12, referencing the specific code where a discrepancy has been identified, and respond back to the regional superintendent of schools within 15 days after a copy of the plans and specifications have been received or, if needed for plan review, such additional time as agreed to by the regional superintendent of schools. This review must be at no cost to the school district.
    If such plans and specifications are not approved or denied approval by the regional superintendent of schools within 3 months after the date on which they are submitted to him or her, the school board may submit such plans and specifications directly to the State Superintendent of Education for approval or denial.
(Source: P.A. 94-225, eff. 7-14-05.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.21

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.21) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.21)
    Sec. 3-14.21. Inspection of schools.
    (a) The regional superintendent shall inspect and survey all public schools under his or her supervision and notify the board of education, or the trustees of schools in a district with trustees, in writing before July 30, whether or not the several schools in their district have been kept as required by law, using forms provided by the State Board of Education which are based on the Health/Life Safety Code for Public Schools adopted under Section 2-3.12. The regional superintendent shall report his or her findings to the State Board of Education on forms provided by the State Board of Education.
    (b) If the regional superintendent determines that a school board has failed in a timely manner to correct urgent items identified in a previous life-safety report completed under Section 2-3.12 or as otherwise previously ordered by the regional superintendent, the regional superintendent shall order the school board to adopt and submit to the regional superintendent a plan for the immediate correction of the building violations. This plan shall be adopted following a public hearing that is conducted by the school board on the violations and the plan and that is preceded by at least 7 days' prior notice of the hearing published in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district. If the regional superintendent determines in the next annual inspection that the plan has not been completed and that the violations have not been corrected, the regional superintendent shall submit a report to the State Board of Education with a recommendation that the State Board withhold from payments of general State aid or evidence-based funding due to the district an amount necessary to correct the outstanding violations. The State Board, upon notice to the school board and to the regional superintendent, shall consider the report at a meeting of the State Board, and may order that a sufficient amount of general State aid or evidence-based funding be withheld from payments due to the district to correct the violations. This amount shall be paid to the regional superintendent who shall contract on behalf of the school board for the correction of the outstanding violations.
    (c) The Office of the State Fire Marshal or a qualified fire official, as defined in Section 2-3.12 of this Code, to whom the State Fire Marshal has delegated his or her authority shall conduct an annual fire safety inspection of each school building in this State. The State Fire Marshal or the fire official shall coordinate its inspections with the regional superintendent. The inspection shall be based on the fire safety code authorized in Section 2-3.12 of this Code. Any violations shall be reported in writing to the regional superintendent and shall reference the specific code sections where a discrepancy has been identified within 15 days after the inspection has been conducted. The regional superintendent shall address those violations that are not corrected in a timely manner pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. The inspection must be at no cost to the school district.
    (d) If a municipality or, in the case of an unincorporated area, a county or, if applicable, a fire protection district wishes to perform new construction inspections under the jurisdiction of a regional superintendent, then the entity must register this wish with the regional superintendent. These inspections must be based on the building code authorized in Section 2-3.12 of this Code. The inspections must be at no cost to the school district.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.22

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.22) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.22)
    Sec. 3-14.22. Condemnation of school buildings. To request the Department of Public Health, the State Fire Marshal or the State Superintendent of Education to inspect public school buildings and temporary school facilities which appear to him to be unsafe, insanitary or unfit for occupancy. These officials shall inspect such buildings and temporary school facilities and if, in their opinion, such buildings or temporary facilities are unsafe, insanitary or unfit for occupancy, shall state in writing in what particular they are unsafe, insanitary or unfit for occupancy. Upon the receipt of such statement the regional superintendent shall condemn the building or temporary facility and notify the school board thereof in writing and the reasons for such condemnation. He shall also notify, in writing, the board of school trustees that the school or temporary facility so condemned is not kept as required by law.
    The provisions of this Section shall not preclude inspection of school premises and buildings pursuant to Section 9 of the Fire Investigation Act, although not requested as hereinabove provided.
(Source: P.A. 87-984.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.23

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.23) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.23)
    Sec. 3-14.23. School bus driver permits.
    (a) To conduct courses of instruction for school bus drivers pursuant to the standards established by the Secretary of State under Section 6-106.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code and to charge a fee based upon the cost of providing such courses of up to $6 per person for fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 2012; up to $8 per person for fiscal years 2013, 2014, and 2015; and up to $10 per person for fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter for the initial classroom course in school bus driver safety and of up to $6 per person for fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 2012; up to $8 per person for fiscal years 2013, 2014, and 2015; and up to $10 per person for fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter for the annual refresher course.
    (b) To conduct such investigations as may be necessary to insure that all persons hired to operate school buses have valid school bus driver permits as required under Sections 6-104 and 6-106.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. If a regional superintendent finds evidence of non-compliance with this requirement, he shall submit such evidence together with his recommendations in writing to the school board.
    If the regional superintendent finds evidence of noncompliance with the requirement that all persons employed directly by the school board to operate school buses have valid school bus driver permits as required under Sections 6-104 and 6-106.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, the regional superintendent shall schedule a hearing on a date not less than 5 days nor more than 10 days after notifying the district of his findings. If based on the evidence presented at the hearing the regional superintendent finds that persons employed directly by the school board to operate school buses do not have valid school bus driver permits as required under Sections 6-104 and 6-106.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, the regional superintendent shall submit such evidence and his findings together with his recommendations to the State Superintendent of Education. The State Superintendent of Education may reduce the district's claim for reimbursement under Sections 29-5 and 14-13.01 for transportation by 1.136% for each day of noncompliance.
    If a school board finds evidence of noncompliance with the requirement that all persons employed by a contractor to operate school buses have valid school bus driver permits as required under Sections 6-104 and 6-106.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, the school board shall request a hearing before the regional superintendent. The regional superintendent shall schedule a hearing on a date not less than 5 days nor more than 10 days after receiving the request. If based on the evidence presented at the hearing the regional superintendent finds that persons employed by a contractor to operate school buses do not have valid school bus driver permits as required under Sections 6-104 and 6-106.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, the school board's financial obligations under the contract shall be reduced by an amount equal to 1.136% for each day of noncompliance. The findings of the regional superintendent and the relief provided herein shall not impair the obligations of the contractor to continue to provide transportation services in accordance with the terms of the contract.
    The provisions of the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereof and the rules adopted pursuant thereto shall apply to and govern all proceedings instituted for judicial review of final administrative decisions of the regional superintendent under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.25

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.25) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.25)
    Sec. 3-14.25. Unfilled teaching positions list; subject shortage area certifications.
    (a) To maintain, and make available to the public during regular business hours, a list of unfilled teaching positions within the region. The most current version of the list must be posted on or linked to the regional office of education's Internet web site. If the regional office of education does not have an Internet web site, the regional superintendent of schools must make the list available to the State Board of Education and the State Board of Education must post the list on the State Board of Education's Internet web site. The State Board of Education's Internet web site must provide a link to each regional office of education's list.
    (b) To certify to the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois that a school district has submitted satisfactory evidence of compliance with the requirements of subsection (e) of Section 16-150.1 of the Illinois Pension Code, for the purpose of authorizing the employment of retired teachers in subject shortage areas under the program established in that Section.
(Source: P.A. 92-41, eff. 7-1-01; 93-320, eff. 7-23-03.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.26

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.26) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-14.26)
    Sec. 3-14.26. To coordinate, aid and encourage the indemnification of members of regional boards of school trustees by county boards, as provided in Section 5-1102 of the Counties Code.
(Source: P.A. 86-1475.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.27

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.27)
    Sec. 3-14.27. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 86-721. Repealed by P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.28

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.28)
    Sec. 3-14.28. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 87-559. Repealed by P.A. 98-1155, eff. 1-9-15.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.29

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.29)
    Sec. 3-14.29. Sharing information on school lunch applicants. Whenever requested by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid), to agree in writing with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (as the State agency that administers the State Medical Assistance Program as provided in Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act and the State Children's Health Insurance Program as provided in Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act) to share with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services information on applicants for free or reduced-price lunches. This sharing of information shall be for the sole purpose of helping the Department of Healthcare and Family Services identify and enroll children in the State Medical Assistance Program or the State Children's Health Insurance Program or both as allowed under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1758(b)(2)(C)(iii)(IV) and under the restrictions set forth in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1758(b)(2)(C)(vi) and (vii).
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.30

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.30)
    Sec. 3-14.30. Grant applications. To assist and support school districts with the preparation and submission of grant applications.
(Source: P.A. 93-1036, eff. 9-14-04.)

105 ILCS 5/3-14.31

    (105 ILCS 5/3-14.31)
    Sec. 3-14.31. School facility and resources occupation tax proceeds.
    (a) Within 30 days after receiving any proceeds of a school facility and resources occupation tax under Section 5-1006.7 of the Counties Code, each regional superintendent must disburse those proceeds to each school district that is located in the county in which the tax was collected.
    (b) The proceeds must be disbursed on an enrollment basis and allocated based upon the number of each school district's resident pupils that reside within the county collecting the tax divided by the total number of resident students within the county.
(Source: P.A. 101-455, eff. 8-23-19.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15)
    Sec. 3-15. Powers of county superintendent. The county superintendent shall have the powers enumerated in the subsequent sections of this article.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.1

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.1)
    Sec. 3-15.1. Reports. To require the appointed school treasurer in Class II counties, in each school district which forms a part of a Class II county school unit but which is not subject to the jurisdiction of the trustees of schools of any township in which such district is located, and in each school district of the Class I counties to prepare and forward to his office on or before October 15, annually, and at such other times as may be required by him or by the State Board of Education a statement exhibiting the financial condition of the school for the preceding year commencing on July 1 and ending June 30.
    In Class I county school units, and in each school district which forms a part of a Class II county school unit but which is not subject to the jurisdiction of the trustees of schools of any township in which such school district is located, the statement shall in the case of districts on the accrual basis show the assets, liabilities and fund balance of the funds as of the end of the fiscal year. The statement shall show the operation of the funds for the fiscal year with a reconciliation and analysis of changes in the funds at the end of the period. For districts on a cash basis the statement shall show the receipts and disbursements by funds including the source of receipts and purpose for which the disbursements were made together with the balance at the end of the fiscal year. Each school district 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 shall send all required reports to the State Board of Education on or before November 15, annually.
    For all districts the statements shall show bonded debt, tax warrants, taxes received and receivable by funds and such other information as may be required by the State Board of Education. Any district from which such report is not so received when required shall have its portion of the distributive fund withheld for the next ensuing year until such report is filed.
    If a district is divided by a county line or lines the foregoing required statement shall be forwarded to the regional superintendent of schools having supervision and control of the district.
(Source: P.A. 86-1441; 87-473.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.2

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.2)
    Sec. 3-15.2. Recommending imposition or remission of penalty. To recommend to the State Board of Education the imposition or remission of the penalty provided in Section 2-3.24.
(Source: P.A. 88-641, eff. 9-9-94.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.3

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.3)
    Sec. 3-15.3. School treasurer's accounts. To direct in what manner school treasurers shall keep their books and accounts.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.4

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.4)
    Sec. 3-15.4. Suit against county collector. To bring suit against the county collector for failure to pay the amount due upon the auditor's warrant.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.5

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.5)
    Sec. 3-15.5. Removal of school board members. To remove any member of a school board from office for wilful failure to perform his official duties.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.6

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.6) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.6)
    Sec. 3-15.6. Additional employees. To employ, with the approval of the county board, such additional employees as are needed for the discharge of the duties of the office. The non-clerical employees shall be persons versed in the principles and methods of education, familiar with public school work, competent to visit schools, and licensed pursuant to this Code if their duties are comparable to those for which licensure is required by this Code.
    On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this Section shall have no application in any educational service region having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.7

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.7) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.7)
    Sec. 3-15.7. Maps and records of new districts. To demand of the trustees of schools or regional board of school trustees having custody of maps and records of school districts as organized certified copies of the same. In case of discrepancies or defects in defining the boundaries of school districts the county superintendent, or in case of a district lying in two or more counties, the county superintendents of such counties acting jointly, may define such boundaries in conformity with what appears to have been the intention of the trustees of schools when such boundaries were established.
(Source: P.A. 87-473.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.8

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.8) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.8)
    Sec. 3-15.8. Report to State Board of Education. On or before November 15, annually, to present to the State Board of Education such information relating to schools in his region as the State Board of Education may require.
(Source: P.A. 82-143.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.9

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.9) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.9)
    Sec. 3-15.9. Delivery of money, books, papers and property to successor. Upon his removal or resignation, or at the expiration of his term of office, or in case of his death his representatives to deliver to his successor in office, on demand, all moneys, books, papers and personal property belonging to his office or subject to his control or disposition.
    On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this Section shall have no application in any educational service region having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 87-654; 87-1251.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.10

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.10) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.10)
    Sec. 3-15.10. Assistant Regional Superintendent. To employ, in counties or regions of 2,000,000 inhabitants or less, in addition to any assistants authorized to be employed with the approval of the county board, an assistant regional superintendent of schools, who shall be a person of good attainment, versed in the principles and methods of education, and qualified to teach and supervise schools under Article 21B of this Code; to fix the term of such assistant; and to direct his work and define his duties. On the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, in regions established within that portion of a Class II county school unit outside of a city of 500,000 or more inhabitants, the employment of all persons serving as assistant county or regional superintendents of schools is terminated, the position of assistant regional superintendent of schools in each such region is abolished, and this Section shall, beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, have no further application in the educational service region. Assistant regional superintendents shall each be a person of good attainment, versed in the principles and methods of education, and qualified to teach and supervise schools under Article 21B of this Code. The work of such assistant regional superintendent shall be so arranged and directed that the county or regional superintendent and assistant superintendent, together, shall devote an amount of time during the school year, equal to at least the full time of one individual, to the supervision of schools and of teaching in the schools of the county.
    A regional superintendent of schools shall not employ his or her spouse, child, stepchild, or relative as an assistant regional superintendent of schools. By September 1 each year, a regional superintendent shall certify to the State Board of Education that he or she has complied with this paragraph. If the State Board of Education becomes aware of the fact that a regional superintendent is employing his or her spouse, child, stepchild, or relative as an assistant regional superintendent, the State Board of Education shall report this information to the Governor and the Comptroller, and the State Board of Education shall not request for payment from the State Comptroller any warrants for the payment of the assistant regional superintendent's salary or other employment-related compensation or benefits. In this paragraph, "relative" means a grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle, sibling, first cousin, nephew, niece, grandchild, or spouse of one of these persons. This paragraph applies only to contracts for employment entered into on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.11

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.11)
    Sec. 3-15.11. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95. Repealed by P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

105 ILCS 5/3-15.12

    (105 ILCS 5/3-15.12) (from Ch. 122, par. 3-15.12)
    Sec. 3-15.12. High school equivalency. The regional superintendent of schools and the Illinois Community College Board shall make available for qualified individuals residing within the region a High School Equivalency Testing Program and alternative methods of credentialing, as identified under this Section. For that purpose the regional superintendent alone or with other regional superintendents may establish and supervise a testing center or centers to administer the secure forms for high school equivalency testing to qualified persons. Such centers shall be under the supervision of the regional superintendent in whose region such centers are located, subject to the approval of the Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board. The Illinois Community College Board shall also establish criteria and make available alternative methods of credentialing throughout the State.
    An individual is eligible to apply to the regional superintendent of schools for the region in which he or she resides if he or she is: (a) a person who is 17 years of age or older, has maintained residence in the State of Illinois, and is not a high school graduate; (b) a person who is successfully completing an alternative education program under Section 2-3.81, Article 13A, or Article 13B; or (c) a person who is enrolled in a youth education program sponsored by the Illinois National Guard. For purposes of this Section, residence is that abode which the applicant considers his or her home. Applicants may provide as sufficient proof of such residence and as an acceptable form of identification a driver's license, valid passport, military ID, or other form of government-issued national or foreign identification that shows the applicant's name, address, date of birth, signature, and photograph or other acceptable identification as may be allowed by law or as regulated by the Illinois Community College Board. Such regional superintendent shall determine if the applicant meets statutory and regulatory state standards.
    If qualified, the applicant shall at the time of such application pay a fee established by the Illinois Community College Board, which fee shall be paid into a special fund under the control and supervision of the regional superintendent to be used for administration of high school equivalency testing. Such moneys received by the regional superintendent shall be used, first, for the expenses incurred in administering and scoring the examination, and next for other educational programs that are developed and designed by the regional superintendent of schools to assist those who successfully complete high school equivalency testing or meet the criteria for alternative methods of credentialing in furthering their academic development or their ability to secure and retain gainful employment, including programs for the competitive award based on test scores of college or adult education scholarship grants or similar educational incentives. Any excess moneys shall be paid into the institute fund.
    Any applicant who has achieved the minimum passing standards as established by the Illinois Community College Board shall be notified in writing by the regional superintendent and shall be issued a State of Illinois High School Diploma on the forms provided by the Illinois Community College Board. The regional superintendent shall then certify to the Illinois Community College Board the score of the applicant and such other and additional information that may be required by the Illinois Community College Board. The moneys received therefrom shall be used in the same manner as provided for in this Section.
    The Illinois Community College Board shall establish alternative methods of credentialing for the issuance of a State of Illinois High School Diploma. In addition to high school equivalency testing, the following alternative methods of receiving a State of Illinois High School Diploma shall be made available to qualified individuals on or after January 1, 2018:
        (A) High School Equivalency based on High School
    
Credit. A qualified candidate may petition to have his or her high school transcripts evaluated to determine what the candidate needs to meet criteria as established by the Illinois Community College Board.
        (B) High School Equivalency based on Post-Secondary
    
Credit. A qualified candidate may petition to have his or her post-secondary transcripts evaluated to determine what the candidate needs to meet criteria established by the Illinois Community College Board.
        (C) High School Equivalency based on a Foreign
    
Diploma. A qualified candidate may petition to have his or her foreign high school or post-secondary transcripts evaluated to determine what the candidate needs to meet criteria established by the Illinois Community College Board.
        (D) High School Equivalency based on Completion of a
    
Competency-Based Program as approved by the Illinois Community College Board. The Illinois Community College Board shall establish guidelines for competency-based high school equivalency programs.
    Any applicant who has attained the age of 17 years and maintained residence in the State of Illinois and is not a high school graduate, any person who has enrolled in a youth education program sponsored by the Illinois National Guard, or any person who has successfully completed an alternative education program under Section 2-3.81, Article 13A, or Article 13B is eligible to apply for a State of Illinois High School Diploma (if he or she meets the requirements prescribed by the Illinois Community College Board) upon showing evidence that he or she has completed, successfully, high school equivalency testing, administered by the United States Armed Forces Institute, official high school equivalency testing centers established in other states, Veterans' Administration Hospitals, or the office of the State Superintendent of Education for the Illinois State Penitentiary System and the Department of Corrections. Such applicant shall apply to the regional superintendent of the region wherein he or she has maintained residence, and, upon payment of a fee established by the Illinois Community College Board, the regional superintendent shall issue a State of Illinois High School Diploma and immediately thereafter certify to the Illinois Community College Board the score of the applicant and such other and additional information as may be required by the Illinois Community College Board.
    Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, any applicant who has been out of school for at least one year may request the regional superintendent of schools to administer restricted high school equivalency testing upon written request of: the director of a program who certifies to the Chief Examiner of an official high school equivalency testing center that the applicant has completed a program of instruction provided by such agencies as the Job Corps, the Postal Service Academy, or an apprenticeship training program; an employer or program director for purposes of entry into apprenticeship programs; another state's department of education in order to meet regulations established by that department of education; or a post high school educational institution for purposes of admission, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for licensing purposes, or the Armed Forces for induction purposes. The regional superintendent shall administer such testing, and the applicant shall be notified in writing that he or she is eligible to receive a State of Illinois High School Diploma upon reaching age 17, provided he or she meets the standards established by the Illinois Community College Board.
    Any test administered under this Section to an applicant who does not speak and understand English may at the discretion of the administering agency be given and answered in any language in which the test is printed. The regional superintendent of schools may waive any fees required by this Section in case of hardship. The regional superintendent of schools and the Illinois Community College Board shall waive any fees required by this Section for an applicant who meets all of the following criteria:
        (1) The applicant qualifies as a homeless person,
    
child, or youth as defined in the Education for Homeless Children Act.
        (2) The applicant has not attained 25 years of age as
    
of the date of the scheduled test.
        (3) The applicant can verify his or her status as a
    
homeless person, child, or youth. A homeless services provider that is qualified to verify an individual's housing status, as determined by the Illinois Community College Board, and that has knowledge of the applicant's housing status may verify the applicant's status for purposes of this subdivision (3).
        (4) The applicant has completed a high school
    
equivalency preparation course through an Illinois Community College Board-approved provider.
        (5) The applicant is taking the test at a testing
    
center operated by a regional superintendent of schools or the Cook County High School Equivalency Office.
    In counties of over 3,000,000 population, a State of Illinois High School Diploma shall contain the signatures of the Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board and the superintendent, president, or other chief executive officer of the institution where high school equivalency testing instruction occurred and any other signatures authorized by the Illinois Community College Board.
    The regional superintendent of schools shall furnish the Illinois Community College Board with any information that the Illinois Community College Board requests with regard to testing and diplomas under this Section.
     A State of Illinois High School Diploma is a recognized high school equivalency certificate for purposes of reciprocity with other states. A high school equivalency certificate from another state is equivalent to a State of Illinois High School Diploma.
(Source: P.A. 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23; 103-940, eff. 8-9-24.)

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.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-7

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-7)
    Sec. 3A-7. Expenses of regional office - Budget. When 2 or more regions have been consolidated into a single educational service region, the costs of secretarial service, office space and other expenses necessarily incurred in the operation of the office of the regional superintendent shall be allocated to and borne by the counties comprising the region in the proportion that the equalized and assessed value of the taxable property in the county bears to the total equalized and assessed value of all taxable property in the region. For the purposes of calculating equalized assessed valuation of taxable property under this Section for any tax year beginning January 1, 1981 or thereafter, the equalized assessed valuation for a county shall be determined by adding to the real property equalized assessed valuation for the county an amount computed by dividing the amount of money received by the county under the provisions of "An Act in relation to the abolition of ad valorem personal property tax and the replacement of revenues lost thereby, and amending and repealing certain Acts and parts of Acts in connection therewith", certified August 14, 1979, as amended, by the total tax rate for the county.
    By October 1 annually, the regional superintendent shall prepare a budget, setting out the anticipated income for his educational service region and a statement of the costs of secretarial services, office space and other expenses to be incurred in the operation of his office, and shall submit that budget to the county board of each of the counties in his region for approval. No such costs or expenses may be incurred except pursuant to that budget as approved by each of the county boards concerned. The budget may be amended, modified or supplemented upon the vote of a 2/3 majority of each of those county boards.
(Source: P.A. 82-646.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-8

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-8)
    Sec. 3A-8. The location of the office for a multi-county educational service region, which has been consolidated pursuant to the terms of this Article, shall be determined by a committee composed of the chairmen of the county boards of all counties in the region. In the event of a tie vote by such committee, the chairman of the regional board of school trustees shall cast the deciding vote.
(Source: P.A. 86-1028.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-9

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-9)
    Sec. 3A-9. Disconnection. An educational service region, consisting of 2 or more counties, may be restructured by the disconnection of a county from the educational service region as provided in this Article. However, no educational service region involved in the disconnection may contain less than 33,000 inhabitants after the disconnection, unless it is a region which after the disconnection contains an area that was formed from the consolidation of 3 or more regions.
    Disconnection may be initiated by a petition requesting an election on whether the county should be disconnected from the present educational service region and whether the county should be consolidated with a different specified educational service region. A petition shall be signed by 10% of the legal resident voters of the county to which the petition refers; the petitioners' addresses shall be included.
    A petition shall be filed with the regional superintendent of the educational service region of which the county is a part not more than 99 nor less than 92 days prior to a regular scheduled election. The regional superintendent and the county clerk shall determine the sufficiency of the petition. If the petition is deemed sufficient by the regional superintendent and the county clerk, the regional superintendent shall call an election at the next regular scheduled election for the purpose of presenting a public measure, in accord with the petition, to the voters of the county to be disconnected as specified in the petition.
(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-10

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-10)
    Sec. 3A-10. Notice of Election. A notice of the election shall be given in accordance with the general election law. In addition to the requirements of the general election law the notice shall be in substantially the following form:
NOTICE OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICE REGION ELECTION
    Notice is hereby given that on (insert date) an election will be held in ............... County, Illinois, for the purpose of voting upon this question:
    Shall ............. County be disconnected from the Educational Service Region for the Counties of ................ and ............. and shall the regional board of school trustees for ............. County be requested to approve the consolidation of the counties into a single educational service region?
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-12

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-12)
    Sec. 3A-12. Limitation on successive petitions. If a majority of those voting in a disconnection election do not favor disconnection, no petition for a disconnection election shall be submitted to the regional superintendent unless the resulting election would be held at a regular election in accordance with the general election law.
(Source: P.A. 82-458.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-13

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-13)
    Sec. 3A-13. Petition for Consolidation. If a majority of those voting in the disconnection election favor disconnection and requesting consolidation with another educational service region, the regional superintendent shall notify, within 30 days of the declaration of official results, the regional board of school trustees for the educational service region approved by the voters in the election of the official results. When the official results are received, the regional board of school trustees shall conduct a hearing on the petition, after notice of hearing has been published once, not more than 15 nor less than 10 days before the day of the hearing, in one or more newspapers having general circulation in the region and in one or more newspapers having general circulation in the county which is petitioning for the consolidation. The secretary of the regional board of school trustees shall 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 Superintendent of Education that the petition has been filed. The notice shall state the prayer of the petition and the date, time and place of the hearing. The State Board of Education shall pay the expenses of the hearing. 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 the area is compact and contiguous; and whether or not the proposed consolidation would be in the best interests of the schools in the area and the educational welfare of the pupils of these schools. A record of the proceedings shall be kept and a competent reporter shall be employed to take stenographic or stenotype notes of all testimony. At the hearing each resident of the region or of the county petitioning for consolidation 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 of the hearing the regional board of school trustees shall meet and render a decision with regard to the hearing on the petition. A copy of the final decision of the regional board of school trustees shall be filed with the State Board of Education within 30 days after the conclusion of the hearing. If the regional board of school trustees renders a decision approving the consolidation, the region and the county shall be consolidated into a single educational service region and the State Board of Education shall notify all interested parties, including the county clerks of the counties affected thereby and the Secretary of State. The effective date of the consolidation shall be immediately after the time for appeal of the order of consolidation has passed or after the final disposition of any appeal taken from a consolidation order.
    If the regional board of school trustees renders a decision denying the consolidation, a majority of the school boards located within the county disconnected, upon the adoption of appropriate resolutions, may petition another educational service region for consolidation. The proceedings on this petition shall be consistent with this Section.
(Source: P.A. 86-1028.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-14

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-14)
    Sec. 3A-14. Interim Period. An educational service region shall continue to serve a county as herein provided until the time the consolidation is effective as provided for in Section 3A-13.
(Source: P.A. 80-951.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-15

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-15) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-15)
    Sec. 3A-15. Legal representation. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, upon request the State's attorney of the county where the regional superintendent's office is located shall act as the legal representative of the regional superintendent of schools; however, where matters arise which are within the exclusive jurisdiction of another State's attorney, said State's attorney shall provide legal representation. If, in multicounty educational service regions, the county boards grant approval through an intergovernmental agreement, or if, in educational service regions serving only one county, the county board grants approval, then the regional superintendent of schools is authorized to hire private legal counsel to represent him or her in legal matters, and each county located within the region shall pay a per capita share of the legal fees incurred, based on the number of people in the county according to the most recent U.S. census.
(Source: P.A. 94-153, eff. 7-8-05.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-16

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-16)
    Sec. 3A-16. Regional office of education advisory board.
    (a) Beginning October 1, 2009, a regional office of education advisory board shall be established within each region serving Class I counties or within each group of regions participating in an intergovernmental agreement for the provision of professional development to advise the regional superintendent of schools of the region or regions involved concerning the planning and delivery of professional development programs and services.
    (b) The advisory board shall consist of at least 9 members. All members of the advisory board shall be certified pursuant to Article 21 of this Code and be currently employed in positions requiring certification by a school district, special education cooperative, joint agreement, or regional office of education program. A majority of members shall be nominated by statewide organizations representing teachers within the region or regions and selected by the regional superintendent of the region or regions involved. Administrators shall be nominated by statewide organizations representing administrators within the region or regions and selected by the regional superintendent of the region or regions involved.
    (c) The regional office of education advisory board shall meet at least annually for the performance of its advisory duties.
(Source: P.A. 96-568, eff. 8-18-09.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-17

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-17)
    Sec. 3A-17. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-335, eff. 1-1-96. Repealed by P.A. 96-893, eff. 7-1-10.)

105 ILCS 5/3A-18

    (105 ILCS 5/3A-18)
    Sec. 3A-18. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 97-619, eff. 11-14-11. Repealed internally, eff. 8-2-12.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 4

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 4 heading)
ARTICLE 4. DUTIES OF COUNTY BOARD

105 ILCS 5/4-1

    (105 ILCS 5/4-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-1)
    Sec. 4-1. Duties of county board. The county board of each county shall perform the duties prescribed in this article.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/4-2

    (105 ILCS 5/4-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-2)
    Sec. 4-2. Office and supplies. Provide for the county superintendent of schools a suitable office with necessary furniture and office supplies.
    On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this Section shall have no application in any county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 87-654; 87-1251.)

105 ILCS 5/4-3

    (105 ILCS 5/4-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-3)
    Sec. 4-3. Report of county superintendent.
    Examine and approve or reject the report of the county superintendent of schools made to it.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/4-4

    (105 ILCS 5/4-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-4)
    Sec. 4-4. Traveling expenses. Allow, when they deem it proper, reasonable traveling expenses for the office of county superintendent of schools.
    On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this Section shall have no application in any county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 87-654; 87-1251.)

105 ILCS 5/4-5

    (105 ILCS 5/4-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-5)
    Sec. 4-5. Audit of bills.
    Audit at the regular meeting in September, and as near quarterly thereafter as it may have regular or special meetings, the itemized bills of the county superintendent of schools for his office and traveling expenses.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/4-6

    (105 ILCS 5/4-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-6)
    Sec. 4-6. Employment of assistants. Authorize the county superintendent of schools to employ such assistants as he needs for the discharge of his duties and fix the compensation thereof, which compensation shall be paid out of the county treasury.
    On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this Section shall have no application in any county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 87-654; 87-1251.)

105 ILCS 5/4-7

    (105 ILCS 5/4-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-7)
    Sec. 4-7. Examination of financial statements.
    (a) Examine the financial statements of the county superintendent of schools required by Section 15-21 and compare them with vouchers.
    (b) The county board, or so many thereof as are present at its meeting, shall be liable individually to the fund injured and to the sureties of the county superintendent, if judgment is recovered from the sureties, for all damages occasioned by neglect of the duties, or any of them, required of the board by this section; but nothing herein shall be construed to exempt the sureties and they shall remain liable to the fund injured the same as if the members of the county board were not liable to them for neglect of their duty. On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this subsection (b) shall have no application in any county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 87-654; 87-1251.)

105 ILCS 5/4-8

    (105 ILCS 5/4-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-8)
    Sec. 4-8. Bond -- approval -- increase. Approve the bond of the county superintendent of schools, and increase the penalty thereof if, in its judgment the penalty should be increased.
    On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this Section shall have no application in any county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 87-654; 87-1251.)

105 ILCS 5/4-9

    (105 ILCS 5/4-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-9)
    Sec. 4-9. New bond. Require the county superintendent of schools, after notice given, to execute a new bond, conditioned and approved as the first bond, whenever it deems a new bond necessary, but the execution of such new bond shall not affect the old bond or the liability of the sureties thereon.
    On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this Section shall have no application in any county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 87-654; 87-1251.)

105 ILCS 5/4-10

    (105 ILCS 5/4-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-10)
    Sec. 4-10. Reports -- Removal from office.
    (a) Require the county superintendent of schools to make the reports to it provided for by law.
    (b) Remove the county superintendent of schools from office in case of neglect or refusal so to do, or for any palpable violation of law or omission of duty. On and after July 1, 1994, the provisions of this subsection (b) shall have no application in any county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 87-654; 87-1251.)

105 ILCS 5/4-10.5

    (105 ILCS 5/4-10.5)
    Sec. 4-10.5. Expenses for life-skills programs. Allow, when the county board deems it proper, reasonable expenses of the regional superintendent of schools to administer life-skills programs related to the healthy social and emotional development of children.
(Source: P.A. 95-391, eff. 8-23-07.)

105 ILCS 5/4-11

    (105 ILCS 5/4-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 4-11)
    Sec. 4-11. Depositories. The county board, when requested by the county superintendent of schools, shall designate one or more banks or savings and loan associations in which the funds and moneys received by him by virtue of his office may be deposited. When a bank or savings and loan association has been designated as a depository, it shall continue as such until 10 days have elapsed after a new depository is designated and qualified by furnishing the statement of resources and liabilities required by this Section. When a new depository is designated, the county board shall notify the sureties of the county superintendent of that fact, in writing, at least 5 days before the transfer of funds. The county superintendent of schools shall be discharged from responsibility for all funds and moneys deposited in the banks or savings and loan association so designated while such funds and moneys are so deposited.
    No bank or savings and loan association shall receive public funds as permitted by this Section, unless it has complied with the requirements established pursuant to Section 6 of "An Act relating to certain investments of public funds by public agencies", approved July 23, 1943, as now or hereafter amended.
(Source: P.A. 83-541.)

105 ILCS 5/4-12

    (105 ILCS 5/4-12)
    Sec. 4-12. Educational service center support. Notwithstanding Sections 4-2, 4-4, 4-6, 4-7, 4-8, 4-9, and 4-10 of this Code, a county having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants may provide financial or in-kind support to the educational service centers serving that county.
(Source: P.A. 96-893, eff. 7-1-10.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 5

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 5 heading)
ARTICLE 5. TRUSTEES OF SCHOOLS

105 ILCS 5/5-1

    (105 ILCS 5/5-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-1)
    Sec. 5-1. County school units.
    (a) The territory in each county, exclusive of any school district governed by any special act which requires the district to appoint its own school treasurer, shall constitute a county school unit. County school units of less than 2,000,000 inhabitants shall be known as Class I county school units and the office of township trustees, where existing on July 1, 1962, in such units shall be abolished on that date and all books and records of such former township trustees shall be forthwith thereafter transferred to the county board of school trustees. County school units of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants shall be known as Class II county school units and shall retain the office of township trustees unless otherwise provided in subsection (b), (c), or (d), or shall be administered as provided Section 5-2.2.
    (b) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c), the school board of any elementary school district having a fall, 1989 aggregate enrollment of at least 2,500 but less than 6,500 pupils and having boundaries that are coterminous with the boundaries of a high school district, and the school board of any high school district having a fall, 1989 aggregate enrollment of at least 2,500 but less than 6,500 pupils and having boundaries that are coterminous with the boundaries of an elementary school district, may, whenever the territory of such school district forms a part of a Class II county school unit, by proper resolution withdraw such school district from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of the township in which such school district is located and from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer in such Class II county school unit; provided that the school board of any such school district shall, upon the adoption and passage of such resolution, thereupon elect or appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1. Upon the adoption and passage of such resolution and the election or appointment by the school board of its own school treasurer: (1) the trustees of schools in such township shall no longer have or exercise any powers and duties with respect to the school district governed by such school board or with respect to the school business, operations or assets of such school district; and (2) all books and records of the township trustees relating to the school business and affairs of such school district shall be transferred and delivered to the school board of such school district. Upon the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993, the legal title to, and all right, title and interest formerly held by the township trustees in any school buildings and school sites used and occupied by the school board of such school district for school purposes, that legal title, right, title and interest thereafter having been transferred to and vested in the regional board of school trustees under P.A. 87-473 until the abolition of that regional board of school trustees by P.A. 87-969, shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and shall vest in the school board of that school district.
    Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c), the school boards of Oak Park & River Forest District 200, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, and River Forest School District 90 may, by proper resolution, withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of Proviso and Cicero Townships and the township treasurer, provided that the school board shall, upon the adoption and passage of the resolution, elect or appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1 of this Code. Upon the adoption and passage of the resolution and the election or appointment by the school board of its own school treasurer: (1) the trustees of schools in the township or townships shall no longer have or exercise any powers or duties with respect to the school district or with respect to the school business, operations, or assets of the school district; (2) all books and records of the trustees of schools and all moneys, securities, loanable funds, and other assets relating to the school business and affairs of the school district shall be transferred and delivered to the school board; and (3) all legal title to and all right, title, and interest formerly held by the trustees of schools in any common school lands, school buildings, or school sites used and occupied by the school board and all rights of property and causes of action pertaining to or constituting a part of the common school lands, buildings, or sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and shall vest in the school board.
    Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c), the respective school boards of Berwyn North School District 98, Berwyn South School District 100, Cicero School District 99, and J.S. Morton High School District 201 may, by proper resolution, withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of Cicero Township and the township treasurer, provided that the school board shall, upon the adoption and passage of the resolution, elect or appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1 of this Code. Upon the adoption and passage of the resolution and the election or appointment by the school board of its own school treasurer: (1) the trustees of schools in the township shall no longer have or exercise any powers or duties with respect to the school district or with respect to the school business, operations, or assets of the school district; (2) all books and records of the trustees of schools and all moneys, securities, loanable funds, and other assets relating to the school business and affairs of the school district shall be transferred and delivered to the school board; and (3) all legal title to and all right, title, and interest formerly held by the trustees of schools in any common school lands, school buildings, or school sites used and occupied by the school board and all rights of property and causes of action pertaining to or constituting a part of the common school lands, buildings, or sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and shall vest in the school board.
    Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c) of this Section and upon final judgment, including the exhaustion of all appeals or a settlement between all parties, regarding claims set forth in the case of Township Trustees of Schools Township 38 North, Range 12 East v. Lyons Township High School District No. 204 case N. 13 CH 23386 pending in 2018 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, County Department, Chancery Division, and all related pending claims, the school board of Lyons Township High School District 204 may commence, by proper resolution, to withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of Lyons Township and the township treasurer, provided that the school board shall, upon the adoption and passage of the resolution, elect or appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1 of this Code. Upon the adoption and passage of the resolution and the election or appointment by the school board of its own school treasurer commencing with the first day of the succeeding fiscal year, but not prior to July 1, 2019: (1) the trustees of schools in the township shall no longer have or exercise any powers or duties with respect to the school district or with respect to the school business, operations, or assets of the school district; (2) all books and records of the trustees of schools and all moneys, securities, loanable funds, and other assets relating to the school business and affairs of the school district shall be transferred and delivered to the school board, allowing for a reasonable period of time not to exceed 90 days to liquidate any pooled investments; and (3) all legal title to and all right, title, and interest formerly held by the trustees of schools in any common school lands, school buildings, or school sites used and occupied by the school board and all rights of property and causes of action pertaining to or constituting a part of the common school lands, buildings, or sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and shall vest in the school board. The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly are prospective only, starting from the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, and shall not affect any legal action pending on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly in the Illinois courts in which Lyons Township High School District 204 is a listed party.
    Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c), the school boards of Glenbrook High School District 225, Northbrook Elementary School District 27, Northbrook School District 28, Sunset Ridge School District 29, Northbrook/Glenview School District 30, West Northfield School District 31, and Glenview Community Consolidated School District 34 may, by proper resolution, withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of Northfield and Maine Townships and the township treasurer, provided that the school board shall, upon the adoption and passage of the resolution, elect or appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1 of this Code. Upon the adoption and passage of the resolution and the election or appointment by the school board of its own school treasurer: (1) the trustees of schools in the township or townships shall no longer have or exercise any powers or duties with respect to the school district or with respect to the school business, operations, or assets of the school district; (2) all books and records of the trustees of schools and all moneys, securities, loanable funds, and other assets relating to the school business and affairs of the school district shall be transferred and delivered to the school board; and (3) all legal title to and all right, title, and interest formerly held by the trustees of schools in any common school lands, school buildings, or school sites used and occupied by the school board and all rights of property and causes of action pertaining to or constituting a part of the common school lands, buildings, or sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and shall vest in the school board.
    (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of any township located in a Class II county school unit shall be abolished as provided in this subsection if all of the following conditions are met:
        (1) During the same 30 day period, each school board
    
of each elementary and unit school district that is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township in which those offices are sought to be abolished gives written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested to the township treasurer and trustees of schools of that township of the date of a meeting of the school board, to be held not more than 90 nor less than 60 days after the date when the notice is given, at which meeting the school board is to consider and vote upon the question of whether there shall be submitted to the electors of the school district a proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township. None of the notices given under this paragraph to the township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township shall be deemed sufficient or in compliance with the requirements of this paragraph unless all of those notices are given within the same 30 day period.
        (2) Each school board of each elementary and unit
    
school district that is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township in which those offices are sought to be abolished, by the affirmative vote of at least 5 members of the school board at a school board meeting of which notice is given as required by paragraph (1) of this subsection, adopts a resolution requiring the secretary of the school board to certify to the proper election authorities for submission to the electors of the school district at the next consolidated election in accordance with the general election law a proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township. None of the resolutions adopted under this paragraph by any elementary or unit school districts that are subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township in which those offices are sought to be abolished shall be deemed in compliance with the requirements of this paragraph or sufficient to authorize submission of the proposition to abolish those offices to a referendum of the electors in any such school district unless all of the school boards of all of the elementary and unit school districts that are subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of that township adopt such a resolution in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph.
        (3) The school boards of all of the elementary and
    
unit school districts that are subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township in which those offices are sought to be abolished submit a proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township to the electors of their respective school districts at the same consolidated election in accordance with the general election law, the ballot in each such district to be in substantially the following form:
    ----------------------------------------------------------
OFFICIAL BALLOT
            Shall the offices of township    
            treasurer and                       YES    
            trustee of                      --------------    
            schools of Township .....           NO    
            Range ..... be abolished?    
    ----------------------------------------------------------
        (4) At the consolidated election at which the
    
proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township is submitted to the electors of each elementary and unit school district that is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township, a majority of the electors voting on the proposition in each such elementary and unit school district votes in favor of the proposition as submitted to them.
    If in each elementary and unit school district that is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township in which those offices are sought to be abolished a majority of the electors in each such district voting at the consolidated election on the proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township votes in favor of the proposition as submitted to them, the proposition shall be deemed to have passed; but if in any such elementary or unit school district a majority of the electors voting on that proposition in that district fails to vote in favor of the proposition as submitted to them, then notwithstanding the vote of the electors in any other such elementary or unit school district on that proposition the proposition shall not be deemed to have passed in any of those elementary or unit school districts, and the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of the township in which those offices were sought to be abolished shall not be abolished, unless in each of those elementary and unit school districts remaining subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of that township proceedings are again initiated to abolish those offices and all of the proceedings and conditions prescribed in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subsection are repeated and met in each of those elementary and unit school districts.
    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section or any other provision of the School Code, the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township that has a population of less than 200,000 and that contains a unit school district and is located in a Class II county school unit shall also be abolished as provided in this subsection if all of the conditions set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection are met and if the following additional condition is met:
        The electors in all of the school districts subject
    
to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township in which those offices are sought to be abolished shall vote at the consolidated election on the proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township. If a majority of the electors in all of the school districts combined voting on the proposition vote in favor of the proposition, then the proposition shall be deemed to have passed; but if a majority of the electors voting on the proposition in all of the school district fails to vote in favor of the proposition as submitted to them, then the proposition shall not be deemed to have passed and the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of the township in which those offices were sought to be abolished shall not be abolished, unless and until the proceedings detailed in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection and the conditions set forth in this paragraph are met.
    If the proposition to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township is deemed to have passed at the consolidated election as provided in this subsection, those offices shall be deemed abolished by operation of law effective on January 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which that consolidated election is held, provided that if after the election, the trustees of schools by resolution elect to abolish the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools effective on July 1 immediately following the election, then the offices shall be abolished on July 1 immediately following the election. On the date that the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township are deemed abolished by operation of law, the school board of each elementary and unit school district and the school board of each high school district that is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of that township at the time those offices are abolished: (i) shall appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1; and (ii) unless the term of the contract of a township treasurer expires on the date that the office of township treasurer is abolished, shall pay to the former township treasurer its proportionate share of any aggregate compensation that, were the office of township treasurer not abolished at that time, would have been payable to the former township treasurer after that date over the remainder of the term of the contract of the former township treasurer that began prior to but ends after that date. In addition, on the date that the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township are deemed abolished as provided in this subsection, the school board of each elementary school, high school and unit school district that until that date is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of that township shall be deemed by operation of law to have agreed and assumed to pay and, when determined, shall pay to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund a proportionate share of the unfunded liability existing in that Fund at the time these offices are abolished in that calendar year for all annuities or other benefits then or thereafter to become payable from that Fund with respect to all periods of service performed prior to that date as a participating employee in that Fund by persons serving during those periods of service as a trustee of schools, township treasurer or regular employee in the office of the township treasurer of that township. That unfunded liability shall be actuarially determined by the board of trustees of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, and the board of trustees shall thereupon notify each school board required to pay a proportionate share of that unfunded liability of the aggregate amount of the unfunded liability so determined. The amount so paid to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund by each of those school districts shall be credited to the account of the township in that Fund. For each elementary school, high school and unit school district under the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township in which those offices are abolished as provided in this subsection, each such district's proportionate share of the aggregate compensation payable to the former township treasurer as provided in this paragraph and each such district's proportionate share of the aggregate amount of the unfunded liability payable to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund as provided in this paragraph shall be computed in accordance with the ratio that the number of pupils in average daily attendance in each such district for the school year last ending prior to the date on which the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of that township are abolished bears to the aggregate number of pupils in average daily attendance in all of those districts as so reported for that school year.
    Upon abolition of the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township as provided in this subsection: (i) the regional board of school trustees, in its corporate capacity, shall be deemed the successor in interest to the former trustees of schools of that township with respect to the common school lands and township loanable funds of the township; (ii) all right, title and interest existing or vested in the former trustees of schools of that township in the common school lands and township loanable funds of the township, and all records, moneys, securities and other assets, rights of property and causes of action pertaining to or constituting a part of those common school lands or township loanable funds, shall be transferred to and deemed vested by operation of law in the regional board of school trustees, which shall hold legal title to, manage and operate all common school lands and township loanable funds of the township, receive the rents, issues and profits therefrom, and have and exercise with respect thereto the same powers and duties as are provided by this Code to be exercised by regional boards of school trustees when acting as township land commissioners in counties having at least 220,000 but fewer than 2,000,000 inhabitants; (iii) the regional board of school trustees shall select to serve as its treasurer with respect to the common school lands and township loanable funds of the township a person from time to time also serving as the appointed school treasurer of any school district that was subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of that township at the time those offices were abolished, and the person selected to also serve as treasurer of the regional board of school trustees shall have his compensation for services in that capacity fixed by the regional board of school trustees, to be paid from the township loanable funds, and shall make to the regional board of school trustees the reports required to be made by treasurers of township land commissioners, give bond as required by treasurers of township land commissioners, and perform the duties and exercise the powers of treasurers of township land commissioners; (iv) the regional board of school trustees shall designate in the manner provided by Section 8-7, insofar as applicable, a depositary for its treasurer, and the proceeds of all rents, issues and profits from the common school lands and township loanable funds of that township shall be deposited and held in the account maintained for those purposes with that depositary and shall be expended and distributed therefrom as provided in Section 15-24 and other applicable provisions of this Code; and (v) whenever there is vested in the trustees of schools of a township at the time that office is abolished under this subsection the legal title to any school buildings or school sites used or occupied for school purposes by any elementary school, high school or unit school district subject to the jurisdiction and authority of those trustees of school at the time that office is abolished, the legal title to those school buildings and school sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and invested in the school board of that school district, in its corporate capacity under Section 10-22.35B of this Code, the same to be held, sold, exchanged leased or otherwise transferred in accordance with applicable provisions of this Code.
    Notwithstanding Section 2-3.25g of this Code, a waiver of a mandate established under this Section may not be requested.
    (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any school district that forms a part of a Class II county school unit may, by a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds of the members of the school board of a school district, withdraw a school district from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of the township in which such school district is located and from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer of the township in which such school district is located, provided that the school board of the school district shall, upon the adoption and passage of such resolution, thereupon elect or appoint its own school treasurer as provided in Section 8-1 of this Code. The appointed school treasurer may include a township treasurer. The school board may enter into a contractual or intergovernmental agreement with an appointed school treasurer for school treasurer services.
    Upon adoption and passage of the resolution and the election or appointment by the school board of its own school treasurer commencing with the first day of the succeeding fiscal year, but not prior to July 1, 2025: (1) the trustees of schools in the township or townships shall no longer have or exercise any powers or duties with respect to the school district or with respect to the school business, operations, or assets of the school district; (2) all books and records of the trustees of schools and all moneys, securities, loanable funds, and other assets relating to the school business and affairs of the school district shall be transferred and delivered to the school board; and (3) all legal title to and all right, title, and interest formerly held by the trustees of schools in any common school lands, school buildings, or school sites used and occupied by the school board and all rights of property and causes of action pertaining to or constituting a part of the common school lands, buildings, or sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to and shall vest in the school board.
(Source: P.A. 103-144, eff. 6-30-23; 103-790, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/5-1a

    (105 ILCS 5/5-1a) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-1a)
    Sec. 5-1a. High school districts. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article or the School Code, the school board of any high school district that is located in a Class II county school unit and that on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991 is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township in which all or any part of that school district is located may not withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of that township treasurer and those trustees of schools and transfer or otherwise submit to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer or trustees of school of another township, unless the school board of each underlying elementary school district whose territory includes all or any part of the territory included within that high school district, by resolution, consents to the proposed withdrawal by the school board of that high school district from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township to which that high school district is subject and the transfer or other submission by the school board of that high school district to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer or trustees of schools of another township.
    A high school district that is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township in which those offices are abolished as provided in subsection (c) of Section 5-1 shall thereupon be required to appoint its own school treasurer as provided in paragraph (4) of subsection (c) of Section 5-1 and subsection (c) of Section 8-1, and shall be subject to and governed by the other changes made to the School Code by this amendatory Act of 1991, insofar as the same are applicable to a high school district.
(Source: P.A. 87-473.)

105 ILCS 5/5-1b

    (105 ILCS 5/5-1b)
    Sec. 5-1b. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 94-432, eff. 8-2-05. Repealed internally, eff. 1-1-10.)

105 ILCS 5/5-2

    (105 ILCS 5/5-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-2)
    Sec. 5-2. Governing board.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), the school business of all school townships having school trustees shall be transacted by three trustees, as provided in this Article 5.
    (b) This subsection (b) applies only to the trustees of schools of Township 38 North, Range 12 East. The school business of the township shall be transacted by 4 trustees elected by the qualified voters of the township, as provided in this Article 5, and 3 trustees appointed by the school districts within the township, as provided in this subsection (b). An elected trustee and an appointed trustee may represent the same school district. Any trustee, whether elected or appointed, may serve as an officer of the trustees of schools.
    The 3 trustees to be appointed shall each be appointed for a term of one year as follows:
        (1) The school boards of Argo Community High School
    
District 217, Summit School District 104, Willow Springs School District 108, and Indian Springs School District 109 shall collectively appoint one school board member as a trustee through a nomination process and by a majority vote or by consensus among the school boards. A trustee appointed under this paragraph (1) may be reappointed for a second term as provided under this paragraph (1). After the appointed term or reappointed term of the trustee expires, the school boards shall appoint a successor trustee pursuant to this paragraph (1).
        (2) The school boards of Western Springs School
    
District 101, La Grange School District 102, Lyons School District 103, La Grange School District 105 South, LaGrange Highlands School District 106, and Pleasantdale School District 107 shall collectively appoint one school board member as a trustee through a nomination process and by a majority vote or by consensus among the school boards. A trustee appointed under this paragraph (2) may be reappointed for a second term as provided under this paragraph (2). After the appointed term or reappointed term of the trustee expires, the school boards shall appoint a successor trustee pursuant to this paragraph (2).
        (3) Each year, among the school board presidents of
    
the school districts within the township, one school board president shall be selected through a nomination process and by a majority vote to appoint a trustee. If no president of a school board is nominated, another officer of one of the school boards may be nominated. For the even-numbered year term, a trustee appointed under this paragraph (3) must be from a feeder elementary school district for Argo Community High School District 217, and, for the odd-numbered year term, a trustee appointed under this paragraph (3) must be from a feeder elementary school district for Lyons Township High School District 204.
    (c) The trustees shall be a body politic and corporate, by the name of "trustees of schools of township No. ...., range No. ....," according to the number, or in case of school townships created from two or more congressional townships, such name shall be "trustees of .... township .... county, Illinois." Such corporation shall have perpetual existence, with power to sue and be sued, and to plead and be impleaded, in all courts and places where judicial proceedings are had.
(Source: P.A. 102-924, eff. 5-27-22; 103-790, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/5-2.1

    (105 ILCS 5/5-2.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-2.1)
    Sec. 5-2.1. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 103-790, eff. 8-9-24. Repealed internally, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/5-2.2

    (105 ILCS 5/5-2.2)
    Sec. 5-2.2. Designation of trustees. After the April 5, 2011 consolidated election, the trustees of schools in Township 36 North, Range 13 East shall no longer be elected pursuant to the provisions of Sections 5-2, 5-2.1, 5-3, 5-4, 5-12, and 5-13 of this Code. Any such trustees elected before such date may complete the term to which that trustee was elected, but shall not be succeeded by election. Instead, the board of education or board of school directors of each of the elementary and high school districts that are subject to the jurisdiction of Township 36 North, Range 13 East shall appoint one of the members to serve as trustee of schools. The trustees of schools shall be appointed by each board of education or board of school directors within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly and shall reorganize within 30 days after all the trustees of schools have been appointed or within 30 days after all the trustees of schools were due to have been appointed, whichever is sooner. Trustees of schools so appointed shall serve at the pleasure of the board of education or board of school directors appointing them, but in no event longer than 2 years unless reappointed.
    After the April 4, 2023 consolidated election, no trustees of schools shall be elected. Any trustees elected or appointed on or before April 4, 2023 may complete the term to which that trustee was trustees elected or appointed, but may not be succeeded by election. Each school board of each school district that is a part of a Class II county school unit shall appoint one member of the school board or one school employee to serve as trustee of schools of the township in which such school district is located. The trustees of schools shall be appointed by each school board within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly and shall reorganize within 30 days after all the trustees of schools have been appointed or within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, whichever is sooner. A trustee of schools shall serve at the pleasure of the school board that appointed the trustee of schools but may not serve as a trustee of schools for longer than 2 years unless reappointed by the school board.
    A majority of members of the trustees of schools shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The trustees shall organize by appointing one of their number president, who shall hold the office for 2 years. If the president is absent from any meeting, or refuses to perform any of the duties of the office, a president pro-tempore may be appointed. Trustees who serve on the board as a result of appointment or election at the time of the reorganization shall continue to serve as a member of the trustees of schools, with no greater or lesser authority than any other trustee, until such time as their elected term expires.
    Each trustee of schools appointed by a board of education or board of school directors shall be entitled to indemnification and protection against claims and suits by the board that appointed that trustee of schools for acts or omissions as a trustee of schools in the same manner and to the same extent as the trustee of schools is entitled to indemnification and protection for acts or omissions as a member of the board of education or board of school directors under Section 10-20.20 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 103-790, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/5-3

    (105 ILCS 5/5-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-3)
    Sec. 5-3. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 102-924, eff. 5-27-22; 103-790, eff. 8-9-24. Repealed internally, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/5-4

    (105 ILCS 5/5-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-4)
    Sec. 5-4. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 102-924, eff. 5-27-22; 103-790, eff. 8-9-24. Repealed internally, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/5-12

    (105 ILCS 5/5-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-12)
    Sec. 5-12. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 103-790, eff. 8-9-24. Repealed internally, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/5-13

    (105 ILCS 5/5-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-13)
    Sec. 5-13. Term of office of trustees. In townships already organized, the school trustee shall be elected in each odd numbered year for a term of 6 years to succeed the trustee whose term expires in such odd numbered year.
    The first-elected trustees in a newly organized township shall at their first meeting cast lots for their respective terms of office, for 2, 4 and 6 years; and thereafter 1 trustee shall be elected in each odd-numbered year.
    This Section is inoperative on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 103-790, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/5-14

    (105 ILCS 5/5-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-14)
    Sec. 5-14. Term of office of successors - Vacancies. Successors to the trustees whose terms of office expire at the time prescribed in Section 5-13, and their successors, shall hold their offices for 6 years and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. Trustees of schools shall enter upon the duties of their office on the third Monday of the month following their election.
    Whenever a vacancy occurs, the remaining trustees shall fill the vacancy until the next regular school election, at which election a successor shall be elected to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. However, if the vacancy occurs with less than 28 months remaining in the term, or if the vacancy occurs less than 88 days before the next regularly scheduled election for this office then the person so appointed shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term, and no election to fill the vacancy shall be held. The successor shall have the same residential qualifications as his predecessor. Should they fail so to act, within 30 days after the vacancy occurs, the regional superintendent of the region in which the township lies, or if the township is divided by a county line or lines, the regional superintendent of the region in which a majority of the children, who reside in districts subject to the jurisdiction of the trustees of schools of such township, attend school, shall within 15 days after the remaining trustees have failed to fill the vacancy, fill the vacancy as provided for herein. The successor shall have the same type of residential qualifications as his predecessor.
(Source: P.A. 93-847, eff. 7-30-04.)

105 ILCS 5/5-15

    (105 ILCS 5/5-15) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-15)
    Sec. 5-15. Organization. Within 10 days following commencement of their terms, the trustees shall organize by appointing 1 of their number president, who shall hold his office for 2 years. The president shall preside at all meetings of the board and shall sign the proceedings thereof when recorded. If the president is absent from any meeting, or refuses to perform any of the duties of his office, a president pro tempore may be appointed. The president may be removed by the trustees of schools for sufficient cause.
(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

105 ILCS 5/5-16

    (105 ILCS 5/5-16) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-16)
    Sec. 5-16. Meetings - Quorum. The trustees of school shall hold regular meetings on the first Monday of each calendar quarter or if such Monday falls on a holiday, then on the following Monday. Special meetings may be called at any time by the president or by a majority of the members. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(Source: P.A. 103-790, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/5-17

    (105 ILCS 5/5-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-17)
    Sec. 5-17. Payment of claims - Apportionment and distribution of funds. At the regular meetings, the trustees shall appropriate and pay from the income of the permanent township fund, if it is sufficient, all valid claims for the following:
        1. The compensation of the treasurer.
        2. The cost of publishing the annual statement.
        3. The cost of a record book, if any.
        4. The cost of dividing school lands and making
    
plats.
    If the income of the permanent township fund is not sufficient to meet such items the additional amount needed may be taken from the total of other funds subject to distribution, each district -- exclusive of any district which has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of the township and which has elected or appointed its own school treasurer as provided in subsection (b) of Section 5-1 -- being charged as its share of such items the proportion which the amount of school funds of the district handled by the township treasurer bears to the total amount of all school funds handled by such treasurer.
    In Class II county school units (excluding therefrom, however, any township therein in which the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools have been abolished as provided in subsection (c) of Section 5-1) if any balance of the income from the permanent township fund in any township remains after paying such items, such balance shall be apportioned and distributed to the districts and parts of districts in the township -- including any district which has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of the township and which has elected or appointed its own school treasurer as provided in subsection (b) of Section 5-1 -- in which schools have been kept as required by law during the preceding year ending June 30, according to the number of pupils in average daily attendance in grades one to eight inclusive. At the semi-annual meetings in all such townships all remaining funds subject to distribution shall be apportioned and distributed to the districts and parts of districts in the township in which schools have been kept as required by law during the preceding year ending June 30, in the manner and subject to the limitations prescribed in Sections 18-2 through 18-11 for the distribution of the common school fund among the counties, provided that -- except for any balance of the income from the permanent township fund remaining after payment of the items set forth in subparagraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this Section -- no funds shall be apportioned or distributed to any school district which has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools and appointed its own school treasurer pursuant to Section 5-1; and the trustees shall direct the treasurer to make a regular monthly apportionment and distribution between semi-annual meetings, in the manner prescribed by those sections, of any available funds on hand from the common school fund. The funds distributed shall be credited to the respective districts and parts of districts.
    In Class I county school units and in any township forming a part of a Class II county school unit in which township the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools have been abolished as provided in subsection (c) of Section 5-1, if any balance of income from the permanent township fund in any township remains after paying such items, such balance or a part thereof equal to but not greater than the then current tax levy or tax levies for common school purposes by all the school districts or parts of school districts in said township on property in said township in process of collection in the county wherein the township having such fund is located, shall, upon an order drawn by the treasurer and signed by the president and secretary of the township land commissioners or regional board of school trustees, be paid annually on or before February 1 to the County Treasurer of the county in which such township is situated. It shall then be the duty of the County Treasurer to apply and credit the sum so received upon all tax bills for school purposes of the taxpayers in the township, said sum to be applied and credited proportionately upon the basis of the value of assessed property represented by each such tax bill. Any sum received by the County Treasurer in excess of the amount required to discharge in full the amount of all taxes for school purposes so extended against taxable property within the township shall be held by the County Treasurer and applied to taxes subsequently extended for such purposes: Provided, that if a petition, signed by at least 5% of the legal voters of the township, is presented to the regional superintendent of schools of the educational service region in which the township is located requesting a vote on the proposition that such balance of the income from the permanent township fund shall be apportioned and distributed to the districts and parts of districts in the township in which schools have been kept as required by law during the preceding year ending June 30, according to the number of pupils in average daily attendance in grades one to eight, inclusive, upon an order drawn by the treasurer and signed by the president and secretary of the township land commissioners or regional board of school trustees, to be paid annually on or before February 1, the regional superintendent of schools shall certify to the proper election authority the proposition for submission to the voters of the township in accordance with the general election law. The treasurer shall cause a copy of the order to be published in one or more newspapers published in the county school unit within 10 days after the order is drawn. If no newspaper is published in the county school unit, the order shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation within the county school unit. The publication of the order shall include a notice of (1) the specific number of voters required to sign a petition requesting that the proposition to apportion and distribute to the several school districts the excess of the income from the permanent township fund be submitted to the voters of the township; (2) the time within which the petition must be filed; and (3) the date of the prospective referendum. The treasurer shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one. If the proposition receives a majority of the votes cast thereon, it shall supersede the preceding provisions for the distribution of such balance.
(Source: P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/5-18

    (105 ILCS 5/5-18) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-18)
    Sec. 5-18. Statements of conditions of schools. Trustees of schools shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, by the township treasurer, the directors or board members of the several districts or other person, and forwarded to the regional superintendent of the region in which the township lies, on or before July 15 annually, and at such other times as may be required by the regional superintendent of schools or by the State Board of Education, a statement exhibiting the condition of the schools subject to the jurisdiction and authority of such trustees in the respective townships for the preceding year, commencing on July 1 and ending June 30 which statement shall be in the form, and shall contain the information required by the State Board of Education. Any township from which such report is not so received shall forfeit its portion of the distributive fund for the next ensuing year.
(Source: P.A. 86-1441.)

105 ILCS 5/5-19

    (105 ILCS 5/5-19) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-19)
    Sec. 5-19. Township divided by county lines - Statistics and information. If a township is divided by a county line or lines, the trustees of schools shall make, or cause to be made, separate enumerations of all statistics and other information required by the State Board of Education, and report them separately to the several regional superintendents. All parts of such statistical information which cannot practically be reported separately shall be reported to the regional superintendent of the county in which the sixteenth section of such township is situated.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/5-20

    (105 ILCS 5/5-20) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-20)
    Sec. 5-20. Examination of books, securities and effects - Accounts and vouchers. At each regular meeting, and at such other meetings as they may think proper, the trustees of schools shall examine all books, notes, mortgages, securities, papers, moneys and effects of the corporation, and the accounts and vouchers of the township treasurer or other township school officer, and shall make such order for their security, preservation, collection, correction of errors, if any, and for their proper disposition, as may be necessary.
(Source: P.A. 81-338.)

105 ILCS 5/5-21

    (105 ILCS 5/5-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-21)
    Sec. 5-21. Gifts, grants, donations, legacies - Title to property. The trustees of schools in townships in which that office has not been abolished as provided in subsection (c) of Section 5-1 may receive any gift, grant, donation or legacy made for the use of any school or library or for any other school purpose within their jurisdiction. They are invested in their corporate capacity with the title of all school buildings and school sites, except as otherwise provided by clause (3) of subsection (b) of Section 5-1 with respect to school districts which have withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of school. All conveyances of real estate made to the trustees of schools shall be made to them in their corporate name and to their successors in office. School districts may take and convey title to real estate to be improved by buildings or other structures for vocational or other educational training of pupils as provided in Section 10-23.3. If legal title to the real estate to be so improved for vocational or other educational training of pupils as provided in Section 10-23.3 is not held by the school board of the school district, the trustees of schools or other school officials having legal title to those school sites or other school property shall convey to the school district the title to any such school site or other school property or portion thereof held for such district, to be used as provided in Section 10-23.3, upon being presented with a resolution adopted by at least 2/3 of the members of such board requesting such conveyance.
    If the trustees of schools for a township are no longer in existence, the school district shall take and convey title to all school buildings and school sites to be acquired within such township. If the trustees of schools had previously taken title to a school building or a school site and such trustees are no longer in existence, the school district shall by operation of law automatically be vested with title to all school buildings and school sites within such township and shall have authority to convey title thereto.
(Source: P.A. 87-473; 88-155.)

105 ILCS 5/5-22

    (105 ILCS 5/5-22) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-22)
    Sec. 5-22. Sales of school sites, buildings or other real estate. When, in the opinion of the school board, a school site, or portion thereof, building, or site with building thereon or any other real estate of the district has become unnecessary, unsuitable, or inconvenient for a school or unnecessary for the uses of the district, the school board, by a resolution adopted by at least two-thirds of the board members, may sell or direct that the property be sold in the manner provided in the Local Government Property Transfer Act or in the manner herein provided or, in the case of residential property constructed or renovated by students as part of a curricular program, may engage the services of a licensed real estate broker to sell the property for a commission not to exceed 7%, contingent on the public listing of the property on a multiple listing service for a minimum of 14 calendar days and the sale of the property within 120 days.
    Unless legal title to the land is held by the school board, the school board shall forthwith notify the trustees of schools or other school officials having legal title to such land of the terms upon which they desire the property to be sold. If the property is to be sold to another unit of local government or school district, the school board, trustees of schools, or other school officials having legal title to the land shall proceed in the manner provided in the Local Government Property Transfer Act. In all other cases, except if the property is to be sold to a tenant that has leased the property for 10 or more years and that tenant is a non-profit agency, the school board, trustees of schools, or other school officials having legal title to the land shall, within 60 days after adoption of the resolution (if the school board holds legal title to the land), or within 60 days after the trustees of school or other school officials having legal title receive the notice (if the school board does not hold legal title to the land), sell the property at public sale, by auction or sealed bids, after first giving notice of the time, place, and terms thereof by notice published once each week for 3 successive weeks prior to the date of the sale if sale is by auction, or prior to the final date of acceptance of bids if sale is by sealed bids, in a newspaper published in the district or, if no such newspaper is published in the district, then in a newspaper published in the county and having a general circulation in the district; however, if territory containing a school site, building, or site with building thereon, is detached from the school district of which it is a part after proceedings have been commenced under this Section for the sale of that school site, building, or site with building thereon, but before the sale is held, then the school board, trustees of schools, or other school officials having legal title shall not advertise or sell that school site, building, or site with building thereon, pursuant to those proceedings. The notices may be in the following form:
NOTICE OF SALE
    Notice is hereby given that on (insert date), the (here insert title of the school board, trustees of school, or other school officials holding legal title) of (county) (Township No. ...., Range No. .... P.M. ....) will sell at public sale (use applicable alternative) (at ......... (state location of sale which shall be within the district), at .... ..M.,) (by taking sealed bids which shall be accepted until .... ..M., on (insert date), at (here insert location where bids will be accepted which shall be within the district) which bids will be opened at .... ..M. on (insert date) at (here insert location where bids will be opened which shall be within the district)) the following described property: (here describe the property), which sale will be made on the following terms to-wit: (here insert terms of sale)
....
....
....
(Here insert title of school
officials holding legal title)

    For purposes of determining "terms of sale" under this Section, the General Assembly declares by this clarifying and amendatory Act of 1983 that "terms of sale" are not limited to sales for cash only but include contracts for deed, mortgages, and such other seller financed terms as may be specified by the school board.
    If a school board specifies a reasonable minimum selling price and that price is not met or if no bids are received, the school board may adopt a resolution determining or directing that the services of a licensed real estate broker be engaged to sell the property for a commission not to exceed 7%, contingent on the sale of the property within 120 days. If legal title to the property is not held by the school board, the trustees of schools or other school officials having legal title shall, upon receipt of the resolution, engage the services of a licensed real estate broker as directed in the resolution. The board may accept a written offer equal to or greater than the established minimum selling price for the described property. The services of a licensed real estate broker may be utilized to seek a buyer. If the board lowers the minimum selling price on the described property, the public sale procedures set forth in this Section must be followed. The board may raise the minimum selling price without repeating the public sale procedures.
    In the case of a sale of property to a tenant that has leased the property for 10 or more years and that is a non-profit agency, an appraisal is required prior to the sale. If the non-profit agency purchases the property for less than the appraised value and subsequently sells the property, the agency may retain only a percentage of the profits that is proportional to the percentage of the appraisal, plus any improvements made by the agency while the agency was the owner, that the agency paid in the initial sale. The remaining portion of the profits made by the non-profit agency shall revert to the school district.
    The deed of conveyance shall be executed by the president and clerk or secretary of the school board, trustees of schools, or other school officials having legal title to the land, and the proceeds paid to the school treasurer for the benefit of the district. The school board shall use the proceeds from the sale first to pay the principal and interest on any outstanding bonds on the property being sold, and after all such bonds have been retired, the remaining proceeds from the sale next shall be used by the school board to meet any urgent district needs as determined under Sections 2-3.12 and 17-2.11 and then for any other authorized purpose and for deposit into any district fund. But whenever the school board of any school district determines that any schoolhouse site with or without a building thereon is of no further use to the district, and agrees with the school board of any other school district within the boundaries of which the site is situated, upon the sale thereof to that district, and agrees upon the price to be paid therefor, and the site is selected by the purchasing district in the manner required by law, then after the payment of the compensation the school board, township trustees, or other school officials having legal title to the land of the schools shall, by proper instrument in writing, convey the legal title of the site to the school board of the purchasing district, or to the trustees of schools for the use of the purchasing district, in accordance with law. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any sale made pursuant to Section 5-23 or Section 5-24 or Section 32-4.
(Source: P.A. 99-794, eff. 1-1-17; 100-963, eff. 1-1-19.)

105 ILCS 5/5-23

    (105 ILCS 5/5-23) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-23)
    Sec. 5-23. Exchange of properties.
    Whenever the school board, by a two-thirds majority of its members shall find and declare the following propositions and shall cause to be recorded in the Recorder's Office a certificate embodying such findings and declarations duly signed by its president and attested by its secretary or clerk, then said school board may cause the exchange of a present school site or site with building thereon for a substitutional site without a referendum approving such exchange. The above findings and declarations shall establish the following: (1) That in the opinion of the school board a school site or site with building thereon has become unsuitable or inconvenient for a school; (2) that a substitutional school site has been offered in exchange for the present site which is a suitable, convenient and desirable site for a school and (3) that the value of the substitutional site is equal to or exceeds the value of the present site for which it is to be exchanged, the criterion of value to be that of a fair market value. When such certificate has been recorded as aforesaid, the school board shall transmit a copy of said certificate to the trustees of schools or other school officials having legal title to such land and shall request the execution of a deed of conveyance by the president and clerk, or secretary, as the case may be, to be delivered upon the receipt of a good and sufficient deed conveying to the trustees of schools or other school officials entitled under the statute to hold legal title to lands in the particular school district a good title to the substitutional site; and such president and clerk, or secretary, as the case may be, shall comply with such request. If the school board of a school district holds legal title to any lands to be exchanged under this Section, the certificate shall be recorded by the school board, and the deed of conveyance shall be executed by the president and by the secretary or clerk of the school board, as the case may be, and shall be delivered when a good and sufficient deed conveying the legal title of the substitutional site to the school board is delivered to the school board. The certificate provided for shall set forth an accurate legal description of the present school site and of the substitutional site offered as aforesaid.
(Source: P.A. 88-155.)

105 ILCS 5/5-24

    (105 ILCS 5/5-24) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-24)
    Sec. 5-24. Sale to another school district or municipality. Whenever a petition is presented to the school board of a school district requesting the sale of school grounds and buildings to another school district or other municipality, which petition is signed by 10% of the voters of the district, the school board of the district shall adopt a resolution for the sale of such school grounds and buildings, and fix the price therefor, and shall thereupon order the secretary to certify to the proper election authorities the proposition for submission to the voters of the district in accordance with the general election law; and if a majority of the votes cast upon the proposition are in favor of the sale, then the school board, trustees of schools of the township in which the school district is located, or other school officials having legal title shall convey by its president and clerk or secretary, upon receipt of the purchase price, the property so to be sold; and the purchase price thereof shall be placed with the proper treasurer for the benefit of the school district so selling the property. The proposition shall be substantially in the following form:
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall School District Number
...., of.... County, Illinois,           YES
sell to School District
Number...., (or other municipality)  -------------------------
of.... County, Illinois,
the following described property
(here describe the ground)                NO
for the sum of.... Dollars?
--------------------------------------------------------------
(Source: P.A. 88-155.)

105 ILCS 5/5-25

    (105 ILCS 5/5-25) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-25)
    Sec. 5-25. Moneys paid to treasurer.
    The trustees of schools or township land commissioners shall cause all moneys for the use of the school districts to be paid to the proper treasurer thereof.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/5-26

    (105 ILCS 5/5-26) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-26)
    Sec. 5-26. Purchase of real estate in satisfaction of judgment. The trustees of schools or township land commissioners may purchase real estate in satisfaction of any judgment in any action wherein the trustees or township land commissioners or the county superintendent of schools are parties, if, in their opinion the interests of the township fund will be promoted thereby.
(Source: P.A. 79-1366.)

105 ILCS 5/5-27

    (105 ILCS 5/5-27) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-27)
    Sec. 5-27. Compromise, settlements and cancellations.
    The trustees of schools or township land commissioners may: make all settlements with persons indebted to them in their official capacity; receive deeds to real estate in compromise; and may cancel notes, bonds, mortgages, and judgments for the benefit of any school township or district.
(Source: P.A. 84-452.)

105 ILCS 5/5-28

    (105 ILCS 5/5-28) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-28)
    Sec. 5-28. Lease or sale of lands. The trustees of schools or township land commissioners may lease or sell any lands that come into their possession in the manner described in Sections 5-26 or 5-27. When in their opinion it is to the best interest of the schools of the township or district interested in any such lands that they be sold, the trustees shall adopt a resolution to such effect and in such resolution shall specify the time, place and terms of sale. The sale shall be at public auction and the trustees shall give notice thereof by publishing notice once each week for three successive weeks prior to the date of the sale in a newspaper published in the township to which the real estate belongs, and if the lands to be sold lie outside of the township to which they belong then such notice is to be published as herein provided in a newspaper published in the township in which the land lies or, if no such newspaper is published either in the township where the real estate belongs or in the township where the land lies, then in a newspaper published in the county and having a general circulation in the township affected. The notices shall describe the property and state the time, place and terms of the sale. The trustees have the right to reject any and all bids. Upon the sale being made, deed of conveyance shall be executed by the president and clerk of the trustees and the proceeds shall be paid to the township treasurer for the benefit of the township or the district interested in the lands.
(Source: P.A. 100-963, eff. 1-1-19.)

105 ILCS 5/5-29

    (105 ILCS 5/5-29) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-29)
    Sec. 5-29. Sale of school land for roads.
    Whenever the State, county, city, village, incorporated town, township or road district authorities lay out a new road, street or highway, or alter, widen or relocate existing roads, streets or highways, and for such purposes require lands used for school sites, or land owned for school purposes, the trustees of schools or school officials having legal title to such lands have the power, with the consent of the school board of the district, to sell and convey to the State, county, city, village, incorporated town, township or road district the land required for such purposes, or may dedicate to public use for street and highway purposes as much of said school land as may be necessary to open, extend, alter, widen or relocate any street or highway which may be required by the municipal authorities to be opened, extended, altered, widened or relocated, if they are of the opinion that the benefit to accrue for the opening, extending, altering, widening or relocating of such street or highway will compensate for the strip so dedicated.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/5-30

    (105 ILCS 5/5-30) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-30)
    Sec. 5-30. Easements.
    The trustees of schools or other school officials having legal title to school sites or land owned for school purposes shall have the power, with the consent of the school board of the district wherein the lands are located, to grant temporary or permanent easements for sewer, water drainage or utility purposes to municipalities, corporations or persons on such terms as the school board may determine.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/5-31

    (105 ILCS 5/5-31) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-31)
    Sec. 5-31. Division of township into districts - Territory taken from special charter district. The trustees of schools in newly organized townships shall divide the township into school districts to suit the wishes or convenience of a majority of the inhabitants of the township, and shall prepare or cause to be prepared a map of the township, on which the district or districts shall be designated by their respective numbers. The trustees of schools shall also cause any territory taken from a school district acting under a special charter to be formed and established into a school district to be governed under such general school laws of the State within thirty days from the time such territory is taken from the district acting under a special charter; and the trustees shall order an election for the purpose of electing directors for such district and shall certify such offices within ten days after the organization thereof. The first election shall be held at the next regular election for school district officers, and until the directors elected at that time take office, the Regional Superintendent may fill the office by appointment. If such territory has not sufficient inhabitants and children to establish and maintain a school, the trustees may annex it to an adjoining district or districts.
(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

105 ILCS 5/5-32

    (105 ILCS 5/5-32) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-32)
    Sec. 5-32. Failure to maintain schools - Transportation and tuition. If any school district other than a non-high school district shall for 1 year fail to maintain within the boundaries of the school district a recognized public school as required by law, such district shall become automatically dissolved and the property and territory of such district shall be disposed of in the manner provided for the disposal of territory and property in Section 7-11 of this Act. However, a school district shall not be dissolved where the State Board of Education and the regional superintendent of the region in which a district has legally authorized the building of a school and legally selected a school house site and has issued bonds for such building shall jointly find and certify that such building has been authorized, site selected and bonds issued.
    If a district has its territory included within a petition to form a community unit district under Article 11E of this Code, that district may not be dissolved under this Section until the end of the school year in which all proceedings relating to formation of that community unit district are finally concluded, whether by disallowance of the petition, by referendum, by a final court decision or otherwise. Until such proceedings are finally concluded, the regional superintendent having jurisdiction of the district that is not maintaining a recognized school shall assign the pupils of that district to an adjoining school district, subject to the requirement that the district from which the pupils are so assigned shall pay tuition for such pupils to the district to which the pupils are assigned, in accordance with Section 10-20.12a of this Act or in such lesser amount as may be agreed to by the 2 districts.
    However, until July 1, 1969 or one year after the entry of a final decision by a court of competent jurisdiction in the event of litigation with respect to any of the matters set forth in this Section, whichever is the later, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, any protectorate high school district composed of contiguous and compact territory having not less than 2,000 inhabitants and which has an equalized assessed valuation of not less than $6,000,000, shall be and remain a protectorate high school district if a majority of the pupils attend a high school in a special charter district maintaining grades 1 through 12 and if during that period the voters of the district, by referendum to be ordered by the board, vote in favor of the proposition that such district maintain and operate a high school within such district, and also authorize the purchase of a school site, the building of a school building and the issuance of bonds for such purpose, which bonds are duly issued. The Board shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities for submission, in accordance with the general election law.
    The proposition to maintain and operate a high school within such district shall be in substantially the following form:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Shall ......................
High School District Number ......,     YES
........... County, Illinois,
maintain and operate a high school   -------------------------
within that High School
District and for the benefit            NO
of the pupils residing therein?
--------------------------------------------------------------
and is approved if a majority of the voters voting on the proposition is in favor thereof. The proposition of purchasing a school site, the building of a school building and the issuance of bonds for such purpose shall be submitted to the voters and may be voted upon at the same election that the proposition of maintaining and operating a high school within the district is submitted or at any regularly scheduled election subsequent thereto as may be ordered by the board. Thereupon, that protectorate high school district shall thereafter exist as a community high school district and possess and enjoy all of the powers, duties and authorities of a community high school district under Article 12 of this Act.
    Throughout its existence as a protectorate district and until the legal voters residing in the district have determined to maintain and operate a high school within the district and have been authorized to purchase a school site, build a school building and to issue bonds for such purpose and which bonds are duly issued, or until the dissolution of the district as required by this Section, such protectorate district may use its funds to pay for the tuition and transportation of the pupils in such district that attend a high school in a special charter district maintaining grades 1 through 12. A protectorate high school district is defined to be a district which does not own or operate its own school buildings.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/5-34

    (105 ILCS 5/5-34) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-34)
    Sec. 5-34. Evidence of indebtedness not in proper form-Securities insufficient- Action taken.
    When any county superintendent of schools notifies the trustees of schools of a township, in writing, that the notes, bonds, mortgages or other evidences of indebtedness which have been taken officially by the township treasurer are not in proper form, or that securities which he has taken are insufficient, the trustees shall at once take such action as may be necessary to protect the property or fund of the township and the district. For a failure or refusal to take such action within 20 days after such notice the trustees of schools, each in his individual capacity, shall be guilty of a petty offense and shall be liable to a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars, to be recovered before any circuit court, which when collected shall be paid to the county superintendent of the proper county for the use of the schools. The payment of this fine shall not relieve the trustees from any civil liability they may have incurred from such neglect of duty.
(Source: P.A. 77-2267.)

105 ILCS 5/5-35

    (105 ILCS 5/5-35) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-35)
    Sec. 5-35. Liability of trustees for sufficiency of securities taken from township treasurer. Trustees of schools shall be liable, jointly and severally, for the sufficiency of securities taken from township treasurers; and in case of judgment against any treasurer and his sureties for or on account of any default of such treasurer, on which the money is not made for want of sufficient property whereon to levy for the enforcement of a judgment, a civil action may be maintained against the trustees, jointly and severally, and the amount not collected on the judgment shall be recovered with costs of the action from such trustees. If the trustees can show, satisfactorily, that the security taken from the treasurer, was, at the time it was taken, sufficient, they shall not be held liable.
(Source: P.A. 84-546.)

105 ILCS 5/5-36

    (105 ILCS 5/5-36) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-36)
    Sec. 5-36. Failure to follow law as to distribution when new district formed.
    If the trustees of schools fail to observe the provisions of this Act in reference to the distribution of funds and property when a new district is formed, they shall be individually and jointly liable to the district interested, in a civil action to the full amount of the damages sustained by the district aggrieved.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/5-37

    (105 ILCS 5/5-37) (from Ch. 122, par. 5-37)
    Sec. 5-37. Returns of children-Penalty for failure or false return.
    Any trustee of schools who fails or refuses to make returns of children in his township according to the provisions of this Act, or who knowingly makes a false return thereof, is guilty of a petty offense and shall be liable to a fine of not less than $10.00 nor more than $100.00, to be recovered by an action before the circuit court of the county; which penalty, when collected, shall be added to the distributive fund of the township in which the trustee resides.
(Source: P.A. 77-2267.)

105 ILCS 5/5-38

    (105 ILCS 5/5-38)
    Sec. 5-38. Publication of information.
    (a) As used in this Section:
    "Accounting book value" means the value carried on the accounting records of the township school treasurer as of the last day of a calendar quarter.
    "Annual total compensation" means the total cost to taxpayers for the services of the identified individual during the most recently completed fiscal year.
    "Investment instrument" means an individual investment security as provided for under the Uniform Commercial Code or the aggregate value of all shares held in an individual investment fund or pooled account.
    "Investment rate of return" means:
        (1) for fixed interest-bearing securities, the stated
    
or calculated annual interest rate; and
        (2) for cash accounts and all other investment
    
instruments, the actual income earned during the previously ending quarter, multiplied by 4, then divided by the accounting book value, expressed as a percentage.
    "Township school treasurer" means an individual hired by the trustees of schools to perform the statutory role of treasurer for school districts within the township.
    (b) Trustees of schools in Class II county school units shall maintain an Internet website on which all of the following information shall be available for public viewing:
        (1) The name, term of office, and means of public
    
contact for each trustee.
        (2) The dates, times, and locations of all trustees
    
of schools meetings to be held during the current fiscal year.
        (3) The agenda for each trustees of schools meeting,
    
posted at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
        (4) The approved minutes of all trustees of schools
    
meetings held within the current and previous 2 fiscal years, posted no later than 100 days after the meeting date.
        (5) The annual total compensation of each trustee and
    
township school treasurer, itemized by salary and wages, retirement contributions, insurance premiums, vehicle and mileage allowances, deferred compensation, all other compensation, and total compensation for each individual. The fiscal year for which the amounts apply shall also be reported.
        (6) The address and contact information for the
    
township school treasurer's office.
        (7) The audited financial statements for the prior 3
    
fiscal years.
        (8) The budget for the current fiscal year, posted no
    
later than September 30 of each year.
        (9) Contracts in effect with a value over $25,000.
        (10) Collective bargaining agreements in effect.
    (c) Township school treasurers in Class II county school units shall submit to each school district that they serve, within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, an investments report that includes all of the following:
        (1) A list of each cash account and investment
    
instrument held by the treasurer as of the last day of the calendar quarter and the accounting book value, investment rate of return, and maturity date, if any, of each.
        (2) A copy of the trustees of schools investment
    
policy under which the township school treasurer operated during the quarter.
(Source: P.A. 102-346, eff. 8-13-21.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 6

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 6 heading)
ARTICLE 6. REGIONAL BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES

105 ILCS 5/6-1

    (105 ILCS 5/6-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-1)
    Sec. 6-1. Fractional townships of less than 200 persons. Each congressional township is a township for school purposes. When a fractional congressional township contains fewer than 200 persons under 21 years of age and has not heretofore been united with any township for school purposes it is hereby attached for school purposes to the adjacent congressional township having the longest territorial line bordering on such fractional township and all the provisions of this Article shall apply to such united townships the same as though they were one township.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/6-2

    (105 ILCS 5/6-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-2)
    Sec. 6-2. Regional board; creation; membership; abolition and transfer of duties.
    (a) There is created a regional board of school trustees for that territory in each educational service region exclusive of any school district organized under Article 34 and exclusive of any school district whose school board has been given the powers of school trustees; provided that on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1992 the regional board of school trustees theretofore created and existing for any territory in an educational service region containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants is abolished, the terms of office of all members of the regional board of school trustees so abolished are terminated on that effective date, and from and after that effective date all rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities that were vested in or required by law to be exercised and performed by the former regional board of school trustees shall be vested in and exercised and performed by the successors to the former regional board of school trustees as provided in subsection (b) of this Section 6-2. Any school district whose board of education acts as a board of school trustees shall have within its district the powers and duties of a regional board of school trustees.
    Unless abolished as provided in this Section, the regional board of school trustees, in both single county and multi-county educational service regions, shall consist of 7 members. In single county regions not more than one trustee may be a resident of any one congressional township; however, in case there are fewer than 7 congressional townships in the region then not more than two of such trustees may be residents of the same congressional township. Notwithstanding the foregoing residency provision, in a single county region with a population of greater than 750,000 inhabitants, but less than 1,200,000 inhabitants, 2 trustees may be residents of the same congressional township if and only if such trustees were elected at the April 9, 2013 consolidated election. In 2 county regions at least 2 trustees shall be residents of each county. In 3 or more county regions at least one trustee shall be a resident of each county. If more than 7 counties constitute the educational service region, the regional board of school trustees shall consist of one resident of each county.
    The regional board of school trustees shall be a body politic and corporate by the name of "Regional Board of School Trustees of.... County (or Counties), Illinois." Such corporation shall have perpetual existence with power to sue and be sued and to plead and be impleaded in all courts and places where judicial proceedings are had.
    (b) Upon the abolition of the regional board of school trustees and the termination of the terms of office of the members of that former regional board of school trustees in an educational service region containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants as provided in subsection (a), the trustees of schools of each township included within the territory of that educational service region that was served by the former regional board of school trustees, or if any such township is a township referred to in subsection (b) of Section 5-1 and there are no trustees of schools acting in that township then the school board of each school district located in that township, shall be the successors to the former regional board of school trustees. As successors to the former regional board of school trustees, the trustees of schools of each such township and the school board of each such school district, with respect to all territory included within the school township or school district served by the trustees of schools of the township or school board, shall be vested with and shall exercise and perform all rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities formerly held, exercised, and performed with respect to that territory by the regional board of school trustees abolished under subsection (a) of this Section.
    Upon abolition of the regional board of school trustees in an educational service region having 2,000,000 or more inhabitants as provided in subsection (a) of this Section, all books, records, maps, papers, documents, equipment, supplies, accounts, deposits, and other personal property belonging to or subject to the control or disposition of the former regional board of school trustees (excepting only such items as may have been provided by the county board) shall be transferred and delivered to the trustees of schools of the townships and the school boards that are the successors to the former regional board of school trustees for the territory included within their respective school townships or school districts.
    From and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1992, any reference in the School Code or any other law of this State to the regional board of school trustees or county board of school trustees shall mean, with respect to all territory within an educational service region containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants that formerly was served by a regional board of school trustees abolished under subsection (a) of this Section, the trustees of schools of the township or the school board of the school district that is the successor to the former regional board of school trustees with respect to the territory included within that school township or school district.
(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13.)

105 ILCS 5/6-2.1

    (105 ILCS 5/6-2.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-2.1)
    Sec. 6-2.1. On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the provisions of Sections 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, 6-10, 6-11 (now repealed), 6-12, 6-17, 6-18, 6-19, 6-20, and 6-21 of this School Code shall have no application in any educational service region having a population of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

105 ILCS 5/6-3

    (105 ILCS 5/6-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-3)
    Sec. 6-3. Eligibility for trustee's office.
    No person shall be eligible to the office of member of the regional board of school trustees who is not a voter of the educational service region and qualified to vote in the election for members of the regional board of school trustees, or who is a member of a school board, or who is a school board employee, or who holds any county office.
(Source: P.A. 78-514.)

105 ILCS 5/6-4

    (105 ILCS 5/6-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-4)
    Sec. 6-4. Election date. Members of the regional board of school trustees shall be elected at the regular election specified in the general election law in each odd-numbered year.
(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

105 ILCS 5/6-5

    (105 ILCS 5/6-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-5)
    Sec. 6-5. Qualifications and eligibility of voters.
    A person is qualified to vote at an election for members of the regional board of school trustees who is a registered voter as provided in the Election Code and has resided within the State and in the voting precinct for 28 days immediately preceding the election, and who is a citizen of the United States and has attained the age of 18 years.
    Whenever a unit school district is located in more than one educational service region, a qualified elector residing in that unit school district but outside of the educational service region administered by the regional superintendent of schools having supervision and control over that unit school district shall be eligible to vote in any election held to elect members of the regional board of school trustees for the educational service that is administered by the regional superintendent of schools who has supervision and control over that unit school district, but the elector shall not also be eligible to vote in the election held to elect the members of the regional board of school trustees for the educational service region in which the elector resides.
    Not less than 100 days before each nonpartisan election, the regional superintendent of schools shall certify to the State Board of Elections a list of each unit school district under his or her supervision and control and each county in which all or any part of each of those districts is located. The State Board of Elections shall certify each of those unit school districts and counties to the appropriate election authorities within 20 days after receiving the list certified by the regional superintendent of schools.
    The election authority in a single county educational service region whose regional superintendent of schools exercises supervision and control over a unit school district that is located in that single county educational service region and in one or more other educational service regions shall certify to the election authority of each of those other educational service regions in which the unit school district is located the candidates for members of the regional board of school trustees for the educational service region that is administered by the regional superintendent of schools exercising supervision and control over that unit school district.
(Source: P.A. 88-535.)

105 ILCS 5/6-10

    (105 ILCS 5/6-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-10)
    Sec. 6-10. Nominating petition. The nomination of candidates for members of the regional board of school trustees in single county or multi-county educational service regions shall be made by a petition filed with the county clerk, in the case of a single county region, and, in the case of multi-county regions with the State Board of Elections and signed by at least 50 voters qualified to vote at the election. In addition to the requirements of the general election law, the petition shall specify the county and township (or road district) of the candidate's residence.
    Nomination papers filed under this Section are not valid unless the candidate named therein files with the county clerk or State Board of Elections a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Such receipt shall be so filed either previously during the calendar year in which his nomination papers were filed or within the period for the filing of nomination papers in accordance with the general election law.
    A candidate for membership on the regional board of school trustees, who has petitioned for nomination to fill a full term and to fill a vacant term to be voted upon at the same election, must withdraw his or her petition for nomination to the regional board of school trustees from either the full term or the vacant term by written declaration, within the time and in the manner provided by the general election law.
(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

105 ILCS 5/6-11

    (105 ILCS 5/6-11)
    Sec. 6-11. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1490. Repealed by P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07.)

105 ILCS 5/6-12

    (105 ILCS 5/6-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-12)
    Sec. 6-12. Ballot form. The ballots for members of the regional board of school trustees shall be in substantially one of the following forms:
OFFICIAL BALLOT FOR SINGLE COUNTY REGIONS
For members of the Regional Board of School
Trustees
    (Vote for.... Not more than.... may serve from the same congressional township.)
    ( ) JOHN C. CALHOUN
    of Township.... Range....
    ( ) JAMES MADISON
    of Township.... Range....
    ( ) ....
    of Township.... Range....
    ( ) ....
    of Township.... Range....
OFFICIAL BALLOT FOR MULTI-COUNTY REGIONS
For members of the Regional Board of School Trustees
    (Vote for.... At least.... shall serve from each county.)
    ( ) JOHN C. CALHOUN
    of.... County ....
    ( ) JAMES MADISON
    of.... County ....
    ( ) ....
    of.... County ....
    ( ) ....
    of.... County ....
(Source: P.A. 83-1362.)

105 ILCS 5/6-17

    (105 ILCS 5/6-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-17)
    Sec. 6-17. Election of president - Terms of members. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2A-54 of the Election Code, on the third Monday in May, following the first election, or if such day is a holiday then the next day, the regional superintendent of schools who shall be the ex-officio secretary of the board shall convene the newly elected regional board of school trustees for the purpose of organization. Except as provided in Section 2A-54 of the Election Code, at this meeting the members shall elect a president from among their number who shall serve as president for a term of 2 years and shall determine by lot the length of the term of each member so that 2 shall serve for a term of 2 years, 2 for 4 years and 3 for 6 years from the third Monday of the month following the date of their election. Except as provided in Section 2A-54 of the Election Code, thereafter members shall be elected to serve for a term of 6 years from the third Monday of the month following the date of their election or until their successors are elected and qualified.
    All succeeding meetings for the purpose of organization shall be held on the third Monday in May following the election; however, in case the third Monday in May is a holiday the organization meeting shall be held on the next day.
    If educational service regions are consolidated under Section 3A-3 or 3A-4 of this Act, however, the expiring terms of members of each regional board of school trustees in those regions being consolidated shall be extended so as to terminate on the first Monday of August of the year that consolidation takes effect, as defined in Section 3A-5 of this Act, and, on such day, the Regional Superintendent of the consolidated region shall convene all the members of each regional board of school trustees in the consolidated region, and shall by lot select from among such trustees an interim regional board of school trustees for the consolidated region in accord with the specifications as to membership and residency in Section 6-2. The interim board so selected shall serve until their successors are elected at the succeeding regular election of regional school trustees and have qualified. A single regional board of school trustees shall be elected at such succeeding regular election to take office on the third Monday of the month following such election. The board elected for the consolidated region shall be convened on such third Monday of the month following such election for organizational purposes, to elect a president and determine terms for its members by lot as provided in this Section. The respective regional boards of school trustees of educational service regions involved in consolidations under Section 3A-3 or 3A-4 shall cease to exist at the time the board elected for the consolidated region is so organized.
(Source: P.A. 93-847, eff. 7-30-04.)

105 ILCS 5/6-18

    (105 ILCS 5/6-18) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-18)
    Sec. 6-18. Meeting dates - Place - Quorum. The regional board of school trustees shall hold a regular meeting in July, October, January and April. With appropriate public notice, the board may cancel its regular quarterly meeting if no issues for action have been presented to the board and it has no pending business.
    All regular meetings of the board shall be held at the office of the regional superintendent.
    Special meetings may be called by the president or by 4 members of the board by giving a 48-hour written notice of the meeting stating the time and place of the meeting and the purpose thereof. Public notice of meetings must also be given as prescribed in Sections 2.02 and 2.03 of the Open Meetings Act.
    A majority of the members elected to the board shall constitute a quorum. Unless otherwise provided a majority vote of all the board shall be required to decide a measure.
(Source: P.A. 92-172, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/6-19

    (105 ILCS 5/6-19) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-19)
    Sec. 6-19. Vacancy on regional board. Any vacancy on the regional board of school trustees shall be filled from the same territory by the remaining members until the next regular election for members of the regional board of school trustees, when the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired time. A vacancy shall be subject to the residency provisions in Section 6-2 of this Code unless the vacancy occurs in a single county educational service region. If a vacancy occurs in a single county educational service region, then the vacancy may be filled by a person who is a resident of a congressional township not represented on the board. Removal of a member from the township from which such member was elected into a township which has its quota of members on the board shall constitute a vacancy.
(Source: P.A. 103-774, eff. 8-2-24.)

105 ILCS 5/6-20

    (105 ILCS 5/6-20) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-20)
    Sec. 6-20. Expenses of members.
    Members of the regional board of school trustees shall serve without remuneration; however, the necessary expenses including travel attendant upon any meeting of the board shall be paid from the fund from which all other expenses of the board are paid.
(Source: P.A. 78-514.)

105 ILCS 5/6-21

    (105 ILCS 5/6-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 6-21)
    Sec. 6-21. Legal Representation. Upon request, the State's Attorney of the county, other than a county of over 3,000,000 inhabitants, where the regional superintendent's office is located shall act as the legal representative of the regional board of school trustees; however, where matters arise which are within the exclusive jurisdiction of another State's Attorney, that State's Attorney shall provide legal representation.
(Source: P.A. 82-236.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 7

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 7 heading)
ARTICLE 7. BOUNDARY CHANGE

105 ILCS 5/7-01

    (105 ILCS 5/7-01)
    Sec. 7-01. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 78-514. Repealed by P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-01a

    (105 ILCS 5/7-01a)
    Sec. 7-01a. Purpose and applicability. The purpose of this Article is to permit greater flexibility and efficiency in the detachment and dissolution of school districts for the improvement of the administration and quality of educational services and for the best interests of pupils. This Article applies only to school districts with under 500,000 inhabitants, but includes special charter districts (except those districts organized under Article 34 of this Code) and non-high school districts.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-01b

    (105 ILCS 5/7-01b)
    Sec. 7-01b. Definition. In this Article, "legal resident voter" means a person who is registered to vote at the time a circulated petition is filed and when the regional board of school trustees renders a decision, at the address shown opposite his or her signature on the petition, and resides in the detaching territory or dissolving school district.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-02

    (105 ILCS 5/7-02) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-02)
    Sec. 7-02. Limitations. The provisions of this Article providing for the change in school district boundaries by detachment, annexation, division or dissolution, or by any combination of those methods, are subject to the provisions of this Section. Whenever due to fire, explosion, tornado or any Act of God the school buildings or one or more of the principal school buildings comprising an attendance center within a school district are destroyed or substantially destroyed and rendered unfit for school purposes, the provisions of this Article shall not be available to permit a division of that district, or a dissolution, detachment or annexation of any part thereof, or any combination of such results during a period from the date of such destruction or substantial destruction until 30 days after the second regular election of board members following such destruction or substantial destruction. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to prohibit the combining of the entire district with another entire district or with other entire districts during such period pursuant to the provisions of Article 11E.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/7-03

    (105 ILCS 5/7-03)
    Sec. 7-03. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 85-1020. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/7-04

    (105 ILCS 5/7-04) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-04)
    Sec. 7-04. Districts in educational service regions of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants.
    (a) In all proceedings under this Article to change by detachment, annexation, division, dissolution, or any combination of those methods the boundaries of any school district (other than a school district organized under Article 34) located in an educational service region of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants in which the regional board of school trustees is abolished as provided in subsection (a) of Section 6-2, the trustees of schools of the township that has jurisdiction and authority over the detaching or dissolving school district, as the successor under subsection (b) of Section 6-2 to the former regional board of school trustees with respect to all territory located in that school township, shall have, exercise, and perform all powers, duties, and responsibilities required under this Article to be exercised and performed in those proceedings by a regional board of school trustees; provided that if any detaching or dissolving school district involved in those proceedings is not under the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of a township referred to in subsection (b) of Section 5-1, a hearing panel as established in this Section shall have, exercise, and perform all powers, duties, and responsibilities required under this Article to be exercised and performed in those proceedings with respect to the detaching or dissolving school district by a regional board of school trustees.
    (a-5) As applicable, the hearing panel shall be made up of 3 persons who have a demonstrated interest and background in education. Each hearing panel member must reside within an educational service region of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants but not within the boundaries of a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code and may not be a current school board member of the detaching or dissolving or annexing school district or a current employee of the detaching or dissolving or annexing school district or hold any county office. None of the hearing panel members may reside within the same school district. All 3 persons must be selected by the chief administrative officer of the educational service center in which the chief administrative officer has supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the detaching or dissolving school district. The members of a hearing panel as established in this Section shall serve without remuneration; however, the necessary expenses, including travel, attendant upon any meeting or hearing in relation to a proceeding under this Article must be paid.
    (a-10) The petition must be filed with the trustees of schools of the township with jurisdiction and authority over the detaching or dissolving school district or with the chief administrative officer of the educational service center in which the chief administrative officer has supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the detaching or dissolving school district, as applicable. The chief administrative officer of the educational service center or a person designated by the trustees of schools of the township, as applicable, shall have, exercise, and perform all powers, duties, and responsibilities required under this Article that are otherwise assigned to regional superintendents of schools.
    (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, all other provisions of this Article shall apply to any proceedings under this Article to change the boundaries of any school district located in an educational service region having 2,000,000 or more inhabitants in the same manner that those provisions apply to any proceedings to change the boundaries of any school district located in any other educational service region; provided, that any reference in those other provisions to the regional board of school trustees shall mean, with respect to all territory within an educational service region containing 2,000,000 or more inhabitants that formerly was served by a regional board of school trustees abolished under subsection (a) of Section 6-2, the trustees of schools of the township that is the successor under subsection (b) of Section 6-2 to the former regional board of school trustees with respect to the territory included within that school township or school district or the hearing panel as established by this Section.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-1

    (105 ILCS 5/7-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-1)
    Sec. 7-1. Changing boundaries by detachment or dissolution.
    (a) School district boundaries may be changed by detachment, annexation, division or dissolution or any combination thereof by the regional board of school trustees or by the State Superintendent of Education as provided in subsection (l) of Section 7-6.
    The petition must be filed with and decided solely by the regional board of school trustees of the region in which the regional superintendent of schools has supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the detaching or dissolving school district. The petition may be filed in any office operated by the regional superintendent with supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the detaching or dissolving school district.
    A petition for boundary change must be filed by the school board of the detaching or dissolving district, by a majority of the legal resident voters in the dissolving district, or by two-thirds of a combination of the legal resident voters and the owners of record of any real estate with no legal resident voters in any territory proposed to be detached. If any of the territory proposed to be detached contains real estate with no legal resident voters, petitioners shall deliver the petition by certified mail, return receipt requested, to all owners of record of any real estate with no legal resident voters. Proof of such delivery must be presented as evidence at the hearing required under Section 7-6 of this Code. Any owner of record of real estate with no legal resident voters in any territory proposed to be detached may either sign the petition in person and before the circulator as described in this Section or return the petition with his or her notarized signature to be included as a petitioner. No person may sign a petition in the capacity of both a legal resident voter and owner of record. If there are no legal resident voters within the territory proposed to be detached, then the petition must be signed by all of the owners of record of the real estate of the territory. Legal resident voters shall be determined by the official voter registration lists as of the date the petition is filed. No signatures shall be added or withdrawn after the date the petition is filed. The length of time for signatures to be valid, before filing of the petition, shall not exceed 6 months. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Election Code, the regional superintendent of schools shall make all determinations regarding the validity of the petition, including, without limitation, signatures on the petition. If the regional superintendent determines that the petition is not in proper order or not in compliance with any applicable petition requirements, the regional superintendent may not accept the petition for filing and may return the petition to the petitioners. Any party who is dissatisfied with the determination of the regional superintendent regarding the validity of the petition may appeal the regional superintendent's decision to the regional board of school trustees by motion, and the motion must be heard by the regional board of school trustees prior to any hearing on the merits of the petition.
    Petitions for detachment and dissolution shall include the full prayer of the petition with a general description of the territory at the top of each page. Each signature contained therein shall match the official signature and address of the legal resident voters as recorded in the office of the county clerk or board of election commissioners, and each petitioner shall record the date of his or her signing. Except in instances of a notarized signature of an owner of record of real estate with no legal resident voters in any territory proposed to be detached, each page of the circulated petition shall be signed by a circulator stating that he or she has witnessed the signature of each petitioner on that page. Detachment petitions containing 10 or fewer signatures may be notarized in lieu of a circulator statement. Each petition shall include an accurate legal description and map of the territory proposed to be detached. If a petition proposes to dissolve an entire district, then the full name and number of the district and a map are sufficient. Each petition shall include the names of petitioners; the district to be dissolved or the district from which the territory is proposed to be detached; the district or districts to which the territory is proposed to be annexed; evidence that the detaching or dissolving territory is compact and contiguous with the annexing district or districts or otherwise meets the requirements set forth in Section 7-4 of this Code; the referendum date, if applicable; and facts that support favorable findings for the factors to be considered by the regional board of school trustees pursuant to Section 7-6 of this Code.
    Where there is only one school building in an approved operating district, the building and building site may not be included in any detachment proceeding.
    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code, if, pursuant to a petition filed under this subsection (a), all of the territory of a school district is to be annexed to another school district, then any action by the regional board of school trustees in granting or approving the petition and any change in school district boundaries pursuant to that action is subject to and the change in school district boundaries may not be made except upon approval, at a regular scheduled election, in the manner provided by Section 7-7.7 of this Code, of a proposition for the annexation of all of the territory of that school district to the other school district.
    No petition may be filed under this Section to form a new school district under this Article; however, such a petition may be filed under this Section to form a new school district if the boundaries of such new school district lie entirely within the boundaries of a military base or installation operated and maintained by the government of the United States.
    (b) Any elementary or high school district with 100 or more of its students residing upon territory located entirely within a military base or installation operated and maintained by the government of the United States, or any unit school district or any combination of the above mentioned districts with 300 or more of its students residing upon territory located entirely within a military base or installation operated and maintained by the government of the United States, shall, upon the filing with the regional board of school trustees of a petition adopted by resolution of the board of education or a petition signed by a majority of the registered voters residing upon such military base or installation, have all of the territory lying entirely within such military base or installation detached from such school district, and a new school district comprised of such territory shall be created. The petition shall be filed with and decided solely by the regional board of school trustees of the region in which the regional superintendent of schools has supervision and control, as defined by Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the school district affected. The regional board of school trustees shall have no authority to deny the detachment and creation of a new school district requested in a proper petition filed under this subsection. This subsection shall apply only to those school districts having a population of not fewer than 1,000 and not more than 500,000 residents, as ascertained by any special or general census.
    The new school district shall tuition its students to the same districts that its students were previously attending and the districts from which the new district was detached shall continue to educate the students from the new district, until the federal government provides other arrangements. The federal government shall pay for the education of such children as required by Section 6 of Public Law 81-874.
    If a school district created under this subsection (b) has not elected a school board and has not become operational within 2 years after the date of detachment, then this district is automatically dissolved and the territory of this district reverts to the school district from which the territory was detached or any successor district thereto. Any school district created under this subsection (b) on or before September 1, 1996 that has not elected a school board and has not been operational since September 1, 1996 is automatically dissolved on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1999, and on this date the territory of this district reverts to the school district from which the territory was detached. For the automatic dissolution of a school district created under this subsection (b), the regional superintendent of schools who has supervision and control, as defined by Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the school district from which the territory was detached shall certify to the regional board of school trustees that the school district created under this subsection (b) has been automatically dissolved.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-2

    (105 ILCS 5/7-2)
    Sec. 7-2. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 90-459, eff. 8-17-97. Repealed by P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-2a

    (105 ILCS 5/7-2a) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-2a)
    Sec. 7-2a. (a) (Blank).
    (b) Any school district with a population of less than 5,000 residents or an enrollment of less than 750 students, as determined by the district's most recent fall enrollment counts as posted on the State Board of Education's website, shall be dissolved and its territory annexed as provided in Section 7-11 of this Code by the regional board of school trustees upon the filing of a petition adopted by resolution of the board of education or signed by a majority of the legal resident voters of the district seeking such dissolution. No petition shall be adopted or signed under this subsection until the board of education or the petitioners, as the case may be, shall have given at least 10 days' notice to be published once in a newspaper having general circulation in the district and shall have conducted a public informational meeting to inform the residents of the district of the proposed dissolution and to answer questions concerning the proposed dissolution. The petition shall be filed with and decided solely by the regional board of school trustees of the region in which the regional superintendent of schools has supervision and control, as defined by Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the school district being dissolved.
    The regional board of school trustees shall not act on a petition filed by a board of education if within 45 days after giving the first notice of the hearing required under Section 7-11 of this Code a petition in opposition to the petition of the board to dissolve, signed by a majority of the legal resident voters of the district, is filed with the regional board of school trustees. In such an event, the dissolution petition is dismissed on procedural grounds by operation of law and the regional board of school trustees shall have no further authority to consider the petition. A dissolution petition dismissed as the result of a valid opposition petition is not subject to the limitation on successive petitions as provided in Section 7-8 of this Code, and a new petition may be filed upon receipt of the regional board of school trustees' notice stating that the original petition was dismissed by operation of law.
    For all petitions under this Section, the legal resident voters must be determined by the official voter registration lists as of the date the petition is filed. No signatures may be added or withdrawn after the date the petition is filed. The length of time for signatures to be valid, before filing of the petition, may not exceed 6 months. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Election Code, the regional superintendent of schools shall make all determinations regarding the validity of the petition, including, without limitation, signatures on the petition. Any party who is dissatisfied with the determination of the regional superintendent regarding the validity of the petition may appeal the regional superintendent's decision to the regional board of school trustees by motion, and the motion must be heard by the regional board of school trustees prior to any hearing on annexing the territory of a district being dissolved. If no opposition petition is timely filed, the regional board of school trustees shall have no authority to deny dissolution requested in a proper petition for dissolution filed under this Section, but shall exercise its discretion in accordance with Section 7-11 of this Code on the issue of annexing the territory of a district being dissolved, giving consideration to but not being bound by the wishes expressed by the residents of the various school districts that may be affected by such annexation.
(Source: P.A. 99-657, eff. 7-28-16; 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-2b

    (105 ILCS 5/7-2b) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-2b)
    Sec. 7-2b. Annexation of non-coterminous territory from an elementary or high school district.
    (a) Any contiguous portion of a high school district that constitutes 5% or less of the equalized assessed value of the district and 5% or less of the territory of the district shall upon petition of two-thirds of the registered voters of the territory proposed to be detached and annexed be so detached and annexed by the regional board of school trustees if granting such petition shall make the affected segment of the boundaries of the high school district the territory is proposed to be annexed to identical, for the entirety of such affected segment, to the boundaries of the elementary school district in which the territory is located.
    Any contiguous portion of an elementary school district that constitutes 5% or less of the equalized assessed value of the district and 5% or less of the territory of the district shall upon petition of two-thirds of the registered voters of the territory proposed to be detached and annexed be so detached and annexed by the regional board of school trustees if granting such petition shall make the affected segment of the boundaries of the elementary school district the territory is proposed to be annexed to identical, for the entirety of such affected segment, to the boundaries of the high school district in which the territory is located.
    The regional board of school trustees shall have no authority or discretion to hear any evidence or consider any issues except those that may be necessary to determine whether the limitations and conditions of this Section have been met.
    No district may lose more than 5% of its equalized assessed value or more than 5% of its territory through petitions filed under this Section. If a petition seeks to detach territory that would result in a cumulative total of more than 5% of a district's equalized assessed value or more than 5% of the district's territory being detached under this Section, the petition shall be denied without prejudice to its being filed pursuant to Section 7-6 of this Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, this paragraph shall apply to any detachments effected pursuant to the provisions of this Section as they existed prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.
    (b) At any time prior to the granting of the petition calling for the detachment and annexation of non-coterminous territory under this Section, the Committee of Ten designated in the petition may amend the petition to withdraw the detachment and annexation proposal and substitute in its place a proposal to require the school district from which the territory would have been detached to pay the per capita tuition costs for each pupil residing in the non-coterminous territory to attend the school district to which the territory would have been annexed. If such amended petition is granted, the school district from which the territory would have been detached shall pay to the school district to which the territory would have been annexed the per capita tuition costs as determined under Section 10-20.12a for each pupil residing in the territory who chooses to attend the school district to which the territory would have been annexed. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10-22.5, the school district to which the territory would have been annexed shall admit any pupil that resides in the non-coterminous territory and provide such pupils with any services of the school. The payment and collection of tuition and any other such matters as may need to be resolved shall be established by an intergovernmental agreement developed between the two affected school districts. Section 7-6 of this Code shall apply to petitions filed under this Section except as otherwise provided in this Section.
    The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly shall not apply to petitions pending on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 91-46, eff. 6-30-99.)

105 ILCS 5/7-2c

    (105 ILCS 5/7-2c)
    Sec. 7-2c. Change of school district boundaries following annexation of vacant and unincorporated territory to a contiguous municipality.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, any contiguous portion of an elementary school district may be detached from that district and annexed to an adjoining elementary school district, and any contiguous portion of a high school district may be detached from that district and annexed to an adjoining high school district, upon a petition or petitions filed under this Section, when all of the following conditions are met with respect to each petition so filed:
        (1) The portion of the district to be so detached and
    
annexed to an adjoining elementary or high school district consists of not more than 160 acres of vacant land that is located in an unincorporated area of a county of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants and, on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997, is contiguous to one municipality that is (i) wholly outside the elementary or high school district from which the vacant land is to be detached and (ii) located entirely within the territorial boundaries of the adjoining elementary or high school district to which the vacant land is to be annexed.
        (2) The equalized assessed valuation of the taxable
    
property located in the portion of the district that is to be so detached and annexed to the adjoining elementary or high school district constitutes less than 1% of the equalized assessed valuation of the taxable property of the district from which it is to be detached.
        (3) The portion of the district to be so detached and
    
annexed to the adjoining elementary or high school district is annexed to the contiguous municipality pursuant to a petition for annexation filed and pending with the annexing municipality upon the effective date of this amendatory Act.
    A petition filed under this Section shall be filed with the State Superintendent of Education and shall be signed by all of the owners of record of the vacant land that comprises the portion of the district that is to be detached and annexed to the adjoining elementary or high school district under the provisions of this Section. The State Superintendent shall: (i) hold a hearing on the petition within 90 days after the date of filing; (ii) render a decision granting or denying the petition within 30 days after the hearing; and (iii) promptly serve a copy of the decision by certified mail, return receipt requested, upon the petitioners and upon the school boards of the school districts from which the territory described in the petition is sought to be detached and to which that territory is sought to be annexed.
    The State Superintendent of Education has no authority or discretion to hear any evidence or consider any issues at the hearing except those that may be necessary to determine whether the limitations and conditions of this Section have been met.
    The State Superintendent of Education: (i) shall give written notice of the time and place of the hearing, not less than 30 days prior to the date of the hearing, to the school board of the school district from which the territory described in the petition is to be detached and to the school board of the school district to which that territory is to be annexed; and (ii) shall publish notice of the hearing in a newspaper that is published in the county in which the territory described in the petition is located and that has circulation within the school districts whose school boards are entitled to written notice of the hearing.
    In the event that the granting of a petition filed under this Section has become final, either through failure to seek administrative review or by the final decision of a court on review, the change in boundaries shall become effective forthwith and for all purposes, except that if the granting of the petition becomes final between September 1 and June 30 of any year, the administration of and attendance at the schools shall not be affected until the following July 1, when the change in boundaries shall become effective for all purposes. After the granting of a petition has become final, the date when the change shall become effective for purposes of administration and attendance may be accelerated or postponed by stipulation of the school boards of the school districts from which the territory described in the petition is detached and to which that territory is annexed.
    The decision of the State Superintendent of Education shall be deemed an "administrative decision" as defined in Section 3-101 of the Administrative Review Law, and any petitioner or the school board of a school district affected by the detachment and annexation of the territory described in the petition may within 35 days after a copy of the decision sought to be reviewed was served by certified mail upon the party affected thereby, or upon the attorney of record for such party, apply for a review of such decision in accordance with the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereof and the rules adopted pursuant thereto.
    The commencement of any action for review shall operate as a supersedeas, and no further proceedings shall be had until final disposition of such review. The circuit court of the county in which the petition is filed with the State Superintendent of Education shall have sole jurisdiction to entertain a complaint for such review.
    This Section: (i) is not limited by and operates independently of all other provisions of this Article, and (ii) constitutes complete authority for the granting or denial by the State Superintendent of Education of a petition filed under this Section when the conditions prescribed by this Section for the filing of that petition are met.
(Source: P.A. 90-459, eff. 8-17-97.)

105 ILCS 5/7-2.3

    (105 ILCS 5/7-2.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-2.3)
    Sec. 7-2.3. Annexation to special charter district.
    (a) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in any special act or special charter of any school district, annexation of territory to any city or village under the Illinois Municipal Code after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1967 does not constitute annexation of the territory to the special charter school district nor detachment from any school district adjacent to the special charter district. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this Section, the boundaries of a special charter district may be changed as provided in Sections 7-2.4 through 7-2.7.
    (b) If all or any part of a special charter school district is located in a special charter city, then upon the filing with the governing body of the special charter school district of a petition to detach the territory described in the petition from the school district of which that territory forms a part and to annex that territory to the special charter school district, the territory described in the petition shall be deemed to be so detached and annexed to the special charter school district by operation of law, if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the petition is signed by at least 51% of the owners of record and 51% of the electors, if any, residing in the territory described in the petition; and (ii) the territory described in the petition is located in the special charter city, is contiguous to the special charter school district, and does not include any commercially zoned properties that are contiguous to each other and together constitute in excess of 100 acres of land and are not separated by a State highway and that are used solely for office/research and hotel purposes. A certified copy of the petition and the resolution or order of the governing body of the special charter school district evidencing the annexation of the territory described in the petition to the special charter school district by operation of law shall be mailed by that governing body to each school district affected and to the regional board or boards of school trustees for the educational service region or regions in which the affected school districts are located. A person who is a resident of any territory described in the petition at the time of its detachment from one school district and its annexation to a special charter school district under this subsection, and whose child or children are then attending school in the district from which that territory is being detached, may elect to have that child or those children and their siblings attend the schools of the district from which the territory is being detached. However, in that event the special charter school district shall pay tuition in the amount provided by law to the school district from which the territory is detached for each of those children and siblings who attend the schools of that district.
(Source: P.A. 89-494, eff. 6-21-96.)

105 ILCS 5/7-2.4

    (105 ILCS 5/7-2.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-2.4)
    Sec. 7-2.4. A petition for detachment of territory from a special charter district with annexation to another school district, for detachment of territory from a school district with annexation to a special charter district, or for dissolution of a school district with annexation to a special charter district must be filed with the governing body of the special charter district, and a certified copy thereof must be sent to each other detaching, dissolving, or annexing school district and to the regional board of school trustees of the region in which the regional superintendent has supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the detaching or dissolving district. A petition for such annexation or detachment of territory must be filed by the school board of the detaching or dissolving district, by a majority of the legal resident voters in the dissolving district, or by two-thirds of a combination of the legal resident voters and the owners of record of any real estate with no legal resident voters in any territory proposed to be detached. If any of the territory proposed to be detached contains real estate with no legal resident voters, petitioners shall deliver the petition by certified mail, return receipt requested, to all owners of record of any real estate with no legal resident voters. Proof of the delivery must be presented as evidence at any hearing required by Section 7-2.6 of this Code. Any owner of record of real estate with no legal resident voters in any territory proposed to be detached may either sign the petition in person and before the circulator as described in Section 7-1 of this Code or return the petition with his or her notarized signature to be included as a petitioner. No person may sign a petition in the capacity of both a legal resident voter and owner of record. If there are no legal resident voters within the territory proposed to be detached, then the petition must be signed by all of the owners of record of the real estate of the territory. Petitions must contain all of the elements set forth in subsection (a) of Section 7-1 of this Code.
    Where there is only one school building in an approved operating school district, the building and building site may not be included in any detachment proceeding.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-2.5

    (105 ILCS 5/7-2.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-2.5)
    Sec. 7-2.5. If no objection to the dissolution or detachment of territory prayed for in a petition under Section 7-2.4 of this Code is filed with the special charter school district or with the regional board of school trustees within 30 days after the filing of such petition, the dissolution or detachment of territory takes effect, subject to Section 7-9 of this Code. However, if an objection to the proposed dissolution or detachment of territory is filed with either the special charter district or the regional board of school trustees, the regional board of school trustees, within 15 days after receiving the objection, shall appoint 2 legal resident voters from the district or districts under its jurisdiction and involved in the proposed dissolution or detachment of territory, subject to the approval of the boards of education of the districts involved in the proposed dissolution or detachment of territory, and the board or governing body of the special charter district shall appoint 2 legal resident voters from the special charter district. Those 4 appointees shall meet within 20 days of their appointment and by a majority vote select 3 persons who reside outside the jurisdiction of the districts involved in the proposed dissolution or detachment of territory and who have a demonstrated interest and background in education. If a majority of the original 4 appointees cannot agree on the selection of the 3 additional members within 20 days of their appointment, the State Board of Education shall select the 3 additional persons, subject to the same criteria as required when selection is by the 4 appointees. The 4 appointees and the 3 additional persons selected under this Section constitute the Hearing Board and 4 members shall constitute a quorum.
    Within 10 days after the Hearing Board has been selected the regional superintendent of schools of the region in which the special charter district is located shall call an organization meeting of said Hearing Board.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-2.6

    (105 ILCS 5/7-2.6) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-2.6)
    Sec. 7-2.6. At its organization meeting, the Hearing Board shall choose from its membership a chairman and a secretary. The secretary shall cause a copy of such petition to be sent to the president of the school board of each detaching or dissolving and annexing school district and shall cause a notice thereof to be published once in a newspaper having general circulation within the area of the detaching or dissolving and annexing territory described in the petition. The petitioners shall pay the expenses of publishing the notice and any transcript taken at the hearing and mailing the final order. In case of an appeal from the decision of the Hearing Board, the appellants shall pay the cost of preparing the record for appeal. The notice must state when the petition was filed, the description of the detaching territory or name of the dissolving district, the name of the annexing district, the prayer of the petition, and the day and time on and location in which the hearing upon the petition will be held, which may not be more than 30 nor less than 15 calendar days after the publication of notice. Any additional expense not enumerated above shall be borne equally by the school districts involved.
    The Hearing Board shall hear the petition and determine the sufficiency thereof and may adjourn the hearing from time to time or continue the matter for want of sufficient notice or for other good cause. The Hearing Board (a) shall hear evidence as to the school needs and conditions of the territory in the area within and adjacent thereto, and as to the ability of the districts affected to meet the standards of recognition as prescribed by the State Board of Education, (b) shall take into consideration the division of funds and assets which will result from any change of boundaries, and the will of the people of the area affected, and (c) shall determine whether it is to the best interests of the schools of the area and the educational welfare of the pupils should such change in boundaries be granted.
    The Hearing Board may administer oaths, determine the admissibility of evidence, and issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and subpoena duces tecum for the production of documents. At the hearing, any resident in any detaching, dissolving, or annexing school district or any representative of a detaching, dissolving, or annexing school district may appear in person or by attorney in support of the petition or to object to the granting of the petition and may present evidence in support of his or her position through either oral or written testimony. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Hearing Board shall, within 30 days, enter an order either granting or denying the petition. The Hearing Board shall deliver a certified copy of the order by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the petitioners; the president of the school board of each detaching or dissolving and annexing district; any person providing testimony in support of or opposition to the petition at the hearing; any attorney who appears for any person; and the regional superintendent of schools who has supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of each detaching or dissolving and annexing district. The Hearing Board is not required to send a copy of the Hearing Board's order to those attending the hearing but not participating. The final order shall be in writing and include findings of fact, conclusions of law, and the decision to grant or deny the petition.
    Within 10 days after service of the certified copy of the order granting or denying the petition, any person so served may petition for rehearing. The petition for rehearing shall specify the reason for the request. The Hearing Board shall first determine whether there is sufficient cause for a rehearing. If so determined, then the Hearing Board shall allow the petition to be heard anew in its entirety in accordance with all procedures in this Section. The party requesting a rehearing shall pay the expenses of publishing the notice and of any transcript taken at the hearing. The filing of a petition for rehearing operates as a stay of enforcement until the Hearing Board enters its final order on that petition for rehearing.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-2.7

    (105 ILCS 5/7-2.7) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-2.7)
    Sec. 7-2.7. The decision of the Hearing Board under Section 7-2.6 is an "administrative decision" as defined in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and any resident, petitioner, or board of education entitled to receive a certified copy of the Hearing Board's order may, within 35 days after a copy of the decision sought to be reviewed was served by certified mail, return receipt requested, upon the resident, petitioner, or board of education, thereby file a complaint for a judicial review of that decision in accordance with the Administrative Review Law and the rules adopted pursuant thereto. The commencement of any action for judicial review operates as a stay of enforcement, and further proceedings must not be had until final disposition of such review. Any change in boundaries resulting from the proceedings under Sections 7-2.4 through 7-2.7 takes effect on the date determined pursuant to Section 7-9 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-3

    (105 ILCS 5/7-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-3)
    Sec. 7-3. Limitation on change of boundaries when bond election pending.
    No petition affecting the boundaries of any school district may be filed under this Article after the district has published the required legal notice calling an election to authorize the issuance of bonds to be held on a date not later than 21 days after such publication until the first of the following events shall have occurred (1) the voters did not authorize the issuance of the bonds at the election, (2) the bonds have been issued, (3) the school board of the district has adopted a resolution abandoning its plan to issue such bonds, or (4) seventy-five days have elapsed since such election, provided that if proceedings are pending hereunder affecting the boundaries of such district at the time the notice of such election is published or if the district is a party to litigation affecting the legality of its existence or its boundaries at such time, the said seventy-five days shall not begin to run until the final determination of such proceedings or litigation and the expiration of the time for review, appeal or rehearing, and provided that the provisions of this section shall be applicable only to the first such election called to be held in any one calendar year.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/7-4

    (105 ILCS 5/7-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-4)
    Sec. 7-4. Requirements for granting petitions. No petition shall be granted under Section 7-1 of this Code:
        (a) If there will be any non-high school territory
    
resulting from the granting of the petition.
        (b) (Blank).
        (c) Unless the territory within any district whose
    
boundaries are affected by the granting of a petition shall after the granting thereof be compact and contiguous, except as provided in Section 7-6 of this Code or as otherwise provided in this subdivision (c). The fact that a district is divided by territory lying within the corporate limits of the city of Chicago shall not render it non-compact or non-contiguous. If, pursuant to a petition filed under Section 7-1 of this Code, all of the territory of a district is to be annexed to another district, then the annexing district and the annexed district need not be contiguous if the following requirements are met and documented within 2 calendar years prior to the petition filing date:
            (1) the distance between each district
        
administrative office is documented as no more than 30 miles;
            (2) every district contiguous to the district
        
wishing to be annexed determines that it is not interested in participating in a petition filed under Section 7-1 of this Code, through a vote of its school board, and documents that non-interest in a letter to the regional board of school trustees containing approved minutes that record the school board vote; and
            (3) documentation of meeting these requirements
        
are presented as evidence at the hearing required under Section 7-6 of this Code.
        (d) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-4.1

    (105 ILCS 5/7-4.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-4.1)
    Sec. 7-4.1. Copies of petition. Each petition submitted under the provisions of Section 7-1 of this Code shall include proof of notice to owners of record of real estate with no legal resident voters in any territory proposed to be detached, if applicable, and be accompanied by sufficient copies thereof for distribution to the president of the school board of each detaching or dissolving and annexing school district. The copies need not contain original signatures by the petitioners as is required of the original petition.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-5

    (105 ILCS 5/7-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-5)
    Sec. 7-5. Detachment set aside upon petition. If there is a recognized school district which as a result of detachment is without a school building, the detachment may be set aside by the regional board of school trustees of the region in which the regional superintendent of schools had supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, prior to the detachment upon petition by two-thirds of the eligible voters in the school district after such detachment and the detached area. The regional board of school trustees shall conduct a hearing upon the petition as prescribed and in the manner provided in Section 7-6 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-6

    (105 ILCS 5/7-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-6)
    Sec. 7-6. Petition filing; notice; hearing; decision.
    (a) The secretary of the regional board of school trustees or his or her designee, the chief administrative officer of an educational service center under Section 7-04 of this Code or his or her designee, or the person designated by the trustees of schools of the township in accordance with subsection (a-10) of Section 7-04 of this Code, as appropriate, shall receive the filing of the petition, make the determination of validity in accordance with subsection (a) of Section 7-1 of this Section, publish the notice, conduct the hearing, and issue the final order. Upon the filing of a petition with the secretary of the regional board of school trustees under the provisions of Section 7-1 of this Code, the secretary shall cause a copy of such petition to be given to the president of the school board of each detaching or dissolving and annexing school district and shall cause a notice thereof to be published once in a newspaper having general circulation within the area of the detaching or dissolving and annexing territory described in the petition.
    (b) (Blank).
    (b-5) If a petition filed under Section 7-1 of this Code proposes to annex all the territory of a school district to another school district, the petition shall request the submission of a proposition at a regular scheduled election for the purpose of voting for or against the annexation of the territory described in the petition to the school district proposing to annex that territory. No petition filed or election held under this Article shall be null and void, invalidated, or deemed in noncompliance with the Election Code because of a failure to publish a notice with respect to the petition or referendum as required under subsection (g) of Section 28-2 of that Code for petitions that are not filed under this Article or Article 11E of this Code.
    (c) When a petition contains more than 10 signatures the petition shall designate a committee of 10 of the petitioners as attorney in fact for all petitioners, any 7 of whom may make binding stipulations on behalf of all petitioners as to any question with respect to the petition or hearing, and the regional board of school trustees may accept such stipulation in lieu of evidence or proof of the matter stipulated. The committee of petitioners shall have the same power to stipulate to accountings or waiver thereof between school districts; however, the regional board of school trustees may refuse to accept such stipulation. Those designated as the committee of 10 shall serve in that capacity until such time as the regional superintendent of schools or the committee of 10 determines that, because of death, resignation, transfer of residency from the territory, or failure to qualify, the office of a particular member of the committee of 10 is vacant. Upon determination that a vacancy exists, the remaining members shall appoint a petitioner to fill the designated vacancy on the committee of 10. The appointment of any new members by the committee of 10 shall be made by a simple majority vote of the remaining designated members.
    (d) The petition may be amended to withdraw not to exceed a total of 10% of the territory in the petition at any time prior to the hearing; provided that the petition shall after amendment comply with the requirements as to the number of signatures required on an original petition.
    (e) The petitioners shall pay the expenses of publishing the notice and any transcript taken at the hearing and mailing the final order; and, in case of an appeal from the decision of the regional board of school trustees or State Superintendent of Education in cases determined under subsection (l) of this Section, the appellants shall pay the cost of preparing the record for appeal. The regional superintendent of schools with whom the petition is filed may request a deposit at the time of filing to cover expenses as provided in this subsection (e).
    (f) The notice shall state when the petition was filed, the description of the detaching territory or name of the dissolving district, the name of the annexing district, the prayer of the petition, and the day and time on and location in which the hearing upon the petition will be held, which shall not be more than 30 nor less than 15 calendar days after the publication of notice.
    (g) Prior to the hearing, the secretary of the regional board of school trustees shall submit to the regional board of school trustees maps showing the districts involved and a written report of the financial and educational conditions of the districts involved and the probable effect of the proposed changes. The reports and maps submitted must be made a part of the record of the proceedings of the regional board of school trustees. A copy of the report and maps submitted must be sent by the secretary of the regional board of school trustees to the president of the school board of each detaching or dissolving and annexing school district not less than 5 days prior to the day upon which the hearing is to be held.
    (h) On the hearing day or on a day to which the regional board of school trustees shall continue the hearing, the regional board of school trustees shall hear the petition but may adjourn the hearing from time to time or may continue the matter for want of sufficient notice or other good cause.
    (h-5) Except for motions and briefs challenging the validity of a petition or otherwise challenging the jurisdiction of the regional board of school trustees to conduct a hearing on a petition and except for motions and briefs related to the type of evidence the regional board of school trustees may consider under subsection (i) of this Section, no other motions, pleadings, briefs, discovery requests, or other like documents may be filed with the regional board of school trustees or served on other parties, and the regional board of school trustees shall have no authority to consider such documents, except that if a legal issue arises during a hearing, then the regional board of school trustees may, at its discretion, request briefs to be submitted to it on that issue.
    (i) The regional board of school trustees shall hear evidence as to the school needs and conditions of the territory in the area within and adjacent thereto and the effect detachment will have on those needs and conditions and as to the ability of the detaching or dissolving and annexing school districts to meet the standards of recognition as prescribed by the State Board of Education, shall take into consideration the division of funds and assets that will result from the change of boundaries, and shall determine whether it is in the best interests of the schools of the area and the direct educational welfare of the pupils that such change in boundaries be granted. If non-high school territory is contained in the petition, the normal high school attendance pattern of the pupils must be taken into consideration. However, upon resolution by the regional board of school trustees, the secretary thereof shall conduct the hearing upon any boundary petition and present a transcript of such hearing to the trustees, who shall base their decision upon the transcript, maps, and information and any presentation of counsel. In the instance of a change of boundaries through detachment:
        (1) When considering the effect the detachment will
    
have on the direct educational welfare of the pupils, the regional board of school trustees shall consider a comparison of the school report cards for the schools of the detaching and annexing districts and the school district report cards for the detaching and annexing districts only if there is no more than a 3% difference in the minority, low-income, and English learner student populations of the relevant schools of the districts.
        (2) The community of interest of the petitioners and
    
their children and the effect detachment will have on the whole child may be considered only if the regional board of school trustees first determines that there would be a significant direct educational benefit to the petitioners' children if the change in boundaries were allowed.
        (3) When petitioners cite an annexing district
    
attendance center or centers in the petition or during testimony, the regional board of school trustees may consider the difference in the distances from the detaching area to the current attendance centers and the cited annexing district attendance centers only if the difference is no less than 10 miles shorter to one of the cited annexing district attendance centers than it is to the corresponding current attendance center.
        (4) The regional board of school trustees may not
    
grant a petition if doing so will increase the percentage of minority or low-income students or English learners by more than 3% at the attendance center where students in the detaching territory currently attend, provided that if the percentage of any one of those groups also decreases at that attendance center, the regional board may grant the petition upon consideration of other factors under this Section and this Article.
        (5) The regional board of school trustees may not
    
consider whether changing the boundaries will increase the property values of the petitioners' property.
    The factors in subdivisions (1) through (5) of this subsection (i) are applicable whether or not there are children residing in the petitioning area at the time the hearing is conducted.
    If the regional board of school trustees grants a petition to change school district boundaries, then the annexing school district shall determine the attendance center or centers that children from the petitioning area shall attend.
    (j) At the hearing, any resident in any detaching, dissolving, or annexing school district or any representative of a detaching, dissolving, or annexing school district may appear in person or by an attorney in support of the petition or to object to the granting of the petition and may present evidence in support of his or her position through either oral or written testimony.
    (k) At the conclusion of the hearing, the regional superintendent of schools as secretary to the regional board of school trustees shall, within 30 days, enter an order either granting or denying the petition. The regional superintendent of schools shall deliver a certified copy of the order by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the petitioners or committee of petitioners, as applicable; the president of the school board of each detaching or dissolving and annexing district; any person providing testimony in support of or opposition to the petition at the hearing; and any attorney who appears for a person. The regional superintendent of schools shall also deliver a copy of the order to the regional superintendent of schools who has supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the annexing district if different from the regional superintendent of schools with whom the petition was filed. The regional superintendent of schools is not required to send a copy of the regional board of school trustees' order to those attending the hearing but not participating. The final order shall be in writing and include findings of fact, conclusions of law, and the decision to grant or deny the petition.
    (l) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if within 12 months after a petition is submitted under the provisions of Section 7-1 of this Code the petition is not approved or denied by the regional board of school trustees and the order approving or denying that petition entered and a copy thereof served as provided in this Section, petitioners may submit a copy of the petition directly to the State Superintendent of Education for approval or denial. The copy of the petition as so submitted shall be accompanied by a record of all proceedings had with respect to the petition up to the time the copy of the petition is submitted to the State Superintendent of Education (including a copy of any notice given or published, any certificate or other proof of publication, copies of any maps or written report of the financial and educational conditions of the school districts affected if furnished by the secretary of the regional board of school trustees, copies of any amendments to the petition and stipulations made, accepted or refused, a transcript of any hearing or part of a hearing held, continued or adjourned on the petition, and any orders entered with respect to the petition or any hearing held thereon). The petitioners submitting the petition and record of proceedings to the State Superintendent of Education shall give written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the regional board of school trustees and to the secretary of that board and to the detaching or dissolving and annexing school districts that the petition has been submitted to the State Superintendent of Education for approval or denial and shall furnish a copy of the notice so given to the State Superintendent of Education. The cost of assembling the record of proceedings for submission to the State Superintendent of Education shall be the responsibility of the petitioners that submit the petition and record of proceedings to the State Superintendent of Education. When a petition is submitted to the State Superintendent of Education in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph:
        (1) The regional board of school trustees loses all
    
jurisdiction over the petition and shall have no further authority to hear, approve, deny or otherwise act with respect to the petition.
        (2) All jurisdiction over the petition and the right
    
and duty to hear, approve, deny or otherwise act with respect to the petition is transferred to and shall be assumed and exercised by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (3) The State Superintendent of Education shall not
    
be required to repeat any proceedings that were conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Section prior to the time jurisdiction over the petition is transferred to him, but the State Superintendent of Education shall be required to give and publish any notices and hold or complete any hearings that were not given, held or completed by the regional board of school trustees or its secretary as required by this Section prior to the time jurisdiction over the petition is transferred to the State Superintendent of Education.
        (4) If so directed by the State Superintendent of
    
Education, the regional superintendent of schools shall submit to the State Superintendent of Education and to such school boards as the State Superintendent of Education shall prescribe accurate maps and a written report of the financial and educational conditions of the districts affected and the probable effect of the proposed boundary changes.
        (5) The State Superintendent is authorized to conduct
    
further hearings, or appoint a hearing officer to conduct further hearings, on the petition even though a hearing thereon was held as provided in this Section prior to the time jurisdiction over the petition is transferred to the State Superintendent of Education.
        (6) The State Superintendent of Education or the
    
hearing officer shall hear evidence and approve or deny the petition and shall enter an order to that effect and deliver and serve the same as required in other cases to be done by the regional board of school trustees and the regional superintendent of schools as secretary of that board.
    (m) (Blank).
    (n) Within 10 days after service of a copy of the order granting or denying the petition, any person so served may petition for a rehearing. The petition for rehearing shall specify the reason for the request. The regional board of school trustees shall first determine whether there is sufficient cause for a rehearing. If so determined, then the regional board of school trustees shall allow the petition to be heard anew in its entirety in accordance with all procedures in this Article. The party requesting a rehearing shall pay the expenses of publishing the notice and of any transcript taken at the hearing. The filing of a petition for rehearing shall operate as a stay of enforcement until the regional board of school trustees or State Superintendent of Education in cases determined under subsection (l) of this Section enters the final order on such petition for rehearing.
    (o) If a petition is required under the provisions of subsection (b-5) of this Section to request submission of a proposition at a regular scheduled election for the purpose of voting for or against the annexation of the territory described in the petition to the school district proposing to annex that territory, and if the petition is granted or approved by the regional board of school trustees or by the State Superintendent of Education, the proposition shall be placed on the ballot at the next regular scheduled election.
(Source: P.A. 99-475, eff. 1-1-16; 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-7

    (105 ILCS 5/7-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-7)
    Sec. 7-7. Administrative Review Law. The decision of the regional board of school trustees or the decision of the State Superintendent of Education in cases determined pursuant to subsection (l) of Section 7-6 of this Code shall be deemed an "administrative decision" as defined in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure; and any resident, petitioner, or board of education entitled to receive a certified copy of the regional board of school trustees' order may, within 35 days after a copy of the decision sought to be reviewed was served by certified mail, return receipt requested, upon the resident, petitioner, or board of education, thereby file a complaint for a judicial review of such decision in accordance with the Administrative Review Law and the rules adopted pursuant thereto. The commencement of any action for judicial review shall operate as a stay of enforcement, and no further proceedings shall be had until final disposition of such review. The circuit court of the county in which the dissolving district or detaching territory is located shall have sole jurisdiction to entertain a complaint for such review. In instances in which the dissolving district or detaching territory overlies more than one county, the circuit court of the county where a majority of the territory of the dissolving district or a majority of the territory of the detaching territory is located shall have sole jurisdiction to entertain a complaint for such review.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-7.5

    (105 ILCS 5/7-7.5)
    Sec. 7-7.5. Holding of elections.
    (a) Elections provided by this Article shall be conducted in accordance with the general election law.
    (b) The notice shall be in substantially the following form:
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM FOR ANNEXATION
BY ..... (Name of Annexing District)
OF ALL TERRITORY OF ..... (Name Of
District Or Districts All Of
Whose Territory Is To Be Annexed)
        NOTICE is hereby given that on (insert date), a
    
referendum will be held in part(s) of ...... County (Counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to annex all of the territory comprising ..... (name of each such school district) of ....... County, Illinois to ..... (name of annexing school district) of ...... County, Illinois.
        The territory which now comprises all of the
    
territory of ..... (name of the school district or districts) of ...... County, Illinois, which territory is the same as the territory which is proposed to be annexed to ..... (name of annexing school district) of ....... County, Illinois, is described as follows: (Here describe such territory.)
        The territory which now comprises ..... (name of
    
annexing school district) of ....... County, Illinois, which district it is proposed shall annex the territory above described in this Notice, is described as follows: (Here describe such territory.)
        The election is called and will be held pursuant to
    
an order of the regional board of school trustees (or, State Superintendent of Education) dated on (insert date), which order states that the change of boundaries pursuant to the annexation granted or approved by the order shall be made if a majority of those voters in each of the affected school districts who vote on the proposition at the election vote in favor thereof.
        Dated (insert date).
        Regional Board of School Trustees (or State
        Superintendent of Education)
        By....................................
(Source: P.A. 90-459, eff. 8-17-97; 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

105 ILCS 5/7-7.6

    (105 ILCS 5/7-7.6)
    Sec. 7-7.6. Ballots. The ballot shall be in substantially the following form:
OFFICIAL BALLOT
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall the following described territory
comprising all of the territory
of ..... (name of school district or            YES
districts) of ...... County, Illinois
be annexed to and made a part of .....   ---------------------
(name of annexing school district)
of ....... County, Illinois?                    NO
(Here describe such territory.)
--------------------------------------------------------------
(Source: P.A. 90-459, eff. 8-17-97.)

105 ILCS 5/7-7.7

    (105 ILCS 5/7-7.7)
    Sec. 7-7.7. Passage requirements. The proposition for the annexation of all of the territory of one or more school districts to another school district shall be submitted to the voters of the annexing district and the voters of each district all of the territory of which is to be annexed to the annexing district, and if a majority of the voters in each such district who vote on the proposition vote in favor of the proposition, the proposition shall be deemed to have passed.
(Source: P.A. 90-459, eff. 8-17-97.)

105 ILCS 5/7-8

    (105 ILCS 5/7-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-8)
    Sec. 7-8. Limitation on successive petitions. No territory, nor any part thereof, which is involved in any proceeding to change the boundaries of a school district by detachment or dissolution from such school district of such territory, and which, after a hearing on the merits of the petition or referendum vote, is not so detached or dissolved, shall be again involved in proceedings to change the boundaries of such school district for at least 2 years after final determination of such first proceeding, unless during that 2-year period a petition filed is substantially different than any other previously filed petition during the previous 2 years or if a school district involved is identified as a priority district under Section 2-3.25d-5 of this Code, is placed on the financial watch list by the State Board of Education, or is certified as being in financial difficulty during that 2-year period or if such first proceeding involved a petition brought under Section 7-2b of this Article 7. The 2-year period is counted beginning from the date of a final administrative decision after all appeal timelines have run, upon final court order after all appeal timelines have run, or upon the certification of the election results in the event of a dissolution. The 2-year period is 2 calendar years.
(Source: P.A. 99-193, eff. 7-30-15; 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-9

    (105 ILCS 5/7-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-9)
    Sec. 7-9. Effective date of change. In the event that the granting of a petition has become final, through failure to seek administrative review, by the final decision of a court on review if no further appeal is taken, or upon certification of election results in the event of a dissolution, the change in boundaries shall become effective the following July 1. The school boards of the districts as they existed prior to the change shall exercise the same power and authority over such territory until such date, unless accelerated or postponed by stipulation of the school boards of each detaching or dissolving and annexing school district and approval by the regional board of school trustees with which the original petition is required to be filed.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-10

    (105 ILCS 5/7-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-10)
    Sec. 7-10. Map showing change; filed. Within 30 days after the boundaries of any school district have been changed, the regional superintendent of schools shall make and file with the county clerk or clerks a map of any detaching, dissolving, or annexing school districts, whereupon the county clerks shall extend taxes against the territory in accordance therewith; provided that if an action to review such decision under Section 7-7 of this Code is taken, the regional superintendent of schools shall not file the map with the county clerk until after he or she is served with a certified copy of the order of the final disposition of such review.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-10.5

    (105 ILCS 5/7-10.5)
    Sec. 7-10.5. Teacher transfer. When dissolution and annexation become effective for purposes of administration and attendance as determined pursuant to Section 7-9 or 7-11 of this Code, as applicable, the positions of teachers in contractual continued service in the district being dissolved are transferred to an annexing district or to annexing districts pursuant to the provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code relative to teachers having contractual continued service status whose positions are transferred from one school board to the control of a different school board, and those said provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code shall apply to the transferred teachers. In the event that the territory is added to 2 or more districts, the decision on which positions are to be transferred to which annexing districts must be made giving consideration to the proportionate percentage of pupils transferred and the annexing districts' staffing needs, and the transfer of specific individuals into such positions must be based upon the request of those teachers in order of seniority in the dissolving district. The contractual continued service status of any teacher thereby transferred to an annexing district is not lost and the different school board is subject to this Code with respect to the transferred teacher in the same manner as if the teacher was that district's employee and had been its employee during the time the teacher was actually employed by the school board of the dissolving district from which the position was transferred.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-11

    (105 ILCS 5/7-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-11)
    Sec. 7-11. Annexation of dissolved non-operating districts. If any school district has become dissolved as provided in Section 5-32 of this Code, or if a petition for dissolution is filed under Section 7-2a of this Code, the regional board of school trustees shall attach the territory of such dissolved district to one or more districts and, if the territory is added to 2 or more districts, shall divide the property of the dissolved district among the districts to which its territory is added, in the manner provided for the division of property in case of the organization of a new district from a part of another district. The regional board of school trustees of the region in which the regional superintendent has supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, over the school district that is dissolved shall have all power necessary to annex the territory of the dissolved district as provided in this Section, including the power to attach the territory to a school district under the supervision and control of the regional superintendent of another educational service region and, in the case of Leepertown CCSD 175, the power to attach the territory to a non-contiguous school district if deemed in the best interests of the schools of the area and the educational welfare of the pupils involved. The annexation of the territory of a dissolved school district under this Section shall entitle the school districts involved in the annexation to payments from the State Board of Education in the same manner and to the same extent authorized in the case of other annexations under this Article. Other provisions of this Article 7 of this Code shall apply to and govern dissolutions and annexations under this Section and Section 7-2a of this Code, except that it is the intent of the General Assembly that in the case of conflict the provisions of this Section and Section 7-2a of this Code shall control over the other provisions of this Article.
    The regional board of school trustees shall give notice of a hearing, to be held not less than 50 days nor more than 70 days after a school district is dissolved under Section 5-32 of this Code or a petition is filed under Section 7-2a of this Code, on the disposition of the territory of such school district by publishing a notice thereof at least once each week for 2 successive weeks in at least one newspaper having a general circulation within the area of the territory involved. At such hearing, the regional board of school trustees shall hear evidence as to the school needs and conditions of the territory and of the area within and adjacent thereto, and shall take into consideration the educational welfare of the pupils of the territory and the normal high school attendance pattern of the children. In the case of an elementary school district, except for Leepertown CCSD 175, if all the eighth grade graduates of such district customarily attend high school in the same high school district, the regional board of school trustees shall, unless it be impossible because of the restrictions of a special charter district, annex the territory of the district to a contiguous elementary school district whose eighth grade graduates customarily attend that high school, and that has an elementary school building nearest to the center of the territory to be annexed, but if such eighth grade graduates customarily attend more than one high school the regional board of school trustees shall determine the attendance pattern of such graduates and divide the territory of the district among the contiguous elementary districts whose graduates attend the same respective high schools.
    At the conclusion of the hearing, the regional superintendent of schools, as secretary to the regional board of school trustees, shall, within 10 days, enter an order detailing the annexation of the dissolved district. The regional superintendent of schools shall deliver a certified copy of the order by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the petitioners or committee of petitioners, as applicable; the president of the school board of each dissolving and annexing district; any person providing testimony in support of or opposition to the petition at the hearing; and any attorney who appears for any person. The regional superintendent of schools shall also deliver a copy of the order to the regional superintendent of schools who has supervision and control, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Code, of the annexing district, if different from the regional superintendent of schools with whom the petition was filed. The regional superintendent of schools is not required to send a copy of the regional board of school trustees' order to those attending the hearing but not participating. The final order shall be in writing and include findings of fact, conclusions of law, and the annexation decision. The decision of the regional board of school trustees shall be deemed an "administrative decision" as defined in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and any resident, petitioner, or school board entitled to receive a certified copy of the regional board of school trustees' order may, within 10 days after a copy of the decision sought to be reviewed was served by certified mail, return receipt requested, upon the resident, petitioner, or school board, thereby file a complaint for the judicial review of such decision in accordance with the Administrative Review Law and the rules adopted pursuant thereto. The commencement of any action for review shall operate as a stay of enforcement, and no further proceedings shall be had until final disposition of such review. The final decision of the regional board of school trustees or of any court upon judicial review shall become effective under Section 7-9 of this Code in the case of a petition for dissolution filed under Section 7-2a of this Code, and a final decision shall become effective immediately following the date no further appeal is allowable in the case of a district dissolved under Section 5-32 of this Code.
    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section or any other provision of law to the contrary, the school board of the Mt. Morris School District is authorized to donate to the City of Mount Morris, Illinois the school building and other real property used as a school site by the Mt. Morris School District at the time of its dissolution, by appropriate resolution adopted by the school board of the district prior to the dissolution of the district; and upon the adoption of a resolution by the school board donating the school building and school site to the City of Mount Morris, Illinois as authorized by this Section, the regional board of school trustees or other school officials holding legal title to the school building and school site so donated shall immediately convey the same to the City of Mt. Morris, Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-12

    (105 ILCS 5/7-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-12)
    Sec. 7-12. Termination of office. Upon the close of the then current school year during which any school district is annexed to another school district under any of the provisions of this Article, the terms of office of the school directors or board of education members of the annexed school district shall be terminated and the school board of the annexing district shall perform all the duties and have all the powers of the school board of the annexed district. The annexing district as it is constituted on and after the time of such annexation shall receive all the assets and assume all the obligations and liabilities including the bonded indebtedness of the original annexing district and of the district annexed. The tax rate for such assumed bonded indebtedness shall be determined in the manner provided in Article 19 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-13

    (105 ILCS 5/7-13)
    Sec. 7-13. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1490. Repealed by P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-14

    (105 ILCS 5/7-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-14)
    Sec. 7-14. Bonded indebtedness-Tax rate.
    (a) Beginning on January 1, 2015, whenever the boundaries of any school district are changed by the attachment or detachment of territory, the territory that is detached shall remain liable for its proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness of the school district from which the territory is detached. The annexing district shall not, except pursuant to the approval of a resolution by the school board of the annexing district prior to the effective date of the change of boundaries, assume or be responsible for any of the bonded indebtedness of the district from which the territory is detached. If the annexing district does not assume the detaching territory's proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness of the district from which the territory is detaching, a tax rate for that bonded indebtedness shall be determined in the manner provided in Section 19-7 of this Code, and the county clerk or clerks shall annually extend taxes for each bond outstanding on the effective date of the change of boundaries against all of the taxable property situated within the territory that is detached and within the detaching district. After the effective date of the change of boundaries, all of the property situated within the annexing school district, including the detaching territory, shall be liable for the bonded indebtedness of that district as it exists on the effective date of the change of boundaries and any date thereafter.
    (b) Whenever a school district with bonded indebtedness has become dissolved under this Article and its territory annexed to another district, the annexing district or districts shall not, except by action pursuant to resolution of the school board of the annexing district prior to the effective date of the annexation, assume the bonded indebtedness of the dissolved district; nor, except by action pursuant to resolution of the school board of the dissolving district, shall the territory of the dissolved district assume the bonded indebtedness of the annexing district or districts. If the annexing district or districts do not assume the bonded indebtedness of the dissolved district, a tax rate for the bonded indebtedness shall be determined in the manner provided in Section 19-7, and the county clerk or clerks shall annually extend taxes for each outstanding bond issue against all the taxable property that was situated within the boundaries of the district as the boundaries existed at the time of the issuance of each bond issue regardless of whether the property is still contained in that same district at the time of the extension of the taxes by the county clerk or clerks.
    (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 19-18 of this Code, upon resolution of the school board, the county clerk must extend taxes to pay the principal of and interest on any bonds issued exclusively to refund any bonded indebtedness of the annexing school district against all of the taxable property that was situated within the boundaries of the annexing district as the boundaries existed at the time of the issuance of the bonded indebtedness being refunded and not against any of the taxable property in the dissolved school district, provided that (i) the net interest rate on the refunding bonds may not exceed the net interest rate on the refunded bonds, (ii) the final maturity date of the refunding bonds may not extend beyond the final maturity date of the refunded bonds, and (iii) the tax levy to pay the refunding bonds in any levy year may not exceed the tax levy that would have been required to pay the refunded bonds for that levy year. The provisions of this subsection (c) are applicable to school districts that were dissolved and their territory annexed to another school district pursuant to a referendum held in April of 2003. The provisions of this subsection (c), other than this sentence, are inoperative 2 years after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 99-475, eff. 1-1-16.)

105 ILCS 5/7-14A

    (105 ILCS 5/7-14A) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-14A)
    Sec. 7-14A. Annexation compensation. There shall be no accounting made after a mere change in boundaries when no new district is created, except that those districts whose enrollment increases by 90% or more as a result of annexing territory detached from another district pursuant to this Article are eligible for supplementary State aid payments in accordance with Section 11E-135 of this Code. Eligible annexing districts shall apply to the State Board of Education for supplementary State aid payments by submitting enrollment figures for the year immediately preceding and the year immediately following the effective date of the boundary change for both the district gaining territory and the district losing territory. Copies of any intergovernmental agreements between the district gaining territory and the district losing territory detailing any transfer of fund balances and staff must also be submitted. In all instances of changes in boundaries, the district losing territory shall not count the average daily attendance of pupils living in the territory during the year preceding the effective date of the boundary change in its claim for reimbursement under Section 18-8.05 or 18-8.15 of this Code for the school year following the effective date of the change in boundaries and the district receiving the territory shall count the average daily attendance of pupils living in the territory during the year preceding the effective date of the boundary change in its claim for reimbursement under Section 18-8.05 or 18-8.15 of this Code for the school year following the effective date of the change in boundaries. The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly are intended to be retroactive and applicable to any annexation taking effect on or after July 1, 2004.
(Source: P.A. 99-657, eff. 7-28-16; 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-27

    (105 ILCS 5/7-27)
    Sec. 7-27. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 470. Repealed by P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-28

    (105 ILCS 5/7-28)
    Sec. 7-28. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 88-155. Repealed by P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-29

    (105 ILCS 5/7-29) (from Ch. 122, par. 7-29)
    Sec. 7-29. Limitation on contesting boundary change. No action contesting the annexation of any territory to a school district shall commence unless brought within 2 calendar years after (i) the order annexing the territory shall have become final in the event of a detachment or (ii) the election results shall have been certified in the event of a dissolution. Where a limitation of a shorter period is prescribed by statute, such shorter limitation shall apply. The limitation set forth in this Section shall not apply to jurisdictional challenges.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-30

    (105 ILCS 5/7-30)
    Sec. 7-30. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/7-31

    (105 ILCS 5/7-31)
    Sec. 7-31. Applicability of amendatory Act. For any petition filed with the regional superintendent of schools under this Article prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, including a petition for a rehearing pursuant to subsection (n) of Section 7-6 of this Code, the proposed action described in the petition, including all notices, hearings, administrative decisions, ballots, elections, and passage requirements relating thereto, shall proceed and be in accordance with the law in effect prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 7A

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 7A heading)
ARTICLE 7A. UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT CONVERSION
IN DISTRICTS WITH NOT MORE THAN 250 STUDENTS
IN GRADES 9 THROUGH 12
(Repealed)
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 7C

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 7C heading)
ARTICLE 7C - TRANSFER OF HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT TERRITORY
(Repealed)
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 8

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 8 heading)
ARTICLE 8. TREASURERS

105 ILCS 5/8-1

    (105 ILCS 5/8-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-1)
    Sec. 8-1. Treasurers.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b) and (c), in Class II county school units the trustees of schools shall appoint a treasurer who shall be ex-officio clerk of the board. The term of the township treasurer shall be for a 2 year period beginning and ending on the first of July. The treasurer shall not be a trustee, or school board member. He shall attend all meetings and keep a record of the official proceedings of the trustees of schools. Such record shall be open to public inspection. All proceedings, when recorded, shall be signed by the president and the clerk. If the clerk is absent, or refuses to perform any of his duties, a clerk pro tempore may be appointed. For sufficient cause the treasurer may be removed from office by the trustees of schools. In case of a vacancy the trustees of schools shall elect a treasurer for the unexpired term.
    (b) In Class I county school units, and in each school district which forms a part of a Class II county school unit but which has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of the township in which such school district is located and from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer in such Class II county school unit as provided in subsection (b) of Section 5-1, each school board shall either elect one of its members to serve as treasurer without salary for a period of one year or appoint someone, not a member of the school board, as its treasurer, and, except as provided in this Section the board shall fix his compensation. An appointed treasurer shall serve at the pleasure of the board. An appointed treasurer shall be at least 21 years of age, of approved integrity, but not a member of the county board of school trustees. The records of the treasurer shall be open to public inspection. Two or more such districts may appoint the same treasurer. In case of a vacancy caused by the death, resignation or the removal from office of the school treasurer the school board shall appoint a treasurer. The school board may determine the temporary incapacity of its treasurer occasioned by illness, absence from the district or any other cause which prevents the prompt performance of his duties and appoint an acting treasurer to serve until the board determines such temporary incapacity no longer exists.
    (c) The school board of each elementary school, high school and unit school district that forms a part of a Class II county school unit and that was under the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township at the time those offices were abolished in that township as provided in subsection (c) of Section 5-1 shall appoint a person to serve as treasurer of the school board. The term of each school treasurer appointed under this subsection shall be for a 2 year period beginning and ending on the first day of July. A person appointed under this subsection to serve as treasurer of a school board shall not be the superintendent of schools of the school district. A person appointed and serving under this subsection as treasurer of a school board may concurrently serve as the treasurer of the regional board of school trustees, if selected to serve in that capacity by the regional board of school trustees, as provided in subsection (c) of Section 5-1. The school board shall fix the compensation of its school treasurer, and for sufficient cause may remove the school treasurer from office. However, if a member of the school board is also school treasurer, he or she shall perform his or her duties as school treasurer without compensation. In the case of a vacancy, the school board shall appoint a school treasurer for the unexpired term. The school board may determine the temporary incapacity of its treasurer due to illness, absence from the district, or other cause that prevents the prompt performance of his duties and may appoint an acting treasurer to serve until the school board determines that the temporary incapacity of its treasurer no longer exists.
    (d) After October 1, 1977, each treasurer in a Class I county school unit appointed under this Section for his first term shall have a financial background or related experience or 12 semester hours of credit of college level accounting.
    (e) After August 14, 1989, any treasurer appointed under this Section for his first term in Class II county school units, including any person appointed by a school board to serve as its treasurer as provided in subsection (c) of this Section, shall be a certified public accountant or a certified chief school business official as defined in part (3) of Section 21-7.3 of this Act. Experience as a township treasurer in a Class II county school unit prior to July 1, 1989 shall be deemed the equivalent of certification.
    (f) Concurrently with the election or appointment of its own school treasurer by the school board of a school district which forms a part of a Class II county school unit but which no longer is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer or trustees of schools of a township because the district has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township or because those offices have been abolished as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of Section 5-1, all funds, accounts, moneys, notes, bonds, mortgages and effects then held by such township treasurer on behalf or for the use and benefit of, or then credited by such township treasurer to any fund or account of such school district shall thereupon be transferred and paid over by such township treasurer to the school treasurer elected or appointed by the school board of such school district. In addition the school treasurer of such school district shall have the right, at all reasonable times, to inspect all cash books, loan books, district account books and journals kept by such township treasurer as provided in Section 8-5 and to copy or otherwise reproduce such portions thereof as such school treasurer deems necessary for the performance of his duties.
    (g) Upon the abolition of the offices of the township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township as provided in subsection (c) of Section 5-1, and subject to the limitation of subsection (b) of Section 8-5 with respect to certain records to be surrendered to the regional board of school trustees, and except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of Section 5-1 with respect to the common school lands and township loanable funds of that township and with respect to the records, books and accounts relating to those common school lands and township loanable funds, all school funds and accounts, moneys, notes, bonds, securities, district account books and other documents, records and effects then held by the former township treasurer on behalf or for the use and benefit of, or then credited by the former township treasurer to any fund or account of any school district that was under the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer at the time the office of that township treasurer was abolished shall thereupon be transferred and paid over by the former township treasurer to the appropriate school treasurer appointed by the school board of each such district under subsection (c) of this Section 8-1.
    (h) If the school district of a school treasurer elected or appointed under this Section is receiving emergency State financial assistance under Article 1B, that school treasurer is subject to the provisions of Article 1B.
(Source: P.A. 103-790, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/8-2

    (105 ILCS 5/8-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-2)
    Sec. 8-2. Bond of treasurer. Before entering upon his duties, each school treasurer shall execute a bond with a surety company authorized to do business in this State, as sureties, payable to the township trustees of schools in Class II county school units and to the school board of each district for which he or she is treasurer or its successors in office in Class I county school units and conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his or her duties, except that the bond required of the school treasurer of a school district which is located in a Class II county school unit but which no longer is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer or trustees of schools of a township because the district has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township or because those offices have been abolished as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of Section 5-1 shall be payable to the school board of each district for which he or she is treasurer or its successor in office and conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his or her duties. The penalty of the bond shall be determined by the school board in an amount no less than 10% of the amount of all bonds, notes, mortgages, moneys and effects of which he is to have the custody as measured on the final day of the school district's most recent fiscal year. The bond of the township treasurer shall be approved by at least a majority of the township trustees in Class II county school units; provided that in those school districts that are located in a Class II county school unit but are no longer subject to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township (because the districts have withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township or because those offices have been abolished as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of Section 5-1) and in Class I county school units, the bond shall be approved by at least a majority of the members of the school board; and in all cases the bond shall be filed with the regional superintendent of schools who shall file with the State Board of Education before September 1 in each year an affidavit showing which treasurers of school districts under his supervision and control are properly bonded. The bond shall be in the following form:
STATE OF ILLINOIS
.......... COUNTY
    We, AB, CD and EF, are obligated, jointly and severally, to the (School Board of District No. ...., or trustees of township .... range ....) in the above mentioned county or successors in office, in the penal sum of $...., for the payment of which we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators.
    Dated (insert date).
    The condition of this obligation is such that if AB, school treasurer in the above stated county, faithfully discharges the duties of his or her office, according to law, and delivers to his or her successor in office, after such successor has qualified by giving bond as provided by law, all moneys, books, papers, securities and control, which have come into his or her possession or control, as such school treasurer, from the date of his or her bond to the time that his or her successor has qualified as school treasurer, by giving such bond as required by law, then this obligation to be void; otherwise to remain in full force and effect.
    Approved and accepted by:
        A.... B.... (Signature)
        C.... D.... (Signature)
        E.... F.... (Signature)
        G.... H.... (Signature)
        I.... J.... (Signature)
        K.... L.... (Signature)
(Board of Education or Board of
Directors of District No. .....
By ....
President Secretary or Clerk
or ....
.... Township Trustees)
    No part of the State or other school fund shall be paid to any school treasurer or other persons authorized to receive it unless such treasurer has filed his or her bond, or if reelected, has renewed his or her bond and filed it as required by law.
(Source: P.A. 103-49, eff. 6-9-23.)

105 ILCS 5/8-3

    (105 ILCS 5/8-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-3)
    Sec. 8-3. Compensation. Each school treasurer shall receive in full, for his services, a compensation to be fixed, prior to his appointment, and such compensation shall not be decreased during his term of office.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/8-4

    (105 ILCS 5/8-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-4)
    Sec. 8-4. High school districts to pay share of compensation and expenses. Each elementary school district, community high school district and township high school district - excepting, however, any school district that no longer is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer or trustees of schools of a township because the district has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township or because those offices have been abolished as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of Section 5-1 -- shall pay a proportionate share of the compensation of the township treasurer serving such district or districts and a proportionate share of the expenses of the township treasurer's office, which compensation and expenses shall be determined by dividing the total amount of all school funds handled by the township treasurer by such amount of the funds as belongs to each such elementary school district or high school district.
(Source: P.A. 86-1441; 87-473.)

105 ILCS 5/8-5

    (105 ILCS 5/8-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-5)
    Sec. 8-5. Books and accounts.
    (a) The township treasurer shall be provided by the trustees of schools with a cash book, a loan book, a district account book, and a journal. In the cash book he shall enter in separate accounts all moneys received and paid out, with the amount, date, from whom, to whom and on what account received or paid out; or, if loaned, the date, to whom, and the amount. Moneys received shall be charged to debit account, and moneys paid out shall be credited as follows: First, to the principal of the township fund; second, to the interest of the township fund; third, to the common school fund and other funds; fourth, to the taxes received from the county or town collector, and for what districts received; fifth, donations; sixth, moneys coming from all other sources; in all cases entering the date when received, and when paid out.
    In the loan book he shall enter a record of all school funds loaned, with the amount to whom, date, time, when due, and the rate of interest, the interest paid, and a description of the securities.
    In the district account book he shall post from the cash book all receipts and expenditures on account of any district, with the amount, date, from or to whom, and from what sources and for what purposes.
    In the journal he shall record at length the acts and proceedings of the trustees of schools, their orders, by-laws and resolutions.
    The township treasurer shall keep his accounts in the manner directed by the State Board of Education, the regional superintendent of schools or the trustees of schools; and they shall be subject at all times to the inspection of the trustees, the directors or school board members or other persons authorized by this Act or of any committee appointed by the voters of the township at the election of trustees to examine them.
    (b) Concurrently with the abolition of the offices of township treasurer and trustee of schools of a township as provided in subsection (c) of Section 5-1, the former township treasurer whose office has been so abolished shall surrender to the school treasurer of each school district served by that township treasurer at the time that office is abolished the district account book theretofore maintained for that school district by the former township treasurer, and in addition shall surrender to the regional board of school trustees the cash books, loan books and journals referred to in subsection (a) of this Section 8-5; provided that the school board and school treasurer of each such school district, the State Board of Education, the regional superintendent and such other persons as may be authorized by law shall have the right, at all reasonable times, to inspect, and to copy or otherwise reproduce any portions of the cash books, loan books and journals surrendered by the former township treasurer to the regional board of school trustees as required by this subsection.
(Source: P.A. 87-473.)

105 ILCS 5/8-6

    (105 ILCS 5/8-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-6)
    Sec. 8-6. Custody of school funds.
    The school treasurer shall have custody of the school funds and shall keep in a cash book separate cash balances. In the cash book he shall enter in separate accounts the balance, total of all moneys received in each fund, and the total of the orders countersigned or checks signed with respect to each fund and extend the balances and the aggregate cash balance for all funds balance at least monthly. The treasurer shall reconcile such balances with the accounting or bookkeeping department of the district in conformity with a template provided by the State Board of Education monthly. School districts on the financial watch or warning list that are required to submit deficit reduction plans in accordance with Section 17-1 of this Code or that are certified in financial difficulty in accordance with Section 1-A8 of this Code must transmit the cash balances as required pursuant to this Section 8-6 of this Code to the State Board of Education quarterly from the treasurer.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/8-7

    (105 ILCS 5/8-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-7)
    Sec. 8-7. Only lawful custodian of funds - Depositaries. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (f) of Section 8-1, subsection (c) of Section 5-1, and subsection (b) of Section 8-5, the township treasurer in Class II county school units, the school treasurer in Class I county school units, and the school treasurer in any school district that forms a part of a Class II county school unit but which no longer is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer and trustees of schools of a township (because the district has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of school of the township or because those offices have been abolished as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of Section 5-1) shall be the only lawful custodian of all school funds and shall demand receipt for and safely keep, according to law, all bonds, mortgages, notes, moneys, effects, books and papers belonging to any school district or township, as the case may be, which he serves as treasurer. Trustees of schools in Class II county school units, school boards in Class I county school units, and those school boards in Class II county school units that have elected or appointed their own school treasurer pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of Section 5-1 and subsection (b) or (c) of Section 8-1, shall designate one or more banks, savings and loan associations, situated in the State of Illinois, in which school funds and moneys in the custody of the township treasurer or of the school treasurer shall be kept. When a bank or savings and loan association has been designated as a depositary it shall continue as such until 10 days after a new depositary is designated and has qualified by furnishing statements of resources and liabilities as is required by this section. When a new depositary is designated, the trustees of schools in Class II county school units, school boards in Class I county school units, and those school boards in Class II county school units that have elected or appointed their own school treasurer pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of Section 5-1 and subsection (b) or (c) of Section 8-1, shall notify the sureties of the township treasurer or of the school treasurer, as the case may be, of that fact, in writing at least 5 days before the transfer of funds. The township treasurer or the school treasurer shall be discharged from responsibility for such funds and moneys which he deposits in a depositary so designated while such funds and moneys are so deposited.
    No bank or savings and loan association shall receive public funds as permitted by this Section, unless it has complied with the requirements established pursuant to Section 6 of the Public Funds Investment Act.
    Township and school treasurers are authorized to enter into agreements of any definite or indefinite term regarding the deposit, redeposit, investment, reinvestment or withdrawal of school funds, including, without limitation, agreements with other township and school treasurers, agreements with community college districts authorized by Section 3-47 of the Public Community College Act and agreements with educational service regions authorized by Section 3-9.1.
    Each township and school treasurer is permitted to (i) combine moneys from more than one fund of a single school district for the purpose of investing such funds, and (ii) join with township and school treasurers, community college districts and educational service regions in investing school funds, community college funds and educational service region funds. Such joint investments shall be made only in investments authorized by law for the investment of school funds or, in the case of investments made jointly with community college districts and educational service regions, in investments authorized by law for the investment of school funds, community college funds and educational service region funds. When moneys of more than one fund of a single school district are combined for investment purposes or when moneys of a school district are combined with moneys of other school districts, community college districts or educational service regions, the moneys combined for such purposes shall be accounted for separately in all respects, and the earnings from such investment shall be separately and individually computed and recorded, and credited to the fund or school district, community college district or educational service region, as the case may be, for which the investment was acquired.
(Source: P.A. 86-1051; 86-1441; 87-435; 87-473; 87-968.)

105 ILCS 5/8-8

    (105 ILCS 5/8-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-8)
    Sec. 8-8. Township fund - Loans - Investments.
    The township treasurer or township land commissioners, as the case may be, shall keep the principal of the township fund loaned at interest. The rate of interest, which shall not be less than four per cent per annum, payable annually, except in the case of investments in war bonds of the United States government, shall be determined by a majority of the trustees of schools at any regular or special meeting. No loan shall be made for less than one year nor more than 5 years but investments secured by mortgage, notes, or bonds, insured by the Federal Housing Administrator, or debentures issued by him, or in bonds or other obligations of National Mortgage Associations, may be for longer than 5 years. All loans shall be secured by mortgage on unencumbered realty situated in this State, worth at least 50% more than the amount loaned, with a condition that in case additional security shall be required at any time it shall be given to the satisfaction of the trustees of schools. In estimating the value of realty mortgaged to secure the payment of money loaned, the value of improvements liable to be destroyed may be included; but in such case the improvements shall be insured for their insurable value in a responsible insurance company or companies, and the policy or policies shall be transferred to the trustees of schools as additional security, and shall be kept so insured until the loan is paid. The township treasurer or township land commissioners, as the case may be, also may invest the principal of the township fund in:
    1. Bonds issued by the State, the Sanitary District of Chicago, counties, townships and cities in this State, and by school directors pursuant to Section 19-2;
    2. Bonds issued by any district in this State having authority to levy taxes upon all taxable property within the district;
    3. Mortgage notes or bonds issued by the Federal Housing Administrator, or debentures issued by him;
    4. Bonds or other obligations of National Mortgage Associations or the Home Owners' Loan Corporation;
    5. United States Government, State of Illinois and municipal securities the payment of which is protected by the power to levy taxes (not including special assessments) therefor.
    He or they may exchange mortgages in default for bonds of the Home Owners' Loan Corporation.
    He or they may invest moneys in the operations and maintenance fund of any school district in war bonds of the United States government that are redeemable at the owner's option, in cases where building projects cannot, by reason of material shortages or wartime priority restrictions, currently be undertaken or completed. School funds held by the treasurer of a district created by any special act shall be invested according to the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 86-970.)

105 ILCS 5/8-9

    (105 ILCS 5/8-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-9)
    Sec. 8-9. Mortgages - Form. Mortgages to secure the payment of money loaned under the provisions of this Act may be in the following form:
    I, A B, of the county of ...., State of ...., do hereby grant, convey and transfer to the trustees of schools of township No. ...., Range No. ...., in the County of ...., and State of Illinois, for the use of the inhabitants of the township, the following described real estate: (here insert premises), which real estate I declare to be in mortgage for the payment of $...., loaned to me and for the payment of all interest that may accrue thereon, to be computed at the rate of .... per cent per year until paid. I agree to pay the above sum of money in .... years from the date hereof, and to pay the interest on the same annually, at the rate above stated. I further covenant that I have a good and valid title to the estate, and that the same is free from all incumbrance, and that I will pay all taxes and assessments which may be levied on the real estate, and that I will give any additional security that may at any time be required in writing by the board of trustees; and if the real estate is sold to pay the debt or any part thereof, or for any failure or refusal to comply with or perform the conditions or covenants herein contained, I will deliver immediate possession of the premises. It is further agreed by and between the parties that in the event a complaint is filed in any court to foreclose this mortgage for non-payment of either principal or interest, that the mortgagor will pay a reasonable attorney's fee, and the same shall be included in the judgment and be taxed as costs; and we, A B, and C, spouse of A B, hereby release all rights to the premises which we may have by virtue of any homestead laws of this State.
    Dated (insert date).
A .... B ....................
C .... D ....................

      The mortgage shall be acknowledged and recorded as is required by law for other conveyances of real estate, the mortgagor paying the expenses of acknowledgment and recording.
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

105 ILCS 5/8-10

    (105 ILCS 5/8-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-10)
    Sec. 8-10. Interest in default-Actions.
    If default is made in the interest due upon money loaned by any township treasurer, or in the payment of the principal, interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum shall be charged upon the principal and interest from the day of default, which interest shall be included in the assessment of damages, or in the judgment in the suit or action brought upon the obligation to enforce payment thereof, and interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum may be recovered in an action brought to recover interest only. The township treasurer may bring appropriate actions in the name of the trustees for the recovery of the interest when due and unpaid, without suing for the principal, in whatever form secured.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/8-11

    (105 ILCS 5/8-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-11)
    Sec. 8-11. Suit when additional security not furnished.
    If the trustees of schools require additional security for the payment of money loaned, and such security is not given, the township treasurer shall cause suit to be instituted for the recovery of the principal and accrued interest to the date of judgment. Proof shall be made of such requisitions.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/8-12

    (105 ILCS 5/8-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-12)
    Sec. 8-12. Name in which securities taken-Actions.
    Bonds, mortgages, notes and other securities taken for money or other property due, or to become due, to the trustees of schools for the township, shall be made payable to them in their corporate name; and in such name, suits, actions and complaints, and every description of legal proceedings may be had for the recovery of money, breach of contracts and for every legal liability which may at any time arise or exist, or upon which a right of action shall accrue to the use of such corporation.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/8-13

    (105 ILCS 5/8-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-13)
    Sec. 8-13. Statement of condition of funds.
    On or before June 30, annually, the township treasurer shall deliver to the county superintendent of schools a statement verified by his affidavit, showing the exact condition of the township funds. Such statement shall contain a description of all bonds, mortgages, notes and other securities, held as principal of the township fund, giving names, dates, amounts, rates of interest, when due, and other data necessary to a full understanding of the condition of the funds.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/8-14

    (105 ILCS 5/8-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-14)
    Sec. 8-14. Statements to trustees-Books, mortgages, etc., submitted for examination.
    On the first Mondays in April and October of each year the township treasurer shall submit to the trustees of schools a statement showing the amounts of interest, rents, issues and profits on township lands and funds that have accrued since their last regular meeting, and also the amount of distributive funds on hand. He shall submit also to the trustees for their examination all books, mortgages, bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness held by him as treasurer of the township, and shall make such other statements as the trustees may require.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/8-15

    (105 ILCS 5/8-15) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-15)
    Sec. 8-15. Statement of district accounts. The school treasurer shall furnish to the school board of the district which he serves as treasurer a monthly reconciliation required by Section 8-6. The treasurer shall comply with any lawful demand the trustees or school board, as the case may be, may make as to the verification of any balance reported.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/8-16

    (105 ILCS 5/8-16) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-16)
    Sec. 8-16. School orders; Teacher's wages. The school treasurer shall pay out funds of the school district only upon an order of the school board signed by the president and clerk or secretary or by a majority of the board, except payment of the obligations for Social Security taxes as required by the Social Security Enabling Act and payment of recurring bills, such as utility bills, may be made upon a certification by the clerk or secretary of the board of the amount of the obligation only. When an order issued for the wages of a teacher is presented to the treasurer and is not paid for want of funds, the treasurer shall endorse it over his signature, "not paid for want of funds" with the date of presentation, and shall make and keep a record of the endorsement. The order shall thereafter bear interest at the rate, not exceeding the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, established by the school board of the district, until the treasurer shall notify the clerk or secretary in writing that he has funds to pay the order. Whenever the treasurer obtains sufficient funds to pay any such order he shall set them aside for such purpose and shall not use them to pay any other order until the order previously presented and not paid is paid or otherwise discharged. The treasurer shall make and keep a record of the notices and hold the funds necessary to pay such order until it is presented. The order shall draw no interest after notice is given to the clerk or secretary.
    Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the establishment of a voucher system of expenditures as provided in Section 10-23.5 of this Act.
    With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after June 6, 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts.
(Source: P.A. 96-998, eff. 7-2-10.)

105 ILCS 5/8-17

    (105 ILCS 5/8-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-17)
    Sec. 8-17. Duties of treasurer.
    (a) It is also the duty of the township treasurer to:
        1. Return to the county clerk, on or before the
    
first Tuesday in October in each year, the certificate of tax levy made by each school board in his township.
        2. Pay all lawful orders issued by the school board
    
of any district in his township.
        3. Collect from the township and county collectors
    
the full amount of taxes levied by the school boards in his township.
        4. Examine the official records of each district in
    
the township on the first Mondays in April and October of each year.
        5. Keep a record account between districts when
    
pupils are transferred from one district to another.
        6. Give notice of the election of trustees, and in
    
case of the formation of a new school district, of the election of school directors or school board members.
        7. Give notice of any regular district election when
    
the directors or school board members fail or refuse to do so.
        8. Publish in some English language newspaper of his
    
county an annual statement of the finances of the township.
        9. Be responsible for receipts, disbursements and
    
investments arising out of the operation of the school district under his supervision.
    (b) The duties of the township treasurer set forth in subsection (a) shall not be deemed or construed to extend or apply with respect to any school district in his township which has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the township trustees and from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer as provided in subsection (b) of Section 5-1, nor to the school business, tax levies, tax revenues, payment orders, records, elections, annual statements, receipts, disbursements, investments or other financial or business activities or affairs of any such school district or of the school board of any such district, other than the duty to account in accordance with law for any balance of the income from the permanent township fund required to be apportioned and distributed to any such district pursuant to Section 5-17 after payment of all valid claims as provided in that Section, and except as otherwise provided with respect to the distribution and apportionment of funds pursuant to Sections 15-31 and 19-28.
(Source: P.A. 86-1441.)

105 ILCS 5/8-18

    (105 ILCS 5/8-18) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-18)
    Sec. 8-18. District in two or more townships-Taxes-Treasurer.
    When a district is composed of parts of two or more townships, any treasurer not authorized to receive the taxes of the district shall notify the school board of the amount of funds held by him to the credit of the district, and the school board shall thereupon give the proper treasurer an order for the funds.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/8-19

    (105 ILCS 5/8-19) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-19)
    Sec. 8-19. Delivery of money, books, mortgages, etc. to successor.
    At the expiration of his term of office, or upon his removal or resignation the school treasurer, or in case of his death, his representatives shall deliver to his successor, all moneys, books, mortgages, notes and securities, and all papers and documents in which the district has any lawful interest.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/8-20

    (105 ILCS 5/8-20) (from Ch. 122, par. 8-20)
    Sec. 8-20. Failure or refusal to perform duties.
    The school treasurer who as such treasurer fails, neglects or refuses to perform the duties imposed upon him by this Act, within the time or in the manner prescribed, shall forfeit not less than ten dollars, nor more than twenty-five dollars, of his pay as treasurer, which forfeiture shall be enforced by the trustees or school board of the district as the case may be. For any failure or refusal to perform all the duties required of the treasurer by law, he shall be liable to the trustees of schools or school board or their successors in office as the case may be, upon his official bond, for all damages sustained, to be recovered by civil action by the trustees or school board or their successors in office as the case may be, for the use of the township or school district as the case may be, before any court having jurisdiction of the amount of damages claimed; but if the treasurer, in any failure or refusal, acted under and in conformity to a requisition or order of the trustees of schools or a school board as the case may be entered upon their minutes and subscribed by their president and secretary or clerk, then, and in that case, the trustees of schools or school board as the case may be or those voting for the requisition or order, and not the treasurer shall be liable, jointly and severally, to the inhabitants of the township or district as the case may be for such damages, to be recovered by a civil action in the official name of the county superintendent of schools, having supervision and control over the district for the use of the townships or districts as the case may be: provided that the school treasurer shall be liable for any part of the judgment obtained against the trustees of schools or school board or members thereof as the case may be which cannot be collected on account of their insolvency.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 9

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 9 heading)
ARTICLE 9. ELECTIONS

105 ILCS 5/9-1

    (105 ILCS 5/9-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-1)
    Sec. 9-1. Scope of article. All school elections shall be governed by the general election law of the State.
(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

105 ILCS 5/9-1.1

    (105 ILCS 5/9-1.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-1.1)
    Sec. 9-1.1. Referenda. Whenever a proposition or public question is required to be submitted pursuant to this Act for approval or rejection by the electorate at an election, the time and manner of conducting such referendum shall be in accordance with the general election law of the State.
(Source: P.A. 81-1490.)

105 ILCS 5/9-1.5

    (105 ILCS 5/9-1.5)
    Sec. 9-1.5. Advisory referenda. By a vote of the majority of the members of the school board, the board may authorize an advisory question of public policy to be placed on the ballot at the next regularly scheduled election in the school district. The school board shall certify the question to the proper election authority, which must submit the question at an election in accordance with the Election Code, provided, however, that no such question may be submitted at a consolidated primary election.
(Source: P.A. 97-81, eff. 7-5-11.)

105 ILCS 5/9-2

    (105 ILCS 5/9-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-2)
    Sec. 9-2. Election Definitions. As used in this Act in connection with elections of school officials and referenda:
    (a) "Voter" or "Legal voter" or "elector" means a person qualified to vote under the general election law.
    (b) "Certify" and "certification", when used in connection with elections of officers or referenda, refers to the certification in accordance with the general election law of offices, candidates or propositions to county clerks and boards of election commissioners for inclusion on the ballot at an election.
    (c) "Submit" and "submission" when used in connection with a referendum on a proposition or question refers to the submission to the voters in accordance with the general election law of the proposition or question by county clerks and boards of election commissioners.
    (d) "Local election official" means the secretary of a board of education, the secretary or clerk of a board of school directors, the treasurer of a township board of school trustees, the secretary of township land commissioners and the regional superintendent of schools with respect to the various school officer elections and school referenda for which the regional superintendent is assigned election duties pursuant to this Code.
(Source: P.A. 84-1338.)

105 ILCS 5/9-5

    (105 ILCS 5/9-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-5)
    Sec. 9-5. Election dates and terms of offices. The dates upon which school officer elections shall be held are as established in the general election law. Members of boards of education shall unless otherwise provided serve terms of 4 years.
    If, at a regularly scheduled election, a proposition is submitted to the voters of a district, as provided by a resolution of the board, on the question of whether board members should serve for 6 year terms and the proposition receives the affirmative vote of those voting thereon, members of the board of education shall thereafter serve for terms of 6 years.
(Source: P.A. 82-1014.)

105 ILCS 5/9-10

    (105 ILCS 5/9-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-10)
    Sec. 9-10. Candidates for office - nominating petitions. Candidates for the office of school director shall be nominated by petition signed by at least 25 voters or 5% of the voters, whichever is less, residing within the district and filed with the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located.
    Nominations for members of boards of education, including non-high school boards of education shall be made by a petition signed by at least 50 voters or 10% of the voters, whichever is less, residing within the district and shall be filed with the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located. In addition to the requirements of the general election law, the form of such petitions shall be substantially as follows:
NOMINATING PETITIONS
(LEAVE OUT THE INAPPLICABLE PART.)
    To the (County Clerk or County Board of Election Commissioners) .... of .... County:
    We the undersigned, being (.... or more) (or 10% or more) (or 5% or more) of the voters residing within said district, hereby petition that .... who resides at .... in the (city or village) of .... in Township .... (or who resides outside any city, village or incorporated town and in Township ....) in said district shall be a candidate for the office of .... of the board of education (or board of directors) (full term) (vacancy) to be voted for at the election to be held on (insert date).
    Name: .................. Address: ...................
 
    In the designation of the name of a candidate on a petition for nomination, the candidate's given name or names, initial or initials, a nickname by which the candidate is commonly known, or a combination thereof may be used in addition to the candidate's surname. If a candidate has changed his or her name, whether by a statutory or common law procedure in Illinois or any other jurisdiction, within 3 years before the last day for filing the petition, then (i) the candidate's name on the petition must be followed by "formerly known as (list all prior names during the 3-year period) until name changed on (list date of each such name change)" and (ii) the petition must be accompanied by the candidate's affidavit stating the candidate's previous names during the period specified in clause (i) and the date or dates each of those names was changed; failure to meet these requirements shall be grounds for denying certification of the candidate's name for the ballot, but these requirements do not apply to name changes resulting from adoption to assume an adoptive parent's or parents' surname, marriage to assume a spouse's surname, or dissolution of marriage or declaration of invalidity of marriage to assume a former surname. No other designation, such as a political slogan, as defined by Section 7-17 of the Election Code, title or degree, or nickname suggesting or implying possession of a title, degree or professional status, or similar information may be used in connection with the candidate's surname.
    Nomination papers filed under this Section are not valid unless the candidate named therein files with the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located a receipt from the county clerk showing that the candidate has filed a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Such receipt shall be so filed either previously during the calendar year in which his nomination papers were filed or within the period for the filing of nomination papers in accordance with the general election law.
    All petitions for the nomination of members of a board of education shall be filed with the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located within the time provided for by the general election law. The county clerk or the county board of election commissioners may have petition forms available for issuance to potential candidates, and may give notice of the petition filing period by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district not less than 10 days prior to the first day of filing. The county clerk or the county board of election commissioners shall make certification to the proper election authorities in accordance with the general election law.
    The county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located shall notify the candidates for whom a petition for nomination is filed or the appropriate committee of the obligations under the Campaign Financing Act as provided in the general election law. Such notice shall be given on a form prescribed by the State Board of Elections and in accordance with the requirements of the general election law. The county clerk or county board of election commissioners shall within 7 days of filing or on the last day for filing, whichever is earlier, acknowledge to the petitioner in writing the office's acceptance of the petition.
    A candidate for membership on the board of education or for office as a school director, who has petitioned for nomination to fill a full term and to fill a vacant term to be voted upon at the same election, must withdraw his or her petition for nomination from either the full term or the vacant term by written declaration.
    In all newly organized districts the petition for the nomination of candidates for members of the board of education at the first election shall be addressed to and filed with the regional superintendent of schools in the manner herein specified for the petitions for members of a board of education. For such election the regional superintendent shall fulfill all duties otherwise assigned to the secretary of the board of education.
(Source: P.A. 98-115, eff. 7-29-13; 99-522, eff. 6-30-16.)

105 ILCS 5/9-11

    (105 ILCS 5/9-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-11)
    Sec. 9-11. Tax rate increase - notice of election - ballot. In addition to the notice requirements of the general election law, whenever a proposition to increase a school tax rate is submitted to be voted upon by the voters of any district the notice of such election shall include an estimate of the approximate amount of taxes extendible under the maximum rate then in force and an estimate of the approximate amount of taxes extendible under the proposed increased rate, such amounts being computed upon the last known full, fair cash value; provided that any error, miscalculation or inaccuracy in computing such amounts shall not invalidate or affect the validity of any rate so increased. The board of directors shall make such estimate and the secretary shall certify such amount to the election authority as part of the certification of the proposition as required by the general election law. Such estimate shall appear on the ballot on which the proposition is printed, but shall not appear as a part of the proposition.
(Source: P.A. 83-448.)

105 ILCS 5/9-11.1

    (105 ILCS 5/9-11.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-11.1)
    Sec. 9-11.1. The county clerk or the board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the jurisdiction in which the principal office of the school district is located shall conduct a lottery to determine the ballot order of candidates for full terms in the event of any simultaneous petition filings. Such candidate lottery shall be conducted as follows:
    All petitions filed by persons waiting in line as of 8:00 a.m. on the first day for filing, or as of the normal opening hour of the office involved on such day, shall be deemed simultaneously filed as of 8:00 a.m. or the normal opening hour, as the case may be. Petitions filed by mail and received after midnight of the first day for filing and in the first mail delivery or pickup of that day shall be deemed simultaneously filed as of 8:00 a.m. of that day or as of the normal opening hour of such day, as the case may be. All petitions received thereafter shall be deemed filed in the order of actual receipt. However, 2 or more petitions filed within the last hour of the filing deadline shall be deemed filed simultaneously.
    Where 2 or more petitions are received simultaneously for the same office as of 8:00 a.m. on the first day for petition filing, or as of the normal opening hour of the office of the county clerk or the board of election commissioners, as the case may be, the county clerk or the board of election commissioners with whom such petitions are filed shall break ties and determine the order of filing by means of a lottery or other fair and impartial method of random selection. Such lottery shall be conducted within 9 days following the last day for petition filing and shall be open to the public. Seven days written notice of the time and place of conducting such random selection shall be given by the county clerk or the board of election commissioners to all candidates who filed their petitions simultaneously and to each organization of citizens within the election jurisdiction which was entitled, under the general election law, at the next preceding election, to have pollwatchers present on the day of election. The county clerk or the board of election commissioners shall post in a conspicuous, open and public place, at the entrance of his or her office, notice of the time and place of such lottery.
    All candidates shall be certified in the order in which their petitions have been filed and in the manner prescribed by Section 10-15 of the general election law. Where candidates have filed simultaneously, they shall be certified in the order prescribed by this Section and prior to candidates who filed for the same office at a later time.
    Where elections are conducted for unexpired terms, a second lottery to determine ballot order shall be conducted for candidates who simultaneously file petitions for such unexpired terms. Such lottery shall be conducted in the same manner as prescribed by this Section for full term candidates.
(Source: P.A. 98-691, eff. 7-1-14.)

105 ILCS 5/9-11.2

    (105 ILCS 5/9-11.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-11.2)
    Sec. 9-11.2. For all school districts electing candidates to a board of education in a manner other than at large, candidates not elected at large who file nominating petitions for a full term shall be grouped together by area of residence as follows:
    (1) by congressional townships, or
    (2) according to incorporated or unincorporated areas.
    For all school districts electing candidates to a board of education in a manner other than at large, candidates not elected at large who file nominating petitions for an unexpired term shall be grouped together by area of residence as follows:
    (1) by congressional townships, or
    (2) according to incorporated or unincorporated areas.
    Candidate groupings by area of residence for unexpired terms shall precede the candidate groupings by area of residence for full terms on the ballot. In all instances, however, the ballot order of each candidate grouping shall be determined by the order of petition filing or lottery held pursuant to Section 9-11.1 in the following manner:
    The area of residence of the candidate determined to be first by order of petition filing or by lottery shall be listed first among the candidate groupings on the ballot. All other candidates from the same area of residence will follow according to order of petition filing or the lottery. The area of residence of the candidate determined to be second by the order of petition filing or the lottery shall be listed second among the candidate groupings on the ballot. All other candidates from the same area of residence will follow according to the order of petition filing or the lottery. The ballot order of additional candidate groupings by area of residence shall be established in a like manner.
    In any school district that elects its board members according to area of residence and that has one or more unexpired terms to be filled at an election, the winner or winners of the unexpired term or terms shall be determined first and independently of those running for full terms. The winners of the full terms shall then be determined taking into consideration the areas of residence of those elected to fill the unexpired term or terms.
    "Area of Residence" means congressional township and incorporated and unincorporated territories.
    "Affected school district" means either of the 2 entire elementary school districts that are formed into a combined school district.
(Source: P.A. 93-1079, eff. 1-21-05; 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/9-12

    (105 ILCS 5/9-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-12)
    Sec. 9-12. Ballots for the election of school officers shall be in one of the following forms:
 
(FORMAT 1
    Ballot position for candidates shall be determined by the order of petition filing or lottery held pursuant to Section 9-11.1.
    This format is used by Boards of School Directors. School Directors are elected at large.)
OFFICIAL BALLOT
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SCHOOL
DIRECTORS TO SERVE AN UNEXPIRED 2-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR ....
( ) .......................................
( ) .......................................
( ) .......................................
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SCHOOL
DIRECTORS TO SERVE A FULL 4-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR ....
( ) ........................................
( ) ........................................
( ) ........................................

(FORMAT 2
    Ballot position for candidates shall be determined by the order of petition filing or lottery held pursuant to Section 9-11.1.
    This format is used when school board members are elected at large. Membership on the school board is not restricted by area of residence.
    Types of school districts generally using this format are:
    Common school districts;
    Community unit and community consolidated school districts formed on or after January 1, 1975;
    Community unit school districts formed prior to January 1, 1975 that elect board members at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district under subsection (c) of Section 11A-8 (now repealed);
    Community unit, community consolidated and combined school districts in which more than 90% of the population is in one congressional township;
    High school districts in which less than 15% of the taxable property is located in unincorporated territory; and unit districts (OLD TYPE);
    Combined school districts formed on or after July 1, 1983;
    Combined school districts formed before July 1, 1983 and community consolidated school districts that elect board members at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district under subsection (c) of Section 11B-7 (now repealed).)
OFFICIAL BALLOT
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF
EDUCATION TO SERVE AN UNEXPIRED 2-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR ....
( ) .......................................
( ) .......................................
( ) .......................................
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF
EDUCATION TO SERVE A FULL 4-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR ....
( ) .......................................
( ) .......................................
( ) .......................................

(FORMAT 3
    Ballot position for incorporated and unincorporated areas shall be determined by the order of petition filing or lottery held pursuant to Sections 9-11.1 and 9-11.2.
    This format is used by community unit, community consolidated and combined school districts when the territory is less than 2 congressional townships, or 72 square miles, but consists of more than one congressional township, or 36 square miles, outside of the corporate limits of any city, village or incorporated town within the school district. The School Code requires that not more than 5 board members shall be selected from any city, village or incorporated town in the school district. At least two board members must reside in the unincorporated area of the school district.
    Except for those community unit school districts formed before January 1, 1975 that elect board members at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district under subsection (c) of Section 11A-8 (now repealed) and except for combined school districts formed before July 1, 1983 and community consolidated school districts that elect board members at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district under subsection (c) of Section 11B-7 (now repealed), this format applies to community unit and community consolidated school districts formed prior to January 1, 1975 and combined school districts formed prior to July 1, 1983.)
OFFICIAL BALLOT
    Instructions to voter: The board of education shall be composed of members from both the incorporated and the unincorporated area; not more than 5 board members shall be selected from any city, village or incorporated town.
 
    ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING BOARD MEMBERSHIP, NOT MORE THAN .... MAY BE ELECTED FROM THE INCORPORATED AREAS.
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TO SERVE AN UNEXPIRED 2-YEAR TERM
THE AREA OF RESIDENCE OF THOSE ELECTED TO FILL UNEXPIRED TERMS IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING THE WINNERS OF THE FULL TERMS.
VOTE FOR A TOTAL OF ....
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TO SERVE A FULL 4-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR A TOTAL OF ....
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
 
(FORMAT 4
    Ballot position for township areas shall be determined by the order of petition filing or lottery held pursuant to Sections 9-11.1 and 9-11.2.
    Except for those community unit school districts formed prior to January 1, 1975 that elect board members at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district under subsection (c) of Section 11A-8 (now repealed) and except for those combined school districts formed before July 1, 1983 and community consolidated school districts that elect board members at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district under subsection (c) of Section 11B-7 (now repealed), this format applies to community unit and community consolidated school districts formed prior to January 1, 1975 and combined school districts formed prior to July 1, 1983 when the territory of the school district is greater than 2 congressional townships, or 72 square miles. This format applies only when less than 75% of the population is in one congressional township. Congressional townships of less than 100 inhabitants shall not be considered for the purpose of such mandatory board representation. In this case, not more than 3 board members may be selected from any one congressional township.)
OFFICIAL BALLOT
    Instructions to voter: Membership on the board of education is restricted to a maximum of 3 members from any congressional township.
 
    ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING BOARD MEMBERSHIP, MEMBERS MAY BE ELECTED IN THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS FROM EACH CONGRESSIONAL TOWNSHIP.
    NOT MORE THAN .... MAY BE ELECTED FROM TOWNSHIP .... RANGE ....
    NOT MORE THAN .... MAY BE ELECTED FROM TOWNSHIP .... RANGE ....
    NOT MORE THAN .... MAY BE ELECTED FROM TOWNSHIP .... RANGE ....
    (Include each remaining congressional township in district as needed)
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
AN UNEXPIRED 2-YEAR TERM
THE AREA OF RESIDENCE OF THOSE ELECTED TO FILL UNEXPIRED TERMS IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING THE WINNERS OF THE FULL TERMS.
VOTE FOR A TOTAL OF ....
     Township .............. Range ................
( ) ............................
( ) ............................
     Township .............. Range ................
( ) ............................
( ) ............................
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF
EDUCATION TO SERVE A FULL 4-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR A TOTAL OF ....
     Township .............. Range ................
( ) ............................
( ) ............................
     Township .............. Range ................
( ) ............................
( ) ............................

(FORMAT 5
    Ballot position for township areas shall be determined by the order of petition filing or lottery held pursuant to Sections 9-11.1 and 9-11.2.
    Except for those community unit school districts formed before January 1, 1975 that elect board members at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district under subsection (c) of Section 11A-8 (now repealed) and except for those combined school districts formed before July 1, 1983 and community consolidated school districts that elect board members at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district under subsection (c) of Section 11B-7 (now repealed), this format is used by community unit and community consolidated school districts formed prior to January 1, 1975, and combined school districts formed prior to July 1, 1983, when the territory of the school district is greater than 2 congressional townships, or 72 square miles and when at least 75%, but not more than 90%, of the population resides in one congressional township. In this case, 4 school board members shall be selected from that one congressional township and the 3 remaining board members shall be selected from the rest of the district. If a school district from which school board members are to be selected is located in a county under township organization and if the surveyed boundaries of a congressional township from which one or more of those school board members is to be selected, as described by township number and range, are coterminous with the boundaries of the township as identified by the township name assigned to it as a political subdivision of the State, then that township may be referred to on the ballot by both its township name and by township number and range.)
OFFICIAL BALLOT
    Instructions to voter: Membership on the board of education is to consist of 4 members from the congressional township that has at least 75% but not more than 90% of the population, and 3 board members from the remaining congressional townships in the school district.
 
    ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING BOARD MEMBERSHIP, MEMBERS MAY BE ELECTED IN THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS FROM EACH CONGRESSIONAL TOWNSHIP.
FOR MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TO SERVE AN UNEXPIRED 2-YEAR TERM
FROM (name)........ TOWNSHIP ..... RANGE .....
VOTE FOR ONE
( )..........................
( )..........................
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TO SERVE A FULL 4-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR ....
..... shall be elected from (name)...... Township ..... Range ......
(name)....... TOWNSHIP ..... RANGE .....
( ) ............................
( ) ............................
VOTE FOR ....
...... board members shall be elected from the remaining congressional townships.
The Remaining Congressional Townships
       
( ) ............................
( ) ............................

(FORMAT 6
    Ballot position for candidates shall be determined by the order of petition filing or lottery held pursuant to Section 9-11.1.
    This format is used by school districts in which voters have approved a referendum to elect school board members by school board district. The school district is then divided into 7 school board districts, each of which elects one member to the board of education.)
OFFICIAL BALLOT
DISTRICT ....... (1 through 7)
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
AN UNEXPIRED 2-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR ONE
( ) .....................................
( ) .....................................
( ) .....................................
(-OR-)
OFFICIAL BALLOT
DISTRICT ....... (1 through 7)
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
A FULL 4-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR ONE
( ) .....................................
( ) .....................................
( ) .....................................
REVERSE SIDE:
OFFICIAL BALLOT
DISTRICT ....... (1 through 7)
(Precinct name or number)
School District No. ......, ........... County, Illinois
Election Tuesday (insert date)
(facsimile signature of Election Authority)
(County)

(FORMAT 7
    Ballot position for incorporated and unincorporated areas shall be determined by the order of petition filing or lottery held pursuant to Sections 9-11.1 and 9-11.2.
    This format is used by high school districts if more than 15% but less than 30% of the taxable property is located in the unincorporated territory of the school district. In this case, at least one board member shall be a resident of the unincorporated territory.)
OFFICIAL BALLOT
    Instructions to voter: More than 15% but less than 30% of the taxable property of this high school district is located in the unincorporated territory of the district, therefore, at least one board member shall be a resident of the unincorporated areas.
 
    ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING BOARD MEMBERSHIP, AT LEAST ONE MEMBER SHALL BE ELECTED FROM THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
AN UNEXPIRED 2-YEAR TERM
THE AREA OF RESIDENCE OF THOSE ELECTED TO FILL UNEXPIRED TERMS IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING THE WINNERS OF THE FULL TERMS.
VOTE FOR A TOTAL OF ....
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
A FULL 4-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR A TOTAL OF ....
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
 
(FORMAT 7a
    Ballot position for candidates shall be determined by the order of petition filing or lottery held pursuant to Sections 9-11.1 and 9-11.2.
    This format is used by high school districts if more than 15% but less than 30% of the taxable property is located in the unincorporated territory of the school district and on the basis of existing board membership no board member is required to be elected from the unincorporated area.)
OFFICIAL BALLOT
    Instruction to voter: More than 15% but less than 30% of the taxable property of this high school district is located in the unincorporated territory of the district, therefore, at least one board member shall be a resident of the unincorporated areas.
 
    ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING BOARD MEMBERSHIP, MEMBERS MAY BE ELECTED FROM ANY AREA OR AREAS.
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
AN UNEXPIRED 2-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR ....
( ) ........................................
( ) ........................................
( ) ........................................
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
A FULL 4-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR ....
( ) ........................................
( ) ........................................
( ) ........................................

(FORMAT 8
    Ballot position for incorporated and unincorporated areas shall be determined by the order of petition filing or lottery held pursuant to Sections 9-11.1 and 9-11.2.
    This format is used by high school districts if more than 30% of the taxable property is located in the unincorporated territory of the school district. In this case, at least two board members shall be residents of the unincorporated territory.)
OFFICIAL BALLOT
    Instructions to voters: Thirty percent (30%) or more of the taxable property of this high school district is located in the unincorporated territory of the district, therefore, at least two board members shall be residents of the unincorporated territory.
 
    ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING BOARD MEMBERSHIP, AT LEAST 2 MEMBERS SHALL BE ELECTED FROM THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
AN UNEXPIRED 2-YEAR TERM
THE AREA OF RESIDENCE OF THOSE ELECTED TO FILL UNEXPIRED TERMS IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING THE WINNERS OF THE FULL TERMS.
VOTE FOR A TOTAL OF ....
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
A FULL 4-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR A TOTAL OF ....
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
 
(FORMAT 8a
    Ballot position for incorporated and unincorporated areas shall be determined by the order of petition filing or lottery held pursuant to Sections 9-11.1 and 9-11.2.
    This format is used by high school districts if more than 30% of the taxable property is located in the unincorporated territory of the school district. In this case, at least two board members shall be residents of the unincorporated territory.)
OFFICIAL BALLOT
    Instructions to voters: Thirty percent (30%) or more of the taxable property of this high school district is located in the unincorporated territory of the district, therefore, at least two board members shall be residents of the unincorporated territory.
 
    ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING BOARD MEMBERSHIP, AT LEAST ONE MEMBER SHALL BE ELECTED FROM THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
AN UNEXPIRED 2-YEAR TERM
THE AREA OF RESIDENCE OF THOSE ELECTED TO FILL UNEXPIRED TERMS IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN DETERMINING THE WINNERS OF THE FULL TERMS.
VOTE FOR A TOTAL OF ....
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
A FULL 4-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR A TOTAL OF ....
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
................... Area
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
 
(FORMAT 8b
    Ballot position for incorporated and unincorporated areas shall be determined by the order of petition filing or lottery held pursuant to Sections 9-11.1 and 9-11.2.
    This format is used by high school districts if more than 30% of the taxable property is located in the unincorporated territory of the school district. In this case, at least two board members shall be residents of the unincorporated territory.)
OFFICIAL BALLOT
    Instructions to voters: Thirty percent (30%) or more of the taxable property of this high school district is located in the unincorporated territory of the district, therefore, at least two board members shall be residents of the unincorporated territory.
 
    ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING BOARD MEMBERSHIP, MEMBERS MAY BE ELECTED FROM ANY AREA OR AREAS.
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
AN UNEXPIRED 2-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR ....
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SERVE
A FULL 4-YEAR TERM
VOTE FOR ....
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
           ( )   ...........................
(Source: P.A. 93-706, eff. 7-9-04; 93-1079, eff. 1-21-05; 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/9-12.1

    (105 ILCS 5/9-12.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-12.1)
    Sec. 9-12.1. (a) On the reverse side of each ballot contained in Section 9-12, except the ballot under Format 6, shall be printed the following:
OFFICIAL BALLOT
..... County, Illinois
School District No. ...., ...... County, Illinois
Election Tuesday, (insert date)
(facsimile signature of the election authority)
    (b) If 6-year terms have been adopted under Section 9-5, or if a ballot is to be used to elect a member or members of a board of school directors or board of education at the consolidated election held in April of 1999 or April of 2001 to a full term that is less than a 4-year term, appropriate adjustments should be made to each ballot in Section 9-12. In the case of any unexpired term each ballot format must indicate whether it is a 4-year or a 2-year unexpired term.
(Source: P.A. 90-637, eff. 7-24-98; 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

105 ILCS 5/9-13

    (105 ILCS 5/9-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-13)
    Sec. 9-13. Public measure - Ballot. More than one public measure may be submitted upon the same ballot. The proposition of purchasing one or more schoolhouse sites, building one or more new schoolhouses, and issuing bonds for the purpose of borrowing money to purchase one or more schoolhouse sites and to build one or more new schoolhouses or make additions and improvements to existing school buildings, may be combined into one or more propositions on the ballot. No proposition under this Section which is substantially the same shall be submitted more than once every 2 months, except where the proposition is submitted as a consequence of a disaster, calamity or other Act of God.
(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

105 ILCS 5/9-18

    (105 ILCS 5/9-18)
    Sec. 9-18. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 93-1079, eff. 1-21-05. Repealed by P.A. 95-141, eff. 8-13-07.)

105 ILCS 5/9-22

    (105 ILCS 5/9-22) (from Ch. 122, par. 9-22)
    Sec. 9-22. School board districts; changing manner of election. A school board may by resolution or shall, upon the petition of the lesser of 2,500 or 5% of the district's registered voters, order submitted to the district's voters at a regular school election or at the general election, the proposition for the election of board members by school board district, and the proposition shall thereupon be certified by the board's secretary for submission. If the proposition is approved by a majority of those voting on the proposition, the board shall divide the school district into 7 school board districts, each of which must be compact and contiguous and substantially equal in population to each other district. The terms of office of the board members incumbent at the time the proposition is adopted expire on the day of the next regular school election, at which time one member shall be elected from each school board district. In districts which have 4 year terms, those members first elected after adoption of such a proposition shall, by lot, determine 3 to serve for 2 years and 4 for 4 years; their successors shall serve for a 4 year term. In districts which have 6 year terms, those members first elected after adoption of such a proposition shall, by lot, determine 3 to serve for 2 years, 2 for 4 years and 2 for 6 years; their successors shall serve for a 6 year term. Vacancies shall be filled as provided in Section 10-10.
    In the year following each decennial census, the school board shall reapportion the board districts to reflect the results of such census; provided, that no decennial reapportionment shall be required in any school district which elects its board members by school board district rather than at large if: (i) on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1990, such school district last elected its board members by school board district at the nonpartisan election in 1989; (ii) the terms of the board members so elected were determined by lot after that election and prior to January 1, 1990; and (iii) the population of each existing school board district in that school district at the time of the decennial census is within 5% of what would be the population in the corresponding school board district that would result were the school board districts in that school district to be reapportioned following that decennial census as otherwise required by this paragraph. If reapportionment is required by this paragraph, the school board districts shall be compact, contiguous and substantially equal in population, and such reapportionment plan shall be completed and formally approved by a majority of the members of the board not less than 90 days before the last date established by law for the submission of nominating petitions for the next school board election. At the same board meeting, the board shall, publicly by lot, divide the board districts as equally as possible into 2 groups. In school districts which have 4 year terms, board members or their successors from one group shall be elected for successive terms of 2 years, 4 years and 4 years; and members or their successors from the second group shall be elected for successive terms of 4 years, 4 years and 2 years. In school districts which have 6 year terms, board members or their successors from one group shall be elected for successive terms of 4 years and 6 years; and members or their successors from the second group shall be elected for successive terms of 6 years and 4 years.
    In any school district in which the members of the school board are elected by school board district rather than at large, the school board may by resolution or shall, upon the petition of the lesser of 2,500 or 5% of the school district's registered voters, order submitted to the school district's voters at a regular school election or at the general election, the proposition for the election of board members at large rather than by school board district; and the proposition shall thereupon be certified by the board's secretary for submission. If a majority of those voting at the election in each school board district vote in favor of the proposition: (i) the proposition to elect board members at large shall be deemed to have passed, (ii) new members of the board shall be elected at large at the next regular school election, and (iii) the terms of office of the board members incumbent at the time the proposition is adopted shall expire when the new board members that are elected at large have organized in accordance with Section 10-16. In school districts that formerly elected their members by school board district to successive terms not exceeding 4 years, the members elected at large shall be elected for a term of 4 years, and in school districts that formerly elected their members by school board district to successive terms not exceeding 6 years, the members elected at large shall be elected for a term of 6 years; provided, that in each case the terms of the board members initially elected at large as provided in this paragraph shall be staggered and determined in accordance with the provisions of Sections 10-10 and 10-16.
(Source: P.A. 87-1139; 87-1210; 88-45.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 10

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 10 heading)
ARTICLE 10. SCHOOL BOARDS

105 ILCS 5/10-1

    (105 ILCS 5/10-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-1)
    Sec. 10-1. Board of school directors.
    (a) School districts having a population of fewer than 1000 inhabitants and not governed by any special act shall be governed by a board of school directors to consist of 3 members who shall be elected in the manner provided in Article 9 of this Act. In consolidated districts and in districts in which the membership of the board of school directors is increased as provided in subsection (b), 7 members shall be so elected.
    (b) Upon presentment to the board of school directors of a school district having a population of fewer than 1,000 inhabitants of a petition signed by the lesser of 5% or 25 of the registered voters of the district to increase the membership of the district's board of school directors to 7 directors and to elect a new 7-member board of school directors to replace the district's existing board of 3 school directors, the clerk or secretary of the board of school directors shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities for submission to the electors of the district at a regular scheduled election in accordance with the general election law. If the proposition is approved by a majority of those voting on the proposition, the members of the board of school directors of that district thereafter shall be elected in the manner provided by subsection (c) of Section 10-4.
    (c) A board of school directors may appoint a student to the board to serve in an advisory capacity. The student member shall serve for a term as determined by the board. The board may not grant the student member any voting privileges, but shall consider the student member as an advisor. The student member may not participate in or attend any executive session of the board.
(Source: P.A. 94-231, eff. 7-14-05.)

105 ILCS 5/10-2

    (105 ILCS 5/10-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-2)
    Sec. 10-2. Corporate powers.
    The directors of each district shall be a body politic and corporate, by the name of "school directors of district No. ...., county of .... and State of Illinois," and by that name may sue and be sued in all courts and places where judicial proceedings are had.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-3

    (105 ILCS 5/10-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-3)
    Sec. 10-3. Eligibility of directors. Any person who, on the date of his or her election, is a citizen of the United States, of the age of 18 years or over, is a resident of the State and of the territory of the district for at least one year immediately preceding his or her election, is a registered voter as provided in the general election law, is not a school trustee or a school treasurer, and is not a child sex offender as defined in Section 11-9.3 of the Criminal Code of 2012 shall be eligible to the office of school director.
(Source: P.A. 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)

105 ILCS 5/10-4

    (105 ILCS 5/10-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-4)
    Sec. 10-4. Election of directors.
    (a) In all districts, directors shall be elected in each odd-numbered year, each for a term of 4 years.
    (b) In consolidated districts where 5 directors are elected in 1981 pursuant to the extension of terms provided by law for transition to the consolidated election schedule under the general election law, those directors elected shall, by lot, determine 2 of their number to serve 2 years and 3 to serve 4 years; their successors shall serve for a 4 year term.
    (c) If a proposition to increase the membership of a school district's board of school directors to 7 directors and to elect a new 7-member board of school directors to replace the district's existing board of 3 school directors is approved by the electors of the district at a regular scheduled election as provided in subsection (b) of Section 10-1, 7 members shall be elected at the next regular school election, in the manner provided by Article 9, to serve as the board of school directors of that district. The terms of office of the 3 members of the board of school directors serving at the time of the election of the initial 7-member board of school directors shall expire when the 7 newly elected members of the initial 7-member board of school directors assume office and are organized as provided in Section 10-5. At their organizational meeting, the initial members of the 7-member board of school directors shall by lot determine 4 of their number to serve 4 year terms and 3 of their number to serve 2 year terms. Their successors shall serve for a 4 year term.
    (d) In all other districts, one school director shall be elected in each district every other odd-numbered year, and two school directors shall be elected in the intervening odd-numbered years.
    (e) When a vacancy occurs in the membership of any board of school directors the remaining members shall, within 30 days, fill the vacancy by appointment until the next regular school election, or, upon their failure so to do, the regional superintendent shall make such appointment within the next 30 days to fill the vacancy as herein provided. Upon the regional superintendent's failure to fill the vacancy, the vacancy shall be filled at the next regularly scheduled election.
(Source: P.A. 90-757, eff. 8-14-98.)

105 ILCS 5/10-5

    (105 ILCS 5/10-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-5)
    Sec. 10-5. Organization of board - Report to treasurer and regional superintendent of schools. Within 40 days after the regular election of directors, the directors shall meet and organize by appointing one of their number president and another as clerk, except that when directors are elected at the consolidated elections in April of 1999 and April of 2001, the directors shall meet and organize, in the manner provided by this Section, within 7 days after the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in each of those 2 years. The clerk shall at once report to the treasurer and regional superintendent of schools the names of the president and clerk so appointed. Upon organizing itself as provided in this Section, the board of school directors shall enter upon the discharge of its duties. Terms of members are subject to Section 2A-54 of the Election Code, except as otherwise limited by subsection (c) of Section 10-4.
(Source: P.A. 102-798, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-6

    (105 ILCS 5/10-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-6)
    Sec. 10-6. Regular and special meetings. The directors shall hold regular meetings at such times as they may designate, and special meetings at the call of the president or of any 2 members. Public notice of meetings must be given as prescribed in Sections 2.02 and 2.03 of the Open Meetings Act. No official business shall be transacted by the directors except at a regular or a special meeting. In consolidated districts and in districts electing a 7-member board of school directors under subsection (c) of Section 10-4, 4 directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In all other districts 2 directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If the president or clerk is absent from any meeting or refuses to perform his duties, a president or clerk pro tempore shall be appointed. At each regular and special meeting which is open to the public, members of the public and employees of the district shall be afforded time, subject to reasonable constraints, to comment to or ask questions of the board. When the president or district superintendent of schools receives a written correspondence from a resident within the school district's territory, requesting the consideration of a matter before the board, the author of the correspondence shall receive a formal written statement from an appointed official of the board stating the board's position on their request, no later than 60 days from the receipt of the correspondence by the president or district superintendent of schools. The formal written response from the board shall establish a meeting before the board or list the reasons for denying the request.
(Source: P.A. 90-757, eff. 8-14-98.)

105 ILCS 5/10-7

    (105 ILCS 5/10-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-7)
    Sec. 10-7. Secretary or clerk to record official acts - yeas and nays on expenditures. The secretary or clerk shall keep in a punctual, orderly and reliable manner a record of the official acts of the board which shall be signed by the president and the secretary or clerk, and submitted to the treasurer having custody of the funds of the district for his inspection and approval at such times as the treasurer may require. On all questions involving the expenditure of money, the yeas and nays shall be taken and entered on the records of the proceedings of the board. The secretary or clerk shall keep the minutes and, if the district is not required to employ a superintendent, keep or cause to be kept the financial records of the school district.
(Source: P.A. 96-998, eff. 7-2-10.)

105 ILCS 5/10-8

    (105 ILCS 5/10-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-8)
    Sec. 10-8. Report by secretary or clerk to treasurer.
    On or before July 7 annually, the secretary or clerk shall report to the treasurer having the custody of the funds of his district, such statistics and other information in relation to the schools of his district as the treasurer is required to include in his report to the regional superintendent of schools.
(Source: P.A. 80-279.)

105 ILCS 5/10-9

    (105 ILCS 5/10-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-9)
    Sec. 10-9. Interest of board member in contracts.
    (a) No school board member shall be interested, directly or indirectly, in his own name or in the name of any other person, association, trust or corporation, in any contract, work or business of the district or in the sale of any article, whenever the expense, price or consideration of the contract, work, business or sale is paid either from the treasury or by any assessment levied by any statute or ordinance. A school board member shall not be deemed interested if the board member is an employee of a business that is involved in the transaction of business with the school district, provided that the board member has no financial interests other than as an employee. No school board member shall be interested, directly or indirectly, in the purchase of any property which (1) belongs to the district, or (2) is sold for taxes or assessments, or (3) is sold by virtue of legal process at the suit of the district.
    (b) However, any board member may provide materials, merchandise, property, services or labor, if:
        A. the contract is with a person, firm, partnership,
    
association, corporation or cooperative association in which the board member has less than a 7 1/2% share in the ownership; and
        B. such interested board member publicly discloses
    
the nature and extent of his interest prior to or during deliberations concerning the proposed award of the contract; and
        C. such interested board member abstains from voting
    
on the award of the contract, though he shall be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum; and
        D. such contract is approved by a majority vote of
    
those board members presently holding office; and
        E. the contract is awarded after sealed bids to the
    
lowest responsible bidder if the amount of the contract exceeds $1500, or awarded without bidding if the amount of the contract is less than $1500; and
        F. the award of the contract would not cause the
    
aggregate amount of all such contracts so awarded to the same person, firm, association, partnership, corporation or cooperative association in the same fiscal year to exceed $25,000.
    (c) In addition to the above exemption, any board member may provide materials, merchandise, property, services or labor if:
        A. the award of the contract is approved by a
    
majority vote of the board provided that any such interested member shall abstain from voting; and
        B. the amount of the contract does not exceed $1,000;
    
and
        C. the award of the contract would not cause the
    
aggregate amount of all such contracts so awarded to the same person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or cooperative association in the same fiscal year to exceed $2,000, except with respect to a board member of a school district in which the materials, merchandise, property, services, or labor to be provided under the contract are not available from any other person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or cooperative association in the district, in which event the award of the contract shall not cause the aggregate amount of all contracts so awarded to that same person, firm, association, partnership, or cooperative association in the same fiscal year to exceed $5,000; and
        D. such interested member publicly discloses the
    
nature and extent of his interest prior to or during deliberations concerning the proposed award of the contract; and
        E. such interested member abstains from voting on the
    
award of the contract, though he shall be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum.
    (d) In addition to exemptions otherwise authorized by this Section, any board member may purchase for use as the board member's primary place of residence a house constructed by the district's vocational education students on the same basis that any other person would be entitled to purchase the property. The sale of the house by the district must comply with the requirements set forth in Section 5-22 of The School Code.
    (e) A contract for the procurement of public utility services by a district with a public utility company is not barred by this Section by one or more members of the board being an officer or employee of the public utility company or holding an ownership interest of no more than 7 1/2% in the public utility company, or holding an ownership interest of any size if the school district has a population of less than 7,500 and the public utility's rates are approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission. An elected or appointed member of the board having such an interest shall be deemed not to have a prohibited interest under this Section.
    (f) Nothing contained in this Section, including the restrictions set forth in subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e), shall preclude a contract of deposit of monies, loans or other financial services by a school district with a local bank or local savings and loan association, regardless of whether a member or members of the governing body of the school district are interested in such bank or savings and loan association as an officer or employee or as a holder of less than 7 1/2% of the total ownership interest. A member or members holding such an interest in such a contract shall not be deemed to be holding a prohibited interest for purposes of this Act. Such interested member or members of the governing body must publicly state the nature and extent of their interest during deliberations concerning the proposed award of such a contract, but shall not participate in any further deliberations concerning the proposed award. Such interested member or members shall not vote on such a proposed award. Any member or members abstaining from participation in deliberations and voting under this Section may be considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum. Award of such a contract shall require approval by a majority vote of those members presently holding office. Consideration and award of any such contract in which a member or members are interested may only be made at a regularly scheduled public meeting of the governing body of the school district.
    (g) Any school board member who violates this Section is guilty of a Class 4 felony and in addition thereto any office held by such person so convicted shall become vacant and shall be so declared as part of the judgment of the court.
(Source: P.A. 96-998, eff. 7-2-10.)

105 ILCS 5/10-10

    (105 ILCS 5/10-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-10)
    Sec. 10-10. Board of education; term; vacancy. All school districts having a population of not fewer than 1,000 and not more than 500,000 inhabitants, as ascertained by any special or general census, and not governed by special Acts, shall be governed by a board of education consisting of 7 members, serving without compensation except as herein provided. Each member shall be elected for a term of 4 years for the initial members of the board of education of a combined school district to which that subsection applies. If 5 members are elected in 1983 pursuant to the extension of terms provided by law for transition to the consolidated election schedule under the general election law, 2 of those members shall be elected to serve terms of 2 years and 3 shall be elected to serve terms of 4 years; their successors shall serve for a 4 year term. When the voters of a district have voted to elect members of the board of education for 6 year terms, as provided in Section 9-5, the terms of office of members of the board of education of that district expire when their successors assume office but not later than 7 days after such election. If at the regular school election held in the first odd-numbered year after the determination to elect members for 6 year terms 2 members are elected, they shall serve for a 6 year term; and of the members elected at the next regular school election 3 shall serve for a term of 6 years and 2 shall serve a term of 2 years. Thereafter members elected in such districts shall be elected to a 6 year term. If at the regular school election held in the first odd-numbered year after the determination to elect members for 6 year terms 3 members are elected, they shall serve for a 6 year term; and of the members elected at the next regular school election 2 shall serve for a term of 2 years and 2 shall serve for a term of 6 years. Thereafter members elected in such districts shall be elected to a 6 year term. If at the regular school election held in the first odd-numbered year after the determination to elect members for 6 year terms 4 members are elected, 3 shall serve for a term of 6 years and one shall serve for a term of 2 years; and of the members elected at the next regular school election 2 shall serve for terms of 6 years and 2 shall serve for terms of 2 years. Thereafter members elected in such districts shall be elected to a 6 year term. If at the regular school election held in the first odd-numbered year after the determination to elect members for a 6 year term 5 members are elected, 3 shall serve for a term of 6 years and 2 shall serve for a term of 2 years; and of the members elected at the next regular school election 2 shall serve for terms of 6 years and 2 shall serve for terms of 2 years. Thereafter members elected in such districts shall be elected to a 6 year term. An election for board members shall not be held in school districts which by consolidation, annexation or otherwise shall cease to exist as a school district within 6 months after the election date, and the term of all board members which would otherwise terminate shall be continued until such district shall cease to exist. Each member, on the date of his or her election, shall be a citizen of the United States of the age of 18 years or over, shall be a resident of the State and the territory of the district for at least one year immediately preceding his or her election, shall be a registered voter as provided in the general election law, shall not be a school trustee, must not have been removed from a school board pursuant to Section 2-3.25f-5 of this Code (unless subsequently appointed as a member of an Independent Authority or if it has been 10 years since the abolition of the Independent Authority in the district), and shall not be a child sex offender as defined in Section 11-9.3 of the Criminal Code of 2012. When the board of education is the successor of the school directors, all rights of property, and all rights regarding causes of action existing or vested in such directors, shall vest in it as fully as they were vested in the school directors. Terms of members are subject to Section 2A-54 of the Election Code.
    Nomination papers filed under this Section are not valid unless the candidate named therein files with the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners, as the case may be, of the county in which the principal office of the school district is located a receipt from the county clerk showing that the candidate has filed a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Such receipt shall be so filed either previously during the calendar year in which his nomination papers were filed or within the period for the filing of nomination papers in accordance with the general election law.
    Whenever a vacancy occurs, the remaining members shall notify the regional superintendent of that vacancy within 5 days after its occurrence and shall proceed to fill the vacancy until the next regular school election, at which election a successor shall be elected to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. However, if the vacancy occurs with less than 868 days remaining in the term, or if the vacancy occurs less than 88 days before the next regularly scheduled election for this office then the person so appointed shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term, and no election to fill the vacancy shall be held. Should they fail so to act, within 60 days after the vacancy occurs, the regional superintendent of schools under whose supervision and control the district is operating, as defined in Section 3-14.2 of this Act, shall within 30 days after the remaining members have failed to fill the vacancy, fill the vacancy as provided for herein. Upon the regional superintendent's failure to fill the vacancy, the vacancy shall be filled at the next regularly scheduled election. Whether elected or appointed by the remaining members or regional superintendent, the successor shall be an inhabitant of the particular area from which his or her predecessor was elected if the residential requirements contained in Section 10-10.5 or 12-2 of this Code apply.
    A board of education may appoint a student to the board to serve in an advisory capacity. The student member shall serve for a term as determined by the board. The board may not grant the student member any voting privileges, but shall consider the student member as an advisor. The student member may not participate in or attend any executive session of the board.
(Source: P.A. 101-67, eff. 1-1-20.)

105 ILCS 5/10-10.5

    (105 ILCS 5/10-10.5)
    Sec. 10-10.5. Community unit school district or combined school district formation; school board election.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) or (c) of this Section, for community unit school districts formed before January 1, 1975 and for combined school districts formed before July 1, 1983, the following provisions apply:
        (1) if the territory of the district is greater than
    
2 congressional townships or 72 square miles, then not more than 3 board members may be selected from any one congressional township, except that congressional townships of less than 100 inhabitants shall not be considered for the purpose of this mandatory board representation;
        (2) if in the community unit school district or
    
combined school district at least 75% but not more than 90% of the population is in one congressional township, then 4 board members shall be selected from the congressional township and 3 board members shall be selected from the rest of the district, except that if in the community unit school district or combined school district more than 90% of the population is in one congressional township, then all board members may be selected from one or more congressional townships; and
        (3) if the territory of any community unit school
    
district or combined school district consists of not more than 2 congressional townships or 72 square miles, but consists of more than one congressional township or 36 square miles, outside of the corporate limits of any city, village, or incorporated town within the school district, then not more than 5 board members may be selected from any city, village, or incorporated town in the school district.
    (b)(1) The provisions of subsection (a) of this Section for mandatory board representation shall no longer apply to a community unit school district formed before January 1, 1975, to a combined school district formed before July 1, 1983, or to community consolidated school districts, and the members of the board of education shall be elected at large from within the school district and without restriction by area of residence within the district if both of the following conditions are met with respect to that district:
        (A) A proposition for the election of board members
    
at large and without restriction by area of residence within the school district rather than in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section for mandatory board representation is submitted to the school district's voters at a regular school election or at the general election as provided in this subsection (b).
        (B) A majority of those voting at the election in
    
each congressional township comprising the territory of the school district, including any congressional township of less than 100 inhabitants, vote in favor of the proposition or two-thirds of all voters voting on the proposition vote in favor of the proposition.
        (2) The school board may, by resolution, order
    
submitted or, upon the petition of the lesser of 2,500 or 5% of the school district's registered voters, shall order submitted to the school district's voters, at a regular school election or at the general election, the proposition for the election of board members at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district rather than in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section for mandatory board representation; and the proposition shall thereupon be certified by the board's secretary for submission.
        (3) If a majority of those voting at the election in
    
each congressional township comprising the territory of the school district, including any congressional township of less than 100 inhabitants, vote in favor of the proposition or if two-thirds of all voters voting on the proposition vote in favor of the proposition:
            (A) the proposition to elect board members at
        
large and without restriction by area of residence within the district shall be deemed to have passed,
            (B) new members of the board shall be elected at
        
large and without restriction by area of residence within the district at the next regular school election, and
            (C) the terms of office of the board members
        
incumbent at the time the proposition is adopted shall expire when the new board members that are elected at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district have organized in accordance with Section 10-16.
        (4) In a community unit school district, a combined
    
school district, or a community consolidated school district that formerly elected its members under subsection (a) of this Section to successive terms not exceeding 4 years, the members elected at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district shall be elected for a term of 4 years, and in a community unit school district or combined school district that formerly elected its members under subsection (a) of this Section to successive terms not exceeding 6 years, the members elected at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district shall be elected for a term of 6 years; provided that in each case the terms of the board members initially elected at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district as provided in this subsection (b) shall be staggered and determined in accordance with the provisions of Sections 10-10 and 10-16 of this Code.
    (c) If a school board fills a vacancy under Section 10-10 of this Code due to a lack of candidates for election in a congressional township in the most recent election, then the school board shall, by resolution, order submitted to the school district's voters at the next general election a proposition for the election of a board member at large without restriction by area of residence within the district and the proposition shall be certified by the school board's secretary for submission.
(Source: P.A. 99-91, eff. 1-1-16; 100-800, eff. 1-1-19.)

105 ILCS 5/10-11

    (105 ILCS 5/10-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-11)
    Sec. 10-11. Vacancies. Elective offices become vacant within the meaning of the Act, unless the context indicates otherwise, on the happening of any of the following events, before the expiration of the term of such office:
        1. The death of the incumbent.
        2. His or her resignation in writing filed with the
    
Secretary or Clerk of the Board.
        3. His or her becoming a person under legal
    
disability.
        4. His or her ceasing to be an inhabitant of the
    
district for which he or she was elected.
        5. His or her conviction of an infamous crime, of any
    
offense involving a violation of official oath, or of a violent crime against a child.
        6. His or her removal from office.
        7. The decision of a competent tribunal declaring his
    
or her election void.
        8. His ceasing to be an inhabitant of a particular
    
area from which he was elected, if the residential requirements contained in Section 10-10.5, 11E-35, or 12-2 of this Code are violated.
    No elective office except as herein otherwise provided becomes vacant until the successor of the incumbent of such office has been appointed or elected, as the case may be, and qualified. The successor shall have the same type of residential qualifications as his or her predecessor and, if the residential requirements contained in Section 10-10.5, 11E-35, or 12-2 of this Code apply, the successor, whether elected or appointed by the remaining members or a regional superintendent, shall be an inhabitant of the particular area from which his or her predecessor was elected.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/10-12

    (105 ILCS 5/10-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-12)
    Sec. 10-12. Quorum.
    A majority of the full membership of the board of education shall constitute a quorum. Unless otherwise provided, when a vote is taken upon any measure before the board, a quorum being present, a majority of the votes of the members voting on the measure shall determine the outcome thereof.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-13

    (105 ILCS 5/10-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-13)
    Sec. 10-13. President of board of education. The president of the board of education shall be elected by the members thereof from among their number and serve for 2 years, except that the board by resolution may establish a policy for the term of office to be one year.
    He shall preside at all meetings and shall perform such duties as are imposed upon him by law or by action of the board of education. If he is absent from any meeting or refuses to perform his duties, a president pro tempore shall be appointed. The vice-president of the board, if the board elects such officer, shall be appointed the president pro tempore.
(Source: P.A. 84-497.)

105 ILCS 5/10-13.1

    (105 ILCS 5/10-13.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-13.1)
    Sec. 10-13.1. Vice-President of the board of education. A vice-president of the board of education shall be elected by the members thereof from among their number and serve for 2 years, except that the board by resolution may establish a policy for the term of office to be one year.
    The vice-president shall perform the duties of the president if there is a vacancy in the office of president or in case of the president's absence or inability to act, and other duties imposed upon him by the rules of the board.
(Source: P.A. 85-839.)

105 ILCS 5/10-14

    (105 ILCS 5/10-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-14)
    Sec. 10-14. Secretary of board of education. The secretary of the board of education shall be elected by the board of education and may be a member thereof, who shall serve for 2 years, except that the board by resolution may establish a policy for the term of office to be one year. The secretary, if not a member of the board, may receive such compensation as shall be fixed by the board of education prior to the election of the secretary. If the secretary is a member of the board, he or she may receive such compensation not to exceed $500 per year as shall be fixed by the board and may vote on all questions coming before the board.
    He shall perform the duties usually pertaining to his office, or to the clerk of a board of directors, and such as are imposed on him by law, or by action of the board of education. If he is absent from any meeting or refuses to perform his duties, a secretary pro tempore who may but need not be a member of the board shall be appointed.
(Source: P.A. 86-682.)

105 ILCS 5/10-16

    (105 ILCS 5/10-16) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-16)
    Sec. 10-16. Organization of Board. Within 40 days after the consolidated election, other than the consolidated elections in 1999 and 2001, the board shall organize by electing its officers and fixing a time and place for the regular meetings. However, when school board members are elected at the consolidated elections held in April of 1999 and April of 2001, the board shall organize within 7 days after the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in each such year by electing officers and setting the time and place of the regular meetings. Upon organizing itself as provided in this paragraph, the board shall enter upon the discharge of its duties.
    The regional superintendent of schools having supervision and control, as provided in Section 3-14.2, of a new school district that is governed by the School Code and formed on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1998 shall convene the newly elected board within 7 days after the election of the board of education of that district, whereupon the board shall proceed to organize by electing one of their number as president and electing a secretary, who may or may not be a member. At such meeting the length of term of each of the members shall be determined by lot so that 4 shall serve for 4 years, and 3 for 2 years from the commencement of their terms; provided, however, if such members were not elected at the consolidated election in an odd-numbered year, such initial terms shall be extended to the consolidated election for school board members immediately following the expiration of the initial 4 or 2 year terms. The provisions of this paragraph that relate to the determination of terms by lot shall not apply to the initial members of the board of education of a combined school district who are to be elected to unstaggered terms.
    The terms of the officers of a board of education shall be for 2 years, except that the terms of the officers elected at the organization meeting in November, 2001 shall expire at the organization meeting in April, 2003; provided that the board by resolution may establish a policy for the terms of office to be one year, and provide for the election of officers.
    Special meetings of the board of education may be called by the president or by any 3 members of the board by giving notice thereof in writing, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting. Such notice may be served by mail 48 hours before such meeting or by personal service 24 hours before such meeting. Public notice of meetings must also be given as prescribed in Sections 2.02 and 2.03 of the Open Meetings Act, as now or hereafter amended.
    At each regular and special meeting which is open to the public, members of the public and employees of the district shall be afforded time, subject to reasonable constraints, to comment to or ask questions of the board.
    The president or district superintendent shall, at each regular board meeting, report any requests made of the district under provisions of the Freedom of Information Act and shall report the status of the district's response.
(Source: P.A. 102-798, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-16a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-16a)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-771)
    Sec. 10-16a. School board member's leadership training.
    (a) This Section applies to all school board members serving pursuant to Section 10-10 of this Code who have been elected after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly or appointed to fill a vacancy of at least one year's duration after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly.
    (a-5) In this Section, "trauma" has the meaning ascribed to that term in subsection (b) of Section 3-11 of this Code.
    (b) Every voting member of a school board of a school district elected or appointed for a term beginning after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, within a year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly or the first year of his or her first term, shall complete a minimum of 4 hours of professional development leadership training covering topics in education and labor law, financial oversight and accountability, fiduciary responsibilities of a school board member, and, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, trauma-informed practices for students and staff. The school district shall maintain on its Internet website, if any, the names of all voting members of the school board who have successfully completed the training.
    (b-5) The training regarding trauma-informed practices for students and staff required by this Section must include information that is relevant to and within the scope of the duties of a school board member. Such information may include, but is not limited to:
        (1) the recognition of and care for trauma in
    
students and staff;
        (2) the relationship between staff wellness and
    
student learning;
        (3) the effect of trauma on student behavior and
    
learning;
        (4) the prevalence of trauma among students,
    
including the prevalence of trauma among student populations at higher risk of experiencing trauma;
        (5) the effects of implicit or explicit bias on
    
recognizing trauma among various student groups in connection with race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and other relevant factors; and
        (6) effective district and school practices that are
    
shown to:
            (A) prevent and mitigate the negative effect of
        
trauma on student behavior and learning; and
            (B) support the emotional wellness of staff.
    (c) The training on financial oversight, accountability, fiduciary responsibilities, and, beginning with the 2023-24 school year, trauma-informed practices for students and staff may be provided by an association established under this Code for the purpose of training school board members or by other qualified providers approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with an association so established.
    (d) The State Board of Education may adopt rules that are necessary for the administration of the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-638, eff. 1-1-23; 103-413, eff. 1-1-24.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-771)
    Sec. 10-16a. School board member's training.
    (a) This Section applies to all school board members serving pursuant to Section 10-10 of this Code.
    (a-5) In this Section, "trauma" has the meaning ascribed to that term in subsection (b) of Section 3-11 of this Code.
    (b) Every voting member of a school board of a school district, within the first year of his or her first term, shall complete a minimum of 4 hours of professional development and leadership training covering topics in education and labor law, financial oversight and accountability, fiduciary responsibilities of a school board member, trauma-informed practices for students and staff, and, improving student outcomes. The school district shall maintain on its Internet website, if any, the names of all voting members of the school board who have successfully completed the training.
    (b-5) The training regarding trauma-informed practices for students and staff required by this Section must include information that is relevant to and within the scope of the duties of a school board member. Such information may include, but is not limited to:
        (1) the recognition of and care for trauma in
    
students and staff;
        (2) the relationship between staff wellness and
    
student learning;
        (3) the effect of trauma on student behavior and
    
learning;
        (4) the prevalence of trauma among students,
    
including the prevalence of trauma among student populations at higher risk of experiencing trauma;
        (5) the effects of implicit or explicit bias on
    
recognizing trauma among various student groups in connection with race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and other relevant factors; and
        (6) effective district and school practices that are
    
shown to:
            (A) prevent and mitigate the negative effect of
        
trauma on student behavior and learning; and
            (B) support the emotional wellness of staff.
    (b-10) The training regarding improving student outcomes required by this Section must include information that is relevant to and within the scope of the duties of a school board member.
    (c) The training on financial oversight, accountability, fiduciary responsibilities, trauma-informed practices for students and staff, and improving student outcomes shall be provided by a statewide association established under this Code for the purpose of training school board members or by other qualified providers approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with an association so established.
    (d) The State Board of Education may adopt rules that are necessary for the administration of the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-638, eff. 1-1-23; 103-413, eff. 1-1-24; 103-771, eff. 6-1-25.)

105 ILCS 5/10-16.5

    (105 ILCS 5/10-16.5)
    Sec. 10-16.5. Oath of office. Each school board member, before taking his or her seat on the board, shall take an oath of office, administered as determined by the board, in substantially the following form:
        I, (name of member or successful candidate), do
    
solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of member of the Board of Education (or Board of School Directors, as the case may be) of (name of school district), in accordance with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the laws of the State of Illinois, to the best of my ability.
        I further swear (or affirm) that:
        I shall respect taxpayer interests by serving as a
    
faithful protector of the school district's assets;
        I shall encourage and respect the free expression of
    
opinion by my fellow board members and others who seek a hearing before the board, while respecting the privacy of students and employees;
        I shall recognize that a board member has no legal
    
authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote at a public board meeting;
        I shall abide by majority decisions of the board,
    
while retaining the right to seek changes in such decisions through ethical and constructive channels;
        As part of the Board of Education (or Board of School
    
Directors, as the case may be), I shall accept the responsibility for my role in the equitable and quality education of every student in the school district;
        I shall foster with the board extensive participation
    
of the community, formulate goals, define outcomes, and set the course for (name of school district);
        I shall assist in establishing a structure and an
    
environment designed to ensure all students have the opportunity to attain their maximum potential through a sound organizational framework;
        I shall strive to ensure a continuous assessment of
    
student achievement and all conditions affecting the education of our children, in compliance with State law;
        I shall serve as education's key advocate on behalf
    
of students and our community's school (or schools) to advance the vision for (name of school district); and
        I shall strive to work together with the district
    
superintendent to lead the school district toward fulfilling the vision the board has created, fostering excellence for every student in the areas of academic skills, knowledge, citizenship, and personal development.
(Source: P.A. 100-1055, eff. 1-1-19.)

105 ILCS 5/10-16.7

    (105 ILCS 5/10-16.7)
    Sec. 10-16.7. School board duties with respect to superintendent. In addition to all other powers and duties enumerated in this Article, the school board shall make all employment decisions pertaining to the superintendent. The school board shall direct, through policy, the superintendent in his or her charge of the administration of the school district, including without limitation considering the recommendations of the superintendent concerning the budget, building plans, the locations of sites, the selection, retention, and dismissal of employees, and the selection of textbooks, instructional material, and courses of study. The school board shall evaluate the superintendent in his or her administration of school board policies and his or her stewardship of the assets of the district.
(Source: P.A. 94-881, eff. 6-20-06.)

105 ILCS 5/10-16.9

    (105 ILCS 5/10-16.9)
    Sec. 10-16.9. Bank reconciliation reports. School districts on the financial watch or warning list that are required to submit deficit reduction plans pursuant to Section 17-1 of this Code or that are certified in financial difficulty must transmit the bank reconciliation reports from the school treasurer as required pursuant to Section 8-6 of this Code to the State Board of Education quarterly. The State Board of Education shall establish the dates by which the reconciliation reports must be submitted and provide a template for those districts to utilize.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/10-16.11

    (105 ILCS 5/10-16.11)
    Sec. 10-16.11. Payment of outstanding obligations of a Financial Oversight Panel. The school board of a district subject to a Financial Oversight Panel pursuant to Article 1H of this Code that, except for the existence of outstanding financial obligations of the Financial Oversight Panel, would be able to seek abolition of the Panel pursuant to Section 1H-115 of this Code may: (1) spend surplus district funds in an amount sufficient to liquidate the outstanding obligations of the Financial Oversight Panel or (2) issue funding bonds for such purpose as authorized by Sections 19-8 and 19-9 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/10-17

    (105 ILCS 5/10-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-17)
    Sec. 10-17. Statement of affairs.
    (a) In Class I or Class II county school units the school board may use either a cash basis or accrual system of accounting; however, any board so electing to use the accrual system may not change to a cash basis without the permission of the State Board of Education.
    School Boards using either a cash basis or accrual system of accounting shall maintain records showing the assets, liabilities and fund balances in such minimum forms as may be prescribed by the State Board of Education. Such boards shall make available to the public a statement of the affairs of the district prior to December 1 annually by submitting the statement of affairs in such form as may be prescribed by the State Board of Education for posting on the State Board of Education's Internet website, by having copies of the statement of affairs available in the main administrative office of the district, and by publishing in a newspaper of general circulation published in the school district an annual statement of affairs summary containing at a minimum all of the following information:
        (1) A summary statement of operations for all funds
    
of the district, as excerpted from the statement of affairs filed with the State Board of Education. The summary statement must include a listing of all moneys received by the district, indicating the total amounts, in the aggregate, each fund of the district received, with a general statement concerning the source of receipts.
        (2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this
    
subsection (a), a listing of all moneys paid out by the district where the total amount paid during the fiscal year exceeds $2,500 in the aggregate per person, giving the name of each person to whom moneys were paid and the total paid to each person.
        (3) A listing of all personnel, by name, with an
    
annual fiscal year gross payment in the categories set forth in subdivisions 1 and 2 of subsection (c) of this Section.
In this Section, "newspaper of general circulation" means a newspaper of general circulation published in the school district, or, if no newspaper is published in the school district, a newspaper published in the county where the school district is located or, if no newspaper is published in the county, a newspaper published in the educational service region where the regional superintendent of schools has supervision and control of the school district. The submission to the State Board of Education shall include an assurance that the statement of affairs has been made available in the main administrative office of the school district and that the required notice has been published in accordance with this Section.
    After December 15 annually, upon 10 days prior written notice to the school district, the State Board of Education may discontinue the processing of payments to the State Comptroller's office on behalf of any school district that is not in compliance with the requirements imposed by this Section. The State Board of Education shall resume the processing of payments to the State Comptroller's Office on behalf of the school district once the district is in compliance with the requirements imposed by this Section.
    The State Board of Education must post, on or before January 15, all statements of affairs timely received from school districts.
    (b) When any school district is the administrative district for several school districts operating under a joint agreement as authorized by this Code, no receipts or disbursements accruing, received or paid out by that school district as such an administrative district shall be included in the statement of affairs of the district required by this Section. However, that district shall have prepared and made available to the public, in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section, in the same manner and subject to the same requirements as are provided in this Section for the statement of affairs of that district, a statement showing the cash receipts and disbursements by funds (or the revenue, expenses and financial position, if the accrual system of accounting is used) of the district as such administrative district, in the form prescribed by the State Board of Education. The costs of publishing the notice and summary of this separate statement prepared by such an administrative district shall be apportioned among and paid by the participating districts in the same manner as other costs and expenses accruing to those districts jointly.
    School districts on a cash basis shall have prepared and made available to the public, in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section, a statement showing the cash receipts and disbursements by funds in the form prescribed by the State Board of Education.
    School districts using the accrual system of accounting shall have prepared and made available to the public, in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section, a statement of revenue and expenses and a statement of financial position in the form prescribed by the State Board of Education.
    In Class II county school units such statement shall be prepared and made available to the public, in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section, by the township treasurer of the unit within which such districts are located, except with respect to the school board of any school district that no longer is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer or trustees of schools of a township because the district has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township or because those offices have been abolished as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of Section 5-1, and as to each such school district the statement required by this Section shall be prepared and made available to the public, in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section, by the school board of such district in the same manner as required for school boards of school districts situated in Class I county school units.
    (c) The statement of affairs required pursuant to this Section shall contain such information as may be required by the State Board of Education, including:
        1. Annual fiscal year gross payment for certificated
    
personnel to be shown by name, listing each employee in one of the following categories:
            (a) Under $25,000
            (b) $25,000 to $39,999
            (c) $40,000 to $59,999
            (d) $60,000 to $89,999
            (e) $90,000 and over
        2. Annual fiscal year payment for non-certificated
    
personnel to be shown by name, listing each employee in one of the following categories:
            (a) Under $25,000
            (b) $25,000 to $39,999
            (c) $40,000 to $59,999
            (d) $60,000 and over
        3. In addition to wages and salaries all other moneys
    
in the aggregate paid to recipients of $1,000 or more, giving the name of the person, firm or corporation and the total amount received by each.
        4. Approximate size of school district in square
    
miles.
        5. Number of school attendance centers.
        6. Numbers of employees as follows:
            (a) Full-time certificated employees;
            (b) Part-time certificated employees;
            (c) Full-time non-certificated employees;
            (d) Part-time non-certificated employees.
        7. Numbers of pupils as follows:
            (a) Enrolled by grades;
            (b) Total enrolled;
            (c) Average daily attendance.
        8. Assessed valuation as follows:
            (a) Total of the district;
            (b) Per pupil in average daily attendance.
        9. Tax rate for each district fund.
        10. District financial obligation at the close of the
    
fiscal year as follows:
            (a) Teachers' orders outstanding;
            (b) Anticipation warrants outstanding for each
        
fund.
        11. Total bonded debt at the close of the fiscal
    
year.
        12. Percent of bonding power obligated currently.
        13. Value of capital assets of the district
    
including:
            (a) Land;
            (b) Buildings;
            (c) Equipment.
        14. Total amount of investments each fund.
        15. Change in net cash position from the previous
    
report period for each district fund.
    In addition to the above report, a report of expenditures in the aggregate paid on behalf of recipients of $500 or more, giving the name of the person, firm or corporation and the total amount received by each shall be available in the school district office for public inspection. This listing shall include all wages, salaries and expenditures over $500 expended from any revolving fund maintained by the district. Any resident of the school district may receive a copy of this report, upon request, by paying a reasonable charge to defray the costs of preparing such copy.
    This Section does not apply to cities having a population exceeding 500,000.
(Source: P.A. 94-875, eff. 7-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/10-17a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-17a)
    Sec. 10-17a. State, school district, and school report cards; Expanded High School Snapshot Report.
    (1) By October 31, 2013 and October 31 of each subsequent school year, the State Board of Education, through the State Superintendent of Education, shall prepare a State report card, school district report cards, and school report cards, and shall by the most economical means provide to each school district in this State, including special charter districts and districts subject to the provisions of Article 34, the report cards for the school district and each of its schools. Because of the impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency during school year 2020-2021, the State Board of Education shall have until December 31, 2021 to prepare and provide the report cards that would otherwise be due by October 31, 2021. During a school year in which the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, the report cards for the school districts and each of its schools shall be prepared by December 31.
    (2) In addition to any information required by federal law, the State Superintendent shall determine the indicators and presentation of the school report card, which must include, at a minimum, the most current data collected and maintained by the State Board of Education related to the following:
        (A) school characteristics and student demographics,
    
including average class size, average teaching experience, student racial/ethnic breakdown, and the percentage of students classified as low-income; the percentage of students classified as English learners, the number of students who graduate from a bilingual or English learner program, and the number of students who graduate from, transfer from, or otherwise leave bilingual programs; the percentage of students who have individualized education plans or 504 plans that provide for special education services; the number and the percentage of all students in grades kindergarten through 8, disaggregated by the student demographics described in this paragraph (A), in each of the following categories: (i) those who have been assessed for placement in a gifted education program or accelerated placement, (ii) those who have enrolled in a gifted education program or in accelerated placement, and (iii) for each of categories (i) and (ii), those who received direct instruction from a teacher who holds a gifted education endorsement; the number and the percentage of all students in grades 9 through 12, disaggregated by the student demographics described in this paragraph (A), who have been enrolled in an advanced academic program; the percentage of students scoring at the "exceeds expectations" level on the assessments required under Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code; the percentage of students who annually transferred in or out of the school district; average daily attendance; the per-pupil operating expenditure of the school district; and the per-pupil State average operating expenditure for the district type (elementary, high school, or unit);
        (B) curriculum information, including, where
    
applicable, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or equivalent courses, dual credit courses, foreign language classes, computer science courses, school personnel resources (including Career Technical Education teachers), before and after school programs, extracurricular activities, subjects in which elective classes are offered, health and wellness initiatives (including the average number of days of Physical Education per week per student), approved programs of study, awards received, community partnerships, and special programs such as programming for the gifted and talented, students with disabilities, and work-study students;
        (C) student outcomes, including, where applicable,
    
the percentage of students deemed proficient on assessments of State standards, the percentage of students in the eighth grade who pass Algebra, the percentage of students who participated in workplace learning experiences, the percentage of students enrolled in post-secondary institutions (including colleges, universities, community colleges, trade/vocational schools, and training programs leading to career certification within 2 semesters of high school graduation), the percentage of students graduating from high school who are college and career ready, the percentage of graduates enrolled in community colleges, colleges, and universities who are in one or more courses that the community college, college, or university identifies as a developmental course, and the percentage of students with disabilities under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Article 14 of this Code who have fulfilled the minimum State graduation requirements set forth in Section 27-22 of this Code and have been issued a regular high school diploma;
        (D) student progress, including, where applicable,
    
the percentage of students in the ninth grade who have earned 5 credits or more without failing more than one core class, a measure of students entering kindergarten ready to learn, a measure of growth, and the percentage of students who enter high school on track for college and career readiness;
        (E) the school environment, including, where
    
applicable, high school dropout rate by grade level, the percentage of students with less than 10 absences in a school year, the percentage of teachers with less than 10 absences in a school year for reasons other than professional development, leaves taken pursuant to the federal Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, long-term disability, or parental leaves, the 3-year average of the percentage of teachers returning to the school from the previous year, the number of different principals at the school in the last 6 years, the number of teachers who hold a gifted education endorsement, the process and criteria used by the district to determine whether a student is eligible for participation in a gifted education program or advanced academic program and the manner in which parents and guardians are made aware of the process and criteria, the number of teachers who are National Board Certified Teachers, disaggregated by race and ethnicity, 2 or more indicators from any school climate survey selected or approved by the State and administered pursuant to Section 2-3.153 of this Code, with the same or similar indicators included on school report cards for all surveys selected or approved by the State pursuant to Section 2-3.153 of this Code, the combined percentage of teachers rated as proficient or excellent in their most recent evaluation, and, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, data on the number of incidents of violence that occurred on school grounds or during school-related activities and that resulted in an out-of-school suspension, expulsion, or removal to an alternative setting, as reported pursuant to Section 2-3.162;
        (F) a school district's and its individual schools'
    
balanced accountability measure, in accordance with Section 2-3.25a of this Code;
        (G) the total and per pupil normal cost amount the
    
State contributed to the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois in the prior fiscal year for the school's employees, which shall be reported to the State Board of Education by the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois;
        (H) for a school district organized under Article 34
    
of this Code only, State contributions to the Public School Teachers' Pension and Retirement Fund of Chicago and State contributions for health care for employees of that school district;
        (I) a school district's Final Percent of Adequacy, as
    
defined in paragraph (4) of subsection (f) of Section 18-8.15 of this Code;
        (J) a school district's Local Capacity Target, as
    
defined in paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section 18-8.15 of this Code, displayed as a percentage amount;
        (K) a school district's Real Receipts, as defined in
    
paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of Section 18-8.15 of this Code, divided by a school district's Adequacy Target, as defined in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section 18-8.15 of this Code, displayed as a percentage amount;
        (L) a school district's administrative costs;
        (M) whether or not the school has participated in the
    
Illinois Youth Survey. In this paragraph (M), "Illinois Youth Survey" means a self-report survey, administered in school settings every 2 years, designed to gather information about health and social indicators, including substance abuse patterns and the attitudes of students in grades 8, 10, and 12;
        (N) whether the school offered its students career
    
and technical education opportunities; and
        (O) beginning with the October 2024 report card, the
    
total number of school counselors, school social workers, school nurses, and school psychologists by school, district, and State, the average number of students per school counselor in the school, district, and State, the average number of students per school social worker in the school, district, and State, the average number of students per school nurse in the school, district, and State, and the average number of students per school psychologist in the school, district, and State.
    The school report card shall also provide information that allows for comparing the current outcome, progress, and environment data to the State average, to the school data from the past 5 years, and to the outcomes, progress, and environment of similar schools based on the type of school and enrollment of low-income students, special education students, and English learners.
    As used in this subsection (2):
    "Accelerated placement" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 14A-17 of this Code.
    "Administrative costs" means costs associated with executive, administrative, or managerial functions within the school district that involve planning, organizing, managing, or directing the school district.
    "Advanced academic program" means a course of study, including, but not limited to, accelerated placement, advanced placement coursework, International Baccalaureate coursework, dual credit, or any course designated as enriched or honors, that a student is enrolled in based on advanced cognitive ability or advanced academic achievement compared to local age peers and in which the curriculum is substantially differentiated from the general curriculum to provide appropriate challenge and pace.
    "Computer science" means the study of computers and algorithms, including their principles, their hardware and software designs, their implementation, and their impact on society. "Computer science" does not include the study of everyday uses of computers and computer applications, such as keyboarding or accessing the Internet.
    "Gifted education" means educational services, including differentiated curricula and instructional methods, designed to meet the needs of gifted children as defined in Article 14A of this Code.
    For the purposes of paragraph (A) of this subsection (2), "average daily attendance" means the average of the actual number of attendance days during the previous school year for any enrolled student who is subject to compulsory attendance by Section 26-1 of this Code at each school and charter school.
    (2.5) For any school report card prepared after July 1, 2025, for all high school graduation completion rates that are reported on the school report card as required under this Section or by any other State or federal law, the State Superintendent of Education shall also report the percentage of students who did not meet the requirements of high school graduation completion for any reason and, of those students, the percentage that are classified as students who fulfill the requirements of Section 14-16 of this Code.
    The State Superintendent shall ensure that for the 2023-2024 school year there is a specific code for districts to report students who fulfill the requirements of Section 14-16 of this Code to ensure accurate reporting under this Section.
    All reporting requirements under this subsection (2.5) shall be included on the school report card where high school graduation completion rates are reported, along with a brief explanation of how fulfilling the requirements of Section 14-16 of this Code is different from receiving a regular high school diploma.
    (3) At the discretion of the State Superintendent, the school district report card shall include a subset of the information identified in paragraphs (A) through (E) of subsection (2) of this Section, as well as information relating to the operating expense per pupil and other finances of the school district, and the State report card shall include a subset of the information identified in paragraphs (A) through (E) and paragraph (N) of subsection (2) of this Section. The school district report card shall include the average daily attendance, as that term is defined in subsection (2) of this Section, of students who have individualized education programs and students who have 504 plans that provide for special education services within the school district.
    (4) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, in consultation with key education stakeholders, the State Superintendent shall at any time have the discretion to amend or update any and all metrics on the school, district, or State report card.
    (5) Annually, no more than 30 calendar days after receipt of the school district and school report cards from the State Superintendent of Education, each school district, including special charter districts and districts subject to the provisions of Article 34, shall present such report cards at a regular school board meeting subject to applicable notice requirements, post the report cards on the school district's Internet web site, if the district maintains an Internet web site, make the report cards available to a newspaper of general circulation serving the district, and, upon request, send the report cards home to a parent (unless the district does not maintain an Internet web site, in which case the report card shall be sent home to parents without request). If the district posts the report card on its Internet web site, the district shall send a written notice home to parents stating (i) that the report card is available on the web site, (ii) the address of the web site, (iii) that a printed copy of the report card will be sent to parents upon request, and (iv) the telephone number that parents may call to request a printed copy of the report card.
    (6) Nothing contained in Public Act 98-648 repeals, supersedes, invalidates, or nullifies final decisions in lawsuits pending on July 1, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-648) in Illinois courts involving the interpretation of Public Act 97-8.
    (7) As used in this subsection (7):
    "Advanced coursework or programs" means any high school courses, sequence of courses, or class or grouping of students organized to provide more rigorous, enriched, advanced, accelerated, gifted, or above grade-level instruction. This may include, but is not limited to, Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, honors, weighted, advanced, or enriched courses, or gifted or accelerated programs, classrooms, or courses.
    "Course" means any high school class or course offered by a school that is assigned a school course code by the State Board of Education.
    "High school" means a school that maintains any of grades 9 through 12.
    "Standard coursework or programs" means any high school courses or classes other than advanced coursework or programs.
    By December 31, 2027 and by December 31 of each subsequent year, the State Board of Education, through the State Superintendent of Education, shall prepare a stand-alone report covering all public high schools in this State, to be referred to as the Expanded High School Coursework Snapshot Report. The State Board shall post the Report on the State Board's Internet website. Each school district with high school enrollment for the reporting year shall include on the school district's Internet website, if the district maintains an Internet website, a hyperlink to the Report on the State Board's Internet website titled "Expanded High School Coursework Snapshot Report". Hyperlinks under this subsection (7) shall be displayed in a manner that is easily accessible to the public.
    The Expanded High School Coursework Snapshot Report shall include:
        (A) a listing of all standard coursework or programs
    
that have high school student enrollment;
        (B) a listing of all advanced coursework or programs
    
that have high school student enrollment;
        (C) a listing of all coursework or programs that have
    
high school student enrollment by English learners;
        (D) a listing of all coursework or programs that have
    
high school student enrollment by students with disabilities;
        (E) data tables and graphs comparing advanced
    
coursework or programs enrollment with standard coursework or programs enrollment according to the following parameters:
            (i) the average years of experience of all
        
teachers in a high school who are assigned to teach advanced coursework or programs compared with the average years of experience of all teachers in the high school who are assigned to teach standard coursework or programs;
            (ii) the average years of experience of all
        
teachers in a high school who are assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school enrollment by students with disabilities compared with the average years of experience of all teachers in the high school who are not assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by students with disabilities;
            (iii) the average years of experience of all
        
teachers in a high school who are assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by English learners compared with the average years of experience of all teachers in the high school who are not assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by English learners;
            (iv) the number of high school teachers who
        
possess bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or higher degrees and who are assigned to teach advanced coursework or programs compared with the number of teachers who possess bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or higher degrees and who are assigned to teach standard coursework or programs;
            (v) the number of high school teachers who
        
possess bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or higher degrees and who are assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by students with disabilities compared with the number of teachers who possess bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or higher degrees and who are not assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by students with disabilities;
            (vi) the number of high school teachers who
        
possess bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or higher degrees and who are assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by English learners compared with the number of teachers who possess bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, or higher degrees and who are not assigned to teach coursework or programs that have high school student enrollment by English learners;
            (vii) the average student enrollment of advanced
        
coursework or programs offered in a high school compared with the average student enrollment of standard coursework or programs;
            (viii) the percentages of high school students,
        
by race, gender, and program student group, who are enrolled in advanced coursework or programs;
            (ix) (blank);
            (x) (blank);
            (xi) (blank);
            (xii) (blank);
            (xiii) (blank);
            (xiv) the percentage of high school students, by
        
race, gender, and program student group, who earn the equivalent of a C grade or higher on a grade A through F scale in one or more advanced coursework or programs compared with the percentage of high school students, by race, gender, and program student group, who earn the equivalent of a C grade or higher on a grade A through F scale in one or more standard coursework or programs;
            (xv) (blank);
            (xvi) (blank); and
        (F) data tables and graphs for each race and
    
ethnicity category and gender category describing:
            (i) the total student number and student
        
percentage for Advanced Placement courses taken by race and ethnicity category and gender category;
            (ii) the total student number and student
        
percentage for International Baccalaureate courses taken by race and ethnicity category and gender category;
            (iii) (blank);
            (iv) (blank); and
            (v) the total student number and student
        
percentage of high school students who earn a score of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement exam associated with an Advanced Placement course.
    For data on teacher experience and education under this subsection (7), a teacher who teaches a combination of courses designated as advanced coursework or programs, courses or programs that have high school student enrollment by English learners, or standard coursework or programs shall be included in all relevant categories and the teacher's level of experience shall be added to the categories.
(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21; 102-294, eff. 1-1-22; 102-539, eff. 8-20-21; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-594, eff. 7-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-116, eff. 6-30-23; 103-263, eff. 6-30-23; 103-413, eff, 1-1-24; 103-503, eff. 1-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-18

    (105 ILCS 5/10-18) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-18)
    Sec. 10-18. Orders. Every order issued by the school board shall state for what purposes or on what account it is issued, and shall be in the following form:
$.... State of Illinois, (insert date)
THE TREASURER
(Insert name)
Of School District No. .... in .... County,
Pay to the order of .... the sum of .... Dollars, for.........
..............................................................
..............................................................
By order of the School Board of
    District No. ...., in said County.
Order No. ....
...................President
........Clerk (or Secretary)
    An order paid in full and properly endorsed shall be a sufficient receipt for the purposes of this Act. The school board shall issue no order, except for teachers' wages, unless at the time there are sufficient funds in the hands of the treasurer to pay it.
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

105 ILCS 5/10-19

    (105 ILCS 5/10-19) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-19)
    Sec. 10-19. Length of school term - experimental programs. Each school board shall annually prepare a calendar for the school term, specifying the opening and closing dates and providing a minimum term of at least 185 days to insure 176 days of actual pupil attendance, computable under Section 10-19.05, except that for the 1980-1981 school year only 175 days of actual pupil attendance shall be required because of the closing of schools pursuant to Section 24-2 on January 29, 1981 upon the appointment by the President of that day as a day of thanksgiving for the freedom of the Americans who had been held hostage in Iran. Any days allowed by law for teachers' institutes but not used as such or used as parental institutes as provided in Section 10-22.18d shall increase the minimum term by the school days not so used. Except as provided in Section 10-19.1, the board may not extend the school term beyond such closing date unless that extension of term is necessary to provide the minimum number of computable days. In case of such necessary extension school employees shall be paid for such additional time on the basis of their regular contracts. A school board may specify a closing date earlier than that set on the annual calendar when the schools of the district have provided the minimum number of computable days under this Section. Nothing in this Section prevents the board from employing superintendents of schools, principals and other nonteaching personnel for a period of 12 months, or in the case of superintendents for a period in accordance with Section 10-23.8, or prevents the board from employing other personnel before or after the regular school term with payment of salary proportionate to that received for comparable work during the school term. Remote learning days, blended remote learning days, and up to 5 remote and blended remote learning planning days established under Section 10-30 or 34-18.66 shall be deemed pupil attendance days for calculation of the length of a school term under this Section.
    A school board may make such changes in its calendar for the school term as may be required by any changes in the legal school holidays prescribed in Section 24-2. A school board may make changes in its calendar for the school term as may be necessary to reflect the utilization of teachers' institute days as parental institute days as provided in Section 10-22.18d.
    The calendar for the school term and any changes must be submitted to and approved by the regional superintendent of schools before the calendar or changes may take effect.
    With the prior approval of the State Board of Education and subject to review by the State Board of Education every 3 years, any school board may, by resolution of its board and in agreement with affected exclusive collective bargaining agents, establish experimental educational programs, including but not limited to programs for e-learning days as authorized under Section 10-20.56 of this Code, self-directed learning, or outside of formal class periods, which programs when so approved shall be considered to comply with the requirements of this Section as respects numbers of days of actual pupil attendance and with the other requirements of this Act as respects courses of instruction.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17; 101-12, eff. 7-1-19; 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)

105 ILCS 5/10-19.05

    (105 ILCS 5/10-19.05)
    Sec. 10-19.05. Daily pupil attendance calculation.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, for a pupil of legal school age and in kindergarten or any of grades 1 through 12, a day of attendance shall be counted only for sessions of not less than 5 clock hours of school work per day under direct supervision of (i) teachers or (ii) non-teaching personnel or volunteer personnel when engaging in non-teaching duties and supervising in those instances specified in subsection (a) of Section 10-22.34 and paragraph 10 of Section 34-18. Days of attendance by pupils through verified participation in an e-learning program adopted by a school board and verified by the regional office of education or intermediate service center for the school district under Section 10-20.56 of this Code shall be considered as full days of attendance under this Section.
    (b) A pupil regularly enrolled in a public school for only a part of the school day may be counted on the basis of one-sixth of a school day for every class hour of instruction of 40 minutes or more attended pursuant to such enrollment, unless a pupil is enrolled in a block-schedule format of 80 minutes or more of instruction, in which case the pupil may be counted on the basis of the proportion of minutes of school work completed each day to the minimum number of minutes that school work is required to be held that day.
    (c) A session of 4 or more clock hours may be counted as a day of attendance upon certification by the regional superintendent of schools and approval by the State Superintendent of Education to the extent that the district has been forced to use daily multiple sessions.
    (d) A session of 3 or more clock hours may be counted as a day of attendance (1) when the remainder of the school day or at least 2 hours in the evening of that day is utilized for an in-service training program for teachers, up to a maximum of 10 days per school year, provided that a district conducts an in-service training program for teachers in accordance with Section 10-22.39 of this Code, or, in lieu of 4 such days, 2 full days may be used, in which event each such day may be counted as a day required for a legal school calendar pursuant to Section 10-19 of this Code; (2) when, of the 5 days allowed under item (1), a maximum of 4 days are used for parent-teacher conferences, or, in lieu of 4 such days, 2 full days are used, in which case each such day may be counted as a calendar day required under Section 10-19 of this Code, provided that the full-day, parent-teacher conference consists of (i) a minimum of 5 clock hours of parent-teacher conferences, (ii) both a minimum of 2 clock hours of parent-teacher conferences held in the evening following a full day of student attendance and a minimum of 3 clock hours of parent-teacher conferences held on the day immediately following evening parent-teacher conferences, or (iii) multiple parent-teacher conferences held in the evenings following full days of student attendance in which the time used for the parent-teacher conferences is equivalent to a minimum of 5 clock hours; and (3) when days in addition to those provided in items (1) and (2) are scheduled by a school pursuant to its school improvement plan adopted under Article 34 or its revised or amended school improvement plan adopted under Article 2, provided that (i) such sessions of 3 or more clock hours are scheduled to occur at regular intervals, (ii) the remainder of the school days in which such sessions occur are utilized for in-service training programs or other staff development activities for teachers, and (iii) a sufficient number of minutes of school work under the direct supervision of teachers are added to the school days between such regularly scheduled sessions to accumulate not less than the number of minutes by which such sessions of 3 or more clock hours fall short of 5 clock hours. Days scheduled for in-service training programs, staff development activities, or parent-teacher conferences may be scheduled separately for different grade levels and different attendance centers of the district.
    (e) A session of not less than one clock hour of teaching hospitalized or homebound pupils on-site or by telephone to the classroom may be counted as a half day of attendance; however, these pupils must receive 4 or more clock hours of instruction to be counted for a full day of attendance.
    (f) A session of at least 4 clock hours may be counted as a day of attendance for first grade pupils and pupils in full-day kindergartens, and a session of 2 or more hours may be counted as a half day of attendance by pupils in kindergartens that provide only half days of attendance.
    (g) For children with disabilities who are below the age of 6 years and who cannot attend 2 or more clock hours because of their disability or immaturity, a session of not less than one clock hour may be counted as a half day of attendance; however, for such children whose educational needs require a session of 4 or more clock hours, a session of at least 4 clock hours may be counted as a full day of attendance.
    (h) A recognized kindergarten that provides for only a half day of attendance by each pupil shall not have more than one half day of attendance counted in any one day. However, kindergartens may count 2 and a half days of attendance in any 5 consecutive school days. When a pupil attends such a kindergarten for 2 half days on any one school day, the pupil shall have the following day as a day absent from school, unless the school district obtains permission in writing from the State Superintendent of Education. Attendance at kindergartens that provide for a full day of attendance by each pupil shall be counted the same as attendance by first grade pupils. Only the first year of attendance in one kindergarten shall be counted, except in the case of children who entered the kindergarten in their fifth year whose educational development requires a second year of kindergarten as determined under rules of the State Board of Education.
    (i) On the days when the State's final accountability assessment is administered under subsection (c) of Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code, the day of attendance for a pupil whose school day must be shortened to accommodate required testing procedures may be less than 5 clock hours and shall be counted toward the 176 days of actual pupil attendance required under Section 10-19 of this Code, provided that a sufficient number of minutes of school work in excess of 5 clock hours are first completed on other school days to compensate for the loss of school work on the examination days.
    (j) Pupils enrolled in a remote educational program established under Section 10-29 of this Code may be counted on the basis of a one-fifth day of attendance for every clock hour of instruction attended in the remote educational program, provided that, in any month, the school district may not claim for a student enrolled in a remote educational program more days of attendance than the maximum number of days of attendance the district can claim (i) for students enrolled in a building holding year-round classes if the student is classified as participating in the remote educational program on a year-round schedule or (ii) for students enrolled in a building not holding year-round classes if the student is not classified as participating in the remote educational program on a year-round schedule.
    (j-5) The clock hour requirements of subsections (a) through (j) of this Section do not apply if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. The State Superintendent of Education may establish minimum clock hour requirements under Sections 10-30 and 34-18.66 if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.
    (k) Pupil participation in any of the following activities shall be counted toward the calculation of clock hours of school work per day:
        (1) Instruction in a college course in which a
    
student is dually enrolled for both high school credit and college credit.
        (2) Participation in a Supervised Career
    
Development Experience, as defined in Section 10 of the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act, or any work-based learning experience in which student participation and learning outcomes are directed by an educator licensed under Article 21B for assessment of competencies. Participation in a work-based learning experience may include, but is not limited to, scheduled events of State FFA associations, the National FFA Organization, and 4-H programs as part of organized competitions or exhibitions. The student and the student's parent or legal guardian shall be responsible for obtaining assignments missed while the student was participating in a Supervised Career Development Experience or other work-based learning experience pursuant to this paragraph (2) from the student's teacher.
        (3) Participation in a youth apprenticeship, as
    
jointly defined in rules of the State Board of Education and Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in which student participation and outcomes are directed by an educator licensed under Article 21B for assessment of competencies. The student and the student's parent or legal guardian shall be responsible for obtaining assignments missed while the student was participating in a youth apprenticeship pursuant to this paragraph (3) from the student's teacher.
        (4) Participation in a blended learning program
    
approved by the school district in which course content, student evaluation, and instructional methods are supervised by an educator licensed under Article 21B.
(Source: P.A. 103-560, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-19.1

    (105 ILCS 5/10-19.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-19.1)
    Sec. 10-19.1. Full year school plan.
    (a) Any school district may, by resolution of its board, operate one or more schools within the district on a full year school plan approved by the State Board of Education. Any board which operates under this subsection (a) shall devise a plan so that a student's required attendance in school shall be for a minimum term of 180 days of actual attendance, including not more than 4 institute days, during a 12 month period, but shall not exceed 185 days. Under such plan, no teacher shall be required to teach more than 185 days. A calendar of 180 days may be established with the approval of the State Board of Education.
    (b) Any school board that operates one or more schools within the school district on a pilot full-year school plan under subsection (a-5) of Section 2-3.25f of this Code shall devise a plan so that a student's required attendance in school shall be for a minimum term of 215 days of actual attendance, including not more than 4 institute days, during a 12-month period. A calendar of 215 days may be established with the approval of the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 97-370, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/10-19.2

    (105 ILCS 5/10-19.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-19.2)
    Sec. 10-19.2. Full year feasibility study - grant - transitional expenditure reimbursement. Any school district, including special charter districts, may, by resolution of its board, file an application with the State Board of Education and, if approved, receive funds for the purpose of conducting a study of the feasibility of operating one or more schools within the district on a full year school plan pursuant to Section 10-19.1. Such feasibility study shall include, but need not be limited to, the educational program, building and space needs, administrative and personnel costs, pupil distribution in the district, community attitudes and transportation costs. The Board of Education of any district which conducts a feasibility study pursuant to this Section shall submit a final report to the State Board of Education upon completion of the study or within one year after receipt of funds, whichever occurs first.
    School districts seeking State financial support to conduct feasibility studies shall file applications with the State Board of Education on forms provided by the State Board. The State Board of Education may grant or deny applications, in whole or in part, and provide the funds necessary to implement approved applications, provided that the total amount of funds necessary to implement approved applications does not exceed the annual appropriation for that purpose.
    If, based upon the results of a full year feasibility study, a school district determines that it will operate one or more schools within the district in accordance with Section 10-19.1, the State Board of Education may, pursuant to guidelines established by the State Board, reimburse such district for expenditures resulting from making such transition, provided that no expenditure shall be reimbursed which would have been incurred by a school district in the absence of a changeover to a full year school program.
    In the event any funds appropriated for transition reimbursement during any fiscal year are insufficient for that purpose, payment shall be made in the proportion that the total amount of such expenditures bears to the total amount of money available for payment.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/10-19.3

    (105 ILCS 5/10-19.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-19.3)
    Sec. 10-19.3. Advertisements for employees during strikes. No school board shall advertise seeking to hire employees to replace employees on strike without stating in such advertisement that a strike is in progress.
(Source: P.A. 84-468.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20)
    Sec. 10-20. Powers of school board. The school board has the powers enumerated in the Sections of this Article following this Section. This enumeration of powers is not exclusive, but the board may exercise all other powers not inconsistent with this Act that may be requisite or proper for the maintenance, operation, and development of any school or schools under the jurisdiction of the board. This grant of powers does not release a school board from any duty imposed upon it by this Act or any other law.
(Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94; 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.1

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.1)
    Sec. 10-20.1. Records to be retained. To maintain records to substantiate all district claims for State aid in accordance with regulations prescribed by the State Board of Education and to retain such records for a period of three years.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.2

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.2)
    Sec. 10-20.2. Report of teachers employed.
    To report to the county superintendent within ten days after their employment the names of all teachers employed, with the dates of the beginning and end of their contracts.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.2b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.2b)
    Sec. 10-20.2b. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 85-611. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.3

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.3)
    Sec. 10-20.3. Revenue to be provided.
    To provide for the revenue necessary to maintain schools in their districts.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.4

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.4)
    Sec. 10-20.4. District in two or more townships - Treasurer to receive taxes.
    To determine, in case of a district which is situated in a Class II county school unit and which is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of a township but composed of parts of two or more townships, which treasurer is to receive the taxes of the district, and to notify the collectors in writing accordingly.
(Source: P.A. 86-1441.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.5

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.5)
    Sec. 10-20.5. Rules. To adopt and enforce all necessary rules for the management and government of the public schools of their district. Rules adopted by the school board shall be filed for public inspection in the administrative office of the district.
(Source: P.A. 81-1003.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.5a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.5a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.5a)
    Sec. 10-20.5a. Access to high school campus.
    (a) For school districts maintaining grades 10 through 12, to provide, on an equal basis, and consistent with the federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act, access to a high school campus and student directory information to the official recruiting representatives of the armed forces of Illinois and the United States, and State public institutions of higher education for the purpose of informing students of educational and career opportunities if the board has provided such access to persons or groups whose purpose is to acquaint students with educational or occupational opportunities available to them. The board is not required to give greater notice regarding the right of access to recruiting representatives than is given to other persons and groups. In this Section, "directory information" means a high school student's name, address, and telephone number.
    (b) If a student or his or her parent or guardian submits a signed, written request to the high school before the end of the student's sophomore year (or if the student is a transfer student, by another time set by the high school) that indicates that the student or his or her parent or guardian does not want the student's directory information to be provided to official recruiting representatives under subsection (a) of this Section, the high school may not provide access to the student's directory information to these recruiting representatives. The high school shall notify its students and their parents or guardians of the provisions of this subsection (b).
    (c) A high school may require official recruiting representatives of the armed forces of Illinois and the United States to pay a fee for copying and mailing a student's directory information in an amount that is not more than the actual costs incurred by the high school.
    (d) Information received by an official recruiting representative under this Section may be used only to provide information to students concerning educational and career opportunities and may not be released to a person who is not involved in recruiting students for the armed forces of Illinois or the United States, or State institutions of higher education.
    (e) By January 1, 2024, student directory information shall be made electronically accessible through a secure centralized data system for official recruiting representatives of the armed forces of Illinois and the United States, and State public institutions of higher education.
(Source: P.A. 103-204, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.5b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.5b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.5b)
    Sec. 10-20.5b. Tobacco prohibition. Each school board shall prohibit the use of tobacco on school property by any school personnel, student, or other person when such property is being used for any school purposes. The school board may not authorize or permit any exception to or exemption from the prohibition at any place or at any time, including, without limitation, outside of school buildings or before or after the regular school day or on days when school is not in session. "School purposes" includes, but is not limited to, all events or activities or other use of school property that the school board or school officials authorize or permit on school property, including, without limitation, all interscholastic or extracurricular athletic, academic, or other events sponsored by the school board or in which pupils of the district participate. For purposes of this Section "tobacco" shall mean a cigarette, a cigar, or tobacco in any other form, including smokeless tobacco which is any loose, cut, shredded, ground, powdered, compressed, or leaf tobacco that is intended to be placed in the mouth without being smoked.
(Source: P.A. 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.6

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.6) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.6)
    Sec. 10-20.6. Maintain schools. To maintain the public schools under their jurisdiction as the good of the schools may require and in conformance with the code authorized in Section 2-3.12.
(Source: P.A. 96-998, eff. 7-2-10.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.7

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.7) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.7)
    Sec. 10-20.7. Appoint teachers and fix salaries. To appoint all teachers and fix the amount of their salaries, subject to limitations set forth in this Act. In fixing salaries of certificated employees, school boards shall make no discrimination on account of sex and there shall be no loss in salary because of jury duty or because such employee, pursuant to subpoena issued by the clerk of a court and served on such employee, attends as a witness upon trial or to have his or her deposition taken in any school related matter pending in court, except that the board may make a deduction equal to the amount received for such jury duty or for per diem fees which the employee is entitled to receive for complying with such subpoena. Certified employees may be paid full salary by the board when in the active service of this State, under orders of the Commander-in-Chief, as members of the Illinois National Guard or Illinois Naval Militia, provided that the board may deduct from such salary any amounts received for such State service. A school board may at any time after January 1 employ teachers for the school year beginning on the following July 1.
(Source: P.A. 86-1366.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.7a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.7a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.7a)
    Sec. 10-20.7a. Minority recruitment policy. To develop and implement, by 1991, a policy of recruitment and hiring of minority teachers, other certificated employees and non-certificated employees, including custodians, lunch room staff and teacher aides.
(Source: P.A. 86-227.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.7b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.7b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.7b)
    Sec. 10-20.7b. Active military service. Any certificated or non-certificated employee of a school board who is a member of any reserve component of the United States Armed Services, including the Illinois National Guard, and who is mobilized to active military duty on or after August 1, 1990, shall for each pay period beginning on or after August 1, 1990 continue to receive the same regular compensation that he receives or was receiving as an employee of the school board at the time he is or was so mobilized to active military duty, plus any health insurance and other benefits he is or was receiving or accruing at that time, minus the amount of his base pay for military service, for the duration of his active military service. Such active military duty shall not result in the loss or diminishment of any employment benefit, service credit, or status accrued at the time the duty commenced if the duty commenced on or after September 1, 2001.
    In the event any provision of a collective bargaining agreement or any school board or district policy covering any employee so ordered to active duty is more generous than the provisions contained in this Section, the collective bargaining agreement or school board or district policy shall be controlling.
(Source: P.A. 92-660, eff. 7-16-02.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.8

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.8) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.8)
    Sec. 10-20.8. Branches of study, textbooks and apparatus.
    To direct what branches of study shall be taught and what apparatus shall be used. Subject to Article 28 of this Act, to direct what textbooks shall be used and to enforce uniformity of textbooks in the public schools; but not to maintain grades above the eighth unless such grades were maintained during the school year ended June 30, 1959. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section or the School Code, no school board may purchase any textbook for use in the public schools from any textbook publisher that fails to furnish any computer diskettes as required under Section 28-21.
(Source: P.A. 87-1071.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.9

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.9)
    Sec. 10-20.9. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.9a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.9a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.9a)
    Sec. 10-20.9a. Final grade; promotion.
    (a) Teachers shall administer the approved marking system or other approved means of evaluating pupil progress. The teacher shall maintain the responsibility and right to determine grades and other evaluations of students within the grading policies of the district based upon his or her professional judgment of available criteria pertinent to any given subject area or activity for which he or she is responsible. District policy shall provide the procedure and reasons by and for which a grade may be changed; provided that no grade or evaluation shall be changed without notification to the teacher concerning the nature and reasons for such change. If such a change is made, the person making the change shall assume such responsibility for determining the grade or evaluation, and shall initial such change.
    (b) School districts shall not promote students to the next higher grade level based upon age or any other social reasons not related to the academic performance of the students. On or before September 1, 1998, school boards shall adopt and enforce a policy on promotion as they deem necessary to ensure that students meet local goals and objectives and can perform at the expected grade level prior to promotion. Decisions to promote or retain students in any classes shall be based on successful completion of the curriculum, attendance, performance based on the assessments required under Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code, the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, or other testing or any other criteria established by the school board. Students determined by the local district to not qualify for promotion to the next higher grade shall be provided remedial assistance, which may include, but shall not be limited to, a summer bridge program of no less than 90 hours, tutorial sessions, increased or concentrated instructional time, modifications to instructional materials, and retention in grade.
    (c) No public high school of a school district shall withhold a student's grades, transcripts, or diploma because of an unpaid balance on the student's school account.
    At the end of each school year, the school district shall catalogue and report to the State Board of Education the total amount that remains unpaid by students due to the prohibition under this subsection (c).
    (d) On and after 3 years from the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, subsection (c) is inoperative.
(Source: P.A. 102-727, eff. 5-6-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.12

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.12) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.12)
    Sec. 10-20.12. School year - School age. To establish and keep in operation in each year during a school term of at least the minimum length required by Section 10-19, a sufficient number of free schools for the accommodation of all persons in the district who are 5 years of age or older but under 21 years of age, and to secure for all such persons the right and opportunity to an equal education in such schools; provided that (i) children who will attain the age of 5 years on or before September 1 of the year of the 1990-1991 school term and each school term thereafter may attend school upon the commencement of such term and (ii) based upon an assessment of the child's readiness, children who have attended a non-public preschool and continued their education at that school through kindergarten, were taught in kindergarten by an appropriately certified teacher, and will attain the age of 6 years on or before December 31 of the year of the 2009-2010 school term and each school term thereafter may attend first grade upon commencement of such term. However, Section 33 of the Educational Opportunity for Military Children Act shall apply to children of active duty military personnel. Based upon an assessment of a child's readiness to attend school, a school district may permit a child to attend school prior to the dates contained in this Section. In any school district operating on a full year school basis children who will attain age 5 within 30 days after the commencement of a term may attend school upon the commencement of such term and, based upon an assessment of the child's readiness, children who have attended a non-public preschool and continued their education at that school through kindergarten, were taught in kindergarten by an appropriately certified teacher, and will attain age 6 within 4 months after the commencement of a term may attend first grade upon the commencement of such term. The school district may, by resolution of its board, allow for a full year school plan.
(Source: P.A. 98-673, eff. 6-30-14.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.12a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.12a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.12a)
    Sec. 10-20.12a. Tuition for non-resident pupils.
    (a) To charge non-resident pupils who attend the schools of the district tuition in an amount not exceeding 110% of the per capita cost of maintaining the schools of the district for the preceding school year.
    Such per capita cost shall be computed by dividing the total cost of conducting and maintaining the schools of the district by the average daily attendance, including tuition pupils. Depreciation on the buildings and equipment of the schools of the district, and the amount of annual depreciation on such buildings and equipment shall be dependent upon the useful life of such property.
    The tuition charged shall in no case exceed 110% of the per capita cost of conducting and maintaining the schools of the district attended, as determined with reference to the most recent audit prepared under Section 3-7 which is available at the commencement of the current school year. Non-resident pupils attending the schools of the district for less than the school term shall have their tuition apportioned, however pupils who become non-resident during a school term shall not be charged tuition for the remainder of the school term in which they became non-resident pupils.
    Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, a school district may waive tuition costs for a non-resident pupil who is the child of a district employee if the district adopts a policy approving such waiver. For purposes of this paragraph, "child" means a district employee's child who is a biological child, adopted child, foster child, stepchild, or a child for which the employee serves as a legal guardian.
    (b) Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties involved and where the educational services are not otherwise provided for, educational services for an Illinois student under the age of 21 (and not eligible for services pursuant to Article 14 of this Code) in any residential program shall be provided by the district in which the facility is located and financed as follows. The cost of educational services shall be paid by the district in which the student resides in an amount equal to the cost of providing educational services in the residential facility. Payments shall be made by the district of the student's residence and shall be made to the district wherein the facility is located no less than once per month unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.
    The funding provision of this subsection (b) applies to all Illinois students under the age of 21 (and not eligible for services pursuant to Article 14 of this Code) receiving educational services in residential facilities, irrespective of whether the student was placed therein pursuant to this Code or the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 or by an Illinois public agency or a court. The changes to this subsection (b) made by this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly apply to all placements in effect on July 1, 2007 and all placements thereafter. For purposes of this subsection (b), a student's district of residence shall be determined in accordance with subsection (a) of Section 10-20.12b of this Code. The placement of a student in a residential facility shall not affect the residency of the student. When a dispute arises over the determination of the district of residence under this subsection (b), any person or entity, including without limitation a school district or residential facility, may make a written request for a residency decision to the State Superintendent of Education, who, upon review of materials submitted and any other items or information he or she may request for submission, shall issue his or her decision in writing. The decision of the State Superintendent of Education is final.
(Source: P.A. 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.12b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.12b)
    Sec. 10-20.12b. Residency; payment of tuition; hearing; criminal penalty.
    (a) For purposes of this Section:
        (1) The residence of a person who has legal custody
    
of a pupil is deemed to be the residence of the pupil.
        (2) "Legal custody" means one of the following:
            (i) Custody exercised by a natural or adoptive
        
parent with whom the pupil resides.
            (ii) Custody granted by order of a court of
        
competent jurisdiction to a person with whom the pupil resides for reasons other than to have access to the educational programs of the district.
            (iii) Custody exercised under a statutory
        
short-term guardianship, provided that within 60 days of the pupil's enrollment a court order is entered that establishes a permanent guardianship and grants custody to a person with whom the pupil resides for reasons other than to have access to the educational programs of the district.
            (iv) Custody exercised by an adult caretaker
        
relative who is receiving aid under the Illinois Public Aid Code for the pupil who resides with that adult caretaker relative for purposes other than to have access to the educational programs of the district.
            (v) Custody exercised by an adult who
        
demonstrates that, in fact, he or she has assumed and exercises legal responsibility for the pupil and provides the pupil with a regular fixed night-time abode for purposes other than to have access to the educational programs of the district.
    (a-5) If a pupil's change of residence is due to the military service obligation of a person who has legal custody of the pupil, then, upon the written request of the person having legal custody of the pupil, the residence of the pupil is deemed for all purposes relating to enrollment (including tuition, fees, and costs), for the duration of the custodian's military service obligation, to be the same as the residence of the pupil immediately before the change of residence caused by the military service obligation. A school district is not responsible for providing transportation to or from school for a pupil whose residence is determined under this subsection (a-5). School districts shall facilitate re-enrollment when necessary to comply with this subsection (a-5).
    (b) Except as otherwise provided under Section 10-22.5a, only resident pupils of a school district may attend the schools of the district without payment of the tuition required to be charged under Section 10-20.12a. However, (i) a child for whom the Guardianship Administrator of the Department of Children and Family Services has been appointed temporary custodian or guardian of the person of the child and who was placed by the Department of Children and Family Services with a foster parent or placed in another type of child care facility or (ii) a child who has been removed from the child's parent or guardian by the Department of Children and Family Services as part of a safety plan shall not be charged tuition as a nonresident pupil if the foster parent, child care facility, relative caregiver, or non-custodial parent is located in a school district other than the child's former school district and it is determined by the Department of Children and Family Services to be in the child's best interest to maintain attendance at the child's former school district or at a school district the child would have attended if the child was not removed from the child's parent or guardian by the Department of Children and Family Services.
    (c) The provisions of this subsection do not apply in school districts having a population of 500,000 or more. If a school board in a school district with a population of less than 500,000 determines that a pupil who is attending school in the district on a tuition free basis is a nonresident of the district for whom tuition is required to be charged under Section 10-20.12a, the board shall notify the person who enrolled the pupil of the amount of the tuition charged under Section 10-20.12a that is due to the district for a nonresident pupil's attendance in the district's schools. The notice shall detail the specific reasons why the board believes that the pupil is a nonresident of the district and shall be given by certified mail, return receipt requested. Within 10 calendar days after receipt of the notice, the person who enrolled the pupil may request a hearing to review the determination of the school board. The request shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the district superintendent. Within 10 calendar days after receipt of the request, the board shall notify, by certified mail, return receipt requested, the person requesting the hearing of the time and place of the hearing, which shall be held not less than 10 nor more than 20 calendar days after the notice of hearing is given. At least 3 calendar days prior to the hearing, each party shall disclose to the other party all written evidence and testimony that it may submit during the hearing and a list of witnesses that it may call to testify during the hearing. The hearing notice shall notify the person requesting the hearing that any written evidence and testimony or witnesses not disclosed to the other party at least 3 calendar days prior to the hearing are barred at the hearing without the consent of the other party. The board or a hearing officer designated by the board shall conduct the hearing. The board and the person who enrolled the pupil may be represented at the hearing by representatives of their choice. At the hearing, the person who enrolled the pupil shall have the burden of going forward with the evidence concerning the pupil's residency. If the hearing is conducted by a hearing officer, the hearing officer, within 5 calendar days after the conclusion of the hearing, shall send a written report of his or her findings by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the school board and to the person who enrolled the pupil. The person who enrolled the pupil may, within 5 calendar days after receiving the findings, file written objections to the findings with the school board by sending the objections by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the district superintendent. Whether the hearing is conducted by the school board or a hearing officer, the school board shall, within 30 calendar days after the conclusion of the hearing, decide whether or not the pupil is a resident of the district and the amount of any tuition required to be charged under Section 10-20.12a as a result of the pupil's attendance in the schools of the district. The school board shall send a copy of its decision within 5 calendar days of its decision to the person who enrolled the pupil by certified mail, return receipt requested. This decision must inform the person who enrolled the pupil that he or she may, within 5 calendar days after receipt of the decision of the board, petition the regional superintendent of schools to review the decision. The decision must also include notification that, at the request of the person who enrolled the pupil, the pupil may continue attending the schools of the district pending the regional superintendent of schools' review of the board's decision but that tuition shall continue to be assessed under Section 10-20.12a of this Code during the review period and become due upon a final determination of the regional superintendent of schools that the student is a nonresident.
    Within 5 calendar days after receipt of the decision of the board pursuant to this subsection (c) of this Section, the person who enrolled the pupil may petition the regional superintendent of schools who exercises supervision and control of the board to review the board's decision. The petition must include the basis for the request and be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to both the regional superintendent of schools and the district superintendent.
    Within 5 calendar days after receipt of the petition, the board must deliver to the regional superintendent of schools the written decision of the board, any written evidence and testimony that was submitted by the parties during the hearing, a list of all witnesses that testified during the hearing, and any existing written minutes or transcript of the hearing or verbatim record of the hearing in the form of an audio or video recording documenting the hearing. The board may also provide the regional superintendent of schools and the petitioner with a written response to the petition. The regional superintendent of schools' review of the board's decision is limited to the documentation submitted to the regional superintendent of schools pursuant to this Section.
    Within 10 calendar days after receipt of the documentation provided by the school district pursuant to this Section, the regional superintendent of schools shall issue a written decision as to whether or not there is clear and convincing evidence that the pupil is a resident of the district pursuant to this Section and eligible to attend the district's schools on a tuition-free basis. The decision shall be transmitted to the board and the person who enrolled the pupil and shall, with specificity, detail the rationale behind the decision.
    (c-5) The provisions of this subsection apply only in school districts having a population of 500,000 or more. If the board of education of a school district with a population of 500,000 or more determines that a pupil who is attending school in the district on a tuition free basis is a nonresident of the district for whom tuition is required to be charged under Section 10-20.12a, the board shall notify the person who enrolled the pupil of the amount of the tuition charged under Section 10-20.12a that is due to the district for the nonresident pupil's attendance in the district's schools. The notice shall be given by certified mail, return receipt requested. Within 10 calendar days after receipt of the notice, the person who enrolled the pupil may request a hearing to review the determination of the school board. The request shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the district superintendent. Within 30 calendar days after receipt of the request, the board shall notify, by certified mail, return receipt requested, the person requesting the hearing of the time and place of the hearing, which shall be held not less than 10 calendar nor more than 30 calendar days after the notice of hearing is given. The board or a hearing officer designated by the board shall conduct the hearing. The board and the person who enrolled the pupil may each be represented at the hearing by a representative of their choice. At the hearing, the person who enrolled the pupil shall have the burden of going forward with the evidence concerning the pupil's residency. If the hearing is conducted by a hearing officer, the hearing officer, within 20 calendar days after the conclusion of the hearing, shall serve a written report of his or her findings by personal service or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the school board and to the person who enrolled the pupil. The person who enrolled the pupil may, within 10 calendar days after receiving the findings, file written objections to the findings with the board of education by sending the objections by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the general superintendent of schools. If the hearing is conducted by the board of education, the board shall, within 45 calendar days after the conclusion of the hearing, decide whether or not the pupil is a resident of the district and the amount of any tuition required to be charged under Section 10-20.12a as a result of the pupil's attendance in the schools of the district. If the hearing is conducted by a hearing officer, the board of education shall, within 45 days after the receipt of the hearing officer's findings, decide whether or not the pupil is a resident of the district and the amount of any tuition required to be charged under Section 10-20.12a as a result of the pupil's attendance in the schools of the district. The board of education shall send, by certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy of its decision to the person who enrolled the pupil, and the decision of the board shall be final.
    (d) If a hearing is requested under subsection (c) of this Section to review the determination of the school board or board of education that a nonresident pupil is attending the schools of the district without payment of the tuition required to be charged under Section 10-20.12a, the pupil may, at the request of the person who enrolled the pupil, continue attendance at the schools of the district pending the decision of the board or regional superintendent of schools, as applicable, and the school district's payments under Section 18-8.05 of this Code shall not be adjusted due to tuition collection under this Section. However, attendance of that pupil in the schools of the district as authorized by this subsection (d) shall not relieve any person who enrolled the pupil of the obligation to pay the tuition charged for that attendance under Section 10-20.12a if the final decision of the board or regional superintendent of schools is that the pupil is a nonresident of the district. If a pupil is determined to be a nonresident of the district for whom tuition is required to be charged pursuant to this Section, the board shall refuse to permit the pupil to continue attending the schools of the district unless the required tuition is paid for the pupil.
    (d-5) If a hearing is requested under subsection (c-5) of this Section to review the determination of the board of education that a nonresident pupil is attending the schools of the district without payment of the tuition required to be charged under Section 10-20.12a of this Code, the pupil may, at the request of the person who enrolled the pupil, continue attendance at the schools of the district pending a final decision of the board following the hearing. However, attendance of that pupil in the schools of the district as authorized by this subsection (d-5) shall not relieve any person who enrolled the pupil of the obligation to pay the tuition charged for that attendance under Section 10-20.12a of this Code if the final decision of the board is that the pupil is a nonresident of the district. If a pupil is determined to be a nonresident of the district for whom tuition is required to be charged pursuant to this Section, the board shall refuse to permit the pupil to continue attending the schools of the district unless the required tuition is paid for the pupil.
    (e) Except for a pupil referred to in subsection (b) of Section 10-22.5a, a pupil referred to in Section 10-20.12a, or a pupil referred to in subsection (b) of this Section, a person who knowingly enrolls or attempts to enroll in the schools of a school district on a tuition free basis a pupil known by that person to be a nonresident of the district shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
    (f) A person who knowingly or wilfully presents to any school district any false information regarding the residency of a pupil for the purpose of enabling that pupil to attend any school in that district without the payment of a nonresident tuition charge shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
    (g) The provisions of this Section are subject to the provisions of the Education for Homeless Children Act. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to apply to or require the payment of tuition by a parent or guardian of a "homeless child" (as that term is defined in Section 1-5 of the Education for Homeless Children Act) in connection with or as a result of the homeless child's continued education or enrollment in a school that is chosen in accordance with any of the options provided in Section 1-10 of that Act.
(Source: P.A. 103-629, eff. 1-1-25.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.13

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.13)
    Sec. 10-20.13. Textbooks for children of parents unable to buy them; waiver of fees and fines.
    (a) To purchase, at the expense of the district, a sufficient number of textbooks for children whose parents are unable to buy them, including, but not limited to, children living in households that meet the free lunch or breakfast eligibility guidelines established by the federal government pursuant to Section 1758 of the federal Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758; 7 CFR 245 et seq.) and homeless children and youth as defined in Section 11434a of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a), subject to verification as set forth in subsection (c) of this Section. Such textbooks shall be loaned only, and the directors shall require the teacher to see that they are properly cared for and returned at the end of each term of school.
    (b) To waive all fees and any fines for the loss of school property assessed by the district on children whose parents are unable to afford them, including, but not limited to:
        (1) children living in households that meet the free
    
lunch or breakfast eligibility guidelines established by the federal government pursuant to Section 1758 of the federal Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758; 7 CFR 245 et seq.) and students whose parents are veterans or active duty military personnel with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, subject to verification as set forth in subsection (c) of this Section, and
        (2) homeless children and youth as defined in Section
    
11434a of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a).
    Notice of waiver availability shall be given to parents or guardians with every bill for fees or fines. The school board shall adopt written policies and procedures for such waiver of fees in accordance with regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education.
    (c) Any school board that participates in a federally funded, school-based child nutrition program and uses a student's application for, eligibility for, or participation in the federally funded, school-based child nutrition program (42 U.S.C. 1758; 7 CFR 245 et seq.) as the basis for waiving fees assessed by the school district must follow the verification requirements of the federally funded, school-based child nutrition program (42 U.S.C. 1758; 7 CFR 245.6a).
    A school board that establishes a process for the determination of eligibility for waiver of fees assessed by the school district that is completely independent of a student's application for, eligibility for, or participation in a federally funded, school-based child nutrition program may provide for fee waiver verification no more often than once per academic year. Information obtained during the independent, fee waiver verification process indicating that the student does not meet free lunch or breakfast eligibility guidelines may be used to deny the waiver of the student's fees or fines for the loss of school property, provided that any information obtained through this independent process for determining or verifying eligibility for fee waivers shall not be used to determine or verify eligibility for any federally funded, school-based child nutrition program. This subsection shall not preclude children from obtaining waivers at any point during the academic year.
(Source: P.A. 102-805, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1032, eff. 5-27-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.14

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.14) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.14)
    Sec. 10-20.14. Student discipline policies; parent-teacher advisory committee.
    (a) To establish and maintain a parent-teacher advisory committee to develop with the school board or governing body of a charter school policy guidelines on student discipline, including school searches and bullying prevention as set forth in Section 27-23.7 of this Code. School authorities shall furnish a copy of the policy to the parents or guardian of each student within 15 days after the beginning of the school year, or within 15 days after starting classes for a student who transfers into the district during the school year, and the school board or governing body of a charter school shall require that a school inform its students of the contents of the policy. School boards and the governing bodies of charter schools, along with the parent-teacher advisory committee, must annually review their student discipline policies and the implementation of those policies and any other factors related to the safety of their schools, students, and school personnel.
    (a-5) On or before September 15, 2016, each elementary and secondary school and charter school shall, at a minimum, adopt student discipline policies that fulfill the requirements set forth in this Section, subsections (a) and (b) of Section 10-22.6 of this Code, Section 34-19 of this Code if applicable, and federal and State laws that provide special requirements for the discipline of students with disabilities.
    (b) The parent-teacher advisory committee in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies shall develop, with the school board, policy guideline procedures to establish and maintain a reciprocal reporting system between the school district and local law enforcement agencies regarding criminal offenses committed by students. School districts are encouraged to create memoranda of understanding with local law enforcement agencies that clearly define law enforcement's role in schools, in accordance with Section 10-22.6 of this Code. In consultation with stakeholders deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall draft and publish guidance for the development of reciprocal reporting systems in accordance with this Section on or before July 1, 2025.
    (c) The parent-teacher advisory committee, in cooperation with school bus personnel, shall develop, with the school board, policy guideline procedures to establish and maintain school bus safety procedures. These procedures shall be incorporated into the district's student discipline policy. In consultation with stakeholders deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall draft and publish guidance for school bus safety procedures in accordance with this Section on or before July 1, 2025.
    (d) As used in this subsection (d), "evidence-based intervention" means intervention that has demonstrated a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes as documented in peer-reviewed scholarly journals.
    The school board, in consultation with the parent-teacher advisory committee and other community-based organizations, must include provisions in the student discipline policy to address students who have demonstrated behaviors that put them at risk for aggressive behavior, including without limitation bullying, as defined in the policy. These provisions must include procedures for notifying parents or legal guardians and intervention procedures based upon available community-based and district resources.
    In consultation with behavioral health experts, the State Board of Education shall draft and publish guidance for evidence-based intervention procedures, including examples, in accordance with this Section on or before July 1, 2025.
(Source: P.A. 103-896, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.14a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.14a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.14a)
    Sec. 10-20.14a. Meal breaks for noncertificated employees. To provide each noncertificated employee who works 7 1/2 continuous hours or longer with at least 30 minutes duty free for a meal break beginning no later than 5 hours after the start of the work period.
(Source: P.A. 84-1294.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.14b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.14b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.14b)
    Sec. 10-20.14b. Medications policy. To develop a policy for administration of medications in schools, to furnish a copy of the policy to the parents or guardians of each pupil within 15 days after the beginning of each school year, or within 15 days after starting classes for a pupil who transfers into the district, and to require that each school informs its pupils of the contents of its policy.
(Source: P.A. 90-789, eff. 8-14-98.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.15

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.15) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.15)
    Sec. 10-20.15. Payment of teachers.
    To pay no public money to any teacher unless the teacher at the time of his employment held a certificate of qualification obtained under the provisions of this Act, has kept and furnished schedules as required by this Act, and has satisfactorily accounted for books, apparatus and other property of the district that he may have taken in charge.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.15a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.15a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.15a)
    Sec. 10-20.15a. Federal Social Security or Medicare withholdings. To the extent that federal law allows such coverage, school districts shall make Social Security or Medicare withholdings, or both, for employees subject to Articles 16 and 17 of the "Illinois Pension Code" only upon the approval of a referendum under Section 21-105 of that Act applicable to such employees.
(Source: P.A. 84-1334.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.16

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.16)
    Sec. 10-20.16. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.17

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.17) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.17)
    Sec. 10-20.17. Water supply.
    To provide for the schools in their districts an adequate, clear, palatable, and safe supply of water for drinking purposes and for general school use in accordance with Sections 2 and 8.1 of the Department of Public Health Act.
(Source: P.A. 87-984.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.17a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.17a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.17a)
    Sec. 10-20.17a. Hazardous materials training. To enhance the safety of pupils and staff by providing in-service training programs on the safe handling and use of hazardous or toxic materials for personnel in the district who work with such materials on a regular basis. Such programs may be identified by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, for use by school boards in implementing this Section.
(Source: P.A. 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.18

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.18) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.18)
    Sec. 10-20.18. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.19

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.19) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.19)
    Sec. 10-20.19. Payment of orders. Subject to the provisions of Article 1B in the case of a school district receiving emergency State financial assistance, the school board shall pay all orders in accordance with Section 10-18 of this Act, except as herein provided:
        (1) It shall be lawful for the school board to submit
    
to the treasurer a certified copy of those portions of the board minutes, properly signed by the secretary and president, or a majority of the board, showing all bills approved for payment by the board and clearly showing to whom, and for what purpose each payment is to be made by the treasurer, and to what budgetary item each payment shall be debited, and such certified copy shall serve as full authority to the treasurer to make the payments as thus approved; this shall not preclude the use of a voucher system, or any other system of sound accounting and business procedure, provided that such system reflects the facts, and that the same is in accordance with the regulations prescribed by or approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
        (2) It shall be lawful for the school board by
    
resolution to establish revolving funds for school cafeterias, lunch rooms, athletics, petty cash or similar purposes, provided such funds are in the custody of an employee who shall be bonded as provided in Article 8 of this Act for bonding school treasurers and who shall be responsible to the board and to the treasurer, subject to regular annual audit by licensed public accountants and other such examinations as the school board shall deem advisable and kept in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. A monthly report and an annual summary of all receipts and expenditures of the fund shall be submitted to the school board and the treasurer. All funds advanced by the treasurer to operate such revolving funds shall be carried on the treasurer's books as cash obligations due to the district and all receipts of such revolving funds shall be deposited daily in a bank or savings and loan association to be approved by the treasurer, unless there is no bank or savings and loan association in the community, in which event receipts shall be deposited intact not less than once each week in the bank or savings and loan association approved by the treasurer. All reimbursements to any such revolving funds from the district funds shall be completely itemized as to whom paid, for what purpose, and against what budgetary item the expenditure is chargeable.
        No bank or savings and loan association shall receive
    
public funds as permitted by this Section, unless it has complied with the requirements established pursuant to Section 6 of "An Act relating to certain investments of public funds by public agencies", approved July 23, 1943, as now or hereafter amended.
        (3) The school board shall establish rules and
    
regulations governing conditions under which school classes, clubs, and associations may collect or acquire funds in the name of any school; and, under such regulations as the Superintendent of Public Instruction may prescribe, provide for the safeguarding of such funds for the educational, recreational, or cultural purposes they are designed to serve.
        (4) It shall be lawful for the clerk or secretary of
    
the board to certify to the school treasurer the amount of the obligation for Social Security taxes as required by the Social Security Enabling Act and the amount of recurring bills, such as utility bills, showing the amount and to whom payment is to be made and what budgetary item or items the payment shall be debited from, and such certification shall serve as full authority to the treasurer to make such payment.
(Source: P.A. 96-998, eff. 7-2-10.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.19a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.19a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.19a)
    Sec. 10-20.19a. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 84-18. Repealed by P.A. 103-410, eff. 8-2-23.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.19b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.19b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.19b)
    Sec. 10-20.19b. Purchases made pursuant to this Act shall be made in compliance with the "Local Government Prompt Payment Act", approved by the Eighty-fourth General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 84-731.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.19c

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.19c) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.19c)
    Sec. 10-20.19c. Recycled paper and paper products and solid waste management.
    (a) Definitions. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless the context otherwise requires:
    "Deinked stock" means paper that has been processed to remove inks, clays, coatings, binders and other contaminants.
    "High grade printing and writing papers" includes offset printing paper, duplicator paper, writing paper (stationery), tablet paper, office paper, note pads, xerographic paper, envelopes, form bond including computer paper and carbonless forms, book papers, bond papers, ledger paper, book stock and cotton fiber papers.
    "Paper and paper products" means high grade printing and writing papers, tissue products, newsprint, unbleached packaging and recycled paperboard.
    "Postconsumer material" means only those products generated by a business or consumer which have served their intended end uses, and which have been separated or diverted from solid waste; wastes generated during the production of an end product are excluded.
    "Recovered paper material" means paper waste generated after the completion of the papermaking process, such as postconsumer materials, envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, printing waste, cutting and other converting waste, butt rolls, and mill wrappers, obsolete inventories, and rejected unused stock. "Recovered paper material", however, does not include fibrous waste generated during the manufacturing process such as fibers recovered from waste water or trimmings of paper machine rolls (mill broke), or fibrous byproducts of harvesting, extraction or woodcutting processes, or forest residues such as bark.
    "Recycled paperboard" includes paperboard products, folding cartons and pad backings.
    "Tissue products" includes toilet tissue, paper towels, paper napkins, facial tissue, paper doilies, industrial wipers, paper bags and brown papers. These products shall also be unscented and shall not be colored.
    "Unbleached packaging" includes corrugated and fiber storage boxes.
    (a-5) Each school district shall periodically review its procurement procedures and specifications related to the purchase of products and supplies. Those procedures and specifications must be modified as necessary to require the school district to seek out products and supplies that contain recycled materials and to ensure that purchased products and supplies are reusable, durable, or made from recycled materials, if economically and practically feasible. In selecting products and supplies that contain recycled material, preference must be given to products and supplies that contain the highest amount of recycled material and that are consistent with the effective use of the product or supply, if economically and practically feasible.
    (b) Wherever economically and practically feasible, as determined by the school board, the school board, all public schools and attendance centers within a school district, and their school supply stores shall procure recycled paper and paper products as follows:
        (1) Beginning July 1, 2008, at least 10% of the total
    
dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by school boards, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.
        (2) Beginning July 1, 2011, at least 25% of the total
    
dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by school boards, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.
        (3) Beginning July 1, 2014, at least 50% of the total
    
dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by school boards, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.
        (4) Beginning July 1, 2020, at least 75% of the total
    
dollar value of paper and paper products purchased by school boards, public schools and attendance centers, and their school supply stores shall be recycled paper and paper products.
        (5) Beginning upon the effective date of this
    
amendatory Act of 1992, all paper purchased by the board of education, public schools and attendance centers for publication of student newspapers shall be recycled newsprint. The amount purchased shall not be included in calculating the amounts specified in paragraphs (1) through (4).
    (c) Paper and paper products purchased from private sector vendors pursuant to printing contracts are not considered paper and paper products for the purposes of subsection (b), unless purchased under contract for the printing of student newspapers.
    (d)(1) Wherever economically and practically feasible, the recycled paper and paper products referred to in subsection (b) shall contain postconsumer or recovered paper materials as specified by paper category in this subsection:
         (i) Recycled high grade printing and writing paper
    
shall contain at least 50% recovered paper material. Such recovered paper material, until July 1, 2008, shall consist of at least 20% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2008, shall consist of at least 25% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2010, shall consist of at least 30% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2012, shall consist of at least 40% deinked stock or postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2014, shall consist of at least 50% deinked stock or postconsumer material.
         (ii) Recycled tissue products, until July 1, 1994,
    
shall contain at least 25% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 30% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 35% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 45% postconsumer material.
         (iii) Recycled newsprint, until July 1, 1994, shall
    
contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 50% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 60% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 70% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 80% postconsumer material.
         (iv) Recycled unbleached packaging, until July 1,
    
1994, shall contain at least 35% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 40% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 45% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 50% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 2000, shall contain at least 55% postconsumer material.
         (v) Recycled paperboard, until July 1, 1994, shall
    
contain at least 80% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1994, shall contain at least 85% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1996, shall contain at least 90% postconsumer material; and beginning July 1, 1998, shall contain at least 95% postconsumer material.
        (2) For the purposes of this Section, "postconsumer
    
material" includes:
            (i) paper, paperboard, and fibrous waste from
        
retail stores, office buildings, homes and so forth, after the waste has passed through its end usage as a consumer item, including used corrugated boxes, old newspapers, mixed waste paper, tabulating cards, and used cordage; and
            (ii) all paper, paperboard, and fibrous wastes
        
that are diverted or separated from the municipal waste stream.
        (3) For the purposes of this Section, "recovered
    
paper material" includes:
            (i) postconsumer material;
            (ii) dry paper and paperboard waste generated
        
after completion of the papermaking process (that is, those manufacturing operations up to and including the cutting and trimming of the paper machine reel into smaller rolls or rough sheets), including envelope cuttings, bindery trimmings, and other paper and paperboard waste resulting from printing, cutting, forming and other converting operations, or from bag, box and carton manufacturing, and butt rolls, mill wrappers, and rejected unused stock; and
            (iii) finished paper and paperboard from obsolete
        
inventories of paper and paperboard manufacturers, merchants, wholesalers, dealers, printers, converters or others.
    (e) Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to apply to art materials, nor to any newspapers, magazines, text books, library books or other copyrighted publications which are purchased or used by any school board or any public school or attendance center within a school district, or which are sold in any school supply store operated by or within any such school or attendance center, other than newspapers written, edited or produced by students enrolled in the school district, public school or attendance center.
    (e-5) Each school district shall periodically review its procedures on solid waste reduction regarding the management of solid waste generated by academic, administrative, and other institutional functions. Those waste reduction procedures must be designed to, when economically and practically feasible, recycle the school district's waste stream, including without limitation landscape waste, computer paper, and white office paper. School districts are encouraged to have procedures that provide for the investigation of potential markets for other recyclable materials that are present in the school district's waste stream. The waste reduction procedures must be designed to achieve, before July 1, 2020, at least a 50% reduction in the amount of solid waste that is generated by the school district.
    (f) The State Board of Education, in coordination with the Department of Central Management Services, may adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to assist districts in carrying out the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-444, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.20

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.20) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.20)
    Sec. 10-20.20. Protection from suit. To indemnify and protect school districts, members of school boards, employees, volunteer personnel authorized in Sections 10-22.34, 10-22.34a and 10-22.34b of this Code, mentors of certified staff as authorized in Article 21A and Sections 2-3.53a, 2-3.53b, and 34-18.33 of this Code, and student teachers against civil rights damage claims and suits, constitutional rights damage claims and suits and death and bodily injury and property damage claims and suits, including defense thereof, when damages are sought for negligent or wrongful acts alleged to have been committed in the scope of employment or under the direction of the board or related to any mentoring services provided to certified staff of the school district. Such indemnification and protection shall extend to persons who were members of school boards, employees of school boards, authorized volunteer personnel, mentors of certified staff, or student teachers at the time of the incident from which a claim arises. No agent may be afforded indemnification or protection unless he was a member of a school board, an employee of a board, an authorized volunteer, a mentor of certified staff, or a student teacher at the time of the incident from which the claim arises.
(Source: P.A. 96-62, eff. 7-23-09.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.21

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.21)
    Sec. 10-20.21. Contracts.
    (a) To award all contracts for purchase of supplies and materials or work involving an expenditure in excess of $35,000 or a lower amount as required by board policy to the lowest responsible bidder, considering conformity with specifications, terms of delivery, quality and serviceability, after due advertisement, except the following:
        (i) contracts for the services of individuals
    
possessing a high degree of professional skill where the ability or fitness of the individual plays an important part;
        (ii) contracts for the printing of finance committee
    
reports and departmental reports;
        (iii) contracts for the printing or engraving of
    
bonds, tax warrants and other evidences of indebtedness;
        (iv) contracts for the purchase of perishable foods
    
and perishable beverages;
        (v) contracts for materials and work which have been
    
awarded to the lowest responsible bidder after due advertisement, but due to unforeseen revisions, not the fault of the contractor for materials and work, must be revised causing expenditures not in excess of 10% of the contract price;
        (vi) contracts for the maintenance or servicing of,
    
or provision of repair parts for, equipment which are made with the manufacturer or authorized service agent of that equipment where the provision of parts, maintenance, or servicing can best be performed by the manufacturer or authorized service agent;
        (vii) purchases and contracts for the use, purchase,
    
delivery, movement, or installation of data processing equipment, software, or services and telecommunications and interconnect equipment, software, and services;
        (viii) contracts for duplicating machines and
    
supplies;
        (ix) contracts for the purchase of fuel, including
    
diesel, gasoline, oil, aviation, natural gas, or propane, lubricants, or other petroleum products;
        (x) purchases of equipment previously owned by some
    
entity other than the district itself;
        (xi) contracts for repair, maintenance, remodeling,
    
renovation, or construction, or a single project involving an expenditure not to exceed $50,000 and not involving a change or increase in the size, type, or extent of an existing facility;
        (xii) contracts for goods or services procured from
    
another governmental agency;
        (xiii) contracts for goods or services which are
    
economically procurable from only one source, such as for the purchase of magazines, books, periodicals, pamphlets and reports, and for utility services such as water, light, heat, telephone or telegraph;
        (xiv) where funds are expended in an emergency and
    
such emergency expenditure is approved by 3/4 of the members of the board;
        (xv) State master contracts authorized under Article
    
28A of this Code;
        (xvi) contracts providing for the transportation of
    
pupils, which contracts must be advertised in the same manner as competitive bids and awarded by first considering the bidder or bidders most able to provide safety and comfort for the pupils, stability of service, and any other factors set forth in the request for proposal regarding quality of service, and then price; and
        (xvii) contracts for goods, services, or management
    
in the operation of a school's food service, including a school that participates in any of the United States Department of Agriculture's child nutrition programs if a good faith effort is made on behalf of the school district to give preference to:
            (1) contracts that procure food that promotes
        
the health and well-being of students, in compliance with United States Department of Agriculture nutrition standards for school meals. Contracts should also promote the production of scratch made, minimally processed foods;
            (2) contracts that give a preference to State or
        
regional suppliers that source local food products;
            (3) contracts that give a preference to food
        
suppliers that utilize producers that adopt hormone and pest management practices recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture;
            (4) contracts that give a preference to food
        
suppliers that value animal welfare; and
            (5) contracts that increase opportunities for
        
businesses owned and operated by minorities, women, or persons with disabilities.
    Food supplier data shall be submitted to the school
    
district at the time of the bid, to the best of the bidder's ability, and updated annually thereafter during the term of the contract. The contractor shall submit the updated food supplier data. The data required under this item (xvii) shall include the name and address of each supplier, distributor, processor, and producer involved in the provision of the products that the bidder is to supply.
However, at no time shall a cause of action lie against a school board for awarding a pupil transportation contract per the standards set forth in this subsection (a) unless the cause of action is based on fraudulent conduct.
    All competitive bids for contracts involving an expenditure in excess of $35,000 or a lower amount as required by board policy must be sealed by the bidder and must be opened by a member or employee of the school board at a public bid opening at which the contents of the bids must be announced. Each bidder must receive at least 3 days' notice of the time and place of the bid opening. For purposes of this Section due advertisement includes, but is not limited to, at least one public notice at least 10 days before the bid date in a newspaper published in the district, or if no newspaper is published in the district, in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the district. State master contracts and certified education purchasing contracts, as defined in Article 28A of this Code, are not subject to the requirements of this paragraph.
    Under this Section, the acceptance of bids sealed by a bidder and the opening of these bids at a public bid opening may be permitted by an electronic process for communicating, accepting, and opening competitive bids. An electronic bidding process must provide for, but is not limited to, the following safeguards:
        (1) On the date and time certain of a bid opening,
    
the primary person conducting the competitive, sealed, electronic bid process shall log onto a specified database using a unique username and password previously assigned to the bidder to allow access to the bidder's specific bid project number.
        (2) The specified electronic database must be on a
    
network that (i) is in a secure environment behind a firewall; (ii) has specific encryption tools; (iii) maintains specific intrusion detection systems; (iv) has redundant systems architecture with data storage back-up, whether by compact disc or tape; and (v) maintains a disaster recovery plan.
It is the legislative intent of Public Act 96-841 to maintain the integrity of the sealed bidding process provided for in this Section, to further limit any possibility of bid-rigging, to reduce administrative costs to school districts, and to effect efficiencies in communications with bidders.
    (b) To require, as a condition of any contract for goods and services, that persons bidding for and awarded a contract and all affiliates of the person collect and remit Illinois Use Tax on all sales of tangible personal property into the State of Illinois in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Use Tax Act regardless of whether the person or affiliate is a "retailer maintaining a place of business within this State" as defined in Section 2 of the Use Tax Act. For purposes of this Section, the term "affiliate" means any entity that (1) directly, indirectly, or constructively controls another entity, (2) is directly, indirectly, or constructively controlled by another entity, or (3) is subject to the control of a common entity. For purposes of this subsection (b), an entity controls another entity if it owns, directly or individually, more than 10% of the voting securities of that entity. As used in this subsection (b), the term "voting security" means a security that (1) confers upon the holder the right to vote for the election of members of the board of directors or similar governing body of the business or (2) is convertible into, or entitles the holder to receive upon its exercise, a security that confers such a right to vote. A general partnership interest is a voting security.
    To require that bids and contracts include a certification by the bidder or contractor that the bidder or contractor is not barred from bidding for or entering into a contract under this Section and that the bidder or contractor acknowledges that the school board may declare the contract void if the certification completed pursuant to this subsection (b) is false.
    (b-5) To require all contracts and agreements that pertain to goods and services and that are intended to generate additional revenue and other remunerations for the school district in excess of $1,000, including without limitation vending machine contracts, sports and other attire, class rings, and photographic services, to be approved by the school board. The school board shall file as an attachment to its annual budget a report, in a form as determined by the State Board of Education, indicating for the prior year the name of the vendor, the product or service provided, and the actual net revenue and non-monetary remuneration from each of the contracts or agreements. In addition, the report shall indicate for what purpose the revenue was used and how and to whom the non-monetary remuneration was distributed.
    (b-10) To prohibit any contract to purchase food with a bidder or offeror if the bidder's or offeror's contract terms prohibit the school from donating food to food banks, including, but not limited to, homeless shelters, food pantries, and soup kitchens.
    (c) If the State education purchasing entity creates a master contract as defined in Article 28A of this Code, then the State education purchasing entity shall notify school districts of the existence of the master contract.
    (d) In purchasing supplies, materials, equipment, or services that are not subject to subsection (c) of this Section, before a school district solicits bids or awards a contract, the district may review and consider as a bid under subsection (a) of this Section certified education purchasing contracts that are already available through the State education purchasing entity.
(Source: P.A. 102-1101, eff. 6-29-22; 103-8, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.21a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.21a)
    Sec. 10-20.21a. Contracts for charter bus services. To award contracts for providing charter bus services for the sole purpose of transporting students regularly enrolled in grade 12 or below to or from interscholastic athletic or interscholastic or school sponsored activities.
    All contracts for providing charter bus services for the sole purpose of transporting students regularly enrolled in grade 12 or below to or from interscholastic athletic or interscholastic or school sponsored activities must contain clause (A) as set forth below, except that a contract with an out-of-state company may contain clause (B), as set forth below, or clause (A). The clause must be set forth in the body of the contract in typeface of at least 12 points and all upper case letters:
    (A) "ALL OF THE CHARTER BUS DRIVERS WHO WILL BE PROVIDING SERVICES UNDER THIS CONTRACT HAVE, OR WILL HAVE BEFORE ANY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED:
        (1) SUBMITTED THEIR FINGERPRINTS TO THE ILLINOIS
    
STATE POLICE IN THE FORM AND MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE. THESE FINGERPRINTS SHALL BE CHECKED AGAINST THE FINGERPRINT RECORDS NOW AND HEREAFTER FILED IN THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE AND FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS DATABASES. THE FINGERPRINT CHECK HAS RESULTED IN A DETERMINATION THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF COMMITTING ANY OF THE OFFENSES SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION (C-1)(4) OF SECTION 6-508 OF THE ILLINOIS VEHICLE CODE; AND
        (2) DEMONSTRATED PHYSICAL FITNESS TO OPERATE SCHOOL
    
BUSES BY SUBMITTING THE RESULTS OF A MEDICAL EXAMINATION, INCLUDING TESTS FOR DRUG USE, TO A STATE REGULATORY AGENCY."
    (B) "NOT ALL OF THE CHARTER BUS DRIVERS WHO WILL BE PROVIDING SERVICES UNDER THIS CONTRACT HAVE, OR WILL HAVE BEFORE ANY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED:
        (1) SUBMITTED THEIR FINGERPRINTS TO THE ILLINOIS
    
STATE POLICE IN THE FORM AND MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE. THESE FINGERPRINTS SHALL BE CHECKED AGAINST THE FINGERPRINT RECORDS NOW AND HEREAFTER FILED IN THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE AND FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS DATABASES. THE FINGERPRINT CHECK HAS RESULTED IN A DETERMINATION THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF COMMITTING ANY OF THE OFFENSES SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION (C-1)(4) OF SECTION 6-508 OF THE ILLINOIS VEHICLE CODE; AND
        (2) DEMONSTRATED PHYSICAL FITNESS TO OPERATE SCHOOL
    
BUSES BY SUBMITTING THE RESULTS OF A MEDICAL EXAMINATION, INCLUDING TESTS FOR DRUG USE, TO A STATE REGULATORY AGENCY."
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.22

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.22)
    Sec. 10-20.22. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 77-530. Repealed by P.A. 94-600, eff. 8-16-05.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.23

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.23)
    Sec. 10-20.23. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 77-533. Repealed by P.A. 94-600, eff. 8-16-05.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.24

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.24) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.24)
    Sec. 10-20.24. Part-time Attendance. To accept in part-time attendance in the regular education program of the district pupils enrolled in nonpublic schools if there is sufficient space in the public school desired to be attended. Request for attendance in the following school year must be submitted by the nonpublic school principal to the public school before May 1. Request may be made only to those public schools located in the district where the child attending the nonpublic school resides.
    To accept, pursuant to the provisions of Section 14-6.01, in part-time attendance resident pupils of the types described in Sections 14-1.02 through 14-1.07 who are enrolled in nonpublic schools.
(Source: P.A. 80-1509.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.25

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.25)
    Sec. 10-20.25. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1508. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.25a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.25a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.25a)
    Sec. 10-20.25a. Report of student statistics. To report to the State Board of Education the annual student dropout rate and number of students who graduate from, transfer from or otherwise leave bilingual programs.
(Source: P.A. 84-662.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.26

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.26) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.26)
    Sec. 10-20.26. Report of teacher dismissals. To send an annual report, on or before October 15, to the State Board of Education which discloses the number of probationary teachers and the number of teachers in contractual continued service who have been dismissed or removed as a result of the board's decision to decrease the number of teachers employed or to discontinue any type of teaching service. The report will also list the number in each teacher category which were subsequently reemployed by the board.
(Source: P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.27

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.27) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.27)
    Sec. 10-20.27. To file with the regional superintendent a list of all unfilled teaching positions in the district by August 1 of each year, and to report to the regional superintendent no less frequently than by the first day of every month other than August, all teaching positions which, subsequent to the filing of such list, become vacant or are filled.
(Source: P.A. 83-503.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.28

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.28) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.28)
    Sec. 10-20.28. Cellular radio telecommunication devices.
    (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities is a fundamental goal of the people of this State and that to achieve such goal it is essential to provide a safe and secure learning environment within the public schools. While recognizing that cellular radio telecommunication devices may be used for inappropriate activities during school hours and on school property and may, on occasion, cause disruption to the classroom environment, the General Assembly also recognizes that the use of cellular radio telecommunication devices can decrease the response time of officials to emergency situations. In addition, cellular radio telecommunication devices allow parents an additional and timely method of contacting their children should an emergency situation arise. Therefore, it is the purpose and intention of the General Assembly in enacting this legislation to (i) reduce the occurrence of inappropriate and disruptive activities during school hours and on school property occurring through the use of cellular radio telecommunication devices and (ii) increase the safety of students and school personnel during school hours and on school property.
    (b) The school board may establish appropriate rules and disciplinary procedures governing the use or possession of cellular radio telecommunication devices by a student while in a school or on school property, during regular school hours, or at any other time.
(Source: P.A. 92-793, eff. 8-9-02.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.29

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.29)
    Sec. 10-20.29. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 88-71. Repealed by P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.30

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.30)
    Sec. 10-20.30. No pass-no play policy. Beginning with the 1998-99 school year, the school board of each school district that maintains any of grades 9 through 12 shall establish, implement, and enforce a uniform and consistent policy under which a student in any of those grades who fails to maintain a specified minimum grade point average or a specified minimum grade in each course in which the student is enrolled or both is suspended from further participation in any school-sponsored or school-supported athletic or extracurricular activities for a specified period or until a specified minimum grade point average or minimum grade or both are earned by the student. Each school board shall adopt a policy as required by this Section not later than one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 and shall concurrently file a copy of that policy with the State Board of Education. After the policy has been in effect for one year, the school board shall file a report with the State Board of Education setting forth the number and length of suspensions imposed under the policy during the period covered by the report. If the school board already has a policy that is consistent with the requirements of this Section in effect on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997, it shall file a copy of that policy with the State Board of Education within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act and shall file the annual report required under this Section 12 months thereafter.
(Source: P.A. 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.31

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.31)
    Sec. 10-20.31. Occupational standards. A school board shall not require a student to meet occupational standards for grade level promotion or graduation unless that student is voluntarily enrolled in a job training program.
(Source: P.A. 91-175, eff. 1-1-00; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.32

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.32)
    Sec. 10-20.32. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01. Repealed by P.A. 94-600, eff. 8-16-05.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.33

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.33)
    Sec. 10-20.33. Time out, isolated time out, restraint, and necessities; limitations and prohibitions.
    (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that the use of isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint on children and youth carries risks to the health and safety of students and staff; therefore, the ultimate goal is to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of those interventions. The General Assembly also finds and declares that the State Board of Education must take affirmative action to lead and support schools in transforming the school culture to reduce and eliminate the use of all such interventions over time.
    (b) In this Section:
    "Chemical restraint" means the use of medication to control a student's behavior or to restrict a student's freedom of movement. "Chemical restraint" does not include medication that is legally prescribed and administered as part of a student's regular medical regimen to manage behavioral symptoms and treat medical symptoms.
    "Isolated time out" means the involuntary confinement of a student alone in a time out room or other enclosure outside of the classroom without a supervising adult in the time out room or enclosure.
    "Isolated time out" or "time out" does not include a student-initiated or student-requested break, a student-initiated sensory break or a teacher-initiated sensory break that may include a sensory room containing sensory tools to assist a student to calm and de-escalate, an in-school suspension or detention, or any other appropriate disciplinary measure, including the student's brief removal to the hallway or similar environment.
    "Mechanical restraint" means the use of any device or equipment to limit a student's movement or to hold a student immobile. "Mechanical restraint" does not include any restraint used to (i) treat a student's medical needs; (ii) protect a student who is known to be at risk of injury resulting from a lack of coordination or frequent loss of consciousness; (iii) position a student with physical disabilities in a manner specified in the student's individualized education program, federal Section 504 plan, or other plan of care; (iv) provide a supplementary aid, service, or accommodation, including, but not limited to, assistive technology that provides proprioceptive input or aids in self-regulation; or (v) promote student safety in vehicles used to transport students.
    "Physical restraint" or "restraint" means holding a student or otherwise restricting a student's movements. "Physical restraint" or "restraint" does not include momentary periods of physical restriction by direct person to person contact, without the aid of material or mechanical devices, that are accomplished with limited force and that are designed to prevent a student from completing an act that would result in potential physical harm to himself, herself, or another or damage to property.
    "Prone physical restraint" means a physical restraint in which a student is held face down on the floor or other surface and physical pressure is applied to the student's body to keep the student in the prone position.
    "Time out" means a behavior management technique for the purpose of calming or de-escalation that involves the involuntary monitored separation of a student from classmates with a trained adult for part of the school day, only for a brief time, in a nonlocked setting.
    (c) Isolated time out, time out, and physical restraint, other than prone physical restraint, may be used only if (i) the student's behavior presents an imminent danger of serious physical harm to the student or to others; (ii) other less restrictive and intrusive measures have been tried and have proven to be ineffective in stopping the imminent danger of serious physical harm; (iii) there is no known medical contraindication to its use on the student; and (iv) the school staff member or members applying the use of time out, isolated time out, or physical restraint on a student have been trained in its safe application, as established by rule by the State Board of Education. Isolated time out is allowed only under limited circumstances as set forth in this Section. If all other requirements under this Section are met, isolated time out may be used only if the adult in the time out room or enclosure is in imminent danger of serious physical harm because the student is unable to cease actively engaging in extreme physical aggression.
    Mechanical restraint and chemical restraint are prohibited. Prone restraint is prohibited except when all of the following conditions are satisfied:
        (1) The student's Behavior Intervention Plan
    
specifically allows for prone restraint of the student.
        (2) The Behavior Intervention Plan was put into place
    
before January 1, 2021.
        (3) The student's Behavior Intervention Plan has been
    
approved by the IEP team.
        (4) The school staff member or staff members applying
    
the use of prone restraint on a student have been trained in its safe application as established by rule by the State Board of Education.
        (5) The school must be able to document and
    
demonstrate to the IEP team that the use of other de-escalation techniques provided for in the student's Behavior Intervention Plan were ineffective.
        (6) The use of prone restraint occurs within the
    
2021-2022 school year.
All instances of the utilization of prone restraint must be reported in accordance with the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the State Board of Education from adopting administrative rules that further restrict or disqualify the use of prone restraint.
    (d) The use of any of the following rooms or enclosures for an isolated time out or time out purposes is prohibited:
        (1) a locked room or a room in which the door is
    
obstructed, prohibiting it from opening;
        (2) a confining space such as a closet or box;
        (3) a room where the student cannot be continually
    
observed; or
        (4) any other room or enclosure or time out procedure
    
that is contrary to current rules adopted by the State Board of Education.
    (e) The deprivation of necessities needed to sustain the health of a person, including, without limitation, the denial or unreasonable delay in the provision of the following, is prohibited:
        (1) food or liquid at a time when it is customarily
    
served;
        (2) medication; or
        (3) the use of a restroom.
    (f) (Blank).
    (g) Following each incident of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint, but no later than 2 school days after the incident, the principal or another designated administrator shall notify the student's parent or guardian that he or she may request a meeting with appropriate school personnel to discuss the incident. This meeting shall be held separate and apart from meetings held in accordance with the student's individualized education program or from meetings held in accordance with the student's plan for services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If a parent or guardian requests a meeting, the meeting shall be convened within 2 school days after the request, provided that the 2-school day limitation shall be extended if requested by the parent or guardian. The parent or guardian may also request that the meeting be convened via telephone or video conference.
    The meeting shall include the student, if appropriate, at least one school staff member involved in the incident of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint, the student's parent or guardian, and at least one appropriate school staff member not involved in the incident of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint, such as a social worker, psychologist, nurse, or behavioral specialist. During the meeting, the school staff member or members involved in the incident of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint, the student, and the student's parent or guardian, if applicable, shall be provided an opportunity to describe (i) the events that occurred prior to the incident of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint and any actions that were taken by school personnel or the student leading up to the incident; (ii) the incident of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint; and (iii) the events that occurred or the actions that were taken following the incident of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint and whether the student returned to regular school activities and, if not, how the student spent the remainder of the school day. All parties present at the meeting shall have the opportunity to discuss what school personnel could have done differently to avoid the incident of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint and what alternative courses of action, if any, the school can take to support the student and to avoid the future use of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint. At no point may a student be excluded from school solely because a meeting has not occurred.
    A summary of the meeting and any agreements or conclusions reached during the meeting shall be documented in writing and shall become part of the student's school record. A copy of the documents shall be provided to the student's parent or guardian. If a parent or guardian does not request a meeting within 10 school days after the school has provided the documents to the parent or guardian or if a parent or guardian fails to attend a requested meeting, that fact shall be documented as part of the student's school record.
    (h) Whenever isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint is used, school personnel shall fully document and report to the State Board of Education the incident, including the events leading up to the incident, what alternative measures that are less restrictive and intrusive were used prior to the use of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint, why those measures were ineffective or deemed inappropriate, the type of restraint, isolated time out, or time out that was used, the length of time the student was in isolated time out or time out or was restrained, and the staff involved. The parents or guardian of a student and the State Superintendent of Education shall be informed whenever isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint is used.
    Schools shall provide parents and guardians with the following information, to be developed by the State Board and which may be incorporated into the State Board's prescribed physical restraint and time out form at the discretion of the State Board, after each incident in which isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint is used during the school year, in printed form or, upon the written request of the parent or guardian, by email:
        (1) a copy of the standards for when isolated time
    
out, time out, and physical restraint can be used;
        (2) information about the rights of parents,
    
guardians, and students; and
        (3) information about the parent's or guardian's
    
right to file a complaint with the State Superintendent of Education, the complaint process, and other information to assist the parent or guardian in navigating the complaint process.
    (i) Any use of isolated time out, time out, or physical restraint that is permitted by a school board's policy shall be implemented in accordance with written procedures.
(Source: P.A. 102-339, eff. 8-13-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.34

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.34)
    Sec. 10-20.34. Medicaid-eligible children; health care resources. As authorized by federal law, a school district may access federally funded health care resources if the school district provides early periodic screening and diagnostic testing services, including screening and diagnostic services, health care and treatment, preventive health care, or any other measure, to correct or improve health impairments of Medicaid-eligible children.
(Source: P.A. 91-842, eff. 6-22-00.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.35

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.35)
    Sec. 10-20.35. Medical information form for bus drivers and emergency medical technicians. School districts are encouraged to create and use an emergency medical information form for bus drivers and emergency medical technicians for those students with special needs or medical conditions. The form may include without limitation information to be provided by the student's parent or legal guardian concerning the student's relevant medical conditions, medications that the student is taking, the student's communication skills, and how a bus driver or an emergency medical technician is to respond to certain behaviors of the student. If the form is used, the school district is encouraged to notify parents and legal guardians of the availability of the form. The parent or legal guardian of the student may fill out the form and submit it to the school that the student is attending. The school district is encouraged to keep one copy of the form on file at the school and another copy on the student's school bus in a secure location.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.36

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.36)
    Sec. 10-20.36. Psychotropic or psychostimulant medication; disciplinary action.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Psychostimulant medication" means medication that produces increased levels of mental and physical energy and alertness and an elevated mood by stimulating the central nervous system.
    "Psychotropic medication" means psychotropic medication as defined in Section 1-121.1 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.
    (b) Each school board must adopt and implement a policy that prohibits any disciplinary action that is based totally or in part on the refusal of a student's parent or guardian to administer or consent to the administration of psychotropic or psychostimulant medication to the student.
    (c) This Section does not prohibit school medical staff, an individualized educational program team, or a qualified worker (as defined in Section 14-1.10 of this Code) from recommending that a student be evaluated by an appropriate medical practitioner or prohibit school personnel from consulting with the practitioner with the consent of the student's parents or guardian.
(Source: P.A. 103-542, eff. 7-1-24 (see Section 905 of P.A. 103-563 for effective date of P.A. 103-542).)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.37

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.37)
    Sec. 10-20.37. Summer kindergarten. A school board may establish, maintain, and operate, in connection with the kindergarten program of the school district, a summer kindergarten program that begins 2 months before the beginning of the regular school year and a summer kindergarten program for grade one readiness for those pupils making unsatisfactory progress during the regular kindergarten session that will continue for 2 months after the regular school year. The summer kindergarten program may be held within the school district or, pursuant to a contract that must be approved by the State Board of Education, may be operated by 2 or more adjacent school districts or by a public or private university or college. Transportation for students attending the summer kindergarten program shall be the responsibility of the school district. The expense of establishing, maintaining, and operating the summer kindergarten program may be paid from funds contributed or otherwise made available to the school district for that purpose by federal or State appropriation.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.38

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.38)
    Sec. 10-20.38. Provision of student information prohibited. A school district, including its agents, employees, student or alumni associations, or any affiliates, may not provide a student's name, address, telephone number, social security number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information to a business organization or financial institution that issues credit or debit cards.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 96-261, eff. 1-1-10.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.39

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.39)
    Sec. 10-20.39. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 93-997, eff. 8-23-04. Repealed by P.A. 100-1046, eff. 8-23-18.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.40

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.40)
    Sec. 10-20.40. Student biometric information.
    (a) For the purposes of this Section, "biometric information" means any information that is collected through an identification process for individuals based on their unique behavioral or physiological characteristics, including fingerprint, hand geometry, voice, or facial recognition or iris or retinal scans.
    (b) School districts that collect biometric information from students shall adopt policies that require, at a minimum, all of the following:
        (1) Written permission from the individual who has
    
legal custody of the student, as defined in Section 10-20.12b of this Code, or from the student if he or she has reached the age of 18.
        (2) The discontinuation of use of a student's
    
biometric information under either of the following conditions:
            (A) upon the student's graduation or withdrawal
        
from the school district; or
            (B) upon receipt in writing of a request for
        
discontinuation by the individual having legal custody of the student or by the student if he or she has reached the age of 18.
        (3) The destruction of all of a student's biometric
    
information within 30 days after the use of the biometric information is discontinued in accordance with item (2) of this subsection (b).
        (4) The use of biometric information solely for
    
identification or fraud prevention.
        (5) A prohibition on the sale, lease, or other
    
disclosure of biometric information to another person or entity, unless:
            (A) the individual who has legal custody of the
        
student or the student, if he or she has reached the age of 18, consents to the disclosure; or
            (B) the disclosure is required by court order.
        (6) The storage, transmittal, and protection of all
    
biometric information from disclosure.
    (c) Failure to provide written consent under item (1) of subsection (b) of this Section by the individual who has legal custody of the student or by the student, if he or she has reached the age of 18, must not be the basis for refusal of any services otherwise available to the student.
    (d) Student biometric information may be destroyed without notification to or the approval of a local records commission under the Local Records Act if destroyed within 30 days after the use of the biometric information is discontinued in accordance with item (2) of subsection (b) of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 95-232, eff. 8-16-07; 95-793, eff. 1-1-09; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08; 96-328, eff. 8-11-09.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.41

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.41)
    Sec. 10-20.41. Use of facilities by community organizations. School boards are encouraged to allow community organizations to use school facilities during non-school hours. If a school board allows a community organization to use school facilities during non-school hours, the board must adopt a formal policy governing the use of school facilities by community organizations during non-school hours. The policy shall prohibit such use if it interferes with any school functions or the safety of students or school personnel or affects the property or liability of the school district.
(Source: P.A. 95-308, eff. 8-20-07; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08; 96-328, eff. 8-11-09.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.42

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.42)
    Sec. 10-20.42. Wind and solar farms. A school district may own and operate a wind or solar generation turbine farm, either individually or jointly with a unit of local government, school district, or community college district that is authorized to own and operate a wind or solar generation turbine farm, that directly or indirectly reduces the energy or other operating costs of the school district. The school district may ask for the assistance of any State agency, including without limitation the State Board of Education, the Illinois Power Agency, or the Environmental Protection Agency, in obtaining financing options for a wind or solar generation turbine farm.
(Source: P.A. 95-390, eff. 8-23-07; 95-805, eff. 8-12-08; 95-876, eff. 8-21-08; 96-725, eff. 8-25-09.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.43

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.43)
    Sec. 10-20.43. School facility and resources occupation tax fund. All proceeds received by a school district from a distribution under Section 3-14.31 must be maintained in a special fund known as the school facility and resources occupation tax fund. The district may use moneys in that fund only for school facility purposes, as that term is defined under Section 5-1006.7 of the Counties Code.
(Source: P.A. 101-455, eff. 8-23-19.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.44

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.44)
    Sec. 10-20.44. Report on contracts.
    (a) This Section applies to all school districts, including a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code.
    (b) A school board must list on the district's Internet website, if any, all contracts over $25,000 and any contract that the school board enters into with an exclusive bargaining representative.
    (c) Each year, in conjunction with the submission of the Statement of Affairs to the State Board of Education prior to December 1, provided for in Section 10-17, each school district shall submit to the State Board of Education an annual report on all contracts over $25,000 awarded by the school district during the previous fiscal year. The report shall include at least the following:
        (1) the total number of all contracts awarded by the
    
school district;
        (2) the total value of all contracts awarded;
        (3) the number of contracts awarded to minority-owned
    
businesses, women-owned businesses, and businesses owned by persons with disabilities, as defined in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act, and locally owned businesses; and
        (4) the total value of contracts awarded to
    
minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, and businesses owned by persons with disabilities, as defined in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act, and locally owned businesses.
    The report shall be made available to the public, including publication on the school district's Internet website, if any.
(Source: P.A. 100-391, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.45

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.45)
    Sec. 10-20.45. Pay for performance.
    (a) Beginning with all newly-negotiated collective bargaining agreements entered into after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, a school board and the exclusive bargaining representative, if any, may include a performance-based teacher compensation plan in the subject of its collective bargaining agreement. Nothing in this Section shall preclude the school board and the exclusive bargaining representative from agreeing to and implementing a new performance-based teacher compensation plan prior to the termination of the current collective bargaining agreement.
    (b) The new teacher compensation plan bargained and agreed to by the school board and the exclusive bargaining representative under subsection (a) of this Section shall provide certificated personnel with base salaries and shall also provide that any increases in the compensation of individual teachers or groups of teachers beyond base salaries shall be pursuant, but not limited to, any of the following elements:
        (1) Superior teacher evaluations based on multiple
    
evaluations of their classroom teaching.
        (2) Evaluation of a teacher's student classroom-level
    
achievement growth as measured using a value-added model. "Value-added" means the improvement gains in student achievement that are made each year based on pre-test and post-test outcomes.
        (3) Evaluation of school-level achievement growth as
    
measured using a value-added model. "Value-added" means the improvement gains in student achievement that are made each year based on pre-test and post-test outcomes.
        (4) Demonstration of superior, outstanding
    
performance by an individual teacher or groups of teachers through the meeting of unique and specific teaching practice objectives defined and agreed to in advance in any given school year.
        (5) Preparation for meeting and contribution to the
    
broader needs of the school organization (e.g., curriculum development, family liaison and community outreach, implementation of a professional development program for faculty, and participation in school management).
    (c) A school board and exclusive bargaining representative that initiate their own performance-based teacher compensation program shall submit the new plan to the State Board of Education for review not later than 150 days before the plan is to become effective. If the plan does not conform to this Section, the State Board of Education shall return the plan to the school board and the exclusive bargaining representative for modification. The school board and the exclusive bargaining representative shall then have 30 days after the plan is returned to them to submit a modified plan.
(Source: P.A. 95-707, eff. 1-11-08; 96-328, eff. 8-11-09.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.46

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.46)
    Sec. 10-20.46. Veterans' Day; moment of silence. If a school holds any type of event at the school on November 11, Veterans' Day, the school board shall require a moment of silence at that event to recognize Veterans' Day.
(Source: P.A. 96-84, eff. 7-27-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.47

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.47)
    Sec. 10-20.47. Administrator and teacher salary and benefits; report. Each school board shall report to the State Board of Education, on or before October 1 of each year, the base salary and benefits of the district superintendent and all administrators and teachers employed by the school district. For the purposes of this Section, "benefits" includes without limitation vacation days, sick days, bonuses, annuities, and retirement enhancements.
    Prior to this annual reporting to the State Board of Education, the information must be presented at a regular school board meeting, subject to applicable notice requirements, and then posted on the Internet website of the school district, if any.
(Source: P.A. 96-266, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10; 97-256, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.48

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.48)
    Sec. 10-20.48. Radon testing.
    (a) It is recommended that every occupied school building of a school district be tested every 5 years for radon pursuant to rules established by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA).
    (b) It is recommended that new schools of a school district be built using radon resistant new construction techniques, as shown in the United States Environmental Protection Agency document, Radon Prevention in the Design and Construction of Schools and Other Large Buildings.
    (c) Each school district may maintain, make available for review, and notify parents and faculty of test results under this Section. The district shall report radon test results to the State Board of Education, which shall prepare a report every 2 years of the results from all schools that have performed tests, to be submitted to the General Assembly and the Governor.
    (d) If IEMA exempts an individual from being required to be a licensed radon professional, the individual does not need to be a licensed radon professional in order to perform screening tests under this Section. A school district may elect to have one or more employees from the district attend an IEMA-approved, Internet-based training course on school testing in order to receive an exemption to conduct testing in that school district. These school district employees must perform the measurements in accordance with procedures approved by IEMA. If an exemption from IEMA is not received, the school district must use a licensed radon professional to conduct measurements.
    (e) If the results of a radon screening test under this Section are found to be 4.0 pCi/L or above, the school district may hire a licensed radon professional to perform measurements before any mitigation decisions are made. If radon levels of 4.0 pCi/L or above are found, it is recommended that affected areas be mitigated by a licensed radon mitigation professional with respect to both design and installation. IEMA may provide the school district with a list of licensed radon mitigation professionals.
    (f) A screening test under this Section may be done with a test kit found in a hardware store, department store, or home improvement store or with a kit ordered through the mail or over the Internet. However, the kit must be provided by a laboratory licensed in accordance with the Radon Industry Licensing Act.
(Source: P.A. 96-417, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.49

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.49)
    Sec. 10-20.49. Compliance with Chemical Safety Acts. Each school district must adopt a procedure to comply with the requirements of the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act and the Structural Pest Control Act. The school district must designate a staff person who is responsible for compliance with the requirements of these Acts.
(Source: P.A. 96-424, eff. 8-13-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.50

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.50)
    Sec. 10-20.50. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10. Repealed by P.A. 97-256, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.51

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.51)
    Sec. 10-20.51. Press boxes; accessibility. A school board does not have to comply with the Illinois Accessibility Code (71 Ill. Adm. Code 400) with respect to accessibility to press boxes that are on school property if the press boxes are in bleachers that have points of entry at only one level, and the aggregate area of the press box is no more than 500 square feet.
(Source: P.A. 96-674, eff. 8-25-09; 96-1000, eff. 7-2-10; 97-355, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.52

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.52)
    Sec. 10-20.52. American Sign Language courses. School boards are encouraged to implement American Sign Language courses into school foreign language curricula.
(Source: P.A. 96-843, eff. 6-1-10; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.53

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.53)
    Sec. 10-20.53. Minimum reading instruction. Each school board shall promote 60 minutes of minimum reading opportunities daily for students in kindergarten through 3rd grade whose reading level is one grade level or lower than their current grade level according to current learning standards and the school district.
(Source: P.A. 97-88, eff. 7-8-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.54

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.54)
    Sec. 10-20.54. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 97-813, eff. 7-13-12. Repealed by P.A. 99-245, eff. 8-3-15.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.55

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.55)
    Sec. 10-20.55. Bring Your Parents to School Day. A school board may designate the first Monday in October of each year "Bring Your Parents to School Day" to promote parental involvement and student success. On this day, the school board may permit the parents or guardians of students to attend class with their children and meet with teachers and administrators during the school day.
(Source: P.A. 98-304, eff. 1-1-14.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.56

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.56)
    Sec. 10-20.56. E-learning days.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall establish and maintain, for implementation in school districts, a program for use of electronic-learning (e-learning) days, as described in this Section. School districts may utilize a program approved under this Section for use during remote learning days and blended remote learning days under Section 10-30 or 34-18.66.
    (b) The school board of a school district may, by resolution, adopt a research-based program or research-based programs for e-learning days district-wide that shall permit student instruction to be received electronically while students are not physically present in lieu of the district's scheduled emergency days as required by Section 10-19 of this Code or because a school was selected to be a polling place under Section 11-4.1 of the Election Code. The research-based program or programs may not exceed the minimum number of emergency days in the approved school calendar and must be verified annually by the regional office of education or intermediate service center for the school district before the implementation of any e-learning days in that school year to ensure access for all students. The regional office of education or intermediate service center shall ensure that the specific needs of all students are met, including special education students and English learners, and that all mandates are still met using the proposed research-based program. The e-learning program may utilize the Internet, telephones, texts, chat rooms, or other similar means of electronic communication for instruction and interaction between teachers and students that meet the needs of all learners. The e-learning program shall address the school district's responsibility to ensure that all teachers and staff who may be involved in the provision of e-learning have access to any and all hardware and software that may be required for the program. If a proposed program does not address this responsibility, the school district must propose an alternate program.
    (c) Before its adoption by a school board, the school board must hold a public hearing on a school district's initial proposal for an e-learning program or for renewal of such a program, at a regular or special meeting of the school board, in which the terms of the proposal must be substantially presented and an opportunity for allowing public comments must be provided. Notice of such public hearing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by:
        (1) publication in a newspaper of general circulation
    
in the school district;
        (2) written or electronic notice designed to reach
    
the parents or guardians of all students enrolled in the school district; and
        (3) written or electronic notice designed to reach
    
any exclusive collective bargaining representatives of school district employees and all those employees not in a collective bargaining unit.
    (d) The regional office of education or intermediate service center for the school district must timely verify that a proposal for an e-learning program has met the requirements specified in this Section and that the proposal contains provisions designed to reasonably and practicably accomplish the following:
        (1) to ensure and verify at least 5 clock hours of
    
instruction or school work, as required under Section 10-19.05, for each student participating in an e-learning day;
        (2) to ensure access from home or other appropriate
    
remote facility for all students participating, including computers, the Internet, and other forms of electronic communication that must be utilized in the proposed program;
        (2.5) to ensure that non-electronic materials are
    
made available to students participating in the program who do not have access to the required technology or to participating teachers or students who are prevented from accessing the required technology;
        (3) to ensure appropriate learning opportunities for
    
students with special needs;
        (4) to monitor and verify each student's electronic
    
participation;
        (5) to address the extent to which student
    
participation is within the student's control as to the time, pace, and means of learning;
        (6) to provide effective notice to students and their
    
parents or guardians of the use of particular days for e-learning;
        (7) to provide staff and students with adequate
    
training for e-learning days' participation;
        (8) to ensure an opportunity for any collective
    
bargaining negotiations with representatives of the school district's employees that would be legally required, including all classifications of school district employees who are represented by collective bargaining agreements and who would be affected in the event of an e-learning day;
        (9) to review and revise the program as implemented
    
to address difficulties confronted; and
        (10) to ensure that the protocol regarding general
    
expectations and responsibilities of the program is communicated to teachers, staff, and students at least 30 days prior to utilizing an e-learning day in a school year.
    The school board's approval of a school district's initial e-learning program and renewal of the e-learning program shall be for a term of 3 school years, beginning with the first school year in which the program was approved and verified by the regional office of education or intermediate service center for the school district.
    (d-5) A school district shall pay to its contractors who provide educational support services to the district, including, but not limited to, custodial, transportation, or food service providers, their daily, regular rate of pay or billings rendered for any e-learning day that is used because a school was selected to be a polling place under Section 11-4.1 of the Election Code, except that this requirement does not apply to contractors who are paid under contracts that are entered into, amended, or renewed on or after March 15, 2022 or to contracts that otherwise address compensation for such e-learning days.
    (d-10) A school district shall pay to its employees who provide educational support services to the district, including, but not limited to, custodial employees, building maintenance employees, transportation employees, food service providers, classroom assistants, or administrative staff, their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits rendered for any school closure or e-learning day if the closure precludes them from performing their regularly scheduled duties and the employee would have reported for work but for the closure, except this requirement does not apply if the day is rescheduled and the employee will be paid their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits for the rescheduled day when services are rendered.
    (d-15) A school district shall make full payment that would have otherwise been paid to its contractors who provide educational support services to the district, including, but not limited to, custodial, building maintenance, transportation, food service providers, classroom assistants, or administrative staff, their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits rendered for any school closure or e-learning day if any closure precludes them from performing their regularly scheduled duties and employees would have reported for work but for the closure. The employees who provide the support services covered by such contracts shall be paid their daily bid package rates and benefits as defined by their local operating agreements or collective bargaining agreements, except this requirement does not apply if the day is rescheduled and the employee will be paid their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits for the rescheduled day when services are rendered.
    (d-20) A school district shall make full payment or reimbursement to an employee or contractor as specified in subsection (d-10) or (d-15) of this Section for any school closure or e-learning day in the 2021-2022 school year that occurred prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly if the employee or contractor did not receive pay or was required to use earned paid time off, except this requirement does not apply if the day is rescheduled and the employee will be paid their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits for the rescheduled day when services are rendered.
    (e) The State Board of Education may adopt rules consistent with the provision of this Section.
    (f) For purposes of subsections (d-10), (d-15), and (d-20) of this Section:
    "Employee" means anyone employed by a school district on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.
    "School district" includes charter schools established under Article 27A of this Code, but does not include the Department of Juvenile Justice School District.
(Source: P.A. 102-584, eff. 6-1-22; 102-697, eff. 4-5-22; 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.57

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.57)
    Sec. 10-20.57. Carbon monoxide alarm required.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Approved carbon monoxide alarm" and "alarm" have the meaning ascribed to those terms in the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act.
    "Carbon monoxide detector" and "detector" mean a device having a sensor that responds to carbon monoxide gas and that is connected to an alarm control unit and approved in accordance with rules adopted by the State Fire Marshal.
    (b) A school board shall require that each school under its authority be equipped with approved carbon monoxide alarms or carbon monoxide detectors. The alarms must be powered as follows:
        (1) For a school designed before January 1, 2016 (the
    
effective date of Public Act 99-470), alarms powered by batteries are permitted. In accordance with Section 17-2.11 of this Code, alarms permanently powered by the building's electrical system and monitored by any required fire alarm system are also permitted. Fire prevention and safety tax levy proceeds or bond proceeds may be used for alarms.
        (2) For a school designed on or after January 1, 2016
    
(the effective date of Public Act 99-470), alarms must be permanently powered by the building's electrical system or be an approved carbon monoxide detection system. An installation required in this subdivision (2) must be monitored by any required fire alarm system.
    Alarms or detectors must be located within 20 feet of a carbon monoxide emitting device. Alarms or detectors must be in operating condition and be inspected annually. A school is exempt from the requirements of this Section if it does not have or is not close to any sources of carbon monoxide. A school must require plans, protocols, and procedures in response to the activation of a carbon monoxide alarm or carbon monoxide detection system.
(Source: P.A. 99-470, eff. 1-1-16; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.58

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.58)
    Sec. 10-20.58. Accelerate College pilot program. School districts may enter into Accelerate College educational partnership agreements as authorized under Section 3-42.4 of the Public Community College Act.
(Source: P.A. 99-611, eff. 7-22-16; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.59

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.59)
    Sec. 10-20.59. DCFS liaison.
    (a) Each school board must appoint at least one employee to act as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of records of students in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services when enrolling in or changing schools. The school board may appoint any employee of the school district who is licensed under Article 21B of this Code to act as a liaison; however, employees who meet any of the following criteria must be prioritized for appointment:
        (1) Employees who have worked with mobile student
    
populations or students in foster care.
        (2) Employees who are familiar with enrollment,
    
record transfers, existing community services, and student support services.
        (3) Employees who serve as a high-level administrator.
        (4) Employees who are counselors or have experience
    
with student counseling.
        (5) Employees who are knowledgeable on child welfare
    
policies.
        (6) Employees who serve as a school social worker.
    (b) Liaisons under this Section are encouraged to build capacity and infrastructure within their school district to support students in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services. Liaison responsibilities may include the following:
        (1) streamlining the enrollment processes for
    
students in foster care;
        (2) implementing student data tracking and monitoring
    
mechanisms;
        (3) ensuring that students in the legal custody of
    
the Department of Children and Family Services receive all school nutrition and meal programs available;
        (4) coordinating student withdrawal from a school,
    
record transfers, and credit recovery;
        (5) becoming experts on the foster care system and
    
State laws and policies in place that support children under the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services;
        (6) coordinating with child welfare partners;
        (7) providing foster care-related information and
    
training to the school district;
        (8) working with the Department of Children and
    
Family Services to help students maintain their school placement, if appropriate;
        (9) reviewing student schedules to ensure that
    
students are on track to graduate;
        (10) encouraging a successful transition into
    
adulthood and post-secondary opportunities;
        (11) encouraging involvement in extracurricular
    
activities; and
        (12) knowing what support is available within the
    
school district and community for students in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.
    (c) A school district is required to designate a liaison by the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.
    (d) Individuals licensed under Article 21B of this Code acting as a liaison under this Section shall perform the duties of a liaison in addition to existing contractual obligations.
(Source: P.A. 102-199, eff. 7-1-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.60

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.60)
    Sec. 10-20.60. Breastfeeding accommodations for pupils.
    (a) Each public school shall provide reasonable accommodations to a lactating pupil on a school campus to express breast milk, breastfeed an infant child, or address other needs related to breastfeeding. Reasonable accommodations under this Section include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
        (1) Access to a private and secure room, other than a
    
restroom, to express breast milk or breastfeed an infant child.
        (2) Permission to bring onto a school campus a breast
    
pump and any other equipment used to express breast milk.
        (3) Access to a power source for a breast pump or any
    
other equipment used to express breast milk.
        (4) Access to a place to store expressed breast milk
    
safely.
    (b) A lactating pupil on a school campus must be provided a reasonable amount of time to accommodate her need to express breast milk or breastfeed an infant child.
    (c) A public school shall provide the reasonable accommodations specified in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section only if there is at least one lactating pupil on the school campus.
    (d) A public school may use an existing facility to meet the requirements specified in subsection (a) of this Section.
    (e) A pupil may not incur an academic penalty as a result of her use, during the school day, of the reasonable accommodations specified in this Section and must be provided the opportunity to make up any work missed due to such use.
    (f) In instances where a student files a complaint of noncompliance with the requirements of this Section, the public school shall implement the grievance procedure of 23 Ill. Adm. Code 200, including appeals procedures.
(Source: P.A. 100-29, eff. 1-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.61

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.61)
    Sec. 10-20.61. Implicit bias training.
    (a) The General Assembly makes the following findings:
        (1) implicit racial bias influences evaluations of
    
and behavior toward those who are the subject of the bias;
        (2) understanding implicit racial bias is needed in
    
order to reduce that bias;
        (3) marginalized students would benefit from having
    
access to educators who have worked to reduce their biases; and
        (4) training that helps educators overcome implicit
    
racial bias has implication for classroom interactions, student evaluation, and classroom engagement; it also affects student academic self-concept.
    (b) Teachers, administrators, and school support personnel shall complete training to develop cultural competency, including understanding and reducing implicit racial bias, as outlined in Sections 10-22.39 and 3-11.
    (c) As used in this Section, "implicit racial bias" means a preference, positive or negative, for a racial or ethnic group that operates outside of awareness. This bias has 3 different components: affective, behavioral, and cognitive.
(Source: P.A. 103-542, eff. 7-1-24 (see Section 905 of P.A. 103-563 for effective date of P.A. 103-542).)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.62

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.62)
    Sec. 10-20.62. Dual enrollment and dual credit notification.
    (a) In this Section, "dual credit course" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the Dual Credit Quality Act.
    (b) A qualified student shall be allowed to enroll in an unlimited amount of dual credit courses and earn an unlimited amount of academic credits from dual credit courses if the courses are taught by an Illinois instructor, as provided under the Dual Credit Quality Act.
    (c) A school board shall require the school district's high schools, if any, to inform all 11th and 12th grade students of dual enrollment and dual credit opportunities at public community colleges for qualified students.
(Source: P.A. 100-133, eff. 1-1-18; 100-792, eff. 1-1-19; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.63

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.63)
    Sec. 10-20.63. Availability of menstrual hygiene products.
    (a) The General Assembly finds the following:
        (1) Menstrual hygiene products are a health care
    
necessity and not an item that can be foregone or substituted easily.
        (2) Access to menstrual hygiene products is a serious
    
and ongoing need in this State.
        (3) When students do not have access to affordable
    
menstrual hygiene products, they may miss multiple days of school every month.
        (4) When students have access to quality menstrual
    
hygiene products, they are able to continue with their daily lives with minimal interruption.
    (b) In this Section:
    "Menstrual hygiene products" means tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle.
    "School building" means any facility (i) that is owned or leased by a school district or over which the school board has care, custody, and control and (ii) in which there is a public school serving students in grades 6 through 12.
    (c) A school district shall make menstrual hygiene products available, at no cost to students, in bathrooms of every school building that are open for student use in grades 4 through 12 during the regular school day.
(Source: P.A. 102-340, eff. 8-13-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.64

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.64)
    Sec. 10-20.64. Booking stations on school grounds.
    (a) There shall be no student booking station established or maintained on the grounds of any school.
    (b) This prohibition shall be applied to student booking stations only, as defined in this Section. The prohibition does not prohibit or affect the establishment or maintenance of any place operated by or under the control of law enforcement personnel, school resource officers, or other security personnel that does not also qualify as a student booking station as defined in paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of this Section. The prohibition does not affect or limit the powers afforded law enforcement officers to perform their duties within schools as otherwise prescribed by law.
    (c) When the underlying suspected or alleged criminal act is an act of violence, and isolation of a student or students is deemed necessary to the interest of public safety, and no other location is adequate for secure isolation of the student or students, offices as described in paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of this Section may be employed to detain students for a period no longer than that required to alleviate that threat to public safety.
    (d) As used in this Section, "student booking station" means a building, office, room, or any indefinitely established space or site, mobile or fixed, which operates concurrently as:
        (1) predominantly or regularly a place of operation
    
for a municipal police department, county sheriff department, or other law enforcement agency, or under the primary control thereof; and
        (2) a site at which students are detained in
    
connection with criminal charges or allegations against those students, taken into custody, or engaged with law enforcement personnel in any process that creates a law enforcement record of that contact with law enforcement personnel or processes.
(Source: P.A. 100-204, eff. 8-18-17; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.65

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.65)
    Sec. 10-20.65. School social worker. A school board may employ school social workers who have graduated with a master's or higher degree in social work from an accredited graduate school of social work and have such additional qualifications as may be required by the State Board of Education and who hold a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement for school social work pursuant to Section 21B-25 of this Code. Only persons so licensed and endorsed may use the title "school social worker". A school social worker may provide individual and group services to the general student population and to students with disabilities pursuant to Article 14 of this Code and rules set forth in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226, Special Education, adopted by the State Board of Education and may provide support and consultation to administrators, teachers, and other school personnel consistent with their professional qualifications and the provisions of this Code and other applicable laws. School districts may employ a sufficient number of school social workers to address the needs of their students and schools and may maintain the nationally recommended student-to-school social worker ratio of 250 to 1. A school social worker may not provide such services outside his or her employment to any student in the district or districts that employ the school social worker.
(Source: P.A. 100-356, eff. 8-25-17; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.66

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.66)
    Sec. 10-20.66. School-grown produce. A school district may serve students produce grown and harvested by students in school-owned facilities utilizing hydroponics or aeroponics or in school-owned or community gardens if the soil and compost in which the produce is grown meets the standards adopted in 35 Ill. Adm. Code 830.503, if applicable, and the produce is served in accordance with the standards adopted in 77 Ill. Adm. Code 750.
(Source: P.A. 100-505, eff. 6-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.67

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.67)
    Sec. 10-20.67. Short-term substitute teacher training.
    (a) Each school board shall, in collaboration with its teachers or, if applicable, the exclusive bargaining representative of its teachers, jointly develop a short-term substitute teacher training program that provides individuals who hold a Short-Term Substitute Teaching License under Section 21B-20 of this Code with information on curriculum, classroom management techniques, school safety, and district and building operations. The State Board of Education may develop a model short-term substitute teacher training program for use by a school board under this subsection (a) if the school board and its teachers or, if applicable, the exclusive bargaining representative of its teachers agree to use the State Board's model. A school board with a substitute teacher training program in place before July 1, 2018 (the effective date of Public Act 100-596) may utilize that program to satisfy the requirements of this subsection (a).
    (b) Nothing in this Section prohibits a school board from offering substitute training to substitute teachers licensed under paragraph (3) of Section 21B-20 of this Code or to substitute teachers holding a Professional Educator License.
    (c) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 103-111, eff. 6-29-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.68

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.68)
    Sec. 10-20.68. School resource officer.
    (a) In this Section, "school resource officer" means a law enforcement officer who has been primarily assigned to a school or school district under an agreement with a local law enforcement agency.
    (b) Beginning January 1, 2021, any law enforcement agency that provides a school resource officer under this Section shall provide to the school district a certificate of completion, or approved waiver, issued by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board under Section 10.22 of the Illinois Police Training Act indicating that the subject officer has completed the requisite course of instruction in the applicable subject areas within one year of assignment, or has prior experience and training which satisfies this requirement.
    (c) In an effort to defray the related costs, any law enforcement agency that provides a school resource officer should apply for grant funding through the federal Community Oriented Policing Services grant program.
(Source: P.A. 100-984, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.69

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.69)
    Sec. 10-20.69. Policy on sexual harassment. Each school district must create, maintain, and implement an age-appropriate policy on sexual harassment that must be posted on the school district's website and, if applicable, any other area where policies, rules, and standards of conduct are currently posted in each school and must also be included in the school district's student code of conduct handbook.
(Source: P.A. 101-418, eff. 1-1-20; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.70

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.70)
    Sec. 10-20.70. Class size reporting. No later than November 16, 2020, and annually thereafter, each school district must report to the State Board of Education information on the school district described under subsection (b) of Section 2-3.136a and must make that information available on its website.
(Source: P.A. 101-451, eff. 1-1-20; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.71

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.71)
    Sec. 10-20.71. Sexual abuse investigations at schools. Every 2 years, each school district must review all existing policies and procedures concerning sexual abuse investigations at schools to ensure consistency with Section 22-85.
(Source: P.A. 101-531, eff. 8-23-19; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.72

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.72)
    Sec. 10-20.72. Door security locking means.
    (a) In this Section, "door security locking means" means a door locking means intended for use by a trained school district employee in a school building for the purpose of preventing ingress through a door of the building.
    (b) A school district may install a door security locking means on a door of a school building to prevent unwanted entry through the door if all of the following requirements are met:
        (1) The door security locking means can be engaged
    
without opening the door.
        (2) The unlocking and unlatching of the door security
    
locking means from the occupied side of the door can be accomplished without the use of a key or tool.
        (3) The door security locking means complies with all
    
applicable State and federal accessibility requirements.
        (4) Locks, if remotely engaged, can be unlocked from
    
the occupied side.
        (5) The door security locking means is capable of
    
being disengaged from the outside by school district employees, and school district employees may use a key or other credentials to unlock the door from the outside.
        (6) The door security locking means does not modify
    
the door-closing hardware, panic hardware, or fire exit hardware.
        (7) Any bolts, stops, brackets, or pins employed by
    
the door security locking means do not affect the fire rating of a fire door assembly.
        (8) School district employees are trained in the
    
engagement and release of the door security locking means, from within and outside the room, as part of the emergency response plan.
        (9) For doors installed before July 1, 2019 only, the
    
unlocking and unlatching of a door security locking means requires no more than 2 releasing operations. For doors installed on or after July 1, 2019, the unlocking and unlatching of a door security locking means requires no more than one releasing operation. If doors installed before July 1, 2019 are replaced on or after July 1, 2019, the unlocking and unlatching of a door security locking means on the replacement door requires no more than one releasing operation.
        (10) The door security locking means is no more than
    
48 inches above the finished floor.
        (11) The door security locking means otherwise
    
complies with the school building code prepared by the State Board of Education under Section 2-3.12.
    A school district may install a door security locking means that does not comply with paragraph (3) or (10) of this subsection if (i) the school district meets all other requirements under this subsection and (ii) prior to its installation, local law enforcement officials, the local fire department, and the school board agree, in writing, to the installation and use of the door security locking means. The school district must keep the agreement on file and must, upon request, provide the agreement to its regional office of education. The agreement must be included in the school district's filed school safety plan under the School Safety Drill Act.
    (c) A school district must include the location of any door security locking means and must address the use of the locking and unlocking means from within and outside the room in its filed school safety plan under the School Safety Drill Act. Local law enforcement officials and the local fire department must be notified of the location of any door security locking means and how to disengage it. Any specific tool needed to disengage the door security locking means from the outside of the room must, upon request, be made available to local law enforcement officials and the local fire department.
    (d) A door security locking means may be used only (i) by a school district employee trained under subsection (e), (ii) during an emergency that threatens the health and safety of students and employees or during an active shooter drill, and (iii) when local law enforcement officials and the local fire department have been notified of its installation prior to its use. The door security locking means must be engaged for a finite period of time in accordance with the school district's school safety plan adopted under the School Safety Drill Act.
    (e) A school district that has installed a door security locking means shall conduct an in-service training program for school district employees on the proper use of the door security locking means. The school district shall keep a file verifying the employees who have completed the program and must, upon request, provide the file to its regional office of education and the local fire department and local law enforcement agency.
    (f) A door security locking means that requires 2 releasing operations must be discontinued from use when the door is replaced or is a part of new construction. Replacement and new construction door hardware must include mortise locks, compliant with the applicable building code, and must be lockable from the occupied side without opening the door. However, mortise locks are not required if panic hardware or fire exit hardware is required.
(Source: P.A. 101-548, eff. 8-23-19; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.73

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.73)
    Sec. 10-20.73. Modification of athletic or team uniform permitted.
    (a) A school board must allow a student athlete to modify his or her athletic or team uniform for the purpose of modesty in clothing or attire that is in accordance with the requirements of his or her religion or his or her cultural values or modesty preferences. The modification of the athletic or team uniform may include, but is not limited to, the wearing of a hijab, an undershirt, or leggings. If a student chooses to modify his or her athletic or team uniform, the student is responsible for all costs associated with the modification of the uniform and the student shall not be required to receive prior approval from the school board for such modification. However, nothing in this Section prohibits a school from providing the modification to the student.
    (b) At a minimum, any modification of the athletic or team uniform must not interfere with the movement of the student or pose a safety hazard to the student or to other athletes or players. The modification of headgear is permitted if the headgear:
        (1) is black, white, the predominant color of the
    
uniform, or the same color for all players on the team;
        (2) does not cover any part of the face;
        (3) is not dangerous to the player or to the other
    
players;
        (4) has no opening or closing elements around the
    
face and neck; and
        (5) has no parts extruding from its surface.
(Source: P.A. 102-51, eff. 7-9-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.74

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.74)
    Sec. 10-20.74. Educational technology capacity and policies; report. School districts shall submit to the State Board of Education, or its designee, an annual report that shall include, at a minimum, information regarding educational technology capacity and policies, including device availability for students, school-based access and infrastructure, professional learning and training opportunities, and documentation of developmentally appropriate computer literacy instruction embedded in the district's curriculum at each grade level.
(Source: P.A. 101-654, eff. 3-8-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.75

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.75)
    Sec. 10-20.75. Website accessibility guidelines.
    (a) As used in this Section, "Internet website or web service" means any third party online curriculum that is made available to enrolled students or the public by a school district through the Internet.
    (b) To ensure that the content available on an Internet website or web service of a school district is readily accessible to persons with disabilities, the school district must require that the Internet website or web service comply with Level AA of the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 or any revised version of those guidelines.
(Source: P.A. 102-238, eff. 8-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.76

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.76)
    Sec. 10-20.76. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 102-813, eff. 5-13-22. Repealed by P.A. 103-143, eff. 7-1-23.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.77

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.77)
    Sec. 10-20.77. Parent-teacher conference and other meetings; caseworker. For any student who is in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, the liaison appointed under Section 10-20.59 must inform the Department's Office of Education and Transition Services of a parent-teacher conference or any other meeting concerning the student that would otherwise involve a parent and must, at the option of the caseworker, allow the student's caseworker to attend the conference or meeting.
(Source: P.A. 102-199, eff. 7-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.78

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.78)
    Sec. 10-20.78. Student absence; pregnancy. A school board shall adopt written policies related to absences and missed homework or classwork assignments as a result of or related to a student's pregnancy.
(Source: P.A. 102-471, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.79

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.79)
    Sec. 10-20.79. Computer literacy skills. All school districts shall ensure that students receive developmentally appropriate opportunities to gain computer literacy skills beginning in elementary school.
(Source: P.A. 101-654, eff. 3-8-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.80

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.80)
    Sec. 10-20.80. School support personnel reporting. No later than December 1, 2022 and each December 1st annually thereafter, each school district must report to the State Board of Education the information with regard to the school district as of October 1st of each year beginning in 2022 as described in subsection (b) of Section 2-3.182 of this Code and must make that information available on its website.
(Source: P.A. 102-302, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.81

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.81)
    Sec. 10-20.81. Identification cards; suicide prevention information. Each school district that serves pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 and that issues an identification card to pupils in any of grades 6 through 12 shall provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), the Crisis Text Line, and the Safe2Help Illinois helpline on the identification card. The contact information shall identify each helpline that may be contacted through text messaging. The contact information shall be included in the school's student handbook and also the student planner if a student planner is custom printed by the school for distribution to pupils in any of grades 6 through 12.
(Source: P.A. 102-416, eff. 7-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-143, eff. 7-1-23.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.83

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.83)
    Sec. 10-20.83. COVID-19 paid administrative leave.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Employee" means a person employed by a school district on or after April 5, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-697).
    "Fully vaccinated against COVID-19" means:
        (1) 2 weeks after receiving the second dose in a
    
2-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration; or
        (2) 2 weeks after receiving a single dose of a
    
COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed, or otherwise approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
    "Fully vaccinated against COVID-19" also includes any recommended booster doses for which the individual is eligible upon the adoption by the Department of Public Health of any changes made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" to include any such booster doses. For purposes of this Section, individuals who are eligible for a booster dose but have not received a booster dose by 5 weeks after the Department of Public Health adopts a revised definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" are not considered fully vaccinated for determining eligibility for future paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section.
    "School district" includes charter schools established under Article 27A of this Code, but does not include the Department of Juvenile Justice School District.
    (b) During any time when the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act and a school district, the State or any of its agencies, or a local public health department has issued guidance, mandates, or rules related to COVID-19 that restrict an employee of the school district from being on school district property because the employee (i) has a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis via a molecular amplification diagnostic test, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19, (ii) has a probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen diagnostic test, (iii) has been in close contact with a person who had a confirmed case of COVID-19 and is required to be excluded from the school, or (iv) is required by the school or school district policy to be excluded from school district property due to COVID-19 symptoms, the employee of the school district shall receive as many days of administrative leave as required to abide by the public health guidance, mandates, and requirements issued by the Department of Public Health, unless a longer period of paid administrative leave has been negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative if any. Such leave shall be provided to an employee for any days for which the employee was required to be excluded from school property prior to April 5, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-697), provided that the employee receives all doses required to meet the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" under this Section no later than 5 weeks after April 5, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-697).
    (c) An employee of a school district shall receive paid administrative leave pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section, unless a longer period of paid administrative leave has been negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative if any, to care for a child of the employee if the child is unable to attend elementary or secondary school because the child has:
        (1) a confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis via a
    
molecular amplification diagnostic test, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19;
        (2) a probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen
    
diagnostic test;
        (3) been in close contact with a person who has a
    
confirmed case of COVID-19 and is required to be excluded from school; or
        (4) been required by the school or school district
    
policy to be excluded from school district property due to COVID-19 symptoms.
Such leave shall be provided to an employee for any days needed to care for a child of the employee prior to April 5, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-697), provided that the employee receives the doses required to meet the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" under this Section no later than 5 weeks after April 5, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-697).
    (d) An employee of a school district who is on paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section must provide all documentation requested by the school board.
    (e) An employee of a school district who is on paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section shall receive the employee's regular rate of pay. The use of a paid administrative leave day or days by an employee pursuant to this Section may not diminish any other leave or benefits of the employee.
    (f) An employee of a school district may not accrue paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section.
    (g) For an employee of a school district to be eligible to receive paid administrative leave pursuant to this Section, the employee must:
        (1) have received all required doses to be fully
    
vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined in this Section; and
        (2) participate in the COVID-19 testing program
    
adopted by the school district to the extent such a testing program requires participation by individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
    (h) Nothing in this Section is intended to affect any right or remedy under federal law.
    (i) No paid administrative leave awarded to or used by a fully vaccinated employee prior to the Department of Public Health's adoption of a revised definition of the term "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" may be rescinded on the basis that the employee no longer meets the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" based on the revised definition.
(Source: P.A. 102-697, eff. 4-5-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.84

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.84)
    Sec. 10-20.84. College and career readiness systems.
    (a) Subject to subsection (d) of this Section, by July 1, 2025, a school district that enrolls students in any of grades 6 through 12 shall adopt and commence implementation of career exploration and career development activities in accordance with a postsecondary and career expectations framework for each of grades 6 through 12 served by the district that substantially aligns to the model framework adopted by State agencies pursuant to Section 15 of the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act. The local postsecondary and career expectations framework shall be available on a prominent location on the school district's website.
    The career exploration and career development activities offered in alignment with the postsecondary and career expectations framework shall prepare students enrolled in grades 6 through 12 to make informed plans and decisions about their future education and career goals, including possible participation in a career and technical education pathway, by providing students with opportunities to explore a wide variety of high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand career fields.
    (b) By no later than July 1, 2025, a school district that enrolls students in any of grades 9 through 12 shall either elect to implement College and Career Pathway Endorsements in accordance with subsection (c) of this Section or opt out of implementation in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.
    (c) A school district that enrolls students in any of grades 9 through 12 electing to implement College and Career Pathway Endorsements shall become an eligible school district and either (i) independently, (ii) through an area career center, or (iii) through an inter-district cooperative, award College and Career Pathway Endorsements pursuant to the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act and pursuant to the following schedule:
        (1) for the high school graduating class of 2027, a
    
school district shall offer College and Career Pathway Endorsements in at least one endorsement area;
        (2) for the high school graduating class of 2029, a
    
school district shall offer College and Career Pathway Endorsements in at least 2 endorsement areas; and
        (3) for the high school graduating class of 2031, a
    
school district with a grade 9 through 12 enrollment of more than 350 students, as calculated by the State Board of Education for the 2022-2023 school year, shall offer College and Career Pathway Endorsements in at least 3 endorsement areas.
    A school district may elect to implement College and Career Pathway Endorsements by July 1, 2025, either by submitting the necessary application materials to the State Board of Education to award the number of endorsements required by this subsection or by the school board of the district adopting a timeline for implementation consistent with the requirements of this subsection.
    (d) The school board of any school district may, by action of the board, opt out of implementation of all or any part of this Section through adoption of a set of findings that considers the following:
        (1) the school district's current systems for college
    
and career readiness;
        (2) the school district's cost of implementation
    
balanced against the potential benefits to students and families through improved postsecondary education and career outcomes;
        (3) the willingness and capacity of local businesses
    
to partner with the school district for successful implementation of pathways other than education;
        (4) the willingness of institutions of higher
    
education to partner with the school district for successful implementation of the pathway and whether the district has sought and established a partnership agreement with a community college district incorporating the provisions of the Model Partnership Agreement under the Dual Credit Quality Act;
        (5) the availability of a statewide database of
    
participating local business partners, as provided under the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act, for the purpose of career readiness and the accessibility of those work experiences and apprenticeships listed in the database to the students of the school district; and
        (6) the availability of properly licensed teachers or
    
teachers meeting faculty credential standards for dual credit courses to instruct in the program required for the endorsement areas.
    A school district must report its board findings and decision on implementation to the State Board of Education. A school district electing to opt out of implementation may reverse its decision in whole or in part at any time.
    (e) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-917, eff. 1-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.85

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.85)
    Sec. 10-20.85. Trauma kit.
    (a) In this Section, "trauma kit" means a first aid response kit that contains, at a minimum, all of the following:
        (1) One tourniquet endorsed by the Committee on
    
Tactical Combat Casualty Care.
        (2) One compression bandage.
        (3) One hemostatic bleeding control dressing endorsed
    
by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care.
        (4) Protective gloves and a marker.
        (5) Scissors.
        (6) Instructional documents developed by the Stop the
    
Bleed national awareness campaign of the United States Department of Homeland Security or the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma, or both.
        (7) Any other medical materials or equipment similar
    
to those described in paragraphs (1) through (3) or any other items that (i) are approved by a local law enforcement agency or first responders, (ii) can adequately treat a traumatic injury, and (iii) can be stored in a readily available kit.
    (b) Each school district may maintain an on-site trauma kit at each school of the district for bleeding emergencies.
    (c) Products purchased for the trauma kit, including those products endorsed by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care, shall, whenever possible, be manufactured in the United States.
(Source: P.A. 103-128, eff. 6-30-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.86

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.86)
    Sec. 10-20.86. Community input on local assessments.
    (a) As used in this Section, "district-administered assessment" means an assessment that requires all student test takers at any grade level to answer the same questions, or a selection of questions from a common bank of questions, in the same manner or substantially the same questions in the same manner. The term does not include an observational assessment tool used to satisfy the requirements of Section 2-3.64a-10 of this Code or an assessment developed by district teachers or administrators that will be used to measure student progress at an attendance center within the school district.
    (b) Prior to approving a new contract for any district-administered assessment, a school board must hold a public vote at a regular meeting of the school board, at which the terms of the proposal must be substantially presented and an opportunity for allowing public comments must be provided, subject to applicable notice requirements. However, if the assessment being made available to review is subject to copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property protection, the review process shall include technical and procedural safeguards to ensure that the materials are not able to be widely disseminated to the general public in violation of the intellectual property rights of the publisher and to ensure content validity is not undermined.
(Source: P.A. 103-393, eff. 7-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-20.87

    (105 ILCS 5/10-20.87)
    Sec. 10-20.87. Automated external defibrillator; attendance centers and extracurricular activities.
    (a) As used in this Section, "automated external defibrillator" has the meaning provided in the Automated External Defibrillator Act.
    (b) A school district shall require all attendance centers to have present during the school day and during a school-sponsored extracurricular activity on school grounds at least one automated external defibrillator.
    (c) An automated external defibrillator installed and maintained in accordance with the Physical Fitness Facility Medical Emergency Preparedness Act may be used to satisfy the requirements of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 103-1019, eff. 1-1-25.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21)
    Sec. 10-21. Additional duties of board. Boards of education in addition to the duties enumerated above shall have the additional duties enumerated in Sections 10-21.1 through 10-21.11.
(Source: P.A. 86-21; 86-890; 86-1028.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.1

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.1)
    Sec. 10-21.1. Employment of teachers.
    To examine teachers by examinations supplemental to any other examinations and to employ teachers and fix the amount of their salaries subject to limitations set forth in this Act. Provided, that in fixing salaries of certificated employees school boards shall make no discrimination on account of sex; provided, further, that sabbatical leaves, with full or partial salary, may be granted in accordance with the rules of the board.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.2

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.2)
    Sec. 10-21.2. Schools of different grades.
    To establish schools of different grades and to adopt regulations for the admission of pupils into them; however, in any district having less than 2,000 inhabitants no grades above the eighth shall be maintained unless they were maintained during the school year ended June 30, 1949.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.3

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.3)
    Sec. 10-21.3. Attendance units.
    To establish one or more attendance units within the district. As soon as practicable, and from time to time thereafter, the board shall change or revise existing units or create new units in a manner which will take into consideration the prevention of segregation and the elimination of separation of children in public schools because of color, race or nationality. All records pertaining to the creation, alteration or revision of attendance units shall be open to the public.
(Source: Laws 1963, p. 1107.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.3a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.3a)
    Sec. 10-21.3a. Transfer of students.
    (a) Each school board shall establish and implement a policy governing the transfer of a student from one attendance center to another within the school district upon the request of the student's parent or guardian. A student may not transfer to any of the following attendance centers, except by change in residence if the policy authorizes enrollment based on residence in an attendance area or unless approved by the board on an individual basis:
        (1) An attendance center that exceeds or as a result
    
of the transfer would exceed its attendance capacity.
        (2) An attendance center for which the board has
    
established academic criteria for enrollment if the student does not meet the criteria.
        (3) Any attendance center if the transfer would
    
prevent the school district from meeting its obligations under a State or federal law, court order, or consent decree applicable to the school district.
    (b) Each school board shall establish and implement a policy governing the transfer of students within a school district from a persistently dangerous school to another public school in that district that is not deemed to be persistently dangerous. In order to be considered a persistently dangerous school, the school must meet all of the following criteria for 2 consecutive years:
        (1) Have greater than 3% of the students enrolled in
    
the school expelled for violence-related conduct.
        (2) Have one or more students expelled for bringing a
    
firearm to school as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921.
        (3) Have at least 3% of the students enrolled in the
    
school exercise the individual option to transfer schools pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section.
    (c) A student may transfer from one public school to another public school in that district if the student is a victim of a violent crime as defined in Section 3 of the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. The violent crime must have occurred on school grounds during regular school hours or during a school-sponsored event.
    (d) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 100-1046, eff. 8-23-18.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.4

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.4)
    Sec. 10-21.4. Superintendent - Duties. Except in districts in which there is only one school with fewer than 4 teachers, to employ a superintendent, who shall have charge of the administration of the schools under the direction of the board of education. However, in any school district that has boundaries that lie in 3 counties, one county of which has a population exceeding 1,000,000 inhabitants, that has an enrollment of more than 35,000 students, and that has on staff properly licensed assistant superintendents or directors in the areas of instruction, finance, special education, assessments, and career and technology education, the school board may instead, by a vote of a majority of its full membership, appoint a chief executive officer to serve as its superintendent, who shall be a person of recognized administrative ability and management experience, hold a master's degree, have been employed with the school district for a minimum of 5 years in an administrative capacity, be responsible for the management of the district, and have all other powers and duties of a superintendent as set forth in this Code, but who shall be exempt from the provisions and requirements of Section 21B-15 of this Code for a period of 5 years.
    In addition to the administrative duties, the superintendent shall make recommendations to the board concerning the budget, building plans, the locations of sites, the selection, retention and dismissal of teachers and all other employees, the selection of textbooks, instructional material and courses of study. However, in districts under a Financial Oversight Panel pursuant to Section 1A-8 for violating a financial plan, the duties and responsibilities of the superintendent in relation to the financial and business operations of the district shall be approved by the Panel. In the event the Board refuses or fails to follow a directive or comply with an information request of the Panel, the performance of those duties shall be subject to the direction of the Panel. The superintendent shall also notify the State Board of Education, the board and the chief administrative official, other than the alleged perpetrator himself, in the school where the alleged perpetrator serves, that any person who is employed in a school or otherwise comes into frequent contact with children in the school has been named as a perpetrator in an indicated report filed pursuant to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, approved June 26, 1975, as amended. The superintendent shall keep or cause to be kept the records and accounts as directed and required by the board, aid in making reports required by the board, and perform such other duties as the board may delegate to him.
    In addition, each year at a time designated by the State Superintendent of Education, each superintendent shall report to the State Board of Education the number of high school students in the district who are enrolled in accredited courses (for which high school credit will be awarded upon successful completion of the courses) at any community college, together with the name and number of the course or courses which each such student is taking.
    The provisions of this Section shall also apply to board of director districts.
    Notice of intent not to renew a contract must be given in writing stating the specific reason therefor by April 1 of the contract year unless the contract specifically provides otherwise. Failure to do so will automatically extend the contract for an additional year. Within 10 days after receipt of notice of intent not to renew a contract, the superintendent may request a closed session hearing on the dismissal. At the hearing the superintendent has the privilege of presenting evidence, witnesses and defenses on the grounds for dismissal. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to a district under a Financial Oversight Panel pursuant to Section 1A-8 for violating a financial plan.
(Source: P.A. 99-846, eff. 6-1-17.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.4a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.4a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.4a)
    Sec. 10-21.4a. Principals and assistant principals - Duties. To employ principals and assistant principals who hold valid supervisory or administrative certificates. The principal, with the assistance of any assistant principals, shall supervise the operation of attendance centers as the board shall determine necessary. In an attendance center having fewer than 4 teachers, a head teacher who does not qualify as a principal may be assigned in the place of a principal.
    The principal, with the assistance of any assistant principals, shall assume administrative responsibilities and instructional leadership, under the supervision of the superintendent, and in accordance with reasonable rules and regulations of the board, for the planning, operation and evaluation of the educational program of the attendance area to which he or she is assigned. However, in districts under a Financial Oversight Panel pursuant to Section 1A-8 for violating a financial plan, the duties and responsibilities of principals and assistant principals in relation to the financial and business operations of the district shall be approved by the Panel. In the event the Board refuses or fails to follow a directive or comply with an information request of the Panel, the performance of those duties shall be subject to the direction of the Panel.
    School boards shall specify in their formal job description for principals that his or her primary responsibility is in the improvement of instruction. A majority of the time spent by a principal shall be spent on curriculum and staff development through both formal and informal activities, establishing clear lines of communication regarding school goals, accomplishments, practices and policies with parents and teachers.
    Unless residency within a school district is made an express condition of a person's employment or continued employment as a principal or assistant principal of that school district at the time of the person's initial employment as a principal or assistant principal of that district, residency within that school district may not at any time thereafter be made a condition of that person's employment or continued employment as a principal or assistant principal of the district, without regard to whether the person's initial employment as a principal or assistant principal of the district began before or begins on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1996 and without regard to whether that person's residency within or outside of the district began or was changed before or begins or changes on or after that effective date. In no event shall residency within a school district be considered in determining the compensation of a principal or assistant principal or the assignment or transfer of a principal or assistant principal to an attendance center of the district.
    School boards shall ensure that their principals and assistant principals are evaluated on their instructional leadership ability and their ability to maintain a positive education and learning climate.
    It shall also be the responsibility of the principal to utilize resources of proper law enforcement agencies when the safety and welfare of students and teachers are threatened by illegal use of drugs and alcohol, by illegal use or possession of weapons, or by illegal gang activity.
    The principal shall submit recommendations to the superintendent concerning the appointment, retention, promotion and assignment of all personnel assigned to the attendance center.
(Source: P.A. 97-217, eff. 7-28-11; 98-59, eff. 1-1-14.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.5

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.5)
    Sec. 10-21.5. Establishment of high schools. The board of education of any community high school district, township high school district, consolidated high school district, or community unit district heretofore created shall within 4 years from the date of such creation establish within the district one or more high schools with a program of studies extending through the ninth to twelfth years, inclusive, and in such districts created hereafter the board of education shall within four years following the creation of the district establish such high schools.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any unit district that has a majority of its territory in the same county as a special charter district that, as authorized by Section 12-24, accepts tuition students in grades 9-12 from a neighboring unit district that does not maintain a high school may, by agreement between the school board of the unit district and the school board of the charter district, send its students in grades 9-12 to the charter district upon payment of such tuition and other terms as may be agreed by the boards.
    Except as otherwise provided in Section 5-32, if the board of education fails to establish a high school as required by this section the district shall become automatically dissolved and the property and territory of such district shall be disposed of in the manner provided in this Act, provided that no community high school district shall be dissolved under this Act where an election has been held, a site selected, and bonds to construct a high school building have been sold prior to September 1, 1955.
(Source: P.A. 87-1022.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.6

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.6)
    Sec. 10-21.6. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 83-795. Repealed by P.A. 97-256, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.7

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.7) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.7)
    Sec. 10-21.7. Attacks on school personnel.
    (a) In the Section, "school" means any public or private elementary or secondary school.
    (b) Upon receipt of a written complaint from any school personnel, the school shall report all incidents of battery committed against teachers, teacher personnel, administrative personnel or educational support personnel to the local law enforcement authorities immediately after the occurrence of the attack. Schools shall also report all of these incidents to the State Board of Education through existing school incident reporting systems as they occur during the year by no later than August 1 for the preceding school year. The State Board of Education shall report data by school district, as collected from school districts, in an annual report of attacks on school personnel and make it available to the public via its website. The local law enforcement authority shall, by March 1 of each year, report the required data from the previous year to the Illinois State Police's Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.8

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.8) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.8)
    Sec. 10-21.8. Correspondence and Reports. In the absence of any court order to the contrary to require that, upon the request of either parent of a pupil whose parents are divorced or, if the student is in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department's Office of Education and Transition Services, copies of the following: reports or records which reflect the pupil's academic progress, reports of the pupil's emotional and physical health, notices of school-initiated parent-teacher conference, notices of major school-sponsored events, such as open houses, which involve pupil-parent interaction, and copies of the school calendar regarding the child which are furnished by the school district to one parent be furnished by mail to the other parent or, if applicable, the Department's Office of Education and Transition Services. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section a school board shall not, under the authority of this Section, refuse to mail copies of reports, records, notices or other documents regarding a pupil to a parent of the pupil as provided by this Section, unless the school board first has been furnished with a certified copy of the court order prohibiting the release of such reports, records, notices or other documents to that parent. No such reports or records with respect to a pupil shall be provided to a parent who has been prohibited by an order of protection from inspecting or obtaining school records of that pupil pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, as now or hereafter amended.
(Source: P.A. 102-199, eff. 7-1-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.9

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.9) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.9)
    Sec. 10-21.9. Criminal history records checks and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database.
    (a) Licensed and nonlicensed applicants for employment with a school district, except school bus driver applicants, are required as a condition of employment to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal history records check to determine if such applicants have been convicted of any disqualifying, enumerated criminal or drug offenses in subsection (c) of this Section or have been convicted, within 7 years of the application for employment with the school district, of any other felony under the laws of this State or of any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as a felony under the laws of this State. Authorization for the check shall be furnished by the applicant to the school district, except that if the applicant is a substitute teacher seeking employment in more than one school district, a teacher seeking concurrent part-time employment positions with more than one school district (as a reading specialist, special education teacher or otherwise), or an educational support personnel employee seeking employment positions with more than one district, any such district may require the applicant to furnish authorization for the check to the regional superintendent of the educational service region in which are located the school districts in which the applicant is seeking employment as a substitute or concurrent part-time teacher or concurrent educational support personnel employee. Upon receipt of this authorization, the school district or the appropriate regional superintendent, as the case may be, shall submit the applicant's name, sex, race, date of birth, social security number, fingerprint images, and other identifiers, as prescribed by the Illinois State Police, to the Illinois State Police. The regional superintendent submitting the requisite information to the Illinois State Police shall promptly notify the school districts in which the applicant is seeking employment as a substitute or concurrent part-time teacher or concurrent educational support personnel employee that the check of the applicant has been requested. The Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall furnish, pursuant to a fingerprint-based criminal history records check, records of convictions, forever and hereinafter, until expunged, to the president of the school board for the school district that requested the check, or to the regional superintendent who requested the check. The Illinois State Police shall charge the school district or the appropriate regional superintendent a fee for conducting such check, which fee shall be deposited in the State Police Services Fund and shall not exceed the cost of the inquiry; and the applicant shall not be charged a fee for such check by the school district or by the regional superintendent, except that those applicants seeking employment as a substitute teacher with a school district may be charged a fee not to exceed the cost of the inquiry. Subject to appropriations for these purposes, the State Superintendent of Education shall reimburse school districts and regional superintendents for fees paid to obtain criminal history records checks under this Section.
    (a-5) The school district or regional superintendent shall further perform a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database, as authorized by the Sex Offender Community Notification Law, for each applicant. The check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database must be conducted by the school district or regional superintendent once for every 5 years that an applicant remains employed by the school district.
    (a-6) The school district or regional superintendent shall further perform a check of the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database, as authorized by the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Community Notification Law, for each applicant. The check of the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database must be conducted by the school district or regional superintendent once for every 5 years that an applicant remains employed by the school district.
    (b) Any information concerning the record of convictions obtained by the president of the school board or the regional superintendent shall be confidential and may only be transmitted to the superintendent of the school district or his designee, the appropriate regional superintendent if the check was requested by the school district, the presidents of the appropriate school boards if the check was requested from the Illinois State Police by the regional superintendent, the State Board of Education and a school district as authorized under subsection (b-5), the State Superintendent of Education, the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, any other person necessary to the decision of hiring the applicant for employment, or for clarification purposes the Illinois State Police or Statewide Sex Offender Database, or both. A copy of the record of convictions obtained from the Illinois State Police shall be provided to the applicant for employment. Upon the check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database or Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database, the school district or regional superintendent shall notify an applicant as to whether or not the applicant has been identified in the Database. If a check of an applicant for employment as a substitute or concurrent part-time teacher or concurrent educational support personnel employee in more than one school district was requested by the regional superintendent, and the Illinois State Police upon a check ascertains that the applicant has not been convicted of any of the enumerated criminal or drug offenses in subsection (c) of this Section or has not been convicted, within 7 years of the application for employment with the school district, of any other felony under the laws of this State or of any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as a felony under the laws of this State and so notifies the regional superintendent and if the regional superintendent upon a check ascertains that the applicant has not been identified in the Sex Offender Database or Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database, then the regional superintendent shall issue to the applicant a certificate evidencing that as of the date specified by the Illinois State Police the applicant has not been convicted of any of the enumerated criminal or drug offenses in subsection (c) of this Section or has not been convicted, within 7 years of the application for employment with the school district, of any other felony under the laws of this State or of any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as a felony under the laws of this State and evidencing that as of the date that the regional superintendent conducted a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database or Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database, the applicant has not been identified in the Database. The school board of any school district may rely on the certificate issued by any regional superintendent to that substitute teacher, concurrent part-time teacher, or concurrent educational support personnel employee or may initiate its own criminal history records check of the applicant through the Illinois State Police and its own check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database or Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database as provided in this Section. Any unauthorized release of confidential information may be a violation of Section 7 of the Criminal Identification Act.
    (b-5) If a criminal history records check or check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database or Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database is performed by a regional superintendent for an applicant seeking employment as a substitute teacher with a school district, the regional superintendent may disclose to the State Board of Education whether the applicant has been issued a certificate under subsection (b) based on those checks. If the State Board receives information on an applicant under this subsection, then it must indicate in the Educator Licensure Information System for a 90-day period that the applicant has been issued or has not been issued a certificate.
    (c) No school board shall knowingly employ a person who has been convicted of any offense that would subject him or her to license suspension or revocation pursuant to Section 21B-80 of this Code, except as provided under subsection (b) of Section 21B-80. Further, no school board shall knowingly employ a person who has been found to be the perpetrator of sexual or physical abuse of any minor under 18 years of age pursuant to proceedings under Article II of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. As a condition of employment, each school board must consider the status of a person who has been issued an indicated finding of abuse or neglect of a child by the Department of Children and Family Services under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or by a child welfare agency of another jurisdiction.
    (d) No school board shall knowingly employ a person for whom a criminal history records check and a Statewide Sex Offender Database check have not been initiated.
    (e) Within 10 days after a superintendent, regional office of education, or entity that provides background checks of license holders to public schools receives information of a pending criminal charge against a license holder for an offense set forth in Section 21B-80 of this Code, the superintendent, regional office of education, or entity must notify the State Superintendent of Education of the pending criminal charge.
    If permissible by federal or State law, no later than 15 business days after receipt of a record of conviction or of checking the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database or the Statewide Sex Offender Database and finding a registration, the superintendent of the employing school board or the applicable regional superintendent shall, in writing, notify the State Superintendent of Education of any license holder who has been convicted of a crime set forth in Section 21B-80 of this Code. Upon receipt of the record of a conviction of or a finding of child abuse by a holder of any license issued pursuant to Article 21B or Section 34-8.1 of this Code, the State Superintendent of Education may initiate licensure suspension and revocation proceedings as authorized by law. If the receipt of the record of conviction or finding of child abuse is received within 6 months after the initial grant of or renewal of a license, the State Superintendent of Education may rescind the license holder's license.
    (e-5) The superintendent of the employing school board shall, in writing, notify the State Superintendent of Education and the applicable regional superintendent of schools of any license holder whom he or she has reasonable cause to believe has committed (i) an intentional act of abuse or neglect with the result of making a child an abused child or a neglected child, as defined in Section 3 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, or (ii) an act of sexual misconduct, as defined in Section 22-85.5 of this Code, and that act resulted in the license holder's dismissal or resignation from the school district. This notification must be submitted within 30 days after the dismissal or resignation and must include the Illinois Educator Identification Number (IEIN) of the license holder and a brief description of the misconduct alleged. The license holder must also be contemporaneously sent a copy of the notice by the superintendent. All correspondence, documentation, and other information so received by the regional superintendent of schools, the State Superintendent of Education, the State Board of Education, or the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board under this subsection (e-5) is confidential and must not be disclosed to third parties, except (i) as necessary for the State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee to investigate and prosecute pursuant to Article 21B of this Code, (ii) pursuant to a court order, (iii) for disclosure to the license holder or his or her representative, or (iv) as otherwise provided in this Article and provided that any such information admitted into evidence in a hearing is exempt from this confidentiality and non-disclosure requirement. Except for an act of willful or wanton misconduct, any superintendent who provides notification as required in this subsection (e-5) shall have immunity from any liability, whether civil or criminal or that otherwise might result by reason of such action.
    (f) After January 1, 1990 the provisions of this Section shall apply to all employees of persons or firms holding contracts with any school district including, but not limited to, food service workers, school bus drivers and other transportation employees, who have direct, daily contact with the pupils of any school in such district. For purposes of criminal history records checks and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Database on employees of persons or firms holding contracts with more than one school district and assigned to more than one school district, the regional superintendent of the educational service region in which the contracting school districts are located may, at the request of any such school district, be responsible for receiving the authorization for a criminal history records check prepared by each such employee and submitting the same to the Illinois State Police and for conducting a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database for each employee. Any information concerning the record of conviction and identification as a sex offender of any such employee obtained by the regional superintendent shall be promptly reported to the president of the appropriate school board or school boards.
    (f-5) Upon request of a school or school district, any information obtained by a school district pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section within the last year must be made available to the requesting school or school district.
    (g) Prior to the commencement of any student teaching experience or required internship (which is referred to as student teaching in this Section) in the public schools, a student teacher is required to authorize a fingerprint-based criminal history records check. Authorization for and payment of the costs of the check must be furnished by the student teacher to the school district where the student teaching is to be completed. Upon receipt of this authorization and payment, the school district shall submit the student teacher's name, sex, race, date of birth, social security number, fingerprint images, and other identifiers, as prescribed by the Illinois State Police, to the Illinois State Police. The Illinois State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall furnish, pursuant to a fingerprint-based criminal history records check, records of convictions, forever and hereinafter, until expunged, to the president of the school board for the school district that requested the check. The Illinois State Police shall charge the school district a fee for conducting the check, which fee must not exceed the cost of the inquiry and must be deposited into the State Police Services Fund. The school district shall further perform a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database, as authorized by the Sex Offender Community Notification Law, and of the Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database, as authorized by the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, for each student teacher. No school board may knowingly allow a person to student teach for whom a criminal history records check, a Statewide Sex Offender Database check, and a Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database check have not been completed and reviewed by the district.
    A copy of the record of convictions obtained from the Illinois State Police must be provided to the student teacher. Any information concerning the record of convictions obtained by the president of the school board is confidential and may only be transmitted to the superintendent of the school district or his or her designee, the State Superintendent of Education, the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, or, for clarification purposes, the Illinois State Police or the Statewide Sex Offender Database or Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database. Any unauthorized release of confidential information may be a violation of Section 7 of the Criminal Identification Act.
    No school board shall knowingly allow a person to student teach who has been convicted of any offense that would subject him or her to license suspension or revocation pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 21B-80 of this Code, except as provided under subsection (b) of Section 21B-80. Further, no school board shall allow a person to student teach if he or she has been found to be the perpetrator of sexual or physical abuse of a minor under 18 years of age pursuant to proceedings under Article II of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Each school board must consider the status of a person to student teach who has been issued an indicated finding of abuse or neglect of a child by the Department of Children and Family Services under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or by a child welfare agency of another jurisdiction.
    (h) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-552, eff. 1-1-22; 102-702, eff. 7-1-23; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 102-1071, eff. 6-10-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.10

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.10) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.10)
    Sec. 10-21.10. Electronic paging devices on school property. (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities is a fundamental goal of the people of this State, that to achieve such goal it is essential to provide a safe and secure learning environment within the public schools, and that the unrestricted and unregulated use by students of pocket pagers and similar electronic paging devices on school grounds or in school buildings which are owned, occupied or leased by a school board for school purposes and activities adversely affects the educational environment, welfare and safety of students enrolled in the public schools, in that pocket pagers and similar electronic paging devices are being regularly used for the conduct of unlawful activities during school hours and on school property, including activities directly related to the unlawful possession, sale, delivery or other trafficking in drugs or other substances which constitute a "controlled substance" as that term is defined in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. It is the purpose and intention of the General Assembly, in enacting this legislation, to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of such unlawful activities during school hours and on school property by restricting and regulating student use or possession of pocket pagers and similar electronic paging devices as provided in this Section, and by providing for the imposition of appropriate discipline and sanctions for any violation of the provisions of this Section.
    (b) No student shall use or have in his or her possession any pocket pager or similar electronic paging device while in any school building or on any school property, during regular school hours or at any other time, unless the use or possession of such device by such student has first been expressly authorized by the school board acting in accordance with standards developed as provided in subsection (c) for the granting of approved exceptions to the general prohibition of this Section against such use or possession.
    (c) The school board shall develop and promulgate written standards under which the board:
    (1) may authorize the use or possession of a pocket pager or similar electronic paging device by a student while in a school building or on school property as an approved exception to the general prohibition of this Section against such use or possession; and
    (2) may impose appropriate discipline or other sanctions against any student who violates any provision of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 86-791.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.11

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.11) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.11)
    Sec. 10-21.11. Infectious disease policies and rules. To develop policies and adopt rules relating to the appropriate manner of managing children with chronic infectious diseases, not inconsistent with guidelines published by the State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Such policies and rules must include evaluation of students with a chronic infectious disease on an individual case-by-case basis, and may include different provisions for different age groups, classes of instruction, types of educational institution, and other reasonable classifications, as the school board may find appropriate.
    This requirement applies to all school districts and public schools of this State, including special charter districts, Department of Corrections school districts, laboratory schools operated by the governing board of a public university, and alternative schools operated by a regional superintendent of schools.
(Source: P.A. 86-890; 86-1028.)

105 ILCS 5/10-21.12

    (105 ILCS 5/10-21.12) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.12)
    Sec. 10-21.12. Transfer of teachers. The employment of a teacher transferred from one board or administrative agent to the control of a new or different board or administrative agent shall be considered continuous employment if such transfer of employment occurred by reason of any of the following events:
        (1) a boundary change or the creation or
    
reorganization of any school district pursuant to Article 7 or 11E; or
        (2) the deactivation or reactivation of any high
    
school or elementary school pursuant to Section 10-22.22b; or
        (3) the creation, expansion, reduction or dissolution
    
of a special education program pursuant to Section 10-22.31, or the creation, expansion, reduction or dissolution of a joint educational program established under Section 10-22.31a; or
        (4) the creation, expansion, reduction, termination
    
or dissolution of any joint agreement program operated by a regional superintendent, governing board, or other administrative agent or any program operated pursuant to an Intergovernmental Joint Agreement. The changes made by this amendatory Act of 1990 are declaratory of existing law.
(Source: P.A. 94-213, eff. 7-14-05; 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22)
    Sec. 10-22. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 76-2268. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.1

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.1)
    Sec. 10-22.1. Book for records.
    To purchase a suitable book for their records.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.2

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.2)
    Sec. 10-22.2. Compensation of clerk or secretary.
    To allow the clerk or secretary a reasonable compensation for services, payable out of money not otherwise appropriated.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.3

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.3)
    Sec. 10-22.3. Liability insurance for school board members, school board employees and student teachers. To insure against any loss or liability of the school district, members of school boards, employees, volunteer personnel authorized in Sections 10-22.34, 10-22.34a and 10-22.34b of this Code and student teachers by reason of civil rights damage claims and suits, constitutional rights damage claims and suits and death and bodily injury and property damage claims and suits, including defense thereof, when damages are sought for negligent or wrongful acts allegedly committed during the scope of employment or under the direction of the school board. Such insurance shall be carried in a company licensed to write such coverage in this State.
(Source: P.A. 79-210.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.3a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.3a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.3a)
    Sec. 10-22.3a. To provide for or to participate in provisions for insurance protection and benefits for its employees and their dependents including but not limited to retirement annuities, medical, surgical and hospitalization benefits in such types and amounts, if any, as shall be determined by the board, for the purpose of aiding in securing and retaining the services of competent employees. Where employee participation in such provisions is involved, the board, with the consent of the employee, may withhold deductions from the employee's salary necessary to defray the employee's share of such insurance costs. Such insurance or benefits may be contracted for only with an insurance company authorized to do business in this State. Such insurance may include provisions for employees and their dependents who rely on treatment by prayer or spiritual means alone for healing, in accordance with the tenets and practice of a recognized religious denomination.
    For purposes of this Section, the term "dependent" means an employee's spouse and any unmarried child (1) under the age of 19 years including (a) an adopted child and (b) a step-child or recognized child who lives with the employee in a regular parent-child relationship, or (2) under the age of 23 who is enrolled as a full-time student in any accredited school, college or university. Nothing contained in this Code may preclude an elected school board member from participating in a group health insurance program provided to an employee of the school district that the board member serves if the board member is a dependent of that employee.
(Source: P.A. 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.3b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.3b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.3b)
    Sec. 10-22.3b. Health insurance for retired teachers. To make health insurance premium payments to the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois for those costs of participating in the health benefit program established under Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code that are not paid by the System under Section 16-153.4 of the Illinois Pension Code and for the cost of premiums charged for participation in the health benefit program established under Section 6.5 of the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, for eligible participants who retired from the school district.
(Source: P.A. 89-25, eff. 6-21-95.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.3c

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.3c) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.3c)
    Sec. 10-22.3c. Orders of protection. To prohibit the disclosure by any school employee to any person against whom the school district has received a certified copy of an order of protection the location or address of the petitioner for the order of protection or the identity of the schools in the district in which the petitioner's child or children are enrolled. The school district shall maintain the copy of the order of protection in the records of the child or children enrolled in the district whose parent is the petitioner of an order of protection.
(Source: P.A. 87-437.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.3d

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.3d)
    Sec. 10-22.3d. Access to obstetrical and gynecological care. Insurance protection and benefits for employees are subject to the provisions of Section 356r of the Illinois Insurance Code.
(Source: P.A. 103-718, eff. 7-19-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.3e

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.3e)
    Sec. 10-22.3e. Post-parturition care. Insurance protection and benefits for employees shall provide the post-parturition care benefits required to be covered by a policy of accident and health insurance under Section 356s of the Illinois Insurance Code.
(Source: P.A. 89-513, eff. 9-15-96; 90-14, eff. 7-1-97.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.3f

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.3f)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-605)
    Sec. 10-22.3f. Required health benefits. Insurance protection and benefits for employees shall provide the post-mastectomy care benefits required to be covered by a policy of accident and health insurance under Section 356t and the coverage required under Sections 356g, 356g.5, 356g.5-1, 356q, 356u, 356w, 356x, 356z.4, 356z.4a, 356z.6, 356z.8, 356z.9, 356z.11, 356z.12, 356z.13, 356z.14, 356z.15, 356z.22, 356z.25, 356z.26, 356z.29, 356z.30a, 356z.32, 356z.33, 356z.36, 356z.40, 356z.41, 356z.45, 356z.46, 356z.47, 356z.51, 356z.53, 356z.54, 356z.56, 356z.57, 356z.59, 356z.60, 356z.61, 356z.62, 356z.64, 356z.67, 356z.68, and 356z.70 of the Illinois Insurance Code. Insurance policies shall comply with Section 356z.19 of the Illinois Insurance Code. The coverage shall comply with Sections 155.22a, 355b, and 370c of the Illinois Insurance Code. The Department of Insurance shall enforce the requirements of this Section.
    Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045, if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.
(Source: P.A. 102-30, eff. 1-1-22; 102-103, eff. 1-1-22; 102-203, eff. 1-1-22; 102-306, eff. 1-1-22; 102-642, eff. 1-1-22; 102-665, eff. 10-8-21; 102-731, eff. 1-1-23; 102-804, eff. 1-1-23; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-816, eff. 1-1-23; 102-860, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1093, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1117, eff. 1-13-23; 103-84, eff. 1-1-24; 103-91, eff. 1-1-24; 103-420, eff. 1-1-24; 103-445, eff. 1-1-24; 103-535, eff. 8-11-23; 103-551, eff. 8-11-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-718)
    Sec. 10-22.3f. Required health benefits. Insurance protection and benefits for employees shall provide the post-mastectomy care benefits required to be covered by a policy of accident and health insurance under Section 356t and the coverage required under Sections 356g, 356g.5, 356g.5-1, 356q, 356u, 356w, 356x, 356z.4, 356z.4a, 356z.6, 356z.8, 356z.9, 356z.11, 356z.12, 356z.13, 356z.14, 356z.15, 356z.22, 356z.25, 356z.26, 356z.29, 356z.30, 356z.32, 356z.33, 356z.36, 356z.40, 356z.41, 356z.45, 356z.46, 356z.47, 356z.51, 356z.53, 356z.54, 356z.56, 356z.57, 356z.59, 356z.60, 356z.61, 356z.62, 356z.64, 356z.67, 356z.68, and 356z.70 of the Illinois Insurance Code. Insurance policies shall comply with Section 356z.19 of the Illinois Insurance Code. The coverage shall comply with Sections 155.22a, 355b, and 370c of the Illinois Insurance Code. The Department of Insurance shall enforce the requirements of this Section.
    Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045, if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.
(Source: P.A. 102-30, eff. 1-1-22; 102-103, eff. 1-1-22; 102-203, eff. 1-1-22; 102-306, eff. 1-1-22; 102-642, eff. 1-1-22; 102-665, eff. 10-8-21; 102-731, eff. 1-1-23; 102-804, eff. 1-1-23; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-816, eff. 1-1-23; 102-860, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1093, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1117, eff. 1-13-23; 103-84, eff. 1-1-24; 103-91, eff. 1-1-24; 103-420, eff. 1-1-24; 103-445, eff. 1-1-24; 103-535, eff. 8-11-23; 103-551, eff. 8-11-23; 103-718, eff. 7-19-24.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-751)
    Sec. 10-22.3f. Required health benefits. Insurance protection and benefits for employees shall provide the post-mastectomy care benefits required to be covered by a policy of accident and health insurance under Section 356t and the coverage required under Sections 356g, 356g.5, 356g.5-1, 356m, 356q, 356u, 356w, 356x, 356z.4, 356z.4a, 356z.6, 356z.8, 356z.9, 356z.11, 356z.12, 356z.13, 356z.14, 356z.15, 356z.22, 356z.25, 356z.26, 356z.29, 356z.30a, 356z.32, 356z.33, 356z.36, 356z.40, 356z.41, 356z.45, 356z.46, 356z.47, 356z.51, 356z.53, 356z.54, 356z.56, 356z.57, 356z.59, 356z.60, 356z.61, 356z.62, 356z.64, 356z.67, 356z.68, 356z.70, and 356z.71 of the Illinois Insurance Code. Insurance policies shall comply with Section 356z.19 of the Illinois Insurance Code. The coverage shall comply with Sections 155.22a, 355b, and 370c of the Illinois Insurance Code. The Department of Insurance shall enforce the requirements of this Section.
    Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045, if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.
(Source: P.A. 102-30, eff. 1-1-22; 102-103, eff. 1-1-22; 102-203, eff. 1-1-22; 102-306, eff. 1-1-22; 102-642, eff. 1-1-22; 102-665, eff. 10-8-21; 102-731, eff. 1-1-23; 102-804, eff. 1-1-23; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-816, eff. 1-1-23; 102-860, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1093, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1117, eff. 1-13-23; 103-84, eff. 1-1-24; 103-91, eff. 1-1-24; 103-420, eff. 1-1-24; 103-445, eff. 1-1-24; 103-535, eff. 8-11-23; 103-551, eff. 8-11-23; 103-751, eff. 8-2-24.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-914)
    Sec. 10-22.3f. Required health benefits. Insurance protection and benefits for employees shall provide the post-mastectomy care benefits required to be covered by a policy of accident and health insurance under Section 356t and the coverage required under Sections 356g, 356g.5, 356g.5-1, 356q, 356u, 356u.10, 356w, 356x, 356z.4, 356z.4a, 356z.6, 356z.8, 356z.9, 356z.11, 356z.12, 356z.13, 356z.14, 356z.15, 356z.22, 356z.25, 356z.26, 356z.29, 356z.30a, 356z.32, 356z.33, 356z.36, 356z.40, 356z.41, 356z.45, 356z.46, 356z.47, 356z.51, 356z.53, 356z.54, 356z.56, 356z.57, 356z.59, 356z.60, 356z.61, 356z.62, 356z.64, 356z.67, 356z.68, and 356z.70 of the Illinois Insurance Code. Insurance policies shall comply with Section 356z.19 of the Illinois Insurance Code. The coverage shall comply with Sections 155.22a, 355b, and 370c of the Illinois Insurance Code. The Department of Insurance shall enforce the requirements of this Section.
    Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045, if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.
(Source: P.A. 102-30, eff. 1-1-22; 102-103, eff. 1-1-22; 102-203, eff. 1-1-22; 102-306, eff. 1-1-22; 102-642, eff. 1-1-22; 102-665, eff. 10-8-21; 102-731, eff. 1-1-23; 102-804, eff. 1-1-23; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-816, eff. 1-1-23; 102-860, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1093, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1117, eff. 1-13-23; 103-84, eff. 1-1-24; 103-91, eff. 1-1-24; 103-420, eff. 1-1-24; 103-445, eff. 1-1-24; 103-535, eff. 8-11-23; 103-551, eff. 8-11-23; 103-914, eff. 1-1-25.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-918 and 103-1024)
    Sec. 10-22.3f. Required health benefits. Insurance protection and benefits for employees shall provide the post-mastectomy care benefits required to be covered by a policy of accident and health insurance under Section 356t and the coverage required under Sections 356g, 356g.5, 356g.5-1, 356q, 356u, 356w, 356x, 356z.4, 356z.4a, 356z.6, 356z.8, 356z.9, 356z.11, 356z.12, 356z.13, 356z.14, 356z.15, 356z.22, 356z.25, 356z.26, 356z.29, 356z.30a, 356z.32, 356z.33, 356z.36, 356z.40, 356z.41, 356z.45, 356z.46, 356z.47, 356z.51, 356z.53, 356z.54, 356z.56, 356z.57, 356z.59, 356z.60, 356z.61, 356z.62, 356z.64, 356z.67, 356z.68, 356z.70, and 356z.71 of the Illinois Insurance Code. Insurance policies shall comply with Section 356z.19 of the Illinois Insurance Code. The coverage shall comply with Sections 155.22a, 355b, and 370c of the Illinois Insurance Code. The Department of Insurance shall enforce the requirements of this Section.
    Rulemaking authority to implement Public Act 95-1045, if any, is conditioned on the rules being adopted in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and all rules and procedures of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; any purported rule not so adopted, for whatever reason, is unauthorized.
(Source: P.A. 102-30, eff. 1-1-22; 102-103, eff. 1-1-22; 102-203, eff. 1-1-22; 102-306, eff. 1-1-22; 102-642, eff. 1-1-22; 102-665, eff. 10-8-21; 102-731, eff. 1-1-23; 102-804, eff. 1-1-23; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-816, eff. 1-1-23; 102-860, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1093, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1117, eff. 1-13-23; 103-84, eff. 1-1-24; 103-91, eff. 1-1-24; 103-420, eff. 1-1-24; 103-445, eff. 1-1-24; 103-535, eff. 8-11-23; 103-551, eff. 8-11-23; 103-918, eff. 1-1-25; 103-1024, eff. 1-1-25.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.4

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.4)
    Sec. 10-22.4. Dismissal of teachers. To dismiss a teacher for incompetency, cruelty, negligence, immorality or other sufficient cause, to dismiss any teacher on the basis of performance and to dismiss any teacher whenever, in its opinion, he is not qualified to teach, or whenever, in its opinion, the interests of the schools require it, subject, however, to the provisions of Sections 24-10 to 24-16.5, inclusive. Temporary mental or physical incapacity to perform teaching duties, as found by a medical examination, is not a cause for dismissal. Marriage is not a cause of removal.
(Source: P.A. 97-8, eff. 6-13-11.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.4a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.4a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.4a)
    Sec. 10-22.4a. Arbitration of disputes. The school board may enter into agreements with employees or representatives of employees to resolve disputes and grievances by binding arbitration before disinterested third parties.
(Source: P.A. 82-107.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.5

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.5)
    Sec. 10-22.5. Assignment of pupils to schools - Non-resident pupils - Tuition - Race discrimination. To assign pupils to the several schools in the district; to admit non-resident pupils when it can be done without prejudice to the rights of resident pupils and provide them with any services of the school including transportation; to fix the rates of tuition in accordance with Section 10-20.12a, and to collect and pay the same to the treasurer for the use of the district; but no pupil shall be excluded from or segregated in any such school on account of his color, race, sex, or nationality. Nothing herein shall be construed to permit or empower the State Board of Education to order, mandate or require busing or other transportation of pupils for the purpose of achieving racial balance in any school.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.5a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.5a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.5a)
    Sec. 10-22.5a. Attendance by dependents of United States military personnel, foreign exchange students, and certain nonresident pupils.
    (a) To enter into written agreements with cultural exchange organizations, or with nationally recognized eleemosynary institutions that promote excellence in the arts, mathematics, or science. The written agreements may provide for tuition free attendance at the local district school by foreign exchange students, or by nonresident pupils of eleemosynary institutions. The local board of education, as part of the agreement, may require that the cultural exchange program or the eleemosynary institutions provide services to the district in exchange for the waiver of nonresident tuition.
    To enter into written agreements with adjacent school districts to provide for tuition free attendance by a student of the adjacent district when requested for the student's health and safety by the student or parent and both districts determine that the student's health or safety will be served by such attendance. Districts shall not be required to enter into such agreements nor be required to alter existing transportation services due to the attendance of such non-resident pupils.
    (a-5) If, at the time of enrollment, a dependent of United States military personnel is housed in temporary housing located outside of a school district, but will be living within the district within 6 months after the time of initial enrollment, the dependent must be allowed to enroll, subject to the requirements of this subsection (a-5), and must not be charged tuition. Any United States military personnel attempting to enroll a dependent under this subsection (a-5) shall provide proof that the dependent will be living within the district within 6 months after the time of initial enrollment. Proof of residency may include, but is not limited to, postmarked mail addressed to the military personnel and sent to an address located within the district, a lease agreement for occupancy of a residence located within the district, or proof of ownership of a residence located within the district.
    (b) Nonresident pupils and foreign exchange students attending school on a tuition free basis under such agreements and nonresident dependents of United States military personnel attending school on a tuition free basis may be counted for the purposes of determining the apportionment of State aid provided under Section 18-8.05 or 18-8.15 of this Code. No organization or institution participating in agreements authorized under this Section may exclude any individual for participation in its program on account of the person's race, color, sex, religion or nationality.
(Source: P.A. 102-126, eff. 7-23-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.6

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.6) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-594)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-466)
    Sec. 10-22.6. Suspension or expulsion of pupils; school searches.
    (a) To expel pupils guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, including gross disobedience or misconduct perpetuated by electronic means, pursuant to subsection (b-20) of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such expulsion. Expulsion shall take place only after the parents have been requested to appear at a meeting of the board, or with a hearing officer appointed by it, to discuss their child's behavior. Such request shall be made by registered or certified mail and shall state the time, place and purpose of the meeting. The board, or a hearing officer appointed by it, at such meeting shall state the reasons for dismissal and the date on which the expulsion is to become effective. If a hearing officer is appointed by the board, he shall report to the board a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting and the board may take such action thereon as it finds appropriate. If the board acts to expel a pupil, the written expulsion decision shall detail the specific reasons why removing the pupil from the learning environment is in the best interest of the school. The expulsion decision shall also include a rationale as to the specific duration of the expulsion. An expelled pupil may be immediately transferred to an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A pupil must not be denied transfer because of the expulsion, except in cases in which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative program.
    (b) To suspend or by policy to authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend pupils guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, or to suspend pupils guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct on the school bus from riding the school bus, pursuant to subsections (b-15) and (b-20) of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such suspension. The board may by policy authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend pupils guilty of such acts for a period not to exceed 10 school days. If a pupil is suspended due to gross disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, the board may suspend the pupil in excess of 10 school days for safety reasons.
    Any suspension shall be reported immediately to the parents or guardian of a pupil along with a full statement of the reasons for such suspension and a notice of their right to a review. The school board must be given a summary of the notice, including the reason for the suspension and the suspension length. Upon request of the parents or guardian, the school board or a hearing officer appointed by it shall review such action of the superintendent or principal, assistant principal, or dean of students. At such review, the parents or guardian of the pupil may appear and discuss the suspension with the board or its hearing officer. If a hearing officer is appointed by the board, he shall report to the board a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting. After its hearing or upon receipt of the written report of its hearing officer, the board may take such action as it finds appropriate. If a student is suspended pursuant to this subsection (b), the board shall, in the written suspension decision, detail the specific act of gross disobedience or misconduct resulting in the decision to suspend. The suspension decision shall also include a rationale as to the specific duration of the suspension. A pupil who is suspended in excess of 20 school days may be immediately transferred to an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A pupil must not be denied transfer because of the suspension, except in cases in which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative program.
    (b-5) Among the many possible disciplinary interventions and consequences available to school officials, school exclusions, such as out-of-school suspensions and expulsions, are the most serious. School officials shall limit the number and duration of expulsions and suspensions to the greatest extent practicable, and it is recommended that they use them only for legitimate educational purposes. To ensure that students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is recommended that school officials consider forms of non-exclusionary discipline prior to using out-of-school suspensions or expulsions.
    (b-10) Unless otherwise required by federal law or this Code, school boards may not institute zero-tolerance policies by which school administrators are required to suspend or expel students for particular behaviors.
    (b-15) Out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be used only if the student's continuing presence in school would pose a threat to school safety or a disruption to other students' learning opportunities. For purposes of this subsection (b-15), "threat to school safety or a disruption to other students' learning opportunities" shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the school board or its designee. School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length of suspensions to the greatest extent practicable.
    (b-20) Unless otherwise required by this Code, out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions, and disciplinary removals to alternative schools may be used only if other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted and the student's continuing presence in school would either (i) pose a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school. For purposes of this subsection (b-20), "threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community" and "substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school" shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by school officials. For purposes of this subsection (b-20), the determination of whether "appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted" shall be made by school officials. School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length of student exclusions to the greatest extent practicable. Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this Section or the expulsion decision described in subsection (a) of this Section, it shall be documented whether other interventions were attempted or whether it was determined that there were no other appropriate and available interventions.
    (b-25) Students who are suspended out-of-school for longer than 4 school days shall be provided appropriate and available support services during the period of their suspension. For purposes of this subsection (b-25), "appropriate and available support services" shall be determined by school authorities. Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this Section, it shall be documented whether such services are to be provided or whether it was determined that there are no such appropriate and available services.
    A school district may refer students who are expelled to appropriate and available support services.
    A school district shall create a policy to facilitate the re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school, expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting.
    (b-30) A school district shall create a policy by which suspended pupils, including those pupils suspended from the school bus who do not have alternate transportation to school, shall have the opportunity to make up work for equivalent academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of a pupil's parent or guardian to notify school officials that a pupil suspended from the school bus does not have alternate transportation to school.
    (c) A school board must invite a representative from a local mental health agency to consult with the board at the meeting whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be the cause of a student's expulsion or suspension.
    (c-5) School districts shall make reasonable efforts to provide ongoing professional development to teachers, administrators, school board members, school resource officers, and staff on the adverse consequences of school exclusion and justice-system involvement, effective classroom management strategies, culturally responsive discipline, the appropriate and available supportive services for the promotion of student attendance and engagement, and developmentally appropriate disciplinary methods that promote positive and healthy school climates.
    (d) The board may expel a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis. A student who is determined to have brought one of the following objects to school, any school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not less than one year:
        (1) A firearm. For the purposes of this Section,
    
"firearm" means any gun, rifle, shotgun, weapon as defined by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code, firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act, or firearm as defined in Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. The expulsion period under this subdivision (1) may be modified by the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
        (2) A knife, brass knuckles or other knuckle weapon
    
regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm, including "look alikes" of any firearm as defined in subdivision (1) of this subsection (d). The expulsion requirement under this subdivision (2) may be modified by the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. A student who is subject to suspension or expulsion as provided in this Section may be eligible for a transfer to an alternative school program in accordance with Article 13A of the School Code.
    (d-5) The board may suspend or by regulation authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a student for a period not to exceed 10 school days or may expel a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis, if (i) that student has been determined to have made an explicit threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet website through which the threat was made is a site that was accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or was available to third parties who worked or studied within the school grounds at the time the threat was made, and (iii) the threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to the safety and security of the threatened individual because of his or her duties or employment status or status as a student inside the school.
    (e) To maintain order and security in the schools, school authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as personal effects left in those places and areas by students, without notice to or the consent of the student, and without a search warrant. As a matter of public policy, the General Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects left in these places and areas. School authorities may request the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs. If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law, local ordinance, or the school's policies or rules, such evidence may be seized by school authorities, and disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities.
    (f) Suspension or expulsion may include suspension or expulsion from school and all school activities and a prohibition from being present on school grounds.
    (g) A school district may adopt a policy providing that if a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any public or private school in this or any other state, the student must complete the entire term of the suspension or expulsion in an alternative school program under Article 13A of this Code or an alternative learning opportunities program under Article 13B of this Code before being admitted into the school district if there is no threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative program.
    (h) School officials shall not advise or encourage students to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic difficulties.
    (i) A student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a disciplinary consequence, though this shall not preclude requiring a student to provide restitution for lost, stolen, or damaged property.
    (j) Subsections (a) through (i) of this Section shall apply to elementary and secondary schools, charter schools, special charter districts, and school districts organized under Article 34 of this Code.
    (k) The expulsion of children enrolled in programs funded under Section 1C-2 of this Code is subject to the requirements under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of this Code.
    (l) Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, an in-school suspension program provided by a school district for any students in kindergarten through grade 12 may focus on promoting non-violent conflict resolution and positive interaction with other students and school personnel. A school district may employ a school social worker or a licensed mental health professional to oversee an in-school suspension program in kindergarten through grade 12.
(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-539, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-466)
    Sec. 10-22.6. Suspension or expulsion of pupils; school searches.
    (a) To expel pupils guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, including gross disobedience or misconduct perpetuated by electronic means, pursuant to subsection (b-20) of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such expulsion. Expulsion shall take place only after the parents or guardians have been requested to appear at a meeting of the board, or with a hearing officer appointed by it, to discuss their child's behavior. Such request shall be made by registered or certified mail and shall state the time, place and purpose of the meeting. The board, or a hearing officer appointed by it, at such meeting shall state the reasons for dismissal and the date on which the expulsion is to become effective. If a hearing officer is appointed by the board, he shall report to the board a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting and the board may take such action thereon as it finds appropriate. If the board acts to expel a pupil, the written expulsion decision shall detail the specific reasons why removing the pupil from the learning environment is in the best interest of the school. The expulsion decision shall also include a rationale as to the specific duration of the expulsion. An expelled pupil may be immediately transferred to an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A pupil must not be denied transfer because of the expulsion, except in cases in which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative program.
    (b) To suspend or by policy to authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend pupils guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, or to suspend pupils guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct on the school bus from riding the school bus, pursuant to subsections (b-15) and (b-20) of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such suspension. The board may by policy authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend pupils guilty of such acts for a period not to exceed 10 school days. If a pupil is suspended due to gross disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, the board may suspend the pupil in excess of 10 school days for safety reasons.
    Any suspension shall be reported immediately to the parents or guardians of a pupil along with a full statement of the reasons for such suspension and a notice of their right to a review. The school board must be given a summary of the notice, including the reason for the suspension and the suspension length. Upon request of the parents or guardians, the school board or a hearing officer appointed by it shall review such action of the superintendent or principal, assistant principal, or dean of students. At such review, the parents or guardians of the pupil may appear and discuss the suspension with the board or its hearing officer. If a hearing officer is appointed by the board, he shall report to the board a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting. After its hearing or upon receipt of the written report of its hearing officer, the board may take such action as it finds appropriate. If a student is suspended pursuant to this subsection (b), the board shall, in the written suspension decision, detail the specific act of gross disobedience or misconduct resulting in the decision to suspend. The suspension decision shall also include a rationale as to the specific duration of the suspension. A pupil who is suspended in excess of 20 school days may be immediately transferred to an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A pupil must not be denied transfer because of the suspension, except in cases in which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative program.
    (b-5) Among the many possible disciplinary interventions and consequences available to school officials, school exclusions, such as out-of-school suspensions and expulsions, are the most serious. School officials shall limit the number and duration of expulsions and suspensions to the greatest extent practicable, and it is recommended that they use them only for legitimate educational purposes. To ensure that students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is recommended that school officials consider forms of non-exclusionary discipline prior to using out-of-school suspensions or expulsions.
    (b-10) Unless otherwise required by federal law or this Code, school boards may not institute zero-tolerance policies by which school administrators are required to suspend or expel students for particular behaviors.
    (b-15) Out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be used only if the student's continuing presence in school would pose a threat to school safety or a disruption to other students' learning opportunities. For purposes of this subsection (b-15), "threat to school safety or a disruption to other students' learning opportunities" shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the school board or its designee. School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length of suspensions to the greatest extent practicable.
    (b-20) Unless otherwise required by this Code, out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions, and disciplinary removals to alternative schools may be used only if other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted and the student's continuing presence in school would either (i) pose a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school. For purposes of this subsection (b-20), "threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community" and "substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school" shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by school officials. For purposes of this subsection (b-20), the determination of whether "appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted" shall be made by school officials. School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length of student exclusions to the greatest extent practicable. Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this Section or the expulsion decision described in subsection (a) of this Section, it shall be documented whether other interventions were attempted or whether it was determined that there were no other appropriate and available interventions.
    (b-25) Students who are suspended out-of-school for longer than 4 school days shall be provided appropriate and available support services during the period of their suspension. For purposes of this subsection (b-25), "appropriate and available support services" shall be determined by school authorities. Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this Section, it shall be documented whether such services are to be provided or whether it was determined that there are no such appropriate and available services.
    A school district may refer students who are expelled to appropriate and available support services.
    A school district shall create a policy to facilitate the re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school, expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting.
    (b-30) A school district shall create a policy by which suspended pupils, including those pupils suspended from the school bus who do not have alternate transportation to school, shall have the opportunity to make up work for equivalent academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of a pupil's parents or guardians to notify school officials that a pupil suspended from the school bus does not have alternate transportation to school.
    (b-35) In all suspension review hearings conducted under subsection (b) or expulsion hearings conducted under subsection (a), a student may disclose any factor to be considered in mitigation, including his or her status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence, as defined in Article 26A. A representative of the parent's or guardian's choice, or of the student's choice if emancipated, must be permitted to represent the student throughout the proceedings and to address the school board or its appointed hearing officer. With the approval of the student's parent or guardian, or of the student if emancipated, a support person must be permitted to accompany the student to any disciplinary hearings or proceedings. The representative or support person must comply with any rules of the school district's hearing process. If the representative or support person violates the rules or engages in behavior or advocacy that harasses, abuses, or intimidates either party, a witness, or anyone else in attendance at the hearing, the representative or support person may be prohibited from further participation in the hearing or proceeding. A suspension or expulsion proceeding under this subsection (b-35) must be conducted independently from any ongoing criminal investigation or proceeding, and an absence of pending or possible criminal charges, criminal investigations, or proceedings may not be a factor in school disciplinary decisions.
    (b-40) During a suspension review hearing conducted under subsection (b) or an expulsion hearing conducted under subsection (a) that involves allegations of sexual violence by the student who is subject to discipline, neither the student nor his or her representative shall directly question nor have direct contact with the alleged victim. The student who is subject to discipline or his or her representative may, at the discretion and direction of the school board or its appointed hearing officer, suggest questions to be posed by the school board or its appointed hearing officer to the alleged victim.
    (c) A school board must invite a representative from a local mental health agency to consult with the board at the meeting whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be the cause of a student's expulsion or suspension.
    (c-5) School districts shall make reasonable efforts to provide ongoing professional development to teachers, administrators, school board members, school resource officers, and staff on the adverse consequences of school exclusion and justice-system involvement, effective classroom management strategies, culturally responsive discipline, the appropriate and available supportive services for the promotion of student attendance and engagement, and developmentally appropriate disciplinary methods that promote positive and healthy school climates.
    (d) The board may expel a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis. A student who is determined to have brought one of the following objects to school, any school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not less than one year:
        (1) A firearm. For the purposes of this Section,
    
"firearm" means any gun, rifle, shotgun, weapon as defined by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code, firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act, or firearm as defined in Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. The expulsion period under this subdivision (1) may be modified by the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
        (2) A knife, brass knuckles or other knuckle weapon
    
regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm, including "look alikes" of any firearm as defined in subdivision (1) of this subsection (d). The expulsion requirement under this subdivision (2) may be modified by the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. A student who is subject to suspension or expulsion as provided in this Section may be eligible for a transfer to an alternative school program in accordance with Article 13A of the School Code.
    (d-5) The board may suspend or by regulation authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a student for a period not to exceed 10 school days or may expel a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis, if (i) that student has been determined to have made an explicit threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet website through which the threat was made is a site that was accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or was available to third parties who worked or studied within the school grounds at the time the threat was made, and (iii) the threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to the safety and security of the threatened individual because of his or her duties or employment status or status as a student inside the school.
    (e) To maintain order and security in the schools, school authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as personal effects left in those places and areas by students, without notice to or the consent of the student, and without a search warrant. As a matter of public policy, the General Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects left in these places and areas. School authorities may request the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs. If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law, local ordinance, or the school's policies or rules, such evidence may be seized by school authorities, and disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities.
    (f) Suspension or expulsion may include suspension or expulsion from school and all school activities and a prohibition from being present on school grounds.
    (g) A school district may adopt a policy providing that if a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any public or private school in this or any other state, the student must complete the entire term of the suspension or expulsion in an alternative school program under Article 13A of this Code or an alternative learning opportunities program under Article 13B of this Code before being admitted into the school district if there is no threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative program. A school district that adopts a policy under this subsection (g) must include a provision allowing for consideration of any mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, a student's status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence, as defined in Article 26A.
    (h) School officials shall not advise or encourage students to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic difficulties.
    (i) A student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a disciplinary consequence, though this shall not preclude requiring a student to provide restitution for lost, stolen, or damaged property.
    (j) Subsections (a) through (i) of this Section shall apply to elementary and secondary schools, charter schools, special charter districts, and school districts organized under Article 34 of this Code.
    (k) Through June 30, 2026, the expulsion of children enrolled in programs funded under Section 1C-2 of this Code is subject to the requirements under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of this Code.
    (k-5) On and after July 1, 2026, the expulsion of children enrolled in programs funded under Section 15-25 of the Department of Early Childhood Act is subject to the requirements of paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 15-30 of the Department of Early Childhood Act.
    (l) Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, an in-school suspension program provided by a school district for any students in kindergarten through grade 12 may focus on promoting non-violent conflict resolution and positive interaction with other students and school personnel. A school district may employ a school social worker or a licensed mental health professional to oversee an in-school suspension program in kindergarten through grade 12.
(Source: P.A. 102-466, eff. 7-1-25; 102-539, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-594, eff. 6-25-24.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-896)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-466)
    Sec. 10-22.6. Suspension or expulsion of students; school searches.
    (a) To expel students guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, including gross disobedience or misconduct perpetuated by electronic means, pursuant to subsection (b-20) of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such expulsion. Expulsion shall take place only after the parents have been requested to appear at a meeting of the board, or with a hearing officer appointed by it, to discuss their child's behavior. Such request shall be made by registered or certified mail and shall state the time, place and purpose of the meeting. The board, or a hearing officer appointed by it, at such meeting shall state the reasons for dismissal and the date on which the expulsion is to become effective. If a hearing officer is appointed by the board, the hearing officer shall report to the board a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting and the board may take such action thereon as it finds appropriate. If the board acts to expel a student, the written expulsion decision shall detail the specific reasons why removing the student from the learning environment is in the best interest of the school. The expulsion decision shall also include a rationale as to the specific duration of the expulsion. An expelled student may be immediately transferred to an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A student must not be denied transfer because of the expulsion, except in cases in which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative program.
    (b) To suspend or by policy to authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend students guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, or to suspend students guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct on the school bus from riding the school bus, pursuant to subsections (b-15) and (b-20) of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such suspension. The board may by policy authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend students guilty of such acts for a period not to exceed 10 school days. If a student is suspended due to gross disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, the board may suspend the student in excess of 10 school days for safety reasons.
    Any suspension shall be reported immediately to the parents or guardian of a student along with a full statement of the reasons for such suspension and a notice of their right to a review. The school board must be given a summary of the notice, including the reason for the suspension and the suspension length. Upon request of the parents or guardian, the school board or a hearing officer appointed by it shall review such action of the superintendent or principal, assistant principal, or dean of students. At such review, the parents or guardian of the student may appear and discuss the suspension with the board or its hearing officer. If a hearing officer is appointed by the board, he shall report to the board a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting. After its hearing or upon receipt of the written report of its hearing officer, the board may take such action as it finds appropriate. If a student is suspended pursuant to this subsection (b), the board shall, in the written suspension decision, detail the specific act of gross disobedience or misconduct resulting in the decision to suspend. The suspension decision shall also include a rationale as to the specific duration of the suspension.
    (b-5) Among the many possible disciplinary interventions and consequences available to school officials, school exclusions, such as out-of-school suspensions and expulsions, are the most serious. School officials shall limit the number and duration of expulsions and suspensions to the greatest extent practicable, and it is recommended that they use them only for legitimate educational purposes. To ensure that students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is recommended that school officials consider forms of non-exclusionary discipline prior to using out-of-school suspensions or expulsions.
    (b-10) Unless otherwise required by federal law or this Code, school boards may not institute zero-tolerance policies by which school administrators are required to suspend or expel students for particular behaviors.
    (b-15) Out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be used only if the student's continuing presence in school would pose a threat to school safety or a disruption to other students' learning opportunities. For purposes of this subsection (b-15), "threat to school safety or a disruption to other students' learning opportunities" shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the school board or its designee. School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length of suspensions to the greatest extent practicable.
    (b-20) Unless otherwise required by this Code, out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions, and disciplinary removals to alternative schools may be used only if other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted and the student's continuing presence in school would either (i) pose a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school. For purposes of this subsection (b-20), "threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community" and "substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school" shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by school officials. For purposes of this subsection (b-20), the determination of whether "appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted" shall be made by school officials. School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length of student exclusions to the greatest extent practicable. Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this Section or the expulsion decision described in subsection (a) of this Section, it shall be documented whether other interventions were attempted or whether it was determined that there were no other appropriate and available interventions.
    (b-25) Students who are suspended out-of-school for longer than 3 school days shall be provided appropriate and available support services during the period of their suspension. For purposes of this subsection (b-25), "appropriate and available support services" shall be determined by school authorities. Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this Section, it shall be documented whether such services are to be provided or whether it was determined that there are no such appropriate and available services.
    A school district may refer students who are expelled to appropriate and available support services.
    A school district shall create a policy to facilitate the re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school, expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting. In consultation with stakeholders deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall draft and publish guidance for the re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school, expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting in accordance with this Section and Section 13A-4 on or before July 1, 2025.
    (b-30) A school district shall create a policy by which suspended students, including those students suspended from the school bus who do not have alternate transportation to school, shall have the opportunity to make up work for equivalent academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of a student's parent or guardian to notify school officials that a student suspended from the school bus does not have alternate transportation to school.
    (c) A school board must invite a representative from a local mental health agency to consult with the board at the meeting whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be the cause of a student's expulsion or suspension.
    (c-5) School districts shall make reasonable efforts to provide ongoing professional development to all school personnel, school board members, and school resource officers, on the requirements of this Section and Section 10-20.14, the adverse consequences of school exclusion and justice-system involvement, effective classroom management strategies, culturally responsive discipline, trauma-responsive learning environments, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 3-11, the appropriate and available supportive services for the promotion of student attendance and engagement, and developmentally appropriate disciplinary methods that promote positive and healthy school climates.
    (d) The board may expel a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis. A student who is determined to have brought one of the following objects to school, any school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not less than one year:
        (1) A firearm. For the purposes of this Section,
    
"firearm" means any gun, rifle, shotgun, weapon as defined by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code, firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act, or firearm as defined in Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. The expulsion period under this subdivision (1) may be modified by the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
        (2) A knife, brass knuckles or other knuckle weapon
    
regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm, including "look alikes" of any firearm as defined in subdivision (1) of this subsection (d). The expulsion requirement under this subdivision (2) may be modified by the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. A student who is subject to suspension or expulsion as provided in this Section may be eligible for a transfer to an alternative school program in accordance with Article 13A of the School Code.
    (d-5) The board may suspend or by regulation authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a student for a period not to exceed 10 school days or may expel a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis, if (i) that student has been determined to have made an explicit threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet website through which the threat was made is a site that was accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or was available to third parties who worked or studied within the school grounds at the time the threat was made, and (iii) the threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to the safety and security of the threatened individual because of the individual's duties or employment status or status as a student inside the school.
    (e) To maintain order and security in the schools, school authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as personal effects left in those places and areas by students, without notice to or the consent of the student, and without a search warrant. As a matter of public policy, the General Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects left in these places and areas. School authorities may request the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs. If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law, local ordinance, or the school's policies or rules, such evidence may be seized by school authorities, and disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities.
    (f) Suspension or expulsion may include suspension or expulsion from school and all school activities and a prohibition from being present on school grounds.
    (g) A school district may adopt a policy providing that if a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any public or private school in this or any other state, the student must complete the entire term of the suspension or expulsion in an alternative school program under Article 13A of this Code or an alternative learning opportunities program under Article 13B of this Code before being admitted into the school district if there is no threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative program.
    (h) School officials shall not advise or encourage students to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic difficulties.
    (i) A student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a disciplinary consequence, though this shall not preclude requiring a student to provide restitution for lost, stolen, or damaged property.
    (j) Subsections (a) through (i) of this Section shall apply to elementary and secondary schools, charter schools, special charter districts, and school districts organized under Article 34 of this Code.
    (k) The expulsion of students enrolled in programs funded under Section 1C-2 of this Code is subject to the requirements under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of this Code.
    (l) An in-school suspension program provided by a school district for any students in kindergarten through grade 12 may focus on promoting non-violent conflict resolution and positive interaction with other students and school personnel. A school district may employ a school social worker or a licensed mental health professional to oversee an in-school suspension program in kindergarten through grade 12.
(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-539, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-896, eff. 8-9-24.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-466)
    Sec. 10-22.6. Suspension or expulsion of students; school searches.
    (a) To expel students guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, including gross disobedience or misconduct perpetuated by electronic means, pursuant to subsection (b-20) of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such expulsion. Expulsion shall take place only after the parents or guardians have been requested to appear at a meeting of the board, or with a hearing officer appointed by it, to discuss their child's behavior. Such request shall be made by registered or certified mail and shall state the time, place and purpose of the meeting. The board, or a hearing officer appointed by it, at such meeting shall state the reasons for dismissal and the date on which the expulsion is to become effective. If a hearing officer is appointed by the board, the hearing officer shall report to the board a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting and the board may take such action thereon as it finds appropriate. If the board acts to expel a student, the written expulsion decision shall detail the specific reasons why removing the student from the learning environment is in the best interest of the school. The expulsion decision shall also include a rationale as to the specific duration of the expulsion. An expelled student may be immediately transferred to an alternative program in the manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of this Code. A student must not be denied transfer because of the expulsion, except in cases in which such transfer is deemed to cause a threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative program.
    (b) To suspend or by policy to authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend students guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct, or to suspend students guilty of gross disobedience or misconduct on the school bus from riding the school bus, pursuant to subsections (b-15) and (b-20) of this Section, and no action shall lie against them for such suspension. The board may by policy authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend students guilty of such acts for a period not to exceed 10 school days. If a student is suspended due to gross disobedience or misconduct on a school bus, the board may suspend the student in excess of 10 school days for safety reasons.
    Any suspension shall be reported immediately to the parents or guardians of a student along with a full statement of the reasons for such suspension and a notice of their right to a review. The school board must be given a summary of the notice, including the reason for the suspension and the suspension length. Upon request of the parents or guardians, the school board or a hearing officer appointed by it shall review such action of the superintendent or principal, assistant principal, or dean of students. At such review, the parents or guardians of the student may appear and discuss the suspension with the board or its hearing officer. If a hearing officer is appointed by the board, he shall report to the board a written summary of the evidence heard at the meeting. After its hearing or upon receipt of the written report of its hearing officer, the board may take such action as it finds appropriate. If a student is suspended pursuant to this subsection (b), the board shall, in the written suspension decision, detail the specific act of gross disobedience or misconduct resulting in the decision to suspend. The suspension decision shall also include a rationale as to the specific duration of the suspension.
    (b-5) Among the many possible disciplinary interventions and consequences available to school officials, school exclusions, such as out-of-school suspensions and expulsions, are the most serious. School officials shall limit the number and duration of expulsions and suspensions to the greatest extent practicable, and it is recommended that they use them only for legitimate educational purposes. To ensure that students are not excluded from school unnecessarily, it is recommended that school officials consider forms of non-exclusionary discipline prior to using out-of-school suspensions or expulsions.
    (b-10) Unless otherwise required by federal law or this Code, school boards may not institute zero-tolerance policies by which school administrators are required to suspend or expel students for particular behaviors.
    (b-15) Out-of-school suspensions of 3 days or less may be used only if the student's continuing presence in school would pose a threat to school safety or a disruption to other students' learning opportunities. For purposes of this subsection (b-15), "threat to school safety or a disruption to other students' learning opportunities" shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the school board or its designee. School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length of suspensions to the greatest extent practicable.
    (b-20) Unless otherwise required by this Code, out-of-school suspensions of longer than 3 days, expulsions, and disciplinary removals to alternative schools may be used only if other appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted and the student's continuing presence in school would either (i) pose a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community or (ii) substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school. For purposes of this subsection (b-20), "threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community" and "substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school" shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by school officials. For purposes of this subsection (b-20), the determination of whether "appropriate and available behavioral and disciplinary interventions have been exhausted" shall be made by school officials. School officials shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length of student exclusions to the greatest extent practicable. Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this Section or the expulsion decision described in subsection (a) of this Section, it shall be documented whether other interventions were attempted or whether it was determined that there were no other appropriate and available interventions.
    (b-25) Students who are suspended out-of-school for longer than 3 school days shall be provided appropriate and available support services during the period of their suspension. For purposes of this subsection (b-25), "appropriate and available support services" shall be determined by school authorities. Within the suspension decision described in subsection (b) of this Section, it shall be documented whether such services are to be provided or whether it was determined that there are no such appropriate and available services.
    A school district may refer students who are expelled to appropriate and available support services.
    A school district shall create a policy to facilitate the re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school, expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting. In consultation with stakeholders deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall draft and publish guidance for the re-engagement of students who are suspended out-of-school, expelled, or returning from an alternative school setting in accordance with this Section and Section 13A-4 on or before July 1, 2025.
    (b-30) A school district shall create a policy by which suspended students, including those students suspended from the school bus who do not have alternate transportation to school, shall have the opportunity to make up work for equivalent academic credit. It shall be the responsibility of a student's parents or guardians to notify school officials that a student suspended from the school bus does not have alternate transportation to school.
    (b-35) In all suspension review hearings conducted under subsection (b) or expulsion hearings conducted under subsection (a), a student may disclose any factor to be considered in mitigation, including his or her status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence, as defined in Article 26A. A representative of the parent's or guardian's choice, or of the student's choice if emancipated, must be permitted to represent the student throughout the proceedings and to address the school board or its appointed hearing officer. With the approval of the student's parent or guardian, or of the student if emancipated, a support person must be permitted to accompany the student to any disciplinary hearings or proceedings. The representative or support person must comply with any rules of the school district's hearing process. If the representative or support person violates the rules or engages in behavior or advocacy that harasses, abuses, or intimidates either party, a witness, or anyone else in attendance at the hearing, the representative or support person may be prohibited from further participation in the hearing or proceeding. A suspension or expulsion proceeding under this subsection (b-35) must be conducted independently from any ongoing criminal investigation or proceeding, and an absence of pending or possible criminal charges, criminal investigations, or proceedings may not be a factor in school disciplinary decisions.
    (b-40) During a suspension review hearing conducted under subsection (b) or an expulsion hearing conducted under subsection (a) that involves allegations of sexual violence by the student who is subject to discipline, neither the student nor his or her representative shall directly question nor have direct contact with the alleged victim. The student who is subject to discipline or his or her representative may, at the discretion and direction of the school board or its appointed hearing officer, suggest questions to be posed by the school board or its appointed hearing officer to the alleged victim.
    (c) A school board must invite a representative from a local mental health agency to consult with the board at the meeting whenever there is evidence that mental illness may be the cause of a student's expulsion or suspension.
    (c-5) School districts shall make reasonable efforts to provide ongoing professional development to all school personnel, school board members, and school resource officers on the requirements of this Section and Section 10-20.14, the adverse consequences of school exclusion and justice-system involvement, effective classroom management strategies, culturally responsive discipline, trauma-responsive learning environments, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 3-11, the appropriate and available supportive services for the promotion of student attendance and engagement, and developmentally appropriate disciplinary methods that promote positive and healthy school climates.
    (d) The board may expel a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis. A student who is determined to have brought one of the following objects to school, any school-sponsored activity or event, or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of not less than one year:
        (1) A firearm. For the purposes of this Section,
    
"firearm" means any gun, rifle, shotgun, weapon as defined by Section 921 of Title 18 of the United States Code, firearm as defined in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act, or firearm as defined in Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012. The expulsion period under this subdivision (1) may be modified by the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
        (2) A knife, brass knuckles or other knuckle weapon
    
regardless of its composition, a billy club, or any other object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm, including "look alikes" of any firearm as defined in subdivision (1) of this subsection (d). The expulsion requirement under this subdivision (2) may be modified by the superintendent, and the superintendent's determination may be modified by the board on a case-by-case basis.
Expulsion or suspension shall be construed in a manner consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. A student who is subject to suspension or expulsion as provided in this Section may be eligible for a transfer to an alternative school program in accordance with Article 13A of the School Code.
    (d-5) The board may suspend or by regulation authorize the superintendent of the district or the principal, assistant principal, or dean of students of any school to suspend a student for a period not to exceed 10 school days or may expel a student for a definite period of time not to exceed 2 calendar years, as determined on a case-by-case basis, if (i) that student has been determined to have made an explicit threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a student, or any school-related personnel, (ii) the Internet website through which the threat was made is a site that was accessible within the school at the time the threat was made or was available to third parties who worked or studied within the school grounds at the time the threat was made, and (iii) the threat could be reasonably interpreted as threatening to the safety and security of the threatened individual because of the individual's duties or employment status or status as a student inside the school.
    (e) To maintain order and security in the schools, school authorities may inspect and search places and areas such as lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school, as well as personal effects left in those places and areas by students, without notice to or the consent of the student, and without a search warrant. As a matter of public policy, the General Assembly finds that students have no reasonable expectation of privacy in these places and areas or in their personal effects left in these places and areas. School authorities may request the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of conducting inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school for illegal drugs, weapons, or other illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs. If a search conducted in accordance with this Section produces evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law, local ordinance, or the school's policies or rules, such evidence may be seized by school authorities, and disciplinary action may be taken. School authorities may also turn over such evidence to law enforcement authorities.
    (f) Suspension or expulsion may include suspension or expulsion from school and all school activities and a prohibition from being present on school grounds.
    (g) A school district may adopt a policy providing that if a student is suspended or expelled for any reason from any public or private school in this or any other state, the student must complete the entire term of the suspension or expulsion in an alternative school program under Article 13A of this Code or an alternative learning opportunities program under Article 13B of this Code before being admitted into the school district if there is no threat to the safety of students or staff in the alternative program. A school district that adopts a policy under this subsection (g) must include a provision allowing for consideration of any mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, a student's status as a parent, expectant parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence, as defined in Article 26A.
    (h) School officials shall not advise or encourage students to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic difficulties.
    (i) A student may not be issued a monetary fine or fee as a disciplinary consequence, though this shall not preclude requiring a student to provide restitution for lost, stolen, or damaged property.
    (j) Subsections (a) through (i) of this Section shall apply to elementary and secondary schools, charter schools, special charter districts, and school districts organized under Article 34 of this Code.
    (k) The expulsion of students enrolled in programs funded under Section 1C-2 of this Code is subject to the requirements under paragraph (7) of subsection (a) of Section 2-3.71 of this Code.
    (l) An in-school suspension program provided by a school district for any students in kindergarten through grade 12 may focus on promoting non-violent conflict resolution and positive interaction with other students and school personnel. A school district may employ a school social worker or a licensed mental health professional to oversee an in-school suspension program in kindergarten through grade 12.
(Source: P.A. 102-466, eff. 7-1-25; 102-539, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-896, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.6a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.6a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6a)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-466)
    Sec. 10-22.6a. To provide by home instruction, correspondence courses or otherwise courses of instruction for pupils who are unable to attend school because of pregnancy. Such instruction shall be provided to the pupil (1) before the birth of the child when the pupil's physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse has indicated to the district, in writing, that the pupil is medically unable to attend regular classroom instruction and (2) for up to 3 months following the birth of the child or a miscarriage. The instruction course shall be designed to offer educational experiences that are equivalent to those given to pupils at the same grade level in the district and that are designed to enable the pupil to return to the classroom.
(Source: P.A. 100-443, eff. 8-25-17.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-466)
    Sec. 10-22.6a. Home instruction; correspondence courses.
    (a) To provide by home instruction, correspondence courses or otherwise courses of instruction for a pupil who is unable to attend school because of pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, the fulfillment of parenting obligations related to the health of the child, or health and safety concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence, as defined in Article 26A. Such instruction shall be provided to the pupil at each of the following times:
        (1) Before the birth of the child when the pupil's
    
physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse has indicated to the district, in writing, that the pupil is medically unable to attend regular classroom instruction.
        (2) For up to 3 months following the birth of the
    
child or a miscarriage.
        (3) When the pupil must care for his or her ill child
    
if (i) the child's physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse has indicated to the district, in writing, that the child has a serious health condition that would require the pupil to be absent from school for 2 or more consecutive weeks and (ii) the pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian indicates to the district, in writing, that the pupil is needed to provide care to the child during this period. In this paragraph (3), "serious health condition" means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental health condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential medical care facility or continuing treatment by a health care provider that is not controlled by medication alone.
        (4) The pupil must treat physical or mental health
    
complications or address safety concerns arising from domestic or sexual violence when a healthcare provider or an employee of the pupil's domestic or sexual violence organization, as defined in Article 26A has indicated to the district, in writing, that the care is needed by the pupil and will cause the pupil's absence from school for 2 or more consecutive weeks.
A school district may reassess home instruction provided to a pupil under paragraph (3) or (4) every 2 months to determine the pupil's continuing need for instruction under this Section.
    The instruction course shall be designed to offer educational experiences that are equivalent to those given to pupils at the same grade level in the district and that are designed to enable the pupil to return to the classroom.
    (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or State law to the contrary, if a pupil is unable to attend regular classes because of the reasons set forth in subsection (a) and has participated in instruction under this Section that is administered by the school or the school district, then the pupil may not be penalized for grading purposes or be denied course completion, a return to regular classroom instruction, grade level advancement, or graduation solely on the basis of the pupil's participation in instruction under this Section or the pupil's absence from the regular education program during the period of instruction under this Section. A school or school district may not use instruction under this Section to replace making support services available so that pupils who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence may receive regular classroom instruction.
(Source: P.A. 102-466, eff. 7-1-25.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.6b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.6b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.6b)
    Sec. 10-22.6b. Non-disclosure of information. Except as otherwise provided in the "Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act" or other applicable State or federal law, to permit school officials to withhold, from any person, information on the whereabouts of any child removed from school premises when the child has been taken into protective custody as a victim of suspected child abuse. School officials shall direct such person to the Department of Children and Family Services, or to the local law enforcement agency if appropriate.
(Source: P.A. 85-238.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.7

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.7) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.7)
    Sec. 10-22.7. Repairs and improvements. To repair and improve schoolhouses and furnish them with the necessary fixtures, furniture, apparatus, libraries, and fuel, to receive and review the reports of architects and professional engineers licensed in the State of Illinois prescribed in Section 2-3.12, to set priorities for the recommendations set forth in the report, and to ensure that those facilities used for student occupancy under their control will remain in compliance with the building code authorized in Section 2-3.12.
(Source: P.A. 87-984.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.8

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.8) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.8)
    Sec. 10-22.8. Sale of personal property.
    To sell at public or private sale any personal property belonging to the school district, and either not needed for school purposes or available through an arrangement under which such personal property may be leased by the district from the purchaser.
(Source: P.A. 90-789, eff. 8-14-98.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.9

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.9) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.9)
    Sec. 10-22.9. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.10

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.10) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.10)
    Sec. 10-22.10. Control and supervision of school houses and school grounds.
    To have the control and supervision of all public schoolhouses in their district, and to grant the temporary use of them, when not occupied by schools, for religious meetings and Sunday schools, for evening schools and literary societies, and for such other meetings as the board deems proper; to grant the use of assembly halls and class rooms when not otherwise needed, including light, heat and attendants, for public lectures, concerts, and other educational and social interests, under such provisions and control as they may see fit to impose; to grant the use of school grounds under such provisions and control as they may see fit to impose and to conduct, or provide for the conducting of recreational, social and civic activities in the school buildings or on the school grounds or both.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 264.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.10a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.10a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.10a)
    Sec. 10-22.10a. Inspection for drugs. School boards are empowered to adopt a policy to authorize school officials to request the assistance of law enforcement officials for the purpose of conducting reasonable searches of school grounds and lockers for illegal drugs, including searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs.
(Source: P.A. 86-850.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.11

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.11) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.11)
    Sec. 10-22.11. Lease of school property.
    (a) To lease school property to another school district, municipality or body politic and corporate for a term of not to exceed 25 years, except as otherwise provided in this Section, and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed if in the opinion of the school board use of such property will not be needed by the district during the term of such lease; provided, the school board shall not make or renew any lease for a term longer than 10 years, nor alter the terms of any lease whose unexpired term may exceed 10 years without the vote of 2/3 of the full membership of the board.
    (b) Whenever the school board considers such action advisable and in the best interests of the school district, to lease vacant school property for a period not exceeding 51 years to a private not for profit school organization for use in the care of persons with a mental disability who are trainable and educable in the district or in the education of the gifted children in the district. Before leasing such property to a private not for profit school organization, the school board must adopt a resolution for the leasing of such property, fixing the period and price therefor, and order submitted to referendum at an election to be held in the district as provided in the general election law, the question of whether the lease should be entered into. Thereupon, the secretary shall certify to the proper election authorities the proposition for submission in accordance with the general election law. If the majority of the voters voting upon the proposition vote in favor of the leasing, the school board may proceed with the leasing. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall School District No. ..... of
..... County, Illinois lease to            YES
..... (here name and identify the
lessee) the following described vacant  ----------------------
school property (here describe the
property) for a term of ..... years        NO
for the sum of ..... Dollars?
--------------------------------------------------------------
    This paragraph (b) shall not be construed in such a manner as to relieve the responsibility of the Board of Education as set out in Article 14 of the School Code.
    (c) To lease school buildings and land to suitable lessees for educational purposes or for any other purpose which serves the interests of the community, for a term not to exceed 25 years and upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the parties, when such buildings and land are declared by the board to be unnecessary or unsuitable or inconvenient for a school or the uses of the district during the term of the lease and when, in the opinion of the board, the best interests of the residents of the school district will be enhanced by entering into such a lease. Such leases shall include provisions for adequate insurance for both liability and property damage or loss, and reasonable charges for maintenance and depreciation of such buildings and land.
    (d) Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, a lease for vacant school property may exceed 25 years for renewable energy resources, as defined in Section 1-10 of the Illinois Power Agency Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-662, eff. 9-15-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.12

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.12) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.12)
    Sec. 10-22.12. Lease of property for school purposes. To lease, for a period not exceeding 99 years, any building, rooms, grounds and appurtenances to be used by the district for the use of schools or for school administration purposes; and to pay for the use of such leased property in accordance with the terms of the lease. The board shall not make or renew any lease for a term longer than 10 years, nor alter the terms of any lease whose unexpired term may exceed 10 years without the vote of 2/3 of the full membership of the board.
(Source: P.A. 80-1044.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.13

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.13) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.13)
    Sec. 10-22.13. Necessity, suitability, or convenience of site or building. To decide when a site or building has become unnecessary, unsuitable, or inconvenient for a school. Unless a school building is unsafe, unsanitary, or unfit for occupancy and notice has been served under Section 3-14.22 of this Code or notice is provided by a licensed entity able to determine the safety of a school building, the school board must hold at least 3 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to close a school building and to receive input from the community. The notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and name or description of the school building that the school board is considering closing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school board's Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-204, eff. 7-30-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.13a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.13a)
    Sec. 10-22.13a. Zoning changes, variations, and special uses for school district property; zoning compliance. To seek zoning changes, variations, or special uses for property held or controlled by the school district.
    A school district is subject to and its school board must comply with any valid local government zoning ordinance or resolution that applies where the pertinent part of the building, structure, or site owned by the school district is located. The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly are declarative of existing law and do not change the substantive operation of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 99-890, eff. 8-25-16.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.14

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.14) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.14)
    Sec. 10-22.14. Borrowing money and issuing bonds. To borrow money, and issue bonds for the purposes and in the manner provided by this Act.
    When bond proceeds from the sale of bonds include a premium, or when the proceeds of bonds issued for fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, and school security purposes as specified in Section 17-2.11 are invested as authorized by law, the board shall determine by resolution whether the interest earned on the investment of bond proceeds authorized under Section 17-2.11 or the premium realized in the sale of bonds, as the case may be, is to be used for the purposes for which the bonds were issued or, instead, for payment of the principal indebtedness and interest on those bonds.
    When bonds, other than bonds issued for fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, and school security purposes as specified in Section 17-2.11 are issued by any school district, and the purposes for which the bonds have been issued are accomplished and paid for in full, and there remain funds on hand from the proceeds of the bonds so issued, the board by resolution may transfer those excess funds to the operations and maintenance fund.
    When bonds are issued by any school district for fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, and school security purposes as specified in Section 17-2.11, and the purposes for which the bonds have been issued are accomplished and paid in full, and there remain funds on hand from the proceeds of the bonds issued, the board by resolution shall use those excess funds (1) for other authorized fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, and school security purposes as specified in Section 17-2.11 or (2) for transfer to the Bond and Interest Fund for payment of principal and interest on those bonds. If any transfer is made to the Bond and Interest Fund, the secretary of the school board shall within 30 days notify the county clerk of the amount of that transfer and direct the clerk to abate the taxes to be extended for the purposes of principal and interest payments on the respective bonds issued under Section 17-2.11 by an amount equal to such transfer.
(Source: P.A. 86-970; 87-984.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.15

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.15) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.15)
    Sec. 10-22.15. Flag and flag staff.
    To furnish each school with a flag and a staff as provided by law.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.16

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.16)
    Sec. 10-22.16. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 83-1362. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.17

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.17)
    Sec. 10-22.17. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.18

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.18) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.18)
    Sec. 10-22.18. Kindergartens.
    (a) To establish kindergartens for the instruction of children between the ages of 4 and 6 years and to pay the necessary expenses thereof out of the school funds of the district. Until the 2027-2028 school year, upon petition of at least 50 parents or guardians of children between the ages of 4 and 6, residing within any school district and within one mile of the public school where such kindergarten is proposed to be established, the board of directors shall, if funds are available, establish a kindergarten in connection with the public school designated in the petition and maintain it as long as the annual average daily attendance therein is not less than 15. Until the 2027-2028 school year, the board may establish a kindergarten with half-day attendance or with full-day attendance; however, if the board establishes full-day kindergarten, it shall also establish half-day kindergarten. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, each school board must establish a kindergarten with full-day attendance and may establish a kindergarten with half-day attendance. Full-day and half-day kindergarten should be developmentally appropriate and provide opportunities for play-based learning. No one shall be employed to teach in a kindergarten who does not hold a license as provided by law.
    (b) An elementary or unit school district that does not offer full-day kindergarten as of October 1, 2022, may, by action of the State Board of Education, apply for an extension of the 2027-2028 school year implementation deadline for 2 additional years if one of the following criteria are met:
        (1) the school district is funded below 76% of
    
adequacy according to the Evidence-Based Funding formula under Section 18-8.15 of this Code in Fiscal Year 2023;
        (2) the school district is ranked in the top 25% of
    
capital funding need by the Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force, but has yet to receive capital funding as of the date of the application; or
        (3) the school district meets a criterion set by the
    
State Board of Education based on the Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force's recommendations under subsection (b) of Section 10-22.18e of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 103-410, eff. 8-2-23.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.18a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.18a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.18a)
    Sec. 10-22.18a. Child care and training centers - Charges - Public aid payments for certain children). To establish Child Care and Training Centers for children under the age of compulsory school attendance for the purpose of providing them (1) social and educational guidance and developmental aids supplemental to parental care and training designed to assist them in attaining their greatest potential during their school years and adult life and (2) care and services, in addition to the services specified in (1), required because of the absence from home for all or part of the day of their parents or other persons in charge of their care as a result of employment or other reason. The board may also make the facilities of the Centers available before and after as well as during regular school hours to school age and preschool age children who may benefit thereby, including children who require care and supervision pending the return of their parents or other persons in charge of their care from employment or other activity requiring absence from the home.
    In establishing standards for the Centers, the board shall take into account standards established by the Department of Children and Family Services for like facilities. The board shall pay the necessary expenses out of school funds of the district, subject to State payment for certain children as hereinafter provided, and may charge for care and training of children for whom the State does not assume responsibility. The charge shall not exceed the per capita cost of the Center and, to the extent feasible, shall be fixed at a level which will permit utilization of the Center by employed parents of low or moderate income.
    The Department of Human Services shall pay to the district the cost of care and training provided in the Centers for any child who is a recipient of financial aid under "The Illinois Public Aid Code", approved April 11, 1967, as amended. The Department shall submit to the board written notice designating each child for whom it assumes the cost of care and training. The board shall submit claims for payment at the end of each monthly period. If satisfied of their correctness, the Department shall approve the claims and provide for their payment out of funds appropriated to it for such purposes and from Federal funds available therefor.
    The board may permit any other State or local governmental agency or private agency providing care for children to purchase care and training in the Centers for children under their charge.
    After July 1, 1970 when the provisions of Section 10-20.20 become operative in the district, children in a Child Care and Training Center shall be transferred to the kindergarten established under that Section for such portion of the day as may be required for the kindergarten program, and only the pro-rated costs of care and training provided in the Center for the remaining period shall be charged to the Illinois Department or other persons or agencies paying for such care.
(Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.18b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.18b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.18b)
    Sec. 10-22.18b. Before and after school programs. To develop and maintain before school and after school programs for students in kindergarten through the 6th grade. Such programs may include time for homework, physical exercise, afternoon nutritional snacks and educational offerings which are in addition to those offered during the regular school day. The chief administrator in each district shall be a certified teacher or a person who meets the requirements for supervising a day care center under the Child Care Act of 1969. Individual programs shall be coordinated by certified teachers or by persons who meet the requirements for supervising a day care center under the Child Care Act of 1969. Additional employees who are not so qualified may also be employed for such programs.
    The schedule of these programs may follow the work calendar of the local community rather than the regular school calendar. Parents or guardians of the participating students shall be responsible for providing transportation for the students to and from the programs. The school board may charge parents of participating students a fee, not to exceed the actual cost of such before and after school programs.
(Source: P.A. 83-639.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.18c

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.18c) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.18c)
    Sec. 10-22.18c. Model day care services program. Local school districts may establish, in cooperation with the State Board of Education, a model program for the provision of day care services in a school. The program shall be administered by the local school district and shall be funded from monies available from private and public sources. Student parents shall not be charged a fee for the day care services; school personnel also may utilize the services, but shall be charged a fee. The program shall be supervised by a trained child care professional who is qualified to teach students parenting skills. As part of the program, the school shall offer a course in child behavior in which students shall receive course credits for helping to care for the children in the program while learning parenting skills. The State Board of Education shall evaluate the programs' effectiveness in reducing school absenteeism and dropouts among teenage parents and shall report to the General Assembly concerning its findings after the program has been in operation for 2 years.
(Source: P.A. 85-769.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.18d

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.18d) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.18d)
    Sec. 10-22.18d. Parental institutes. A school district may utilize up to two days allowed by law for teachers' institutes to conduct parental institutes for the parents and guardians of children attending the district. No district may utilize teachers' institute days as parental institute days without the consent of the district's inservice advisory committee created under Section 3-11. If a district does not have an inservice advisory committee, parental institute days must be approved by the district's teaching staff.
    Parental institutes shall be designed by the school district upon consultation with the district's teaching staff, administrators, and parents' organizations. The district may provide appropriate personnel, including district staff, to conduct, attend, or participate in all or any portion of the institutes.
    Parental institutes shall provide information on such topics as the district shall deem necessary to achieve the following purposes:
        (1) Enhance parental involvement in the education of
    
the district's students;
        (2) Improve parental communication and involvement
    
with the district;
        (3) Enhance parental knowledge of child development,
    
district programs, school conditions, and societal problems threatening students; and
        (4) Improve parental skill development.
    Districts shall use every means available to inform parents and guardians about parental institutes and to encourage attendance at and active participation in such events.
    Parental institutes may be held during that period of the day which is not part of the regular school day and may be held on Saturdays. Days scheduled for parental institutes may be scheduled separately for different grade levels and different attendance centers of the district.
    Districts may establish reasonable fees, not to exceed the cost of holding parental institutes, for attendance and shall waive any fees so established for any parents or guardians who may be unable to afford such fees. Nothing shall preclude districts from applying for or accepting private funds to conduct parental institutes.
(Source: P.A. 86-1250.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.18e

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.18e)
    Sec. 10-22.18e. Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force.
    (a) The Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force is created for the purpose of conducting a statewide audit to inform the planning and implementation of full-day kindergarten in the State and shall, at a minimum, collect, analyze, and report the following:
        (1) the number of elementary and unit school
    
districts in the State that are currently offering kindergarten, including the number offering full-day kindergarten, the number offering part-day kindergarten, and the number offering both part-day kindergarten and full-day kindergarten;
        (2) the number of students currently enrolled in
    
kindergarten in the State, including the number enrolled in full-day kindergarten, the number enrolled in part-day kindergarten, the total number enrolled in either part-day kindergarten or full-day kindergarten, and the number of children on any waitlists for part-day or full-day kindergarten;
        (3) for all elementary and unit school districts, an
    
estimate of the number of students eligible for kindergarten;
        (4) for all elementary and unit school districts that
    
do not currently offer full-day kindergarten, an analysis of their space utilization rate and an assessment of district capacity to provide space for full-day kindergarten classrooms;
        (5) for all elementary and unit school districts that
    
do not currently offer full-day kindergarten and are found to have insufficient capacity to provide space for full-day kindergarten classrooms, an estimate of the costs associated with providing full-day kindergarten classrooms;
        (6) recommendations on how available capital funds
    
for full-day kindergarten might be disbursed to school districts to prioritize districts most in need of State resources; and
        (7) other data or recommendations that would support
    
the State or individual school districts in offering full-day kindergarten. Such recommendations may include an analysis of other start-up or categorical costs associated with offering full-day kindergarten.
    (b) Based on the findings reported under subsection (a) of this Section, the Task Force may recommend that the State Board of Education consider an additional criterion when granting a waiver under subsection (b) of Section 10-22.18 of this Code. The State Board of Education shall make a final determination regarding this additional factor and provide public notice of that determination by no later than July 1, 2025.
    (c) Members of the Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force shall be appointed by no later than October 1, 2023 and shall possess the expertise needed to complete the report and recommendations. Members appointed to the Task Force must reflect the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of this State. Task Force members shall include all of the following:
        (1) The State Superintendent of Education or the
    
Superintendent's designee.
        (2) Three members appointed by the State Board of
    
Education with relevant expertise.
        (3) One member who represents the Capital Development
    
Board, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (4) One member from an organization with expertise in
    
school construction and facilities financing, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (5) One member from an organization with expertise in
    
local, State, and federal tax and budget related issues, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (6) One member of a statewide professional teachers'
    
organization who is a kindergarten teacher, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (7) One member of another statewide professional
    
teachers' organization who is a kindergarten teacher, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (8) One member who represents a statewide
    
organization of school business officials and has experience overseeing schools with kindergarten programs, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (9) One member who represents a statewide
    
organization of principals and has experience overseeing schools with kindergarten programs, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (10) One member who represents a statewide
    
organization of school boards and has experience overseeing schools with kindergarten programs, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (11) Three members who are parents of students, one
    
of whom is from an urban elementary or unit school district, one of whom is from a rural elementary or unit school district, and one of whom is from a suburban elementary or unit school district, all appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (12) One member who represents a statewide
    
organization of school districts and has experience overseeing schools with kindergarten programs, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (13) One member who represents an elementary or unit
    
school district that is a Tier 3 or Tier 4 school district as defined by Section 18-8.15 of this Code and that does not currently offer full-day kindergarten, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (14) One member who represents a school district
    
serving a community with a population of 500,000 or more, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
        (15) One member who represents a rural elementary or
    
unit school district, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
    (d) The Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force shall meet at the call of the State Superintendent of Education or the Superintendent's designee, who shall serve as the chairperson. The State Board of Education shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation.
    (e) The Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force shall issue an interim report by June 30, 2024 and a final report to the General Assembly and Governor's Office no later than January 31, 2025.
    (f) Upon issuing its final report, the Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force is dissolved.
(Source: P.A. 103-410, eff. 8-2-23.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.19

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.19) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.19)
    Sec. 10-22.19. Sidewalks, bridges, culverts and other approaches.
    To appropriate school funds for the construction of such sidewalks, bridges, culverts and other approaches leading to the schoolhouse or school grounds as are necessary for the convenience and safety of pupils attending such school, but such approaches shall not exceed one-half mile in length.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3420.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.19a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.19a)
    Sec. 10-22.19a. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 91-830, eff. 7-1-00. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.20

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.20) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.20)
    Sec. 10-22.20. Classes for adults and youths whose schooling has been interrupted; conditions for State reimbursement; use of child care facilities.
    (a) To establish special classes for the instruction (1) of persons of age 21 years or over and (2) of persons less than age 21 and not otherwise in attendance in public school, for the purpose of providing adults in the community and youths whose schooling has been interrupted with such additional basic education, vocational skill training, and other instruction as may be necessary to increase their qualifications for employment or other means of self-support and their ability to meet their responsibilities as citizens, including courses of instruction regularly accepted for graduation from elementary or high schools and for Americanization and high school equivalency testing review classes.
    The board shall pay the necessary expenses of such classes out of school funds of the district, including costs of student transportation and such facilities or provision for child-care as may be necessary in the judgment of the board to permit maximum utilization of the courses by students with children, and other special needs of the students directly related to such instruction. The expenses thus incurred shall be subject to State reimbursement, as provided in Section 2-12.5 of the Public Community College Act. The board may make a tuition charge for persons taking instruction who are not subject to State reimbursement, such tuition charge not to exceed the per capita cost of such classes.
    The cost of such instruction, including the additional expenses herein authorized, shall be assumed in its entirety from funds appropriated by the State to the Illinois Community College Board as provided in Section 2-12.5 of the Public Community College Act.
    (b) The Illinois Community College Board shall establish the standards for the courses of instruction reimbursed under this Section. The Illinois Community College Board shall supervise the administration of the programs. The Illinois Community College Board shall determine the cost of instruction in accordance with standards established by the Illinois Community College Board, including therein other incidental costs as herein authorized, which shall serve as the basis of State reimbursement in accordance with the provisions of the Public Community College Act. In the approval of programs and the determination of the cost of instruction, the Illinois Community College Board shall provide for the maximum utilization of federal funds for such programs.
    (c) (Blank).
    (d) (Blank).
    (e) (Blank).
    (f) (Blank).
    (g) (Blank).
    (h) (Blank).
    (i) (Blank).
    (j) In addition to claiming reimbursement under this Section, a school district may claim evidence-based funding under Section 18-8.15 for any student under age 21 who is enrolled in courses accepted for graduation from elementary or high school and who otherwise meets the requirements of Section 18-8.15.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17; 101-289, eff. 8-9-19.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.20a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.20a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.20a)
    Sec. 10-22.20a. Advanced vocational training program, and career education. To enter into joint agreements with community college districts and other school districts for the purpose of providing career education or advanced vocational training of students in the 11th and higher grades who desire preparation for a trade. Transportation for students to any facility covered by a joint agreement as described in this Section shall be provided by the participating school district, or by the participating school district in conjunction with other school districts. Joint agreements entered into under this Section may include provisions for joint authority to acquire and improve sites, construct and equip facilities thereon and lease and equip facilities deemed necessary by the parties to the joint agreement, to maintain programs and to provide for financing of the foregoing jointly by the respective parties, all in accordance with the terms of the joint agreement.
    Nothing herein contained shall be construed to restrict or prohibit the rights of community college districts or school districts to enter into joint agreements under the provisions of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, as now or hereinafter amended.
    The duration of the career education or advanced vocational training program shall be such period as the school district may approve but it may not exceed 2 years for any school district pupil. Participation in the program is accorded the same credit toward a high school diploma as time spent in other courses.
    The participating community college shall bill each participating student's school district for an amount equal to the per capita cost of operating the community college attended or a charge for participation may be made in accordance with the joint agreement between the community college district and the student's school district. Such agreement shall not provide for payments in excess of the actual cost of operating the course or courses in which the student is enrolled. Participating high schools may use State aid monies to pay the charges.
    The community college instructors teaching in such programs need not be certified by the State Teacher Certification Board.
(Source: P.A. 79-76.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.20b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.20b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.20b)
    Sec. 10-22.20b. To appoint a person, who meets the standards of qualification and certification established by the Illinois Community College Board, as director of adult education to be responsible for the development and general supervision of the adult education program described in Section 10-22.20 and the Adult Education Act.
(Source: P.A. 91-830, eff. 7-1-01.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.20c

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.20c) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.20c)
    Sec. 10-22.20c. Tutorial programs. To establish and implement peer assistance, tutorial programs whereby qualified, able students assist less able students with their studies and course work, and to provide appropriate recognition for students furnishing such tutorial services. In addition, a school board is authorized to cooperate with institutions of higher education and may accept tutorial services provided by qualified students of such institutions under the Educational Partnership Act, as now or hereafter amended.
(Source: P.A. 84-712.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.21

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.21) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.21)
    Sec. 10-22.21. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.21a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.21a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.21a)
    Sec. 10-22.21a. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 2186. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.21b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.21b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.21b)
    Sec. 10-22.21b. Administering medication.
    (a) In this Section, "asthma action plan" has the meaning given to that term under Section 22-30.
    (b) To provide for the administration of medication to students. It shall be the policy of the State of Illinois that the administration of medication to students during regular school hours and during school-related activities should be discouraged unless absolutely necessary for the critical health and well-being of the student. Under no circumstances shall teachers or other non-administrative school employees, except certified school nurses and non-certificated registered professional nurses, be required to administer medication to students. This Section shall not prohibit a school district from adopting guidelines for self-administration of medication by students that are consistent with this Section and this Code. This Section shall not prohibit any school employee from providing emergency assistance to students.
    (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a school district must allow any student with an asthma action plan, an Individual Health Care Action Plan, an allergy emergency action plan, a plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or a plan pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to self-administer any medication required under those plans if the student's parent or guardian provides the school district with (i) written permission for the student's self-administration of medication and (ii) written authorization from the student's physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse for the student to self-administer the medication. A parent or guardian must also provide to the school district the prescription label for the medication, which must contain the name of the medication, the prescribed dosage, and the time or times at which or the circumstances under which the medication is to be administered. Information received by a school district under this subsection shall be kept on file in the office of the school nurse or, in the absence of a school nurse, the school's administrator.
    (d) Each school district must adopt an emergency action plan for a student who self-administers medication under subsection (c). The plan must include both of the following:
        (1) A plan of action in the event a student is unable
    
to self-administer medication.
        (2) The situations in which a school must call 9-1-1.
    (e) A school district and its employees and agents shall incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from the self-administration of medication by a student under subsection (c). The student's parent or guardian must sign a statement to this effect, which must acknowledge that the parent or guardian must indemnify and hold harmless the school district and its employees and agents against any claims, except a claim based on willful and wanton conduct, arising out of the self-administration of medication by a student.
(Source: P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.22

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.22) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.22)
    Sec. 10-22.22. Transportation for pupils-Tuition.
    To provide free transportation for pupils, and where in its judgment the interests of the district and of the pupils therein will be best subserved by so doing the school board may permit the pupils in the district or in any particular grade to attend the schools of other districts and may permit any pupil to attend an area secondary vocational school operated by a public school district or a public or non-public vocational school within the State of Illinois or adjacent states approved by the Board of Vocational Education, and may provide free transportation for such pupils and shall pay the tuition of such pupils in the schools attended; such tuition shall be based upon per capita cost computed in the following manner: The cost of conducting and maintaining any area secondary vocational school facility shall be first determined and shall include the following expenses applicable only to such educational facility under rules and regulations established by the Board of Vocational Education and Rehabilitation as follows:
        a. Salaries of teachers, vocational counselors, and
    
supporting professional workers, necessary non-certified workers, clerks, custodial employees, and any district taxes specifically for their pension and retirement benefits.
        b. Equipment and supplies necessary for program
    
operation.
        c. Administrative costs.
        d. Operation of physical plant, including heat,
    
light, water, repairs, and maintenance.
        e. Auxiliary service, not including any
    
transportation cost.
    From such total cost thus determined there shall be deducted the State reimbursement due on account of such educational facility for the same year, not including any State reimbursement for area secondary vocational school transportation. Such net cost shall be divided by the average number of pupils in average daily attendance in such area secondary vocational school facility for the school year in order to arrive at the net per capita tuition cost. Such costs shall be computed on pupils regularly enrolled in an area secondary vocational school on the basis of one-sixth day for every class hour attended pursuant to such enrollment. Provided, that the board subject to the approval of the county superintendent of schools may determine what schools outside of their district such pupils shall attend. This section does not require the board of directors or board of education of any district to admit pupils from another district.
(Source: P.A. 94-213, eff. 7-14-05.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.22a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.22a)
    Sec. 10-22.22a. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1508. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.22b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.22b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.22b)
    Sec. 10-22.22b. (a) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the deactivation of a high school facility under subsection (c). Where in its judgment the interests of the district and of the students therein will be best served, to deactivate any high school facility or elementary school facility in the district and send the students of such high school in grades 9 through 12 or such elementary school in grades kindergarten through 8, as applicable, to schools in other districts. Such action may be taken only with the approval of the voters in the district and the approval, by proper resolution, of the school board of the receiving district. The board of the district contemplating deactivation shall, by proper resolution, cause the proposition to deactivate the school facility to be submitted to the voters of the district at a regularly scheduled election. Notice shall be published at least 10 days prior to the date of the election at least once in one or more newspapers published in the district or, if no newspaper is published in the district, in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the district. The notice shall be substantially in the following form:
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM TO
DEACTIVATE THE ... SCHOOL FACILITY
IN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. ........
    Notice is hereby given that on (insert date), a referendum will be held in ........ County (Counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to deactivate the ...... School facility in School District No. ...... and to send pupils in ...... School to School District(s) No. .......
    The polls will be open at .... o'clock ... m., and close at .... o'clock ... m. of the same day.
          ............
Dated (insert date).
 
The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall the Board
of Education of School
District No. ....,                       YES
..... County, Illinois, be
authorized to deactivate            --------------------------
the ....  School facility
and to send pupils in .......             NO
 School to School
District(s) No. .....?
--------------------------------------------------------------
If the majority of those voting upon the proposition in the district contemplating deactivation vote in favor of the proposition, the board of that district, upon approval of the board of the receiving district, shall execute a contract with the receiving district providing for the reassignment of students to the receiving district. If the deactivating district seeks to send its students to more than one district, it shall execute a contract with each receiving district. The length of the contract shall be for 2 school years, but the districts may renew the contract for additional one year or 2 year periods. Contract renewals shall be executed by January 1 of the year in which the existing contract expires. If the majority of those voting upon the proposition do not vote in favor of the proposition, the school facility may not be deactivated.
    The sending district shall pay to the receiving district an amount agreed upon by the 2 districts.
    When the deactivation of school facilities becomes effective pursuant to this Section, the provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code relative to the contractual continued service status of teachers having contractual continued service whose positions are transferred from one board to the control of a different board shall apply, and the positions at the school facilities being deactivated held by teachers, as that term is defined in subsection (a) of Section 24-11 of this Code, having contractual continued service with the school district at the time of the deactivation shall be transferred to the control of the board or boards who shall be receiving the district's students on the following basis:
        (1) positions of such teachers in contractual
    
continued service that were full time positions shall be transferred to the control of whichever of such boards such teachers shall request with the teachers making such requests proceeding in the order of those with the greatest length of continuing service with the board to those with the shortest length of continuing service with the board, provided that the number selecting one board over another board or other boards shall not exceed that proportion of the school students going to such board or boards; and
        (2) positions of such teachers in contractual
    
continued service that were full time positions and as to which there is no selection left under subparagraph 1 hereof shall be transferred to the appropriate board.
    The contractual continued service status of any teacher thereby transferred to another district is not lost and the receiving board is subject to the School Code with respect to such transferred teacher in the same manner as if such teacher was the district's employee during the time such teacher was actually employed by the board of the deactivating district from which the position was transferred.
    When the deactivation of school facilities becomes effective pursuant to this Section, the provisions of subsection (b) of Section 10-23.5 of this Code relative to the transfer of educational support personnel employees shall apply, and the positions at the school facilities being deactivated that are held by educational support personnel employees at the time of the deactivation shall be transferred to the control of the board or boards that will be receiving the district's students on the following basis:
        (A) positions of such educational support personnel
    
employees that were full-time positions shall be transferred to the control of whichever of the boards the employees request, with the educational support personnel employees making these requests proceeding in the order of those with the greatest length of continuing service with the board to those with the shortest length of continuing service with the board, provided that the number selecting one board over another board or other boards must not exceed that proportion of students going to such board or boards; and
        (B) positions of such educational support personnel
    
employees that were full-time positions and as to which there is no selection left under subdivision (A) shall be transferred to the appropriate board.
The length of continuing service of any educational support personnel employee thereby transferred to another district is not lost and the receiving board is subject to this Code with respect to that transferred educational support personnel employee in the same manner as if the educational support personnel employee was the district's employee during the time the educational support personnel employee was actually employed by the board of the deactivating district from which the position was transferred.
    (b) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the reactivation of a high school facility which is deactivated under subsection (c). The sending district may, with the approval of the voters in the district, reactivate the school facility which was deactivated. The board of the district seeking to reactivate the school facility shall, by proper resolution, cause the proposition to reactivate to be submitted to the voters of the district at a regularly scheduled election. Notice shall be published at least 10 days prior to the date of the election at least once in one or more newspapers published in the district or, if no newspaper is published in the district, in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the district. The notice shall be substantially in the following form:
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM TO
REACTIVATE THE ...... SCHOOL FACILITY
IN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. ......
    Notice is hereby given that on (insert date), a referendum will be held in ...... County (Counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to reactivate the ..... School facility in School District No. ..... and to discontinue sending pupils of School District No. ...... to School District(s) No. .....
    The polls will be opened at ... o'clock .. m., and closed at ... o'clock .. m. of the same day.
          ............
Dated (insert date).
 
The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall the Board
of Education of School                       YES
District No. ......,
...... County, Illinois,
be  authorized  to                        --------------------
reactivate the ....  School
facility and to discontinue sending
pupils of School District No. ....            NO
to School District(s) No. ......?
--------------------------------------------------------------
    (c) The school board of any unit school district which experienced a strike by a majority of its certified employees that endured for over 6 months during the regular school term of the 1986-1987 school year, and which during the ensuing 1987-1988 school year had an enrollment in grades 9 through 12 of less than 125 students may, when in its judgment the interests of the district and of the students therein will be best served thereby, deactivate the high school facilities within the district for the regular term of the 1988-1989 school year and, for that school year only, send the students of such high school in grades 9 through 12 to schools in adjoining or adjacent districts. Such action may only be taken: (a) by proper resolution of the school board deactivating its high school facilities and the approval, by proper resolution, of the school board of the receiving district or districts, and (b) pursuant to a contract between the sending and each receiving district, which contract or contracts: (i) shall provide for the reassignment of all students of the deactivated high school in grades 9 through 12 to the receiving district or districts; (ii) shall apply only to the regular school term of the 1988-1989 school year; (iii) shall not be subject to renewal or extension; and (iv) shall require the sending district to pay to the receiving district the cost of educating each student who is reassigned to the receiving district, such costs to be an amount agreed upon by the sending and receiving district but not less than the per capita cost of maintaining the high school in the receiving district during the 1987-1988 school year. Any high school facility deactivated pursuant to this subsection for the regular school term of the 1988-1989 school year shall be reactivated by operation of law as of the end of the regular term of the 1988-1989 school year. The status as a unit school district of a district which deactivates its high school facilities pursuant to this subsection shall not be affected by reason of such deactivation of its high school facilities and such district shall continue to be deemed in law a school district maintaining grades kindergarten through 12 for all purposes relating to the levy, extension, collection and payment of the taxes of the district under Article 17 for the 1988-1989 school year.
    (d) Whenever a school facility is reactivated pursuant to the provisions of this Section, then all teachers in contractual continued service who were honorably dismissed or transferred as part of the deactivation process, in addition to other rights they may have under the School Code, shall be recalled or transferred back to the original district.
(Source: P.A. 99-657, eff. 7-28-16.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.22c

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.22c) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.22c)
    Sec. 10-22.22c. (a) Subject to the following provisions of this Section two or more contiguous school districts each of which has an enrollment in grades 9 through 12 of less than 600 students may, when in their judgment the interest of the districts and of the students therein will be best served, jointly operate one or more cooperative high schools. Such action shall be taken for a minimum period of 20 school years, and may be taken only with the approval of the voters of each district. A district with 600 or more students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 may qualify for inclusion with one or more districts having less than 600 such students by receiving a size waiver from the State Board of Education based on a finding that such inclusion would significantly increase the educational opportunities of the district's students, and by meeting the other prerequisites of this Section. The board of each district contemplating such joint operation shall, by proper resolution, cause the proposition to enter into such joint operation to be submitted to the voters of the district at a regularly scheduled election. Notice shall be published at least 10 days prior to the date of the election at least once in one or more newspapers published in the district or, if no newspaper is published in the district, in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the district. The notice shall be substantially in the following form:
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT
NO. ....... AND SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. .......
TO JOINTLY OPERATE (A) COOPERATIVE HIGH
SCHOOL (SCHOOLS)
    Notice is hereby given that on (insert date), a referendum will be held in ....... County (Counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition for School District No. ....... and School District No. ....... to jointly operate (a) cooperative high school (schools).
    The polls will be open at ....... o'clock ... m., and close at ....... o'clock ... m., of the same day.
A ........ B ........
Dated (insert date).
Regional Superintendent of Schools
 
    The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Shall the Board of Education of
School District No. ...., .....                 YES
County (Counties), Illinois be
authorized to enter with
into an agreement with School          -----------------------
District No. ...., .... County
(Counties), Illinois to jointly
operate (a) cooperative high                     NO
school (schools)?
--------------------------------------------------------------
If the majority of those voting on the proposition in each district vote in favor of the proposition, the school boards of the participating districts may, if they agree on terms, execute a contract for such joint operation subject to the following provisions of this Section.
    (b) The agreement for joint operation of any such cooperative high school shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for administration, staff, programs, financing, facilities, and transportation. Such agreements may be modified, extended, or terminated by approval of each of the participating districts, provided that a district may withdraw from the agreement during its initial 20-year term only if the district is reorganizing with one or more districts under other provisions of this Code. Even if 2 or more of the participating district boards approve an extension of the agreement, any other participating district shall, upon failure of its board to approve such extension, disengage from such participation at the end of the then current agreement term.
    (c) A governing board, which shall govern the operation of any such cooperative high school, shall be composed of an equal number of board members from each of the participating districts, except that where all participating district boards concur, membership on the governing board may be apportioned to reflect the number of students in each respective district who attend the cooperative high school. The membership of the governing board shall be not less than 6 nor more than 10 and shall be set by the agreement entered into by the participating districts. The school board of each participating district shall select, from its membership, its representatives on the governing board. The governing board shall prepare and adopt a budget for the cooperative high school. The governing board shall administer the cooperative high school in accordance with the agreement of the districts and shall have the power to hire, supervise, and terminate staff; to enter into contracts; to adopt policies for the school; and to take all other actions necessary and proper for the operation of the school. However, the governing board may not levy taxes or incur any indebtedness except within the annual budget approved by the participating districts.
    (d) (Blank).
    (e) Each participating district shall pay its per capita cost of educating the students residing in its district and attending any such cooperative high school into the budget for the maintenance and operation of the cooperative high school.
    The manner of determining per capita cost shall be set forth in the agreement. Each district shall pay the amount owed the governing board under the terms of the agreement from the fund that the district would have used if the district had incurred the costs directly and may levy taxes and issue bonds as otherwise authorized for these purposes in order to make payments to the governing board.
    (f) Additional school districts having an enrollment in grades 9 through 12 of less than 600 students may be added to the agreement in accordance with the process described in subsection (a) of this Section. In the event additional districts are added, a new contract shall be executed in accordance with the provisions of this Section.
    (g) Upon formation of the cooperative high school, the school board of each participating district shall:
        (1) confer and coordinate with each other and the
    
governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, as to staffing needs for the cooperative high school;
        (2) in consultation with any exclusive employee
    
representatives and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, establish a combined list of teachers in all participating districts, categorized by positions, showing the length of service and the contractual continued service status, if any, of each teacher in each participating district who is qualified to hold any such positions at the cooperative high school, and then distribute this list to the exclusive employee representatives on or before February 1 of the school year prior to the commencement of the operation of the cooperative high school or within 30 days after the date of the referendum election if the proposition receives a majority of those voting in each district, whichever occurs first. This list is in addition to and not a substitute for any list mandated by Section 24-12 of this Code; and
        (3) transfer to the governing board of the
    
cooperative high school the employment and the position of so many of the full-time or part-time high school teachers employed by a participating district as are jointly determined by the school boards of the participating districts and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, to be needed at the cooperative high school, provided that these teacher transfers shall be done:
            (A) by categories listed on the seniority list
        
mentioned in subdivision (2) of this subsection (g);
            (B) in each category, by having teachers in
        
contractual continued service being transferred before any teachers who are not in contractual continued service; and
            (C) in order from greatest seniority first
        
through lesser amounts of seniority.
    A teacher who is not in contractual continued service shall not be transferred if there is a teacher in contractual continued service in the same category who is qualified to hold the position that is to be filled.
    If there are more teachers who have entered upon contractual continued service than there are available positions at the cooperative high school or within other assignments in the district, a school board shall first remove or dismiss all teachers who have not entered upon contractual continued service before removing or dismissing any teacher who has entered upon contractual continued service and who is legally qualified (i) to hold a position at the cooperative high school planned to be held by a teacher who has not entered upon contractual continued service or (ii) to hold another position in the participating district. As between teachers who have entered upon contractual continued service, the teacher or teachers with the shorter length of continuing service in any of the participating districts shall be dismissed first. Any teacher dismissed as a result of such a decrease shall be paid all earned compensation on or before the third business day following the last day of pupil attendance in the regular school term. If the school board that has dismissed a teacher or the governing board has any vacancies for the following school term or within one calendar year from the beginning of the following school term, the positions thereby becoming available shall be tendered to the teachers so removed or dismissed so far as they are legally qualified to hold such positions. However, if the number of honorable dismissal notices in all participating districts exceeds 15% of full-time equivalent positions filled by certified employees (excluding principals and administrative personnel) during the preceding school year in all participating districts and if the school board that has dismissed a teacher or the governing board has any vacancies for the following school term or within 2 calendar years from the beginning of the following school term, the positions so becoming available shall be tendered to the teachers who were so notified, removed, or dismissed whenever these teachers are legally qualified to hold such positions.
    The provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code concerning teachers whose positions are transferred from one board to the control of a different board shall apply to the teachers who are transferred. The contractual continued service of any transferred teacher is not lost and the governing board is subject to this Code with respect to the teacher in the same manner as if the teacher had been the governing board's employee during the time the teacher was actually employed by the board of the district from which the position and the teacher's employment were transferred. The time spent in employment with a participating district by any teacher who has not yet entered upon contractual continued service and who is transferred to the governing board is not lost when computing the time necessary for the teacher to enter upon contractual continued service, and the governing board is subject to this Code with respect to the teacher in the same manner as if the teacher had been the governing board's employee during the time the teacher was actually employed by the school board from which the position and the teacher's employment were transferred.
    If the cooperative high school is dissolved, any teacher who was transferred from a participating district shall be transferred back to the district and subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code shall apply. In that case, a district is subject to this Code in the same manner as if the teacher transferred back had been continuously in the service of the receiving district.
    (h) Upon formation of the cooperative high school, the school board of each participating district shall:
        (1) confer and coordinate with each other and the
    
governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, as to needs for educational support personnel for the cooperative high school;
        (2) in consultation with any exclusive employee
    
representative or bargaining agent and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, establish a combined list of educational support personnel in participating districts, categorized by positions, showing the length of continuing service of each full-time educational support personnel employee who is qualified to hold any such position at the cooperative high school, and then distribute this list to the exclusive employee representative or bargaining agent on or before February 1 of the school year prior to the commencement of the operation of the cooperative high school or within 30 days after the date of the referendum election if the proposition receives a majority of those voting in each district, whichever occurs first; and
        (3) transfer to the governing board of the
    
cooperative high school the employment and the positions of so many of the full-time educational support personnel employees employed by a participating district as are jointly determined by the school boards of the participating districts and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, to be needed at the cooperative high school, provided that the full-time educational personnel employee transfers shall be done by categories on the seniority list mentioned in subdivision (2) of this subsection (h) and done in order from greatest seniority first through lesser amounts of seniority.
    If there are more full-time educational support personnel employees than there are available positions at the cooperative high school or in the participating district, a school board shall first remove or dismiss those educational support personnel employees with the shorter length of continuing service in any of the participating districts, within the respective category of position. The governing board is subject to this Code with respect to the educational support personnel employee as if the educational support personnel employee had been the governing board's employee during the time the educational support personnel employee was actually employed by the school board of the district from which the employment and position were transferred. Any educational support personnel employee dismissed as a result of such a decrease shall be paid all earned compensation on or before the third business day following his or her last day of employment. If the school board that has dismissed the educational support personnel employee or the governing board has any vacancies for the following school term or within one calendar year from the beginning of the following school term, the positions thereby becoming available within a specific category of position shall be tendered to the employees so removed or dismissed from that category of position so far as they are legally qualified to hold such positions. If the cooperative high school is dissolved, any educational support personnel employee who was transferred from a participating district shall be transferred back to the district and Section 10-23.5 of this Code shall apply. In that case, a district is subject to this Code in the same manner as if the educational support personnel employee transferred back had been continuously in the service of the receiving district.
    (i) Two or more school districts not contiguous to each other, each of which has an enrollment in grades 9 through 12 of less than 600 students, may jointly operate one or more cooperative high schools if the following requirements are met and documented within 2 calendar years prior to the proposition filing date, pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section:
        (1) the distance between each district administrative
    
office is documented as no more than 30 miles;
        (2) every district contiguous to the district wishing
    
to operate one or more cooperative high schools under the provisions of this Section determines that it is not interested in participating in such joint operation, through a vote of its school board, and documents that non-interest in a letter to the districts wishing to form the cooperative high school containing approved minutes that record the school board vote;
        (3) documentation of meeting these requirements is
    
attached to the board resolution required under subsection (a) of this Section; and
        (4) all other provisions of this Section are
    
followed.
(Source: P.A. 98-125, eff. 8-2-13; 99-657, eff. 7-28-16.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.22d

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.22d)
    Sec. 10-22.22d. Pilot cooperative elementary school and pilot cooperative high school.
    (a) Subject to the provisions of this Section, 2 contiguous school districts that are (i) located all or in part in Vermilion County; (ii) have an enrollment in grades 6-8 of less than 150 during the 2008-2009 school year and in grades 9-12 of less than 400 during the 2008-2009 school year; and (iii) have a Junior High School serving grades 6, 7, and 8 in one of the districts may, when in their judgment the interest of the districts and of the students will be best served, jointly pilot a cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both.
    The board of each district contemplating a joint operation shall, by proper resolution, cause the proposition to enter into such joint operation for a period not to exceed 3 years.
    The school boards of the participating districts may, if they agree on terms, execute a contract for such joint operation subject to the provisions of this Section.
    (b) The agreement for joint operation of any such cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for administration, staff, programs, financing, facilities, and transportation. Agreements may be modified, by approval of each of the participating districts, provided that a district may withdraw from the agreement only if the district is reorganizing with one or more districts under other provisions of this Code.
    (c) A governing board, which shall govern the operation of any such cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, shall be apportioned to reflect the number of students in each respective district who attend the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both. The membership of the governing board shall be 5 members. The school board of each participating district shall select, from its membership, its representatives on the governing board. The governing board shall prepare and adopt a budget for the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both. The governing board shall administer the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, in accordance with the agreement of the districts and shall have the power to hire, supervise, and terminate staff; to enter into contracts; to adopt policies for the school or schools; and to take all other actions necessary and proper for the operation of the school or schools. The governing board may not levy taxes or incur any indebtedness except within the annual budget approved by the participating districts.
    (d) Each participating district shall pay its per capita cost of educating the students residing in its district and attending any cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school into the budget for the maintenance and operation of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both.
    The manner of determining per capita cost shall be set forth in the agreement. Each district shall pay the amount owed the governing board under the terms of the agreement from the fund that the district would have used if the district had incurred the costs directly and may levy taxes and issue bonds as otherwise authorized for these purposes in order to make payments to the governing board.
    (e) Upon formation of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, the school board of each participating district shall:
        (1) confer and coordinate with each other and the
    
governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, as to staffing needs for the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both;
        (2) in consultation with any exclusive employee
    
representatives and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, establish a combined list of teachers in all participating districts, categorized by positions, showing the length of service and the contractual continued service status, if any, of each teacher in each participating district who is qualified to hold any positions at the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, and then distribute this list to the exclusive employee representatives on or before February 1 of the school year prior to the commencement of the operation of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, or within 30 days after the date of the board resolutions, whichever occurs first; this list is in addition to and not a substitute for the list mandated by Section 24-12 of this Code; and
        (3) transfer to the governing board of the
    
cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, the employment and the position of so many of the full-time or part-time school teachers employed by a participating district as are jointly determined by the school boards of the participating districts and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, to be needed at the cooperative school or schools, provided that these teacher transfers shall be done:
            (A) by categories listed on the seniority list
        
mentioned in item (2) of this subsection (e);
            (B) in each category, by having teachers in
        
contractual continued service being transferred before any teachers who are not in contractual continued service; and
            (C) in order from greatest seniority first
        
through lesser amounts of seniority.
    A teacher who is not in contractual continued service shall not be transferred if there is a teacher in contractual continued service in the same category who is qualified to hold the position that is to be filled.
    If there are more teachers who have entered upon contractual continued service than there are available positions at the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both or within other assignments in the district, a school board shall first remove or dismiss all teachers who have not entered upon contractual continued service before removing or dismissing any teacher who has entered upon contractual continued service and who is legally qualified (i) to hold a position at the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both planned to be held by a teacher who has not entered upon contractual continued service or (ii) to hold another position in the participating district. As between teachers who have entered upon contractual continued service, the teacher or teachers with the shorter length of continuing service in any of the participating districts shall be dismissed first. Any teacher dismissed as a result of such a decrease shall be paid all earned compensation on or before the third business day following the last day of pupil attendance in the regular school term. If the school board that has dismissed a teacher or the governing board has any vacancies for the following school term or within one calendar year from the beginning of the following school term, then the positions thereby becoming available shall be tendered to the teachers so removed or dismissed so far as they are legally qualified to hold such positions. If the number of honorable dismissal notices in all participating districts exceeds 15% of full-time equivalent positions filled by certified employees (excluding principals and administrative personnel) during the preceding school year in all participating districts and if the school board that has dismissed a teacher or the governing board has any vacancies for the following school term or within 2 calendar years from the beginning of the following school term, the positions so becoming available shall be tendered to the teachers who were so notified, removed, or dismissed whenever these teachers are legally qualified to hold those positions.
    The provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code concerning teachers whose positions are transferred from one board to the control of a different board shall apply to the teachers who are transferred. The contractual continued service of any transferred teacher is not lost and the governing board is subject to this Code with respect to the teacher in the same manner as if the teacher had been the governing board's employee during the time the teacher was actually employed by the board of the district from which the position and the teacher's employment were transferred. The time spent in employment with a participating district by any teacher who has not yet entered upon contractual continued service and who is transferred to the governing board is not lost when computing the time necessary for the teacher to enter upon contractual continued service, and the governing board is subject to this Code with respect to the teacher in the same manner as if the teacher had been the governing board's employee during the time the teacher was actually employed by the school board from which the position and the teacher's employment were transferred.
    At the conclusion of the pilot program, any teacher who was transferred from a participating district shall be transferred back to the district and subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code shall apply. In that case, a district is subject to this Code in the same manner as if the teacher transferred back had been continuously in the service of the receiving district.
    (f) Upon formation of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, the school board of each participating district shall:
        (1) confer and coordinate with each other and the
    
governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, as to needs for educational support personnel for the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both;
        (2) in consultation with any exclusive employee
    
representative or bargaining agent and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, establish a combined list of educational support personnel in participating districts, categorized by positions, showing the length of continuing service of each full-time educational support personnel employee who is qualified to hold any such position at the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, and then distribute this list to the exclusive employee representative or bargaining agent on or before February 1 of the school year prior to the commencement of the operation of the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both or within 30 days after the date of the board resolutions, whichever occurs first; and
        (3) transfer to the governing board of the
    
cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both the employment and the positions of so many of the full-time educational support personnel employees employed by a participating district as are jointly determined by the school boards of the participating districts and the governing board, if the governing board is then in existence, to be needed at the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both, provided that the full-time educational personnel employee transfers shall be done by categories on the seniority list mentioned in item (2) of this subsection (f) and done in order from greatest seniority first through lesser amounts of seniority.
    If there are more full-time educational support personnel employees than there are available positions at the cooperative elementary school or cooperative high school, or both or in the participating district, then a school board shall first remove or dismiss those educational support personnel employees with the shorter length of continuing service in any of the participating districts, within the respective category of position. The governing board is subject to this Code with respect to the educational support personnel employee as if the educational support personnel employee had been the governing board's employee during the time the educational support personnel employee was actually employed by the school board of the district from which the employment and position were transferred. Any educational support personnel employee dismissed as a result of such a decrease shall be paid all earned compensation on or before the third business day following his or her last day of employment. If the school board that has dismissed the educational support personnel employee or the governing board has any vacancies for the following school term or within one calendar year from the beginning of the following school term, then the positions thereby becoming available within a specific category of position shall be tendered to the employees so removed or dismissed from that category of position so far as they are legally qualified to hold such positions. At the conclusion of the pilot, any educational support personnel employee who was transferred from a participating district shall be transferred back to the district and Section 10-23.5 of this Code shall apply. In that case, a district is subject to this Code in the same manner as if the educational support personnel employee transferred back had been continuously in the service of the receiving district.
    (g) This Section repeals 3 years after the beginning date of operation of a pilot cooperative elementary school or a pilot cooperative high school.
(Source: P.A. 99-657, eff. 7-28-16.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.22e

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.22e)
    Sec. 10-22.22e. Science and mathematics partnership school.
    (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary and subject to the provisions of this Section, 2 or more contiguous school districts with all or a portion of their territory located within the geographic boundaries of the same municipality may, when in their judgment the interest of the districts and of the students therein will be best served, jointly operate, through an institution of higher education located in the municipality, a science and mathematics partnership school for serving some or all of grades kindergarten through 8. The partnership school may (i) restrict attendance to pupils who reside within the geographic boundaries of the areas served by the school districts and (ii) select students for enrollment based on admission criteria that focuses on academic proficiency in science and mathematics established by the partnership school and approved by the districts' school boards; however, in no case may the partnership school discriminate on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, ancestry, marital status, or need for special education services in the establishment of its attendance boundaries or in the selection of students for enrollment. The number of students enrolled from each school district shall be approximately equal in number. If there are more students eligible for enrollment in the partnership school from a school district than there are spaces available, eligible students must be selected by lottery.
    (b) The school board of each school district shall, by proper resolution, enter into the joint operation of the partnership school. The school boards of the participating districts shall execute a partnership school contract with the institution of higher education for the joint operation, subject to the provisions of this Section. The agreement for joint operation of the partnership school shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for administration, staff, programs, financing, facilities, and transportation.
    (c) Each participating school district shall pay its per capita cost of educating the students residing in the district and attending the partnership school for the maintenance and operation of the partnership school. The manner of determining per capita cost must be set forth in the agreement. Each district shall pay the amount owed under the terms of the agreement from the fund that the district would have used if the district had incurred the costs directly and may levy taxes and issue bonds as otherwise authorized for these purposes in order to make payments.
    (d) The teachers and other non-administrative, certified employees who work in the partnership school must be selected according to criteria established by the partnership school and agreed to by the school districts' school boards. The number of such employees selected from each school district must be approximately equal in number. Their selection must be for a 2-year or 4-year period, upon the completion of which they must be assigned to a comparable position in the school from which they were selected. While working in the partnership school, these employees shall remain employees of and be paid by the school district from which they were selected, and their wages and benefits must be the same as if they were teaching or otherwise working in that district, provided that additional wages and benefits may be provided to these teachers and other staff if the participating school districts and the exclusive bargaining representatives of their teachers and other staff agree. The contractual continued service status of a teacher and the retirement benefits of those employees who accept work with the partnership school must not be affected. A school term worked in the partnership school must be considered a school term worked in the school district from which the employees were selected for contractual continued service attainment purposes. The time spent in employment with a participating district by any teacher who has not yet entered upon contractual continued service and accepts selection to work in the partnership school is not lost when computing the time necessary for the teacher to enter upon contractual continued service.
(Source: P.A. 97-97, eff. 1-1-12; 98-786, eff. 7-25-14.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.23

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.23) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.23)
    Sec. 10-22.23. School Nurse. To employ a registered professional nurse and define the duties of the school nurse within the guidelines of rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education. Any school nurse first employed on or after July 1, 1976, whose duties require teaching or the exercise of instructional judgment or educational evaluation of pupils, must be licensed under Section 21B-25 of this Code. School districts may employ nonlicensed registered professional nurses to perform professional nursing services.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.23a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.23a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.23a)
    Sec. 10-22.23a. Chief school business official. To employ a chief school business official and define the duties of the chief school business official. Any chief school business official first employed on or after July 1, 1977 shall be licensed under Article 21B. For the purposes of this Section, experience as a school business official in an Illinois public school district prior to July 1, 1977 shall be deemed the equivalent of licensure.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.24

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.24) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.24)
    Sec. 10-22.24. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.24a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.24a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.24a)
    Sec. 10-22.24a. School counselor. To employ school counselors. A school counselor is a qualified specialist who holds a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement in the area of school counseling issued pursuant to Section 21B-25 of this Code and who either (i) holds or is qualified for an elementary, secondary, special K-12, or special preschool-age 22 endorsement on a Professional Educator License issued pursuant to Section 21B-20 or 21B-25 of this Code or (ii) in lieu of holding or qualifying for a teaching endorsement on a Professional Educator License, has fulfilled such other requirements as the State Board of Education may by rule establish. An individual who has completed an approved program in another state may apply for a Professional Educator License endorsed in school counseling and shall receive such a license if a review of his or her credentials indicates that he or she meets the additional requirements of this Section. Only persons so licensed and endorsed may use the title "school counselor".
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.24b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.24b)
    Sec. 10-22.24b. School counseling services. School counseling services in public schools may be provided by school counselors as defined in Section 10-22.24a of this Code or by individuals who hold a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement in the area of school counseling under Section 21B-25 of this Code.
    School counseling services may include, but are not limited to:
        (1) designing and delivering a comprehensive school
    
counseling program through a standards-based, data-informed program that promotes student achievement and wellness;
        (2) (blank);
        (3) school counselors working as culturally skilled
    
professionals who act sensitively to promote social justice and equity in a pluralistic society;
        (4) providing individual and group counseling;
        (5) providing a core counseling curriculum that
    
serves all students and addresses the knowledge and skills appropriate to their developmental level through a collaborative model of delivery involving the school counselor, classroom teachers, and other appropriate education professionals, and including prevention and pre-referral activities;
        (6) making referrals when necessary to appropriate
    
offices or outside agencies;
        (7) providing college and career development
    
activities and counseling;
        (8) developing individual career plans with students,
    
which includes planning for post-secondary education, as appropriate, and engaging in related and relevant career and technical education coursework in high school;
        (9) assisting all students with a college or
    
post-secondary education plan, which must include a discussion on all post-secondary education options, including 4-year colleges or universities, community colleges, and vocational schools, and includes planning for post-secondary education, as appropriate, and engaging in related and relevant career and technical education coursework in high school;
        (10) (blank);
        (11) educating all students on scholarships,
    
financial aid, and preparation of the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid;
        (12) collaborating with institutions of higher
    
education and local community colleges so that students understand post-secondary education options and are ready to transition successfully;
        (13) providing crisis intervention and contributing
    
to the development of a specific crisis plan within the school setting in collaboration with multiple stakeholders;
        (14) providing educational opportunities for
    
students, teachers, and parents on mental health issues;
        (15) providing counseling and other resources to
    
students who are in crisis;
        (16) working to address barriers that prohibit or
    
limit access to mental health services;
        (17) addressing bullying and conflict resolution with
    
all students;
        (18) teaching communication skills and helping
    
students develop positive relationships;
        (19) using culturally sensitive skills in working
    
with all students to promote wellness;
        (20) working to address the needs of all students
    
with regard to citizenship status;
        (21) (blank);;
        (22) providing academic, social-emotional, and
    
college and career supports to all students irrespective of special education or Section 504 status;
        (23) assisting students in goal setting and success
    
skills for classroom behavior, study skills, test preparation, internal motivation, and intrinsic rewards;
        (24) (blank);;
        (25) providing information for all students in the
    
selection of courses that will lead to post-secondary education opportunities toward a successful career;
        (26) interpreting achievement test results and
    
guiding students in appropriate directions;
        (27) (blank);
        (28) providing families with opportunities for
    
education and counseling as appropriate in relation to the student's educational assessment;
        (29) consulting and collaborating with teachers and
    
other school personnel regarding behavior management and intervention plans and inclusion in support of students;
        (30) teaming and partnering with staff, parents,
    
businesses, and community organizations to support student achievement and social-emotional learning standards for all students;
        (31) developing and implementing school-based
    
prevention programs, including, but not limited to, mediation and violence prevention, implementing social and emotional education programs and services, and establishing and implementing bullying prevention and intervention programs;
        (32) developing culturally sensitive assessment
    
instruments for measuring school counseling prevention and intervention effectiveness and collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data;
        (33) participating on school and district committees
    
to advocate for student programs and resources, as well as establishing a school counseling advisory council that includes representatives of key stakeholders selected to review and advise on the implementation of the school counseling program;
        (34) acting as a liaison between the public schools
    
and community resources and building relationships with important stakeholders, such as families, administrators, teachers, and board members;
        (35) maintaining organized, clear, and useful records
    
in a confidential manner consistent with Section 5 of the Illinois School Student Records Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act;
        (36) presenting an annual agreement to the
    
administration, including a formal discussion of the alignment of school and school counseling program missions and goals and detailing specific school counselor responsibilities;
        (37) identifying and implementing culturally
    
sensitive measures of success for student competencies in each of the 3 domains of academic, social and emotional, and college and career learning based on planned and periodic assessment of the comprehensive developmental school counseling program;
        (38) collaborating as a team member in Multi-Tiered
    
Systems of Support and other school initiatives;
        (39) conducting observations and participating in
    
recommendations or interventions regarding the placement of children in educational programs or special education classes;
        (40) analyzing data and results of school counseling
    
program assessments, including curriculum, small-group, and closing-the-gap results reports, and designing strategies to continue to improve program effectiveness;
        (41) analyzing data and results of school counselor
    
competency assessments;
        (42) following American School Counselor Association
    
Ethical Standards for School Counselors to demonstrate high standards of integrity, leadership, and professionalism;
        (43) using student competencies to assess student
    
growth and development to inform decisions regarding strategies, activities, and services that help students achieve the highest academic level possible;
        (44) practicing as a culturally skilled school
    
counselor by infusing the multicultural competencies within the role of the school counselor, including the practice of culturally sensitive attitudes and beliefs, knowledge, and skills;
        (45) infusing the Social-Emotional Standards, as
    
presented in the State Board of Education standards, across the curriculum and in the counselor's role in ways that empower and enable students to achieve academic success across all grade levels;
        (46) providing services only in areas in which the
    
school counselor has appropriate training or expertise, as well as only providing counseling or consulting services within his or her employment to any student in the district or districts which employ such school counselor, in accordance with professional ethics;
        (47) having adequate training in supervision
    
knowledge and skills in order to supervise school counseling interns enrolled in graduate school counselor preparation programs that meet the standards established by the State Board of Education;
        (48) being involved with State and national
    
professional associations;
        (49) complete the required training as outlined in
    
Section 10-22.39;
        (50) (blank);
        (51) (blank);
        (52) (blank);
        (53) (blank);
        (54) (blank); and
        (55) promoting career and technical education by
    
assisting each student to determine an appropriate postsecondary plan based upon the student's skills, strengths, and goals and assisting the student to implement the best practices that improve career or workforce readiness after high school.
    School districts may employ a sufficient number of school counselors to maintain the national and State recommended student-counselor ratio of 250 to 1. School districts may have school counselors spend at least 80% of his or her work time in direct contact with students.
    Nothing in this Section prohibits other qualified professionals, including other endorsed school support personnel, from providing the services listed in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-876, eff. 1-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-542, eff. 7-1-24 (see Section 905 of P.A. 103-563 for effective date of P.A. 103-542; 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.25

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.25) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.25)
    Sec. 10-22.25. Purchase and rent of textbooks.
    To purchase textbooks and rent them to the pupils.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.25a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.25a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.25a)
    Sec. 10-22.25a. To obtain personal property, when authorized by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members of the board, by lease, with or without an option to purchase, for a period not to exceed 5 years or by purchase under an installment contract extending over a period of not more than 5 years, with interest at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract; provided that the term of guaranteed energy savings contracts as defined in Article 19b of the School Code may exceed 5 years. For the purpose of this Section, personal property shall include computer hardware and software and all equipment, fixtures, renovations, and improvements to existing facilities of the district necessary to accommodate computers.
    With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts.
(Source: P.A. 90-97, eff. 7-11-97.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.25b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.25b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.25b)
    Sec. 10-22.25b. School uniforms. The school board may adopt a school uniform or dress code policy that governs all or certain individual attendance centers and that is necessary to maintain the orderly process of a school function or prevent endangerment of student health or safety. A school uniform or dress code policy adopted by a school board: (i) shall not be applied in such manner as to discipline or deny attendance to a transfer student or any other student for noncompliance with that policy during such period of time as is reasonably necessary to enable the student to acquire a school uniform or otherwise comply with the dress code policy that is in effect at the attendance center or in the district into which the student's enrollment is transferred; (ii) shall include criteria and procedures under which the school board will accommodate the needs of or otherwise provide appropriate resources to assist a student from an indigent family in complying with an applicable school uniform or dress code policy; (iii) shall not include or apply to hairstyles, including hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture, including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists; and (iv) shall not prohibit the right of a student to wear or accessorize the student's graduation attire with items associated with the student's cultural, ethnic, or religious identity or any other protected characteristic or category identified in subsection (Q) of Section 1-103 of the Illinois Human Rights Act. A student whose parents or legal guardians object on religious grounds to the student's compliance with an applicable school uniform or dress code policy shall not be required to comply with that policy if the student's parents or legal guardians present to the school board a signed statement of objection detailing the grounds for the objection. This Section applies to school boards of all districts, including special charter districts and districts organized under Article 34. If a school board does not comply with the requirements and prohibitions set forth in this Section, the school district is subject to the penalty imposed pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 2-3.25.
    By no later than July 1, 2022, the State Board of Education shall make available to schools resource materials developed in consultation with stakeholders regarding hairstyles, including hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture, including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists. The State Board of Education shall make the resource materials available on its Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 102-360, eff. 1-1-22; 103-463, eff. 8-4-23.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.26

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.26) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.26)
    Sec. 10-22.26. School Lunch Program - Purchase of Equipment. To maintain and operate a school lunch program in accordance with applicable regulations of the State Board of Education and agencies of the United States government. Equipment to be used in the school lunch program shall be paid for from the operations and maintenance fund of the district or from any surplus remaining in the school lunch account at the end of the school term.
(Source: P.A. 86-970.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.27

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.27) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.27)
    Sec. 10-22.27. Schools outside district for exceptional children. To rent suitable facilities outside of the district and maintain classes therein for the instruction of children from any home for orphans, dependent, abandoned, or maladjusted children as provided in Section 18-3 of this Act; provided that written consent is secured from the school board of the district wherein such facilities and classes are located.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.28

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.28) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.28)
    Sec. 10-22.28. School safety patrol.
    To establish and maintain a school safety patrol and with the written consent of the parents of individual pupils to appoint such pupils to participate as members thereof for the purpose of influencing and encouraging the other pupils to refrain from crossing public streets and highways at points other than at regular crossings and for the purpose of directing pupils not to cross streets and highways at times when the presence of traffic would render such crossing unsafe.
    The safety patrol shall function only under the direction and control of school authorities; however, upon request of the school board other agencies may cooperate to such extent as may be agreed upon.
    No liability shall attach either to the school district or any individual, trustee, board member, superintendent, principal, teacher or other school employee by virtue of the organization, maintenance or operation of a school safety patrol organized, maintained and operated under authority of this section.
    Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize or permit the use of any safety patrol member for the purpose of directing vehicular traffic.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.28a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.28a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.28a)
    Sec. 10-22.28a. To acquire, install, operate and maintain traffic signals relative to school crossing protection and school crossing stop signals and to employ persons for the purpose of directing traffic upon school grounds and on or along streets and highways or portions thereof within a radius of one mile from such school grounds, or to share the cost of employing such persons with or accept the employment of such persons by any unit of local government. The school board may determine whether the crossing guard employment costs shall be paid from its educational, transportation or operations and maintenance fund. The powers in this Section are subject to the following:
    1. The power to acquire, install, operate and maintain traffic signals may not be exercised in any city, village or incorporated town;
    2. Prior approval must be obtained from the Department of Transportation with respect to highways for which it has maintenance jurisdiction, and any public body or official having jurisdiction over any street or highway affected;
    3. All signs and signals to be erected shall conform to the Department of Transportation's Manual and Specifications and shall be justified by traffic warrants stated in the Manual, and all pertinent provisions of The Illinois Vehicle Code, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section, shall apply.
(Source: P.A. 86-970.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.29

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.29) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.29)
    Sec. 10-22.29. Outdoor education. To offer, if deemed appropriate, outdoor education, and to use school funds for the expenses of the outdoor education program, within the State of Illinois, or adjacent States, whether within the school district or not, including the purchase or renting of facilities either individually or jointly with any other school district or districts.
(Source: Laws 1968, p. 414.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.29a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.29a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.29a)
    Sec. 10-22.29a. To authorize the establishment of an investment club, in any high school within the district, to be organized on a purely voluntary basis. The State Board of Education may, however, promulgate reasonable standards regarding the establishment, organization and operation of investment clubs formed pursuant to this Section which standards must be complied with by all those concerned. The superintendent of schools shall, when the board has authorized the establishment of an investment club, designate a teacher in the high school where the club is organized to serve as sponsor of the club and as the fiduciary for members of the club in making the purchases and sales of securities on behalf of the members and shall also designate an investment dealer registered with the Secretary of State of Illinois as an investment dealer; to provide investment counseling and brokerage services for the members of the club. That investment dealer shall (a) reflect all transactions entered into on behalf of the investment club in an account in the name of the teacher as fiduciary, (b) submit monthly to the fiduciary a statement of account reflecting all transactions entered into on behalf of the club during the previous month including the prices paid on purchases and the proceeds received on sales of securities and the costs and fees incurred in each transaction and listing the accumulated holdings of the investment club by type of security, number of shares of stock, name of the issuer and any other information necessary to identify the composition of the accumulated security holdings of the club, and (c) handle transactions on behalf of the club, through the designated fiduciary as a street account rather than through issuance of certificates in the name of the fiduciary or of individual club members. Any investment club formed under this Section must sell all securities purchased through the club and distribute the proceeds of sales to its members by May 20th each year. All investment clubs are subject to the provisions of the Illinois Securities Law of 1953.
(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.29b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.29b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.29b)
    Sec. 10-22.29b. Educational tours. As a supplement to a particular course of instruction, to conduct educational tours, within or without the district, the State of Illinois or the United States, for the pupils or employees, or both, of any school or schools within the district. Nothing in this Section authorizes the use of any school funds for any expenditures incurred on such a tour such as meals, lodging and transportation costs nor does this Section apply to any outdoor education class, field trip or travel to and from a school sponsored event as permitted under Sections 10-22.29, 29-3.1 and 34-18, subsection (11). Nothing in this Section prohibits payment of the salaries of necessary personnel while on a tour or field trip if the personnel are performing in the ordinary course of their employment.
(Source: P.A. 85-1389.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.30

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.30) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.30)
    Sec. 10-22.30. Television and radio programs.
    To enter into contracts, either alone or in cooperation with other school boards, for the purpose of participating in or the procuring of television or radio broadcasts or both, for use in the educational program of the schools; to provide television or radio studio facilities or both; to grant the use of such studio facilities to a licensed television or radio station located in the school district; to maintain and operate such school television or radio transmitting devices, or both, as are necessary to distribute adequate instructional television or radio programming with closed-circuit, fixed-circuit or standard broadcasting equipment; and to provide programs for educational purposes.
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 573.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.31

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.31) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.31)
    Sec. 10-22.31. Special education.
    (a) To enter into joint agreements with other school boards to provide the needed special educational facilities and to employ a director and other professional workers as defined in Section 14-1.10 and to establish facilities as defined in Section 14-1.08 for the types of children described in Sections 14-1.02 and 14-1.03a. The director (who may be employed under a contract as provided in subsection (c) of this Section) and other professional workers may be employed by one district, which shall be reimbursed on a mutually agreed basis by other districts that are parties to the joint agreement. Such agreements may provide that one district may supply professional workers for a joint program conducted in another district. Such agreement shall provide that any full-time professional worker who is employed by a joint agreement program and spends over 50% of his or her time in one school district shall not be required to work a different teaching schedule than the other professional worker in that district. Such agreement shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for administration, staff, programs, financing, housing, transportation, an advisory body, and the method or methods to be employed for disposing of property upon the withdrawal of a school district or dissolution of the joint agreement and shall specify procedures for the withdrawal of districts from the joint agreement as long as these procedures are consistent with this Section. Such agreement may be amended at any time as provided in the joint agreement or, if the joint agreement does not so provide, then such agreement may be amended at any time upon the adoption of concurring resolutions by the school boards of all member districts, provided that no later than 6 months after August 28, 2009 (the effective date of Public Act 96-783), all existing agreements shall be amended to be consistent with Public Act 96-783. Such an amendment may include the removal of a school district from or the addition of a school district to the joint agreement without a petition as otherwise required in this Section if all member districts adopt concurring resolutions to that effect. A fully executed copy of any such agreement or amendment entered into on or after January 1, 1989 shall be filed with the State Board of Education. Petitions for withdrawal shall be made to the regional board or boards of school trustees exercising oversight or governance over any of the districts in the joint agreement. Upon receipt of a petition for withdrawal, the regional board of school trustees shall publish notice of and conduct a hearing or, in instances in which more than one regional board of school trustees exercises oversight or governance over any of the districts in the joint agreement, a joint hearing, in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. In instances in which a single regional board of school trustees holds the hearing, approval of the petition must be by a two-thirds majority vote of the school trustees. In instances in which a joint hearing of 2 or more regional boards of school trustees is required, approval of the petition must be by a two-thirds majority of all those school trustees present and voting. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 6 of this Code, in instances in which the competent regional board or boards of school trustees has been abolished, petitions for withdrawal shall be made to the school boards of those districts that fall under the oversight or governance of the abolished regional board of school trustees in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. If any petition is approved pursuant to this subsection (a), the withdrawal takes effect as provided in Section 7-9 of this Act. The changes to this Section made by Public Act 96-769 apply to all changes to special education joint agreement membership initiated after July 1, 2009.
    (b) To either (1) designate an administrative district to act as fiscal and legal agent for the districts that are parties to the joint agreement, or (2) designate a governing board composed of one member of the school board of each cooperating district and designated by such boards to act in accordance with the joint agreement. No such governing board may levy taxes and no such governing board may incur any indebtedness except within an annual budget for the joint agreement approved by the governing board and by the boards of at least a majority of the cooperating school districts or a number of districts greater than a majority if required by the joint agreement. The governing board may appoint an executive board of at least 7 members to administer the joint agreement in accordance with its terms. However, if 7 or more school districts are parties to a joint agreement that does not have an administrative district: (i) at least a majority of the members appointed by the governing board to the executive board shall be members of the school boards of the cooperating districts; or (ii) if the governing board wishes to appoint members who are not school board members, they shall be superintendents from the cooperating districts.
    (c) To employ a full-time director of special education of the joint agreement program under a one-year or multi-year contract. No such contract can be offered or accepted for less than one year. Such contract may be discontinued at any time by mutual agreement of the contracting parties, or may be extended for an additional one-year or multi-year period at the end of any year.
    The contract year is July 1 through the following June 30th, unless the contract specifically provides otherwise. Notice of intent not to renew a contract when given by a controlling board or administrative district must be in writing stating the specific reason therefor. Notice of intent not to renew the contract must be given by the controlling board or the administrative district at least 90 days before the contract expires. Failure to do so will automatically extend the contract for one additional year.
    By accepting the terms of the contract, the director of a special education joint agreement waives all rights granted under Sections 24-11 through 24-16 for the duration of his or her employment as a director of a special education joint agreement.
    (d) To designate a district that is a party to the joint agreement as the issuer of bonds or notes for the purposes and in the manner provided in this Section. It is not necessary for such district to also be the administrative district for the joint agreement, nor is it necessary for the same district to be designated as the issuer of all series of bonds or notes issued hereunder. Any district so designated may, from time to time, borrow money and, in evidence of its obligation to repay the borrowing, issue its negotiable bonds or notes for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, altering, repairing, enlarging and equipping any building or portion thereof, together with any land or interest therein, necessary to provide special educational facilities and services as defined in Section 14-1.08. Title in and to any such facilities shall be held in accordance with the joint agreement.
    Any such bonds or notes shall be authorized by a resolution of the board of education of the issuing district. The resolution may contain such covenants as may be deemed necessary or advisable by the district to assure the payment of the bonds or notes. The resolution shall be effective immediately upon its adoption.
    Prior to the issuance of such bonds or notes, each school district that is a party to the joint agreement shall agree, whether by amendment to the joint agreement or by resolution of the board of education, to be jointly and severally liable for the payment of the bonds and notes. The bonds or notes shall be payable solely and only from the payments made pursuant to such agreement.
    Neither the bonds or notes nor the obligation to pay the bonds or notes under any joint agreement shall constitute an indebtedness of any district, including the issuing district, within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitation.
    As long as any bonds or notes are outstanding and unpaid, the agreement by a district to pay the bonds and notes shall be irrevocable notwithstanding the district's withdrawal from membership in the joint special education program.
    (e) If a district whose employees are on strike was, prior to the strike, sending students with disabilities to special educational facilities and services in another district or cooperative, the district affected by the strike shall continue to send such students during the strike and shall be eligible to receive appropriate State reimbursement.
    (f) With respect to those joint agreements that have a governing board composed of one member of the school board of each cooperating district and designated by those boards to act in accordance with the joint agreement, the governing board shall have, in addition to its other powers under this Section, the authority to issue bonds or notes for the purposes and in the manner provided in this subsection. The governing board of the joint agreement may from time to time borrow money and, in evidence of its obligation to repay the borrowing, issue its negotiable bonds or notes for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, altering, repairing, enlarging and equipping any building or portion thereof, together with any land or interest therein, necessary to provide special educational facilities and services as defined in Section 14-1.08 and including also facilities for activities of administration and educational support personnel employees. Title in and to any such facilities shall be held in accordance with the joint agreement.
    Any such bonds or notes shall be authorized by a resolution of the governing board. The resolution may contain such covenants as may be deemed necessary or advisable by the governing board to assure the payment of the bonds or notes and interest accruing thereon. The resolution shall be effective immediately upon its adoption.
    Each school district that is a party to the joint agreement shall be automatically liable, by virtue of its membership in the joint agreement, for its proportionate share of the principal amount of the bonds and notes plus interest accruing thereon, as provided in the resolution. Subject to the joint and several liability hereinafter provided for, the resolution may provide for different payment schedules for different districts except that the aggregate amount of scheduled payments for each district shall be equal to its proportionate share of the debt service in the bonds or notes based upon the fraction that its equalized assessed valuation bears to the total equalized assessed valuation of all the district members of the joint agreement as adjusted in the manner hereinafter provided. In computing that fraction the most recent available equalized assessed valuation at the time of the issuance of the bonds and notes shall be used, and the equalized assessed valuation of any district maintaining grades K to 12 shall be doubled in both the numerator and denominator of the fraction used for all of the districts that are members of the joint agreement. In case of default in payment by any member, each school district that is a party to the joint agreement shall automatically be jointly and severally liable for the amount of any deficiency. The bonds or notes and interest thereon shall be payable solely and only from the funds made available pursuant to the procedures set forth in this subsection. No project authorized under this subsection may require an annual contribution for bond payments from any member district in excess of 0.15% of the value of taxable property as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue in the case of districts maintaining grades K-8 or 9-12 and 0.30% of the value of taxable property as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue in the case of districts maintaining grades K-12. This limitation on taxing authority is expressly applicable to taxing authority provided under Section 17-9 and other applicable Sections of this Act. Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed as an exception to the property tax limitations contained in Section 17-2, 17-2.2a, 17-5, or any other applicable Section of this Act.
    Neither the bonds or notes nor the obligation to pay the bonds or notes under any joint agreement shall constitute an indebtedness of any district within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitation.
    As long as any bonds or notes are outstanding and unpaid, the obligation of a district to pay its proportionate share of the principal of and interest on the bonds and notes as required in this Section shall be a general obligation of the district payable from any and all sources of revenue designated for that purpose by the board of education of the district and shall be irrevocable notwithstanding the district's withdrawal from membership in the joint special education program.
    (g) A member district wishing to withdraw from a joint agreement may obtain from its school board a written resolution approving the withdrawal. The withdrawing district must then present a written petition for withdrawal from the joint agreement to the other member districts. Under no circumstances may the petition be presented to the other member districts less than 12 months from the date of the proposed withdrawal, unless the member districts agree to waive this timeline. Upon approval by school board written resolution of all of the remaining member districts, the petitioning member district shall notify the State Board of Education of the approved withdrawal in writing and must submit a comprehensive plan developed under subsection (g-5) for review by the State Board. If the petition for withdrawal is not approved, the petitioning member district may appeal the disapproval decision to the trustees of schools of the township that has jurisdiction and authority over the withdrawing district. If a withdrawing district is not under the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of a township, a hearing panel shall be established by the chief administrative officer of the intermediate service center having jurisdiction over the withdrawing district. The hearing panel shall be made up of 3 persons who have a demonstrated interest and background in education. Each hearing panel member must reside within an educational service region of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants but not within the withdrawing district and may not be a current school board member or employee of the withdrawing district or hold any county office. None of the hearing panel members may reside within the same school district. The hearing panel shall serve without remuneration; however, the necessary expenses, including travel, attendant upon any meeting or hearing in relation to these proceedings must be paid. Prior to the hearing, the withdrawing district shall (i) provide written notification to all parents or guardians of students with disabilities residing within the district of its intent to withdraw from the special education joint agreement; (ii) hold a public hearing to allow for members of the community, parents or guardians of students with disabilities, or any other interested parties an opportunity to review the plan for educating students after the withdrawal and to provide feedback on the plan; and (iii) prepare and provide a comprehensive plan as outlined under subsection (g-5). The trustees of schools of the township having jurisdiction and authority over the withdrawing district or the hearing panel established by the chief administrative officer of the intermediate service center having jurisdiction over the withdrawing district shall convene and hear testimony to determine whether the withdrawing district has presented sufficient evidence that the district, standing alone, will provide a full continuum of services and support to all its students with disabilities in the foreseeable future. If the trustees of schools of the township having jurisdiction and authority over the withdrawing district or the hearing panel established by the chief administrative officer of the intermediate service center having jurisdiction over the withdrawing district approves the petition for withdrawal, then the petitioning member district shall be withdrawn from the joint agreement effective the following July 1 and shall notify the State Board of Education of the approved withdrawal in writing.
    (g-5) Each withdrawing district shall develop a comprehensive plan that includes the administrative policies and procedures outlined in Sections 226.50, 226.100, 226.110, 226.180, 226.230, 226.250, 226.260, 226.300, 226.310, 226.320, 226.330, 226.340, 226.350, 226.500, 226.520, 226.530, 226.540, 226.560, 226.700, 226.740, 226.800, and 226.820 and Subpart G of Part 226 of Title 23 of the Illinois Administrative Code and all relevant portions of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The withdrawing district must also demonstrate its ability to provide education for a wide range of students with disabilities, including a full continuum of support and services. To demonstrate an appropriate plan for educating all currently enrolled students with disabilities upon withdrawal from the joint agreement, the withdrawing district must provide a written plan for educating and placing all currently eligible students with disabilities.
    (h) The changes to this Section made by Public Act 96-783 apply to withdrawals from or dissolutions of special education joint agreements initiated after August 28, 2009 (the effective date of Public Act 96-783).
    (i) Notwithstanding subsections (a), (g), and (h) of this Section or any other provision of this Code to the contrary, an elementary school district that maintains grades up to and including grade 8, that had a 2014-2015 best 3 months' average daily attendance of 5,209.57, and that had a 2014 equalized assessed valuation of at least $451,500,000, but not more than $452,000,000, may withdraw from its special education joint agreement program consisting of 6 school districts upon submission and approval of the comprehensive plan, in compliance with the applicable requirements of Section 14-4.01 of this Code, in addition to the approval by the school board of the elementary school district and notification to and the filing of an intent to withdraw statement with the governing board of the joint agreement program. Such notification and statement shall specify the effective date of the withdrawal, which in no case shall be less than 60 days after the date of the filing of the notification and statement. Upon receipt of the notification and statement, the governing board of the joint agreement program shall distribute a copy to each member district of the joint agreement and shall initiate any appropriate allocation of assets and liabilities among the remaining member districts to take effect upon the date of the withdrawal. The withdrawal shall take effect upon the date specified in the notification and statement.
(Source: P.A. 100-66, eff. 8-11-17; 101-164, eff. 7-26-19.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.31a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.31a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.31a)
    Sec. 10-22.31a. Joint educational programs. To enter into joint agreements with other school boards or public institutions of higher education to establish any type of educational program which any district may establish individually, to provide the needed educational facilities and to employ a director and other professional workers for such program. The director and other professional workers may be employed by one district which shall be reimbursed on a mutually agreed basis by other districts that are parties to the joint agreement. Such agreements may provide that one district may supply professional workers for a joint program conducted in another district. Such agreement shall be executed on forms provided by the State Board of Education and shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for administration, staff, programs, financing, housing, transportation and advisory body and provide for the withdrawal of districts from the joint agreement by petition to the regional board of school trustees. Such petitions for withdrawal shall be made to the regional board of school trustees of the region having supervision and control over the administrative district and shall be acted upon in the manner provided in Article 7 for the detachment of territory from a school district.
    To designate an administrative district to act as fiscal and legal agent for the districts that are parties to such a joint agreement.
(Source: P.A. 86-198; 86-1318.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.31b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.31b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.31b)
    Sec. 10-22.31b. Joint building programs. To enter into joint agreements either under this Act or under the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act with other school boards to acquire, build, establish and maintain sites and buildings including residential facilities, that may be needed for area vocational education buildings or the education of one or more of the types of children with disabilities defined in Sections 14-1.02 through 14-1.07 of this Act, who are residents of such joint agreement area, upon the review and recommendation of the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities and approval of the State Superintendent. Proposals shall be submitted on forms promulgated by the State Advisory Council. The State Advisory Council shall have 45 days to review the proposal and make a recommendation. The State Superintendent shall then approve or deny the proposal. Any establishment of residential facilities under this Section for the education of children with disabilities shall consider and utilize whenever possible the existing residential service delivery systems including state operated and privately operated facilities. Residential facilities shall be maintained in accordance with applicable health, licensing and life safety requirements, including the applicable provisions of the building code authorized under Section 2-3.12. Such sites may be acquired and buildings built at any place within the area embraced by such joint agreement or within 2 miles of the boundaries of any school district which is a party to the joint agreement. The title to any site or building so acquired shall be held in accordance with Section 16-2 of this Act.
    Any funds obtained from the participating governmental entities as a result of a joint agreement entered into under this Act or the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act shall be accounted for in the same manner as provided for the majority of the participating governmental entities under the laws of this State.
(Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.31c

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.31c) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.31c)
    Sec. 10-22.31c. Meetings; notice. The elected board members serving either as an administrative district or as a governing board under Section 10-22.31 or Section 10-22.31a shall fix a time and place for regular meetings. Special meetings may be called by any 2 such members by giving notice thereof in writing, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting. Public notice of all meetings must be given as prescribed in Sections 2.02 and 2.03 of the Open Meetings Act, as now or hereafter amended.
    At each regular and special meeting which is open to the public, members of the public and employees of any of the districts which are parties to the joint agreement shall be afforded reasonable time to comment to or ask questions of the board members.
(Source: P.A. 84-1334.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.31.1

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.31.1)
    Sec. 10-22.31.1. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 91-241, eff. 7-22-99. Repealed by P.A. 96-783, eff. 8-28-09.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.32

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.32) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.32)
    Sec. 10-22.32. To authorize the advancement to school board members the anticipated actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending the following meetings:
    1. Meetings sponsored by the State Board of Education or by the regional superintendents of schools,
    2. County or regional meetings and the annual meeting sponsored by any school board association complying with the provisions of Article 23 of this Act, and
    3. Meetings sponsored by a national organization in the field of public school education.
    The school board may advance to teachers and other certified employees the anticipated actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings which are related to that employee's duties and will contribute to the professional development of that employee.
    Such advanced actual and necessary expenses are those reasonably anticipated to be incurred on the days necessary for travel to and from and for attendance at such meetings.
    After a meeting for which money was advanced to a school board member or teacher or other certified employee for actual and necessary expenses, such member or employee shall submit an itemized verified expense voucher showing the amount of his actual expenses. Receipts shall be attached where possible. If the actual and necessary expenses exceed the amount advanced, the member or employee shall be reimbursed for the amount not advanced. If the actual and necessary expenses are less than the amount advanced, the member or employee shall refund the excess amount.
    For purposes of this Section only, a person elected at the consolidated election held in April of 1999 or April of 2001 to serve as a school board member for a term commencing upon the termination of his or her predecessor's term of office shall be deemed to be a school board member for whom moneys of the school district may be advanced and expended under this Section in order to provide, or to arrange for a school board association that complies with Article 23 to provide, to that person, after he or she has been elected and before his or her term of office as a school board member commences, training in matters relating to the powers, duties, and responsibilities of school board membership.
    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 10-22.32, no money for expenses shall be advanced nor shall any member or employee be reimbursed, for any expenses incurred on behalf of any person other than such member, employee, or person deemed to be a school board member for purposes of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 90-637, eff. 7-24-98.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.33

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.33) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.33)
    Sec. 10-22.33. Interfund loans. To authorize the treasurer to make interfund loans from (1) the operations and maintenance fund to the educational fund or fire prevention and safety fund, or (2) from the educational fund to the operations and maintenance fund or fire prevention and safety fund, or (3) from the operations and maintenance or educational fund to the transportation fund, or (4) from the transportation fund to the operations and maintenance, educational, or fire prevention and safety fund and to make the necessary transfers on his books, but such loans shall be repaid and retransferred to the proper fund within 3 years. In case such repayment is not made within 3 years the regional superintendent shall withhold further payments on claims authorized by Article 18 of this Act until repayment is made.
(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.33A

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.33A) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.33A)
    Sec. 10-22.33A. Summer school. During that period of the calendar year not embraced within the regular school term to provide and conduct courses in subject matters normally embraced in the program of the schools during the regular school term, to fix and collect a charge for attendance at such courses in an amount not to exceed the per capita cost of the operation thereof, except that the board may waive all or part of such charges if it determines that the family of an individual pupil is indigent or that the educational needs of the pupil require his attendance at such courses, and to give regular school credit for satisfactory completion by the student of such courses as may be approved for credit by the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.33B

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.33B)
    Sec. 10-22.33B. Summer school; required attendance. To conduct a high quality summer school program for those resident students identified by the school district as being academically at risk in such critical subject areas as language arts (reading and writing) and mathematics who will be entering any of the school district's grades for the next school term and to require attendance at such program by such students who have not been identified as a person with a disability under Article 14, but who meet criteria established under this Section. Summer school programs established under this Section shall be designed to raise the level of achievement and improve opportunities for success in subsequent grade levels of those students required to attend. The parent or guardian of any student required to attend summer school shall be given written notice from the school district requiring attendance not later than the close of the school term which immediately precedes the required summer school program.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.34

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.34) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.34)
    Sec. 10-22.34. Nonlicensed personnel.
    (a) School Boards may employ non-teaching personnel or utilize volunteer personnel for: (1) non-teaching duties not requiring instructional judgment or evaluation of pupils; and (2) supervising study halls, long distance teaching reception areas used incident to instructional programs transmitted by electronic media such as computers, video, and audio, and detention and discipline areas, and school-sponsored extracurricular activities.
    (b) School boards may further utilize volunteer nonlicensed personnel or employ nonlicensed personnel to assist in the instruction of pupils under the immediate supervision of a teacher, holding a valid license, directly engaged in teaching subject matter or conducting activities. The teacher shall be continuously aware of the nonlicensed persons' activities and shall be able to control or modify them. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, shall determine qualifications of such personnel and shall prescribe rules for determining the duties and activities to be assigned to such personnel. In the determination of qualifications of such personnel, the State Board of Education shall accept coursework earned in a recognized institution or from an institution of higher learning accredited by the North Central Association or other comparable regional accrediting association and shall accept qualifications based on relevant life experiences as determined by the State Board of Education by rule.
    (b-5) A school board may utilize volunteer personnel from a regional School Crisis Assistance Team (S.C.A.T.), created as part of the Safe to Learn Program established pursuant to Section 25 of the Illinois Violence Prevention Act of 1995, to provide assistance to schools in times of violence or other traumatic incidents within a school community by providing crisis intervention services to lessen the effects of emotional trauma on individuals and the community. The School Crisis Assistance Team Steering Committee shall determine the qualifications for volunteers.
    (c) School boards may also employ students holding a bachelor's degree from a recognized institution of higher learning as teaching interns when such students are enrolled in a college or university internship program, which has prior approval by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, leading to a masters degree.
    Regional offices of education have the authority to initiate and collaborate with institutions of higher learning to establish internship programs referenced in this subsection (c). The State Board of Education has 90 days from receiving a written proposal to establish the internship program to seek the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board's consultation on the internship program. If the State Board of Education does not consult the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board within 90 days, the regional office of education may seek the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board's consultation without the State Board of Education's approval.
    (d) Nothing in this Section shall require constant supervision of a student teacher enrolled in a student teaching course at a college or university, provided such activity has the prior approval of the representative of the higher education institution and teaching plans have previously been discussed with and approved by the supervising teacher and further provided that such teaching is within guidelines established by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.34a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.34a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.34a)
    Sec. 10-22.34a. Supervision of non-academic activities. To designate nonlicensed persons of good character to serve as supervisors, chaperones or sponsors, either on a voluntary or on a compensated basis, for school activities not connected with the academic program of the schools.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.34b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.34b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.34b)
    Sec. 10-22.34b. Utilization of nonlicensed personnel. To utilize nonlicensed persons, under the direction of a licensed teacher, for providing specialized instruction related to a course assigned to the licensed teacher on a regular basis, not otherwise readily available in the immediate school environment, in the fields for which they are particularly qualified by reason of their specialized knowledge or skills. The duration of the instruction shall be determined by the licensed teacher under whose direction the program is conducted in view of the educational need to be satisfied.
    Before a nonlicensed person may be utilized for such specialized instruction, the school board must secure the written approval of the regional superintendent of schools as to the qualifications of the particular nonlicensed person, the particular instruction he or she is to provide, the specific functions to be served, the total number of hours he or she is to provide such instruction and any compensation to be paid that person. The State Board of Education shall prescribe, by rule, criteria for determining qualifications of such persons and the nature of specialized instruction for which, and the extent to which, such persons may be used.
    Nothing in this Section shall prevent the utilization of a person with specialized knowledge or experiences as a guest lecturer or resource person in the classroom under the direct supervision of a licensed teacher assigned to the classroom on a regular basis, with prior approval of the school administration.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.34c

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.34c)
    Sec. 10-22.34c. Third party non-instructional services.
    (a) A board of education may enter into a contract with a third party for non-instructional services currently performed by any employee or bargaining unit member or lay off those educational support personnel employees upon 90 days written notice to the affected employees, provided that:
        (1) a contract must not be entered into and become
    
effective during the term of a collective bargaining agreement, as that term is set forth in the agreement, covering any employees who perform the non-instructional services;
        (2) a contract may only take effect upon the
    
expiration of an existing collective bargaining agreement;
        (3) any third party that submits a bid to perform
    
the non-instructional services shall provide the following:
            (A) evidence of liability insurance in scope and
        
amount equivalent to the liability insurance provided by the school board pursuant to Section 10-22.3 of this Code;
            (B) a benefits package for the third party's
        
employees who will perform the non-instructional services comparable to the benefits package provided to school board employees who perform those services;
            (C) a list of the number of employees who will
        
provide the non-instructional services, the job classifications of those employees, and the wages the third party will pay those employees;
            (D) a minimum 3-year cost projection, using
        
generally accepted accounting principles and which the third party is prohibited from increasing if the bid is accepted by the school board, for each and every expenditure category and account for performing the non-instructional services;
            (E) composite information about the criminal and
        
disciplinary records, including alcohol or other substance abuse, Department of Children and Family Services complaints and investigations, traffic violations, and license revocations or any other licensure problems, of any employees who may perform the non-instructional services, provided that the individual names and other identifying information of employees need not be provided with the submission of the bid, but must be made available upon request of the school board; and
            (F) an affidavit, notarized by the president or
        
chief executive officer of the third party, that each of its employees has completed a criminal background check as required by Section 10-21.9 of this Code within 3 months prior to submission of the bid, provided that the results of such background checks need not be provided with the submission of the bid, but must be made available upon request of the school board;
        (4) a contract must not be entered into unless the
    
school board provides a cost comparison, using generally accepted accounting principles, of each and every expenditure category and account that the school board projects it would incur over the term of the contract if it continued to perform the non-instructional services using its own employees with each and every expenditure category and account that is projected a third party would incur if a third party performed the non-instructional services;
        (5) review and consideration of all bids by third
    
parties to perform the non-instructional services shall take place in open session of a regularly scheduled school board meeting, unless the exclusive bargaining representative of the employees who perform the non-instructional services, if any such exclusive bargaining representative exists, agrees in writing that such review and consideration can take place in open session at a specially scheduled school board meeting;
        (6) a minimum of one public hearing, conducted by
    
the school board prior to a regularly scheduled school board meeting, to discuss the school board's proposal to contract with a third party to perform the non-instructional services must be held before the school board may enter into such a contract; the school board must provide notice to the public of the date, time, and location of the first public hearing on or before the initial date that bids to provide the non-instructional services are solicited or a minimum of 30 days prior to entering into such a contract, whichever provides a greater period of notice;
        (7) a contract shall contain provisions requiring
    
the contractor to offer available employee positions pursuant to the contract to qualified school district employees whose employment is terminated because of the contract; and
        (8) a contract shall contain provisions requiring
    
the contractor to comply with a policy of nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity for all persons and to take affirmative steps to provide equal opportunity for all persons.
    (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section, a board of education may enter into a contract, of no longer than 3 months in duration, with a third party for non-instructional services currently performed by an employee or bargaining unit member for the purpose of augmenting the current workforce in an emergency situation that threatens the safety or health of the school district's students or staff, provided that the school board meets all of its obligations under the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act.
    (c) The changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly are not applicable to non-instructional services of a school district that on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly are performed for the school district by a third party.
(Source: P.A. 95-241, eff. 8-17-07; 96-328, eff. 8-11-09.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.35

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.35) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.35)
    Sec. 10-22.35. Civil defense shelters. A school board shall make school buildings available for use as civil defense shelters for all persons; cooperate with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, local organizations for civil defense, disaster relief organizations, including the American Red Cross, and federal agencies concerned with civil defense relative thereto, including, but not limited to, making space available for the stocking of shelters with food and other provisions; cooperate with such agencies and organizations in the use of other resources, equipment, and facilities; and cooperate with such agencies and organizations in the construction of new buildings to the end that the buildings be so designed that shelter facilities may be provided.
(Source: P.A. 96-57, eff. 7-23-09.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.35A

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.35A) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.35A)
    Sec. 10-22.35A. School sites and office facilities. To buy sites for buildings for school purposes with necessary ground, including sites purchased under Section 10-22.31b, or to buy sites and facilities for school offices. The purchase of such sites or office facilities may be by contract for deed when the board deems such contract advantageous to the district, but any such contract or any transaction arising out of such contract may not exceed 10 years in length, and interest on the unpaid balance of such contract may at no time exceed 6% per annum.
    To take and purchase the site for a building for school purposes either with or without the owner's consent by condemnation or otherwise. To pay the amount of any award made by a jury in a condemnation proceeding. To select and purchase all such sites and office facilities desired without the submission of the question at any referendum, and to enter into an option to purchase with respect to any such site or sites and facilities for school offices.
(Source: P.A. 80-1044.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.35B

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.35B)
    Sec. 10-22.35B. Title to school sites and buildings.
    (a) On January 1, 1994 (the effective date of Public Act 88-155): (i) the legal title to all school buildings and school sites used or occupied for school purposes by a school district located in a Class I county school unit or held for the use of any such school district by and in the name of the regional board of school trustees shall vest in the school board of the school district, and the legal title to those school buildings and school sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to the school board of the school district, to be used for school purposes and held, sold, leased, exchanged, or otherwise transferred in accordance with law; and (ii) the legal title to all school buildings and school sites used or occupied for school purposes by a school district that is located in a Class II county school unit and that has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of a township and the township treasurer under subsection (b) of Section 5-1 of this Code or held for the use of any such school district by and in the name of the regional board of school trustees at the time that regional board of school trustees was abolished by Public Act 87-969 shall vest in the school board of the school district, and the legal title to those school buildings and school sites shall be deemed transferred by operation of law to the school district, to be used for school purposes and held, sold, leased, exchanged, or otherwise transferred in accordance with law.
    (b) The school board of each school district to which subsection (a) of this Section is applicable may receive any gift, grant, donation, or legacy made for the use of any school or for any school purpose within its jurisdiction and shall succeed to any gift, grant, donation, or legacy heretofore received by the regional board of school trustees, either from the township school trustees within their jurisdiction or from any other source, for the use of any school of the district served by the school board or for any other school purpose of that school district. All conveyances of real estate made to the school board of a school district under this Section shall be made to the school board in its corporate name and to its successors in office.
    (c) All school districts and high school districts may take and convey title to real estate to be improved by buildings or other structures for vocational or other educational training as provided in Section 10-23.3 of this Code.
    (d) Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to apply to any common school lands or lands granted or exchanged therefor or to the manner in which such lands are managed and controlled for the use and benefit of the school township and the schools of the township by the township land commissioners, the regional board of school trustees (acting as the township land commissioners), or the trustees of schools of the township, which hold legal title to those lands; and they may continue to receive gifts, grants, donations, or legacies made for the use of the school township and for the schools of the township generally in the same manner as such gifts, grants, donations, or legacies were made prior to January 1, 1994.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.36

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.36) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.36)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-591)
    Sec. 10-22.36. Buildings for school purposes.
    (a) To build or purchase a building for school classroom or instructional purposes upon the approval of a majority of the voters upon the proposition at a referendum held for such purpose or in accordance with Section 17-2.11, 19-3.5, or 19-3.10. The board may initiate such referendum by resolution. The board shall certify the resolution and proposition to the proper election authority for submission in accordance with the general election law.
    The questions of building one or more new buildings for school purposes or office facilities, and issuing bonds for the purpose of borrowing money to purchase one or more buildings or sites for such buildings or office sites, to build one or more new buildings for school purposes or office facilities or to make additions and improvements to existing school buildings, may be combined into one or more propositions on the ballot.
    Before erecting, or purchasing or remodeling such a building the board shall submit the plans and specifications respecting heating, ventilating, lighting, seating, water supply, toilets and safety against fire to the regional superintendent of schools having supervision and control over the district, for approval in accordance with Section 2-3.12.
    Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, no referendum shall be required if the purchase, construction, or building of any such building (1) occurs while the building is being leased by the school district or (2) is paid with (A) funds derived from the sale or disposition of other buildings, land, or structures of the school district or (B) funds received (i) as a grant under the School Construction Law or (ii) as gifts or donations, provided that no funds to purchase, construct, or build such building, other than lease payments, are derived from the district's bonded indebtedness or the tax levy of the district.
    Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, no referendum shall be required if the purchase, construction, or building of any such building is paid with funds received from the County School Facility and Resources Occupation Tax Law under Section 5-1006.7 of the Counties Code or from the proceeds of bonds or other debt obligations secured by revenues obtained from that Law.
    Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, for Decatur School District Number 61, no referendum shall be required if at least 50% of the cost of the purchase, construction, or building of any such building is paid, or will be paid, with funds received or expected to be received as part of, or otherwise derived from, any COVID-19 pandemic relief program or funding source, including, but not limited to, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund grant proceeds.
    (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), for any school district: (i) that is a tier 1 school, (ii) that has a population of less than 50,000 inhabitants, (iii) whose student population is between 5,800 and 6,300, (iv) in which 57% to 62% of students are low-income, and (v) whose average district spending is between $10,000 to $12,000 per pupil, until July 1, 2025, no referendum shall be required if at least 50% of the cost of the purchase, construction, or building of any such building is paid, or will be paid, with funds received or expected to be received as part of, or otherwise derived from, the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act and the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
    For this subsection (b), the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to construct a school building and to receive input from the community. The notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and name or description of the school building that the school board is considering constructing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school board's Internet website.
    (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b), for Cahokia Community Unit School District 187, no referendum shall be required for the lease of any building for school or educational purposes if the cost is paid or will be paid with funds available at the time of the lease in the district's existing fund balances to fund the lease of a building during the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 school year.
    For the purposes of this subsection (c), the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to lease a school building and to receive input from the community. The notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and name or description of the school building that the school board is considering leasing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school district's website.
    (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b), for Bloomington School District 87, no referendum shall be required for the purchase, construction, or building of any building for school or education purposes if such cost is paid or will be paid with funds available at the time of contract, purchase, construction, or building in Bloomington School District Number 87's existing fund balances to fund the procurement or requisition of a building or site during the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, or 2024-2025 school year.
    For this subsection (d), the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to construct a school building and to receive input from the community. The notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and name or description of the school building that the school board is considering constructing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school board's website.
    (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) and (b), beginning September 1, 2024, no referendum shall be required to build or purchase a building for school classroom or instructional purposes if, prior to the building or purchase of the building, the board determines, by resolution, that the building or purchase will result in an increase in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten classroom space in the district.
(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21; 102-699, eff. 7-1-22; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-509, eff. 8-4-23; 103-591, eff. 7-1-24.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-605)
    Sec. 10-22.36. Buildings for school purposes.
    (a) To build or purchase a building for school classroom or instructional purposes upon the approval of a majority of the voters upon the proposition at a referendum held for such purpose or in accordance with Section 17-2.11, 19-3.5, or 19-3.10. The board may initiate such referendum by resolution. The board shall certify the resolution and proposition to the proper election authority for submission in accordance with the general election law.
    The questions of building one or more new buildings for school purposes or office facilities, and issuing bonds for the purpose of borrowing money to purchase one or more buildings or sites for such buildings or office sites, to build one or more new buildings for school purposes or office facilities or to make additions and improvements to existing school buildings, may be combined into one or more propositions on the ballot.
    Before erecting, or purchasing or remodeling such a building the board shall submit the plans and specifications respecting heating, ventilating, lighting, seating, water supply, toilets and safety against fire to the regional superintendent of schools having supervision and control over the district, for approval in accordance with Section 2-3.12.
    Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, no referendum shall be required if the purchase, construction, or building of any such building (1) occurs while the building is being leased by the school district or (2) is paid with (A) funds derived from the sale or disposition of other buildings, land, or structures of the school district or (B) funds received (i) as a grant under the School Construction Law or (ii) as gifts or donations, provided that no funds to purchase, construct, or build such building, other than lease payments, are derived from the district's bonded indebtedness or the tax levy of the district.
    Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, no referendum shall be required if the purchase, construction, or building of any such building is paid with funds received from the County School Facility and Resources Occupation Tax Law under Section 5-1006.7 of the Counties Code or from the proceeds of bonds or other debt obligations secured by revenues obtained from that Law.
    Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, for Decatur School District Number 61, no referendum shall be required if at least 50% of the cost of the purchase, construction, or building of any such building is paid, or will be paid, with funds received or expected to be received as part of, or otherwise derived from, any COVID-19 pandemic relief program or funding source, including, but not limited to, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund grant proceeds.
    (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), for any school district: (i) that is a tier 1 school, (ii) that has a population of less than 50,000 inhabitants, (iii) whose student population is between 5,800 and 6,300, (iv) in which 57% to 62% of students are low-income, and (v) whose average district spending is between $10,000 to $12,000 per pupil, until July 1, 2025, no referendum shall be required if at least 50% of the cost of the purchase, construction, or building of any such building is paid, or will be paid, with funds received or expected to be received as part of, or otherwise derived from, the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act and the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
    For this subsection (b), the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to construct a school building and to receive input from the community. The notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and name or description of the school building that the school board is considering constructing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school board's Internet website.
    (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b), for Cahokia Community Unit School District 187, no referendum shall be required for the lease of any building for school or educational purposes if the cost is paid or will be paid with funds available at the time of the lease in the district's existing fund balances to fund the lease of a building during the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 school year.
    For the purposes of this subsection (c), the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to lease a school building and to receive input from the community. The notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and name or description of the school building that the school board is considering leasing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school district's website.
    (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b), for Bloomington School District 87, no referendum shall be required for the purchase, construction, or building of any building for school or education purposes if such cost is paid or will be paid with funds available at the time of contract, purchase, construction, or building in Bloomington School District Number 87's existing fund balances to fund the procurement or requisition of a building or site during the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, or 2024-2025 school year.
    For this subsection (d), the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to construct a school building and to receive input from the community. The notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and name or description of the school building that the school board is considering constructing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school board's website.
(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21; 102-699, eff. 7-1-22; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-509, eff. 8-4-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-878)
    Sec. 10-22.36. Buildings for school purposes.
    (a) To build or purchase a building for school classroom or instructional purposes upon the approval of a majority of the voters upon the proposition at a referendum held for such purpose or in accordance with Section 17-2.11, 19-3.5, or 19-3.10. The board may initiate such referendum by resolution. The board shall certify the resolution and proposition to the proper election authority for submission in accordance with the general election law.
    The questions of building one or more new buildings for school purposes or office facilities, and issuing bonds for the purpose of borrowing money to purchase one or more buildings or sites for such buildings or office sites, to build one or more new buildings for school purposes or office facilities or to make additions and improvements to existing school buildings, may be combined into one or more propositions on the ballot.
    Before erecting, or purchasing or remodeling such a building the board shall submit the plans and specifications respecting heating, ventilating, lighting, seating, water supply, toilets and safety against fire to the regional superintendent of schools having supervision and control over the district, for approval in accordance with Section 2-3.12.
    Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, no referendum shall be required if the purchase, construction, or building of any such building (1) occurs while the building is being leased by the school district or (2) is paid with (A) funds derived from the sale or disposition of other buildings, land, or structures of the school district or (B) funds received (i) as a grant under the School Construction Law or (ii) as gifts or donations, provided that no funds to purchase, construct, or build such building, other than lease payments, are derived from the district's bonded indebtedness or the tax levy of the district.
    Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, no referendum shall be required if the purchase, construction, or building of any such building is paid with funds received from the County School Facility and Resources Occupation Tax Law under Section 5-1006.7 of the Counties Code or from the proceeds of bonds or other debt obligations secured by revenues obtained from that Law.
    Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, for Decatur School District Number 61, no referendum shall be required if at least 50% of the cost of the purchase, construction, or building of any such building is paid, or will be paid, with funds received or expected to be received as part of, or otherwise derived from, any COVID-19 pandemic relief program or funding source, including, but not limited to, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund grant proceeds.
    (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), for any school district: (i) that is a tier 1 school, (ii) that has a population of less than 50,000 inhabitants, (iii) whose student population is between 5,800 and 6,300, (iv) in which 57% to 62% of students are low-income, and (v) whose average district spending is between $10,000 to $12,000 per pupil, until July 1, 2025, no referendum shall be required if at least 50% of the cost of the purchase, construction, or building of any such building is paid, or will be paid, with funds received or expected to be received as part of, or otherwise derived from, the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act and the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
    For this subsection (b), the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to construct a school building and to receive input from the community. The notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and name or description of the school building that the school board is considering constructing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school board's Internet website.
    (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b), for Cahokia Community Unit School District 187, no referendum shall be required for the lease of any building for school or educational purposes if the cost is paid or will be paid with funds available at the time of the lease in the district's existing fund balances to fund the lease of a building during the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 school year.
    For the purposes of this subsection (c), the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to lease a school building and to receive input from the community. The notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and name or description of the school building that the school board is considering leasing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school district's website.
    (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b), for Bloomington School District 87, no referendum shall be required for the purchase, construction, or building of any building for school or education purposes if such cost is paid or will be paid with funds available at the time of contract, purchase, construction, or building in Bloomington School District Number 87's existing fund balances to fund the procurement or requisition of a building or site during the 2022-2023, 2023-2024, or 2024-2025 school year.
    For this subsection (d), the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to construct a school building and to receive input from the community. The notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and name or description of the school building that the school board is considering constructing must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school board's website.
    (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), for any school district: (i) that is designated as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 school district under Section 18-8.15, (ii) with at least one school that is located on federal property, (iii) whose overall student population is no more than 4,500 students and no less than 2,500 students, and (iv) that receives a federal Public Schools on Military Installations grant until June 30, 2030, no referendum shall be required if at least 75% of the cost of construction or building of any such building is paid or will be paid with funds received or expected to be received from the Public Schools on Military Installations grant.
    For this subsection (e), the school board must hold at least 2 public hearings, the sole purpose of which shall be to discuss the decision to construct a school building and to receive input from those community members in attendance. The notice of each public hearing that sets forth the time, date, place, and description of the school construction project must be provided at least 10 days prior to the hearing by publication on the school district's website.
(Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21; 102-699, eff. 7-1-22; 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-509, eff. 8-4-23; 103-878, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.36A

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.36A) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.36A)
    Sec. 10-22.36A. Access Roads.
    To lay out and construct any access road necessary to connect school grounds, on which a new school is being or is about to be constructed, with an improved road or highway. Such access road shall be considered a part of the general construction of the school and such construction shall be financed solely from funds derived from the sale of bonds.
(Source: P.A. 76-1499.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.37

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.37) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.37)
    Sec. 10-22.37. Agreements with Teacher Training Institutions.
    To enter into agreements with teacher training institutions to provide facilities for student teaching in the schools of the district.
(Source: P.A. 76-620.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.38

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.38) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.38)
    Sec. 10-22.38. Preschool children with disabilities. Establish and maintain, or to cooperate with other educational, governmental, social and volunteer agencies in the establishment and carrying out of programs designed to identify and ameliorate mental, emotional, physical and social cultural disabilities in preschool age children below the age of 3 that would prevent such children from taking full advantage of regular school programs.
    No school district is eligible for State reimbursement under Article 14 or Article 18 for programs provided to children with disabilities under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.38a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.38a)
    Sec. 10-22.38a. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1508. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.39

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.39)
    Sec. 10-22.39. In-service training programs.
    (a) To conduct in-service training programs for teachers, administrators, and school support personnel.
    (b) In addition to other topics at in-service training programs listed in this Section, teachers, administrators, and school support personnel who work with pupils must be trained in the following topics: health conditions of students; social-emotional learning; developing cultural competency; identifying warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior in youth; domestic and sexual violence and the needs of expectant and parenting youth; protections and accommodations for students; educator ethics; responding to child sexual abuse and grooming behavior; and effective instruction in violence prevention and conflict resolution. In-service training programs in these topics shall be credited toward hours of professional development required for license renewal as outlined in subsection (e) of Section 21B-45.
    School support personnel may be exempt from in-service training if the training is not relevant to the work they do.
    Nurses and school nurses, as defined by Section 10-22.23, are exempt from training required in subsection (b-5).
    Beginning July 1, 2024, all teachers, administrators, and school support personnel shall complete training as outlined in Section 10-22.39 during an in-service training program conducted by their school board or through other training opportunities, including, but not limited to, institutes under Section 3-11. Such training must be completed within 6 months of employment by a school board and renewed at least once every 5 years, unless required more frequently by other State or federal law or in accordance with this Section. If teachers, administrators, or school support personnel obtain training outside of an in-service training program or from a previous public school district or nonpublic school employer, they may present documentation showing current compliance with this subsection to satisfy the requirement of receiving training within 6 months of first being employed. Training may be delivered through online, asynchronous means.
    (b-5) Training regarding health conditions of students for staff required by this Section shall include, but is not limited to:
        (1) (Blank).
        (2) Anaphylactic reactions and management. Such
    
training shall be conducted by persons with expertise in anaphylactic reactions and management.
        (3) The management of asthma, the prevention of
    
asthma symptoms, and emergency response in the school setting.
        (4) The basics of seizure recognition and first aid
    
and appropriate emergency protocols. Such training must be fully consistent with the best practice guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
        (5) The basics of diabetes care, how to identify when
    
a student with diabetes needs immediate or emergency medical attention, and whom to contact in the case of an emergency.
        (6) Current best practices regarding the
    
identification and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
        (7) Instruction on how to respond to an incident
    
involving life-threatening bleeding and, if applicable, how to use a school's trauma kit. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, training on life-threatening bleeding must be completed within 6 months of the employee first being employed by a school board and renewed within 2 years. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, the training must be completed within 6 months of the employee first being employed by a school board and renewed at least once every 5 years thereafter. School district employees who are trained to respond to trauma pursuant to this subsection (b-5) shall be immune from civil liability in the use of a trauma kit unless the action constitutes willful or wanton misconduct.
    In consultation with professional organizations with expertise in student health issues, including, but not limited to, asthma management, anaphylactic reactions, seizure recognition, and diabetes care, the State Board of Education shall make available resource materials for educating school personnel about student health conditions and emergency response in the school setting.
    A school board may satisfy the life-threatening bleeding training under this subsection by using the training, including online training, available from the American College of Surgeons or any other similar organization.
    (b-10) The training regarding social-emotional learning for staff required by this Section may include, at a minimum, providing education to all school personnel about the content of the Illinois Social and Emotional Learning Standards, how those standards apply to everyday school interactions, and examples of how social emotional learning can be integrated into instructional practices across all grades and subjects.
    (b-15) The training regarding developing cultural competency for staff required by this Section shall include, but is not limited to, understanding and reducing implicit bias, including implicit racial bias. As used in this subsection, "implicit racial bias" has the meaning set forth in Section 10-20.61.
    (b-20) The training regarding identifying warning signs of mental illness, trauma, and suicidal behavior in youth for staff required by this Section shall include, but is not limited to, appropriate intervention and referral techniques, including resources and guidelines as outlined in Section 2-3.166, and must include the definitions of trauma, trauma-responsive learning environments, and whole child set forth in subsection (b) of Section 3-11 of this Code.
    Illinois Mental Health First Aid training, established under the Illinois Mental Health First Aid Training Act, may satisfy the requirements of this subsection.
    If teachers, administrators, or school support personnel obtain mental health first aid training outside of an in-service training program, they may present a certificate of successful completion of the training to the school district to satisfy the requirements of this subsection. Training regarding the implementation of trauma-informed practices under subsection (b) of Section 3-11 satisfies the requirements of this subsection.
    (b-25) As used in this subsection:
    "Domestic violence" means abuse by a family or household member, as "abuse" and "family or household members" are defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986.
    "Sexual violence" means sexual assault, abuse, or stalking of an adult or minor child proscribed in the Criminal Code of 1961 or in Sections 11-1.20, 11-1.30, 11-1.40, 11-1.50, 11-1.60, 12-7.3, 12-7.4, 12-7.5, 12-12, 12-13, 12-14, 12-14.1, 12-15, and 12-16 of the Criminal Code of 2012, including sexual violence committed by perpetrators who are strangers to the victim and sexual violence committed by perpetrators who are known or related by blood or marriage to the victim.
    The training regarding domestic and sexual violence and the needs of expectant and parenting youth for staff required by this Section must be conducted by persons with expertise in domestic and sexual violence and the needs of expectant and parenting youth, and shall include, but is not limited to:
        (1) communicating with and listening to youth victims
    
of domestic or sexual violence and expectant and parenting youth;
        (2) connecting youth victims of domestic or sexual
    
violence and expectant and parenting youth to appropriate in-school services and other agencies, programs, and services as needed;
        (3) implementing the school district's policies,
    
procedures, and protocols with regard to such youth, including confidentiality; at a minimum, school personnel must be trained to understand, provide information and referrals, and address issues pertaining to youth who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence; and
        (4) procedures for responding to incidents of teen
    
dating violence that take place at the school, on school grounds, at school-sponsored activities, or in vehicles used for school-provided transportation as outlined in Section 3.10 of the Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act.
    (b-30) The training regarding protections and accommodations for students shall include, but is not limited to, instruction on the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, as it pertains to the school environment, and homelessness. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, training on homelessness must be completed within 6 months of an employee first being employed by a school board and renewed within 2 years. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, the training must be completed within 6 months of the employee first being employed by a school board and renewed at least once every 5 years thereafter. Training on homelessness shall include the following:
        (1) the definition of homeless children and youths
    
under 42 U.S.C. 11434a;
        (2) the signs of homelessness and housing insecurity;
        (3) the rights of students experiencing homelessness
    
under State and federal law;
        (4) the steps to take when a homeless or
    
housing-insecure student is identified; and
        (5) the appropriate referral techniques, including
    
the name and contact number of the school or school district homeless liaison.
    School boards may work with a community-based organization that specializes in working with homeless children and youth to develop and provide the training.
    (b-35) The training regarding educator ethics and responding to child sexual abuse and grooming behavior shall include, but is not limited to, teacher-student conduct, school employee-student conduct, and evidence-informed training on preventing, recognizing, reporting, and responding to child sexual abuse and grooming as outlined in Section 10-23.13.
    (b-40) The training regarding effective instruction in violence prevention and conflict resolution required by this Section shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of Section 27-23.4.
    (b-45) Beginning July 1, 2024, all nonpublic elementary and secondary school teachers, administrators, and school support personnel shall complete the training set forth in subsection (b-5). Training must be completed within 6 months of first being employed by a nonpublic school and renewed at least once every 5 years, unless required more frequently by other State or federal law. If nonpublic teachers, administrators, or school support personnel obtain training from a public school district or nonpublic school employer, the teacher, administrator, or school support personnel may present documentation to the nonpublic school showing current compliance with this subsection to satisfy the requirement of receiving training within 6 months of first being employed.
    (c) (Blank).
    (d) (Blank).
    (e) (Blank).
    (f) (Blank).
    (g) (Blank).
    (h) At least once every 2 years, a school board shall conduct in-service training on homelessness for all school personnel. The training shall include:
        (1) the definition of homeless children and youth
    
under Section 11434a of Title 42 of the United States Code;
        (2) the signs of homelessness and housing insecurity;
        (3) the rights of students experiencing homelessness
    
under State and federal law;
        (4) the steps to take when a homeless or
    
housing-insecure student is identified; and
        (5) the appropriate referral techniques, including
    
the name and contact number of the school or school district homeless liaison.
    A school board may work with a community-based organization that specializes in working with homeless children and youth to develop and provide the training.
(Source: P.A. 102-197, eff. 7-30-21; 102-638, eff. 1-1-23; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-41, eff. 8-20-24; 103-128, eff. 6-30-23; 103-413, eff. 1-1-24; 103-542, eff. 7-1-24 (see Section 905 of P.A. 103-563 for effective date of P.A. 103-542); 103-603, eff. 1-1-25; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.40

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.40) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.40)
    Sec. 10-22.40. Membership dues. To pay State and national association membership dues to school associations which benefit students by participation or accreditation. Any association subject to Article 23 of this Act must be in current compliance with the reporting requirements of Section 23-6 in order to qualify as a recipient of membership dues under this Section. No dues may be paid to any association which has as one of its purposes providing for athletic and other competition among schools and students unless that association:
    A. permits a post audit by the Auditor General under the Illinois State Auditing Act;
    B. submits an annual report to the State Board of Education dealing with trends in female participation in athletic competition, including the numbers of female and male participants from each member school and details on programs by the association to increase female participation; and
    C. is either subject to, or voluntarily complies with, the public access provisions set forth for State agencies in Sections 3 and 4 of The State Records Act.
(Source: P.A. 84-1308.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.40a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.40a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.40a)
    Sec. 10-22.40a. Where a collective bargaining agreement is entered into with an employee representative organization, the school board may include in the agreement a provision requiring employees covered by the agreement who are not members of the representative organization to pay their proportionate share of the cost of the collective bargaining process and contract administration, measured by the amount of dues uniformly required by members. In such case, proportionate share payments shall be deducted by the board from the earnings of the non-member employees and paid to the representative organization.
(Source: P.A. 82-107.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.41

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.41) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.41)
    Sec. 10-22.41. Placement of eligible children into corrective curriculum. To place or by regulation to authorize the director of special education to place, pursuant to procedures required in Article 14 of this Act and rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education, eligible children into special education programs designed to benefit the types of children defined in Sections 14-1.02 through 14-1.07; provided that children with disabilities who are recommended to be placed into regular education classrooms are provided with supplementary services to assist the children with disabilities to benefit from the regular education classroom instruction and are included on the teacher's regular education class register.
(Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.42

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.42) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.42)
    Sec. 10-22.42. To contract with the corporate authorities of any municipality or the county board of any county, as the case may be, to provide for the regulation of traffic in parking areas of property used for school purposes in such manner as is provided by Section 11-209 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
(Source: P.A. 77-1849.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.43

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.43) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.43)
    Sec. 10-22.43. Credit for Proficiency in Foreign Language. To grant one year of high school foreign language credit to any student who has graduated from an accredited elementary school and who can demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. For purposes of this Section, proficiency in American Sign Language shall be deemed proficiency in a foreign language for which one year of high school foreign language credit may be granted. Proficiency shall be determined by academic criteria acceptable to local school boards.
(Source: P.A. 86-623.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.43a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.43a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.43a)
    Sec. 10-22.43a. Foreign language credit. To award or provide for the awarding of high school credit to high school students who have studied a foreign language in an approved ethnic school program. The amount of credit awarded shall be roughly equivalent to the amount of credit the student would have received if he or she had reached the same level of foreign language proficiency at a public high school as he or she achieved at the ethnic school. The school board may require a student seeking foreign language credit under this Section to successfully complete a foreign language proficiency examination.
(Source: P.A. 83-794.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.44

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.44) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.44)
    Sec. 10-22.44. To transfer the interest earned from any moneys of the district in the respective fund of the district that is most in need of such interest income, as determined by the board. This Section does not apply to any interest earned which has been earmarked or restricted by the board for a designated purpose. This Section does not apply to any interest earned on any funds for purposes of Illinois Municipal Retirement under the Pension Code, Tort Immunity under the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, Fire Prevention, Safety, Energy Conservation and School Security Purposes under Section 17-2.11, and Capital Improvements under Section 17-2.3. Interest earned on these exempted funds shall be used only for the purposes authorized for the respective exempted funds from which the interest earnings were derived.
    Any high school district whose territory is in 2 counties and that is eligible for Section 8002 Federal Impact Aid may make a one-time declaration as to interest income (earnings on investments) not previously declared as such from 1998 through 2011 in the debt service fund, declaring said moneys as interest earnings on or before June 30, 2016. Any such earnings income so declared shall thereafter, for purposes of this Code, be considered interest earnings and shall be subject to all provisions of this Code related thereto.
(Source: P.A. 99-404, eff. 8-19-15.)

105 ILCS 5/10-22.45

    (105 ILCS 5/10-22.45) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-22.45)
    Sec. 10-22.45. To establish an audit committee, and to appoint members of the board or other appropriate officers to the committee, to review audit reports and any other financial reports and documents, including management letters prepared by or on behalf of the board.
(Source: P.A. 82-644.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23)
    Sec. 10-23. Additional powers of board. Boards of education have the additional powers enumerated in Sections 10-23.1 through 10-23.12.
(Source: P.A. 84-1308.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.1

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.1)
    Sec. 10-23.1. Residence for superintendent, principal or teachers. To purchase a site, with or without a building or buildings thereon, to build a house or houses on such site or to build a house or houses on the school site of the school district, for residential purposes of the superintendent, principal, or teachers of the school district, if authorized by a majority of all votes cast on the proposition or propositions at a regular scheduled election held for the purpose in pursuance of a petition signed by not fewer than 300 voters or by 1/5 of all the voters of the district, whichever is lesser. Such referendum shall be certified to the proper election authorities and submitted in accordance with the general election law. When any of such property is not needed for residential purposes by the superintendent, principal, or teachers, the board of education may rent it to some other person or persons.
(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.2

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.2)
    Sec. 10-23.2. Nursery schools.
    In all districts maintaining grades 1 to 8 or 1 to 12, to establish nursery schools for the instruction of children between the ages of 2 and 6 years, if, in its judgment public interest requires them and sufficient funds obtained from local and federal sources other than local district taxes are available to pay the necessary expenses thereof; provided, that the school board shall at all times have complete jurisdiction and control over such schools, including the employment of teachers, attendants and any other employees, and shall have complete control of the expenditure of such funds in connection with the establishment and maintenance of such schools.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.3

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.3)
    Sec. 10-23.3. Real estate for vocational and other training. After provision has been made for the payment of all school expenses, to appropriate from the educational fund school funds or to borrow funds for the purchase of real estate and for the improvement by construction of buildings or other structures, or improved real estate in a deteriorated or uninhabitable condition, for vocational and other educational training of pupils, and as incident thereto and when authorized or requested by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the school board, to acquire title to the real estate in the name of the school district and sell and convey it; provided: that no such property shall be so bought or used as a schoolhouse or for permanent use as school property; that such property so purchased and improved shall be sold or otherwise disposed of within 5 years from the date of its acquisition; that not more than one piece of real estate to be improved and one piece of improved real state in a deteriorated or uninhabitable condition may be so purchased for each secondary school or area vocational center which offers vocational training within the school district for any such purpose in any one calendar year, unless additional properties are examined and approved by the Superintendent of the Educational Service Region in the county in which the district is located, for larger training programs necessitating more property to accommodate larger student enrollments; and that no such real estate may be acquired for any such purpose by means of eminent domain proceedings. If the school board does not hold legal title to the school site or other school property that is to be used for any purpose authorized by this Section, then upon the adoption of the resolution by 2/3 of the board members of the district requesting the conveyance of a school site or other school property or a portion thereof the trustees of schools or other school official having legal title to such property shall convey such property to such school district as provided in Section 5-21.
(Source: P.A. 88-155.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.3a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.3a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.3a)
    Sec. 10-23.3a. Conduct of business for vocational training.
    To independently operate or cooperate with existing companies in the operation of a business or businesses for the sole purpose of providing training for students in vocational education programs. Any proceeds from said operation shall be applied towards the costs of establishing and maintaining these businesses. Regarding businesses with which the school board cooperates in operating for vocational training purposes, the school board shall receive a semi-annual account from each cooperating company of all costs and proceeds attributable to the student business-training program. Should the proceeds ever exceed the establishment and maintenance costs, then that excess shall only be directed toward expanding business-operation training in vocational education programs.
(Source: P.A. 77-664.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.4

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.4)
    Sec. 10-23.4. Purchase of school bus.
    To purchase, maintain, repair and operate school buses and by resolution of the board to enter into a contract for the purchase of buses to be paid for within three years of the date of the resolution or over such longer period of time as does not exceed the depreciable life of the vehicle.
(Source: P.A. 85-1389.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.4a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.4a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.4a)
    Sec. 10-23.4a. To enter into a lease for a period of not to exceed 5 years for such equipment and machinery as may be required for corporate purposes when authorized by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the board of education.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 2890.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.5

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.5)
    Sec. 10-23.5. Educational support personnel employees.
    (a) To employ such educational support personnel employees as it deems advisable and to define their employment duties; provided that residency within any school district shall not be considered in determining the employment or the compensation of any such employee, or whether to retain, promote, assign or transfer such employee. If an educational support personnel employee is removed or dismissed or the hours he or she works are reduced as a result of a decision of the school board (i) to decrease the number of educational support personnel employees employed by the board or (ii) to discontinue some particular type of educational support service, written notice shall be mailed to the employee and also given to the employee either by certified mail, return receipt requested, or personal delivery with receipt, at least 30 days before the employee is removed or dismissed or the hours he or she works are reduced, together with a statement of honorable dismissal and the reason therefor if applicable. However, if a reduction in hours is due to an unforeseen reduction in the student population, then the written notice must be mailed and given to the employee at least 5 days before the hours are reduced. The employee with the shorter length of continuing service with the district, within the respective category of position, shall be dismissed first unless an alternative method of determining the sequence of dismissal is established in a collective bargaining agreement or contract between the board and any exclusive bargaining agent and except that this provision shall not impair the operation of any affirmative action program in the district, regardless of whether it exists by operation of law or is conducted on a voluntary basis by the board. If the board has any vacancies for the following school term or within one calendar year from the beginning of the following school term, the positions thereby becoming available within a specific category of position shall be tendered to the employees so removed or dismissed from that category or any other category of position, so far as they are qualified to hold such positions. Each board shall, in consultation with any exclusive employee representative or bargaining agent, each year establish a list, categorized by positions, showing the length of continuing service of each full time educational support personnel employee who is qualified to hold any such positions, unless an alternative method of determining a sequence of dismissal is established as provided for in this Section, in which case a list shall be made in accordance with the alternative method. Copies of the list shall be distributed to the exclusive employee representative or bargaining agent on or before February 1 of each year.
    If an educational support personnel employee is removed or dismissed as a result of a decision of the board to decrease the number of educational support personnel employed by the board or to discontinue some particular type of educational support service and he or she accepts the tender of a vacancy within one calendar year from the beginning of the following school term, then that employee shall maintain any rights accrued during his or her previous service with the school district.
    Where an educational support personnel employee is dismissed by the board as a result of a decrease in the number of employees or the discontinuance of the employee's job, the employee shall be paid all earned compensation on or before the next regular pay date following his or her last day of employment.
    The provisions of this amendatory Act of 1986 relating to residency within any school district shall not apply to cities having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants.
    (b) In the case of a new school district or districts formed in accordance with Article 11E of this Code, a school district or districts that annex all of the territory of one or more entire other school districts in accordance with Article 7 of this Code, a school district receiving students from a deactivated school facility in accordance with Section 10-22.22b of this Code, or a special education cooperative that dissolves or reorganizes in accordance with Section 10-22.31 of this Code, the employment of educational support personnel in the new, annexing, or receiving school district immediately following the reorganization shall be governed by this subsection (b). Lists of the educational support personnel employed in the individual districts or special education cooperative for the school year immediately prior to the effective date of the new district or districts, annexation, deactivation, dissolution, or reorganization shall be combined for the districts forming the new district or districts, for the annexed and annexing districts, for the deactivating and receiving districts, or for the dissolving or reorganizing special education cooperative, as the case may be. The combined list shall be categorized by positions, showing the length of continuing service of each full-time educational support personnel employee who is qualified to hold any such position. If there are more full-time educational support personnel employees on the combined list than there are available positions in the new, annexing, or receiving school district, then the employing school board shall first remove or dismiss those educational support personnel employees with the shorter length of continuing service within the respective category of position, following the procedures outlined in subsection (a) of this Section. In the case of a special education cooperative that dissolves or reorganizes, the districts that are parties to the joint agreement shall follow the procedures outlined in subsection (a) of this Section. The employment and position of each educational support personnel employee on the combined list not so removed or dismissed shall be transferred to the new, annexing, or receiving school board, and the new, annexing, or receiving school board is subject to this Code with respect to any educational support personnel employee so transferred as if the educational support personnel employee had been the new, annexing, or receiving board's employee during the time the educational support personnel employee was actually employed by the school board of the district from which the employment and position were transferred.
    The changes made by Public Act 95-148 shall not apply to the formation of a new district or districts in accordance with Article 11E of this Code, the annexation of one or more entire districts in accordance with Article 7 of this Code, or the deactivation of a school facility in accordance with Section 10-22.22b of this Code effective on or before July 1, 2007.
(Source: P.A. 101-46, eff. 7-12-19; 102-854, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.6

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.6) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.6)
    Sec. 10-23.6. Sites out of district.
    A school district, including any special charter school district, having 100,000 or more inhabitants and maintaining grades 1 through 12 may acquire a school site in any other school district which does not maintain a recognized public high school, provided that such site lies within two miles of the boundaries of such school district, and may build, operate and maintain a school maintaining grades 9 through 12 upon any site so acquired, and for these purposes may borrow money and issue bonds as otherwise provided by law and charge and receive tuition for students attending said school from any other school district, to the same effect as if said school had been constructed within the boundaries of said school district.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.7

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.7) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.7)
    Sec. 10-23.7. Special Charter district - Adoption of Article 10. This Article may be adopted by the electors of any special charter school district, in the following manner:
    The board of such district may, and upon petition of 10% of the voters residing in such district, shall order submitted to the voters of such district the question whether Article 10 of the School Code shall be adopted at a regular scheduled election to be held in accordance with the general election law. The board shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities for submission to the electors.
    If the vote is favorable to the adoption of this Article, the transitional provisions of Section 10 of this Article shall apply as though the effective date of this Act were the day of such referendum.
    If the adoption of this Article is rejected, the proposition shall not be resubmitted within 22 months.
(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.8

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.8) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.8)
    Sec. 10-23.8. Superintendent contracts. After the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 and the expiration of contracts in effect on the effective date of this amendatory Act, school districts may only employ a superintendent or, if authorized by law, a chief executive officer under either a contract for a period not exceeding one year or a performance-based contract for a period not exceeding 5 years.
    Performance-based contracts shall be linked to student performance and academic improvement within the schools of the districts. No performance-based contract shall be extended or rolled-over prior to its scheduled expiration unless all the performance and improvement goals contained in the contract have been met. Each performance-based contract shall include the goals and indicators of student performance and academic improvement determined and used by the local school board to measure the performance and effectiveness of the superintendent and such other information as the local school board may determine.
    By accepting the terms of a multi-year contract, the superintendent or chief executive officer waives all rights granted him or her under Sections 24-11 through 24-16 of this Act only for the term of the multi-year contract. Upon acceptance of a multi-year contract, the superintendent or chief executive officer shall not lose any previously acquired tenure credit with the district.
(Source: P.A. 99-846, eff. 6-1-17.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.8a

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.8a) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.8a)
    Sec. 10-23.8a. Principal, assistant principal, and other administrator contracts. After the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 and the expiration of contracts in effect on the effective date of this amendatory Act, school districts may only employ principals, assistant principals, and other school administrators under either a contract for a period not to exceed one year or a performance-based contract for a period not to exceed 5 years, unless the provisions of Section 10-23.8b of this Code or subsection (e) of Section 24A-15 of this Code otherwise apply.
    Performance-based contracts shall be linked to student performance and academic improvement attributable to the responsibilities and duties of the principal, assistant principal, or administrator. No performance-based contract shall be extended or rolled-over prior to its scheduled expiration unless all the performance and improvement goals contained in the contract have been met. Each performance-based contract shall include the goals and indicators of student performance and academic improvement determined and used by the local school board to measure the performance and effectiveness of the principal, assistant principal, or other administrator and such other information as the local school board may determine.
    By accepting the terms of a multi-year contract, the principal, assistant principal, or administrator waives all rights granted him or her under Sections 24-11 through 24-16 of this Act only for the term of the multi-year contract. Upon acceptance of a multi-year contract, the principal, assistant principal, or administrator shall not lose any previously acquired tenure credit with the district.
(Source: P.A. 97-217, eff. 7-28-11.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.8b

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.8b) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.8b)
    Sec. 10-23.8b. Reclassification of principals and assistant principals. Upon non-renewal of a principal's or assistant principal's administrative contract, the principal or assistant principal shall be reclassified pursuant to this Section. No principal or assistant principal may be reclassified by demotion or reduction in rank from one position within a school district to another for which a lower salary is paid without written notice from the board of the proposed reclassification by April 1 of the year in which the contract expires.
    Within 10 days of the principal's or assistant principal's receipt of this notice, the school board shall provide the principal or assistant principal with a written statement of the facts regarding reclassification, and the principal or assistant principal may request and receive a private hearing with the board to discuss the reasons for the reclassification. If the principal or assistant principal is not satisfied with the results of the private hearing, he or she may, within 5 days thereafter, request and receive a public hearing on the reclassification. Any principal or assistant principal may be represented by counsel at a private or public hearing conducted under this Section.
    If the board decides to proceed with the reclassification, it shall give the principal or assistant principal written notice of its decision within 15 days of the private hearing or within 15 days of the public hearing held under this Section whichever is later. The decision of the board thereupon becomes final.
    Nothing in this Section prohibits a board from ordering lateral transfers of principals or assistant principals to positions of similar rank and equal salary.
    The changes made by Public Act 94-201 are declaratory of existing law.
(Source: P.A. 97-217, eff. 7-28-11.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.9

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.9)
    Sec. 10-23.9. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1508. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.10

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.10) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.10)
    Sec. 10-23.10. (a) To sell or market any computer program developed by an employee of the school district, provided that such employee developed the computer program as a direct result of his or her duties with the school district or through the utilization of the school district resources or facilities. The employee who developed the computer program shall be entitled to share in the proceeds of such sale or marketing of the computer program. The distribution of such proceeds between the employee and the school district shall be as agreed upon by the employee and the school district, except that neither the employee nor the school district may receive more than 90% of such proceeds. The negotiation for an employee who is represented by an exclusive bargaining representative under Section 3-14.24 may be conducted by such bargaining representative at the employee's request.
    (b) For the purposes of this Section:
    (1) "Computer" means an internally programmed, general purpose digital device capable of automatically accepting data, processing data and supplying the results of the operation.
    (2) "Computer program" means a series of coded instructions or statements in a form acceptable to a computer, which causes the computer to process data in order to achieve a certain result.
    (3) "Proceeds" means profits derived from marketing or sale of a product after deducting the expenses of developing and marketing such product.
(Source: P.A. 83-797.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.11

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.11) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.11)
    Sec. 10-23.11. To accept payment for student fees and expenses through the use of credit cards and to negotiate and execute such contracts as may be necessary to accept such credit card payments.
    In this context, "credit card" means any instrument or device, whether known as a credit card, credit plate, charge plate or any other name, issued with or without fee by an issuer for the use of the cardholder in obtaining money, goods, services or anything else of value on credit or in consideration of an undertaking or guaranty by the issuer of the payment of a check drawn by the cardholder.
(Source: P.A. 84-388.)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.12

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.12) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.12)
    Sec. 10-23.12. Child abuse and neglect; willful or negligent failure to report.
    (a) (Blank).
    (b) (Blank).
    (c) Except for an employee licensed under Article 21B of this Code, if a school board determines that any school district employee has willfully or negligently failed to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect, as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, then the school board may dismiss that employee immediately upon that determination. For purposes of this subsection (c), negligent failure to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect occurs when a school district employee personally observes an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect and reasonably believes, in his or her professional or official capacity, that the instance constitutes an act of child abuse or neglect under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, and he or she, without willful intent, fails to immediately report or cause a report to be made of the suspected abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Family Services, as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
(Source: P.A. 103-542, eff. 7-1-24 (see Section 905 of P.A. 103-563 for effective date of P.A. 103-542).)

105 ILCS 5/10-23.13

    (105 ILCS 5/10-23.13)
    Sec. 10-23.13. Policies addressing sexual abuse.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Evidence-informed" refers to modalities that were created utilizing components of evidence-based treatments or curriculums.
    "Grooming" means conduct prohibited under Section 11-25 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
    (b) To adopt and implement, by no later than July 1, 2022, a policy addressing sexual abuse of children that shall include an age-appropriate and evidence-informed curriculum for students in pre-K through 12th grade; evidence-informed training for school personnel on child sexual abuse; evidence-informed educational information to parents or guardians provided in the school handbook on the warning signs of a child being abused, along with any needed assistance, referral, or resource information; available counseling and resources for students affected by sexual abuse; and emotional and educational support for a child to continue to be successful in school. A school district shall include in its policy and all training materials and instruction a definition of prohibited grooming behaviors and boundary violations for school personnel and how to report these behaviors.
    Any policy adopted under this Section shall address without limitation:
        (1) methods for increasing school personnel,
    
student, and parent awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse of children, including awareness and knowledge of likely warning signs indicating that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse, awareness and knowledge of grooming behaviors and how to report those behaviors, awareness of appropriate relationships between school personnel and students based on State law, and how to prevent child abuse from happening, including, but not limited to, methods outlined in State law regarding personal health and safety education for students;
        (1.5) evidence-informed training for school personnel
    
on preventing, recognizing, reporting, and responding to child sexual abuse and grooming behavior, including when the grooming or abuse is committed by a member of the school community, with a discussion of the criminal statutes addressing sexual conduct between school personnel and students, professional conduct, and reporting requirements, including, but not limited to, training as outlined in Section 10-22.39 and Section 3-11;
        (2) options that a student who is a victim of sexual
    
abuse has to obtain assistance and intervention;
        (3) available counseling options for students
    
affected by sexual abuse;
        (4) methods for educating school personnel, students,
    
and staff on how to report child abuse to law enforcement authorities and to the Department of Children and Family Services and how to report grooming behaviors, including when the grooming or abuse is committed by a member of the school community; and
        (5) education and information about children's
    
advocacy centers and sexual assault crisis centers and information about how to access a children's advocacy center or sexual assault crisis center serving the district.
    (c) A school district must provide training for school personnel on child sexual abuse as described in paragraph (1.5) of subsection (b) no later than January 31 of each year.
    (d) This Section may be referred to as Erin's Law.
(Source: P.A. 102-610, eff. 8-27-21.)

105 ILCS 5/10-27.1A

    (105 ILCS 5/10-27.1A)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-609)
    Sec. 10-27.1A. Firearms in schools.
    (a) All school officials, including teachers, school counselors, and support staff, shall immediately notify the office of the principal in the event that they observe any person in possession of a firearm on school grounds; provided that taking such immediate action to notify the office of the principal would not immediately endanger the health, safety, or welfare of students who are under the direct supervision of the school official or the school official. If the health, safety, or welfare of students under the direct supervision of the school official or of the school official is immediately endangered, the school official shall notify the office of the principal as soon as the students under his or her supervision and he or she are no longer under immediate danger. A report is not required by this Section when the school official knows that the person in possession of the firearm is a law enforcement official engaged in the conduct of his or her official duties. Any school official acting in good faith who makes such a report under this Section shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred as a result of making the report. The identity of the school official making such report shall not be disclosed except as expressly and specifically authorized by law. Knowingly and willfully failing to comply with this Section is a petty offense. A second or subsequent offense is a Class C misdemeanor.
    (b) Upon receiving a report from any school official pursuant to this Section, or from any other person, the principal or his or her designee shall immediately notify a local law enforcement agency. If the person found to be in possession of a firearm on school grounds is a student, the principal or his or her designee shall also immediately notify that student's parent or guardian. Any principal or his or her designee acting in good faith who makes such reports under this Section shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed as a result of making the reports. Knowingly and willfully failing to comply with this Section is a petty offense. A second or subsequent offense is a Class C misdemeanor. If the person found to be in possession of the firearm on school grounds is a minor, the law enforcement agency shall detain that minor until such time as the agency makes a determination pursuant to clause (a) of subsection (1) of Section 5-401 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, as to whether the agency reasonably believes that the minor is delinquent. If the law enforcement agency determines that probable cause exists to believe that the minor committed a violation of item (4) of subsection (a) of Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012 while on school grounds, the agency shall detain the minor for processing pursuant to Section 5-407 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
    (c) Upon receipt of any written, electronic, or verbal report from any school personnel regarding a verified incident involving a firearm in a school or on school owned or leased property, including any conveyance owned, leased, or used by the school for the transport of students or school personnel, the superintendent or his or her designee shall report all such firearm-related incidents occurring in a school or on school property to the local law enforcement authorities immediately.
    (c-5) Schools shall report any written, electronic, or verbal report of a verified incident involving a firearm made under subsection (c) to the State Board of Education through existing school incident reporting systems as they occur during the year by no later than August 1 of each year. The State Board of Education shall report data by school district, as collected from school districts, and make it available to the public via its website. The local law enforcement authority shall, by March 1 of each year, report the required data from the previous year to the Illinois State Police's Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which shall be included in its annual Crime in Illinois report.
    (d) As used in this Section, the term "firearm" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
    As used in this Section, the term "school" means any public or private elementary or secondary school.
    As used in this Section, the term "school grounds" includes the real property comprising any school, any conveyance owned, leased, or contracted by a school to transport students to or from school or a school-related activity, or any public way within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising any school.
(Source: P.A. 102-197, eff. 7-30-21; 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-34, eff. 6-9-23; 103-609, eff. 7-1-24.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-780)
    Sec. 10-27.1A. Firearms in schools.
    (a) All school officials, including teachers, school counselors, and support staff, shall immediately notify the office of the principal in the event that they observe any person in possession of a firearm on school grounds; provided that taking such immediate action to notify the office of the principal would not immediately endanger the health, safety, or welfare of students who are under the direct supervision of the school official or the school official. If the health, safety, or welfare of students under the direct supervision of the school official or of the school official is immediately endangered, the school official shall notify the office of the principal as soon as the students under his or her supervision and he or she are no longer under immediate danger. A report is not required by this Section when the school official knows that the person in possession of the firearm is a law enforcement official engaged in the conduct of his or her official duties. Any school official acting in good faith who makes such a report under this Section shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred as a result of making the report. The identity of the school official making such report shall not be disclosed except as expressly and specifically authorized by law. Knowingly and willfully failing to comply with this Section is a petty offense. A second or subsequent offense is a Class C misdemeanor.
    (b) Upon receiving a report from any school official pursuant to this Section, or from any other person, the principal or his or her designee shall immediately notify a local law enforcement agency. If the person found to be in possession of a firearm on school grounds is a student, the principal or his or her designee shall also immediately notify that student's parent or guardian. Any principal or his or her designee acting in good faith who makes such reports under this Section shall have immunity from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed as a result of making the reports. Knowingly and willfully failing to comply with this Section is a petty offense. A second or subsequent offense is a Class C misdemeanor. If the person found to be in possession of the firearm on school grounds is a minor, the law enforcement agency shall detain that minor until such time as the agency makes a determination pursuant to clause (a) of subsection (1) of Section 5-401 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, as to whether the agency reasonably believes that the minor is delinquent. If the law enforcement agency determines that probable cause exists to believe that the minor committed a violation of item (4) of subsection (a) of Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012 while on school grounds, the agency shall detain the minor for processing pursuant to Section 5-407 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
    (c) Upon receipt of any written, electronic, or verbal report from any school personnel regarding a verified incident involving a firearm in a school or on school owned or leased property, including any conveyance owned, leased, or used by the school for the transport of students or school personnel, the superintendent or his or her designee shall report all such firearm-related incidents occurring in a school or on school property to the local law enforcement authorities immediately.
    (c-5) Schools shall report any written, electronic, or verbal report of a verified incident involving a firearm made under subsection (c) to the State Board of Education through existing school incident reporting systems as they occur during the year by no later than July 31 for the previous school year. The State Board of Education shall report data by school district, as collected from school districts, and make it available to the public via its website. The local law enforcement authority shall, by March 1 of each year, report the required data from the previous year to the Illinois State Police's Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which shall be included in its annual Crime in Illinois report.
    (d) As used in this Section, the term "firearm" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
    As used in this Section, the term "school" means any public or private elementary or secondary school.
    As used in this Section, the term "school grounds" includes the real property comprising any school, any conveyance owned, leased, or contracted by a school to transport students to or from school or a school-related activity, or any public way within 1,000 feet of the real property comprising any school.
(Source: P.A. 102-197, eff. 7-30-21; 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-34, eff. 6-9-23; 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-27.1B

    (105 ILCS 5/10-27.1B)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-609)
    Sec. 10-27.1B. Reporting drug-related incidents in schools.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Drug" means "cannabis" as defined under subsection (a) of Section 3 of the Cannabis Control Act, "narcotic drug" as defined under subsection (aa) of Section 102 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or "methamphetamine" as defined under Section 10 of the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act.
    "School" means any public or private elementary or secondary school.
    (b) Upon receipt of any written, electronic, or verbal report from any school personnel regarding a verified incident involving drugs in a school or on school owned or leased property, including any conveyance owned, leased, or used by the school for the transport of students or school personnel, the superintendent or his or her designee, or other appropriate administrative officer for a private school, shall report all such drug-related incidents occurring in a school or on school property to the local law enforcement authorities immediately.
    (c) (Blank)..
    (d) Schools shall report any written, electronic, or verbal report of an incident involving drugs made under subsection (b) to the State Board of Education through existing school incident reporting systems as they occur during the year by no later than August 1 of each year. The State Board of Education shall report data by school district, as collected from school districts, and make it available to the public via its website. The local law enforcement authority shall, by March 1 of each year, report the required data from the previous year to the Illinois State Police's Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which shall be included in its annual Crime in Illinois report.
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 103-609, eff. 7-1-24.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 103-780)
    Sec. 10-27.1B. Reporting drug-related incidents in schools.
    (a) In this Section:
    "Drug" means "cannabis" as defined under subsection (a) of Section 3 of the Cannabis Control Act, "narcotic drug" as defined under subsection (aa) of Section 102 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or "methamphetamine" as defined under Section 10 of the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act.
    "School" means any public or private elementary or secondary school.
    (b) Upon receipt of any written, electronic, or verbal report from any school personnel regarding a verified incident involving drugs in a school or on school owned or leased property, including any conveyance owned, leased, or used by the school for the transport of students or school personnel, the superintendent or his or her designee, or other appropriate administrative officer for a private school, shall report all such drug-related incidents occurring in a school or on school property to the local law enforcement authorities immediately.
    (c) (Blank).
    (d) Schools shall report any written, electronic, or verbal report of an incident involving drugs made under subsection (b) to the State Board of Education through existing school incident reporting systems as they occur during the year by no later than July 31 for the previous school year. The State Board of Education shall report data by school district, as collected from school districts, and make it available to the public via its website. The local law enforcement authority shall, by March 1 of each year, report the required data from the previous year to the Illinois State Police's Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which shall be included in its annual Crime in Illinois report.
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 103-780, eff. 8-2-24.)

105 ILCS 5/10-28

    (105 ILCS 5/10-28)
    Sec. 10-28. Sharing information on school lunch applicants. A school board shall, whenever requested by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid), agree in writing with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (as the State agency that administers the State Medical Assistance Program as provided in Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act and the State Children's Health Insurance Program as provided in Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act) to share with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services information on applicants for free or reduced-price lunches. A school board shall, whenever requested by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid), require each of its schools to agree in writing with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to share with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services information on applicants for free or reduced-price lunches. This sharing of information shall be for the sole purpose of helping the Department of Healthcare and Family Services identify and enroll children in the State Medical Assistance Program or the State Children's Health Insurance Program or both as allowed under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1758(b)(2)(C)(iii)(IV) and under the restrictions set forth in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1758(b)(2)(C)(vi) and (vii).
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

105 ILCS 5/10-29

    (105 ILCS 5/10-29)
    Sec. 10-29. Remote educational programs.
    (a) For purposes of this Section, "remote educational program" means an educational program delivered to students in the home or other location outside of a school building that meets all of the following criteria:
        (1) A student may participate in the program only
    
after the school district, pursuant to adopted school board policy, and a person authorized to enroll the student under Section 10-20.12b of this Code determine that a remote educational program will best serve the student's individual learning needs. The adopted school board policy shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
            (A) Criteria for determining that a remote
        
educational program will best serve a student's individual learning needs. The criteria must include consideration of, at a minimum, a student's prior attendance, disciplinary record, and academic history.
            (B) Any limitations on the number of students or
        
grade levels that may participate in a remote educational program.
            (C) A description of the process that the school
        
district will use to approve participation in the remote educational program. The process must include without limitation a requirement that, for any student who qualifies to receive services pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, the student's participation in a remote educational program receive prior approval from the student's individualized education program team.
            (D) A description of the process the school
        
district will use to develop and approve a written remote educational plan that meets the requirements of subdivision (5) of this subsection (a).
            (E) A description of the system the school
        
district will establish to determine student participation in instruction in accordance with the remote educational program.
            (F) A description of the process for renewing a
        
remote educational program at the expiration of its term.
            (G) Such other terms and provisions as the
        
school district deems necessary to provide for the establishment and delivery of a remote educational program.
        (2) The school district has determined that the
    
remote educational program's curriculum is aligned to State learning standards and that the program offers instruction and educational experiences consistent with those given to students at the same grade level in the district.
        (3) The remote educational program is delivered by
    
instructors that meet the following qualifications:
            (A) they are licensed under Article 21B of this
        
Code;
            (B) (blank); and
            (C) they have responsibility for all of the
        
following elements of the program: planning instruction, diagnosing learning needs, prescribing content delivery through class activities, assessing learning, reporting outcomes to administrators and parents and guardians, and evaluating the effects of instruction.
        (4) During the period of time from and including the
    
opening date to the closing date of the regular school term of the school district established pursuant to Section 10-19 of this Code, participation in a remote educational program may be claimed for evidence-based funding purposes under Section 18-8.15 of this Code on any calendar day, notwithstanding whether the day is a day of pupil attendance or institute day on the school district's calendar or any other provision of law restricting instruction on that day. If the district holds year-round classes in some buildings, the district shall classify each student's participation in a remote educational program as either on a year-round or a non-year-round schedule for purposes of claiming evidence-based funding. Outside of the regular school term of the district, the remote educational program may be offered as part of any summer school program authorized by this Code.
        (5) Each student participating in a remote
    
educational program must have a written remote educational plan that has been approved by the school district and a person authorized to enroll the student under Section 10-20.12b of this Code. The school district and a person authorized to enroll the student under Section 10-20.12b of this Code must approve any amendment to a remote educational plan. The remote educational plan must include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
            (A) Specific achievement goals for the student
        
aligned to State learning standards.
            (B) A description of all assessments that will be
        
used to measure student progress, which description shall indicate the assessments that will be administered at an attendance center within the school district.
            (C) A description of the progress reports that
        
will be provided to the school district and the person or persons authorized to enroll the student under Section 10-20.12b of this Code.
            (D) Expectations, processes, and schedules for
        
interaction between a teacher and student.
            (E) A description of the specific
        
responsibilities of the student's family and the school district with respect to equipment, materials, phone and Internet service, and any other requirements applicable to the home or other location outside of a school building necessary for the delivery of the remote educational program.
            (F) If applicable, a description of how the
        
remote educational program will be delivered in a manner consistent with the student's individualized education program required by Section 614(d) of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 or plan to ensure compliance with Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
            (G) A description of the procedures and
        
opportunities for participation in academic and extracurricular activities and programs within the school district.
            (H) The identification of a parent, guardian, or
        
other responsible adult who will provide direct supervision of the program. The plan must include an acknowledgment by the parent, guardian, or other responsible adult that he or she may engage only in non-teaching duties not requiring instructional judgment or the evaluation of a student. The plan shall designate the parent, guardian, or other responsible adult as non-teaching personnel or volunteer personnel under subsection (a) of Section 10-22.34 of this Code.
            (I) The identification of a school district
        
administrator who will oversee the remote educational program on behalf of the school district and who may be contacted by the student's parents with respect to any issues or concerns with the program.
            (J) The term of the student's participation in
        
the remote educational program, which may not extend for longer than 12 months, unless the term is renewed by the district in accordance with subdivision (7) of this subsection (a).
            (K) A description of the specific location or
        
locations in which the program will be delivered. If the remote educational program is to be delivered to a student in any location other than the student's home, the plan must include a written determination by the school district that the location will provide a learning environment appropriate for the delivery of the program. The location or locations in which the program will be delivered shall be deemed a long distance teaching reception area under subsection (a) of Section 10-22.34 of this Code.
            (L) Certification by the school district that the
        
plan meets all other requirements of this Section.
        (6) Students participating in a remote educational
    
program must be enrolled in a school district attendance center pursuant to the school district's enrollment policy or policies. A student participating in a remote educational program must be tested as part of all assessments administered by the school district pursuant to Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code at the attendance center in which the student is enrolled and in accordance with the attendance center's assessment policies and schedule. The student must be included within all accountability determinations for the school district and attendance center under State and federal law.
        (7) The term of a student's participation in a
    
remote educational program may not extend for longer than 12 months, unless the term is renewed by the school district. The district may only renew a student's participation in a remote educational program following an evaluation of the student's progress in the program, a determination that the student's continuation in the program will best serve the student's individual learning needs, and an amendment to the student's written remote educational plan addressing any changes for the upcoming term of the program.
    For purposes of this Section, a remote educational program does not include instruction delivered to students through an e-learning program approved under Section 10-20.56 of this Code.
    (b) A school district may, by resolution of its school board, establish a remote educational program.
    (c) (Blank).
    (d) The impact of remote educational programs on wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment of educational employees within the school district shall be subject to local collective bargaining agreements.
    (e) The use of a home or other location outside of a school building for a remote educational program shall not cause the home or other location to be deemed a public school facility.
    (f) A remote educational program may be used, but is not required, for instruction delivered to a student in the home or other location outside of a school building that is not claimed for evidence-based funding purposes under Section 18-8.15 of this Code.
    (g) School districts that, pursuant to this Section, adopt a policy for a remote educational program must submit to the State Board of Education a copy of the policy and any amendments thereto, as well as data on student participation in a format specified by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education may perform or contract with an outside entity to perform an evaluation of remote educational programs in this State.
    (h) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary to ensure compliance by remote educational programs with the requirements of this Section and other applicable legal requirements.
(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/10-30

    (105 ILCS 5/10-30)
    Sec. 10-30. Remote and blended remote learning. This Section applies if the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.
        (1) If the Governor has declared a disaster due to a
    
public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, the State Superintendent of Education may declare a requirement to use remote learning days or blended remote learning days for a school district, multiple school districts, a region, or the entire State. During remote learning days, schools shall conduct instruction remotely. During blended remote learning days, schools may utilize hybrid models of in-person and remote instruction. Once declared, remote learning days or blended remote learning days shall be implemented in grades pre-kindergarten through 12 as days of attendance and shall be deemed pupil attendance days for calculation of the length of a school term under Section 10-19.
        (2) For purposes of this Section, a remote learning
    
day or blended remote learning day may be met through a district's implementation of an e-learning program under Section 10-20.56.
        (3) For any district that does not implement an
    
e-learning program under Section 10-20.56, the district shall adopt a remote and blended remote learning day plan approved by the district superintendent. Each district may utilize remote and blended remote learning planning days, consecutively or in separate increments, to develop, review, or amend its remote and blended remote learning day plan or provide professional development to staff regarding remote education. Up to 5 remote and blended remote learning planning days may be deemed pupil attendance days for calculation of the length of a school term under Section 10-19.
        (4) Each remote and blended remote learning day plan
    
shall address the following:
            (i) accessibility of the remote instruction to
        
all students enrolled in the district;
            (ii) if applicable, a requirement that the remote
        
learning day and blended remote learning day activities reflect State learning standards;
            (iii) a means for students to confer with an
        
educator, as necessary;
            (iv) the unique needs of students in special
        
populations, including, but not limited to, students eligible for special education under Article 14, students who are English learners as defined in Section 14C-2, and students experiencing homelessness under the Education for Homeless Children Act, or vulnerable student populations;
            (v) how the district will take attendance and
        
monitor and verify each student's remote participation; and
            (vi) transitions from remote learning to on-site
        
learning upon the State Superintendent's declaration that remote learning days or blended remote learning days are no longer deemed necessary.
        (5) The district superintendent shall periodically
    
review and amend the district's remote and blended remote learning day plan, as needed, to ensure the plan meets the needs of all students.
        (6) Each remote and blended remote learning day plan
    
shall be posted on the district's Internet website where other policies, rules, and standards of conduct are posted and shall be provided to students and faculty.
        (7) This Section does not create any additional
    
employee bargaining rights and does not remove any employee bargaining rights.
        (8) Statutory and regulatory curricular mandates and
    
offerings may be administered via a district's remote and blended remote learning day plan, except that a district may not offer individual behind-the-wheel instruction required by Section 27-24.2 via a district's remote and blended remote learning day plan. This Section does not relieve schools and districts from completing all statutory and regulatory curricular mandates and offerings.
(Source: P.A. 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 11A

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 11A heading)
ARTICLE 11A. UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT FORMATION
(Repealed)
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 11B

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 11B heading)
ARTICLE 11B. SCHOOL DISTRICT COMBINATION
(Repealed)
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 11C

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 11C heading)
ARTICLE 11C. ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES

105 ILCS 5/11C-1

    (105 ILCS 5/11C-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 11C-1)
    Sec. 11C-1. Appraisers. The regional superintendent shall appoint one or more appraisers to appraise all the tangible school property in the district from which territory has been taken and the tangible school property in such territory transferred. An appraiser or appraisers may be appointed to appraise all such school property or one or more appraisers may be appointed to appraise the different kinds of property as the regional superintendent may direct. No appraiser shall be a resident of any district which is a party to the accounting. The costs of the appraisal shall be borne by the districts in the ratio in which they share in the assets appraised.
(Source: P.A. 83-686.)

105 ILCS 5/11C-2

    (105 ILCS 5/11C-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 11C-2)
    Sec. 11C-2. Appraisal guide. In making such appraisal land shall be appraised at its fair market value; other property shall be appraised at its reproduction or replacement cost less depreciation and an allowance for obsolescence, if any, but in no event shall any property be appraised at more than its value for school purposes in the district in which it lies after the change in boundaries or its resale value whichever is the higher.
(Source: P.A. 83-686.)

105 ILCS 5/11C-3

    (105 ILCS 5/11C-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 11C-3)
    Sec. 11C-3. Time for filing appraisals - Contest - Administrative review. Within 30 days after their appointment the appraisers shall file their appraisal or appraisals with the regional superintendent. Within 10 days thereafter the regional superintendent shall send copies of such appraisals by registered mail to the secretary or clerk of the board of each district which is a party to the accounting. If the board of any district desires to contest any appraisal it shall file a statement of its objections with the regional superintendent within 20 days after the receipt of a copy of such appraisal. The regional superintendent shall then fix a date for a hearing on such objections and give notice thereof to each district which is a party to the accounting. Each such district may offer evidence at the hearing and the appraisal shall be considered by the regional superintendent as evidence of the value of the property appraised. The regional superintendent shall then consider the evidence and enter an order determining the value of the property in question. Such order shall be deemed an "administrative decision" as defined in the "Administrative Review Law" and any board which is a party to the accounting may apply for a review of such decision in accordance with the "Administrative Review Law" and all amendments and modifications thereof and the rules adopted pursuant thereto.
(Source: P.A. 83-686.)

105 ILCS 5/11C-4

    (105 ILCS 5/11C-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 11C-4)
    Sec. 11C-4. Debited school property. Each district from which territory is taken shall be debited with the value of the school property remaining in such district as above determined and each district which is created so as to include a part of a district shall be debited with the value of the school property lying within such part of a district.
(Source: P.A. 83-686.)

105 ILCS 5/11C-5

    (105 ILCS 5/11C-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 11C-5)
    Sec. 11C-5. Debited school funds. Each district from which territory is taken shall be debited with all funds in the possession of its treasurer and of all other funds to which the district may be entitled, including taxes in process of collection.
(Source: P.A. 83-686.)

105 ILCS 5/11C-6

    (105 ILCS 5/11C-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 11C-6)
    Sec. 11C-6. Credited unfunded indebtedness. Each district from which territory is taken shall be credited with all unfunded indebtedness of such district and with the estimated cost of operating the schools of the district for the balance of the school year if the district from which territory is taken continues to administer the schools until the succeeding July 1.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11C-7

    (105 ILCS 5/11C-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 11C-7)
    Sec. 11C-7. Credited appraised value of property and funds. Each district which is created so as to include a part of another district shall be credited with the appraised value of the property and of the funds described in Sections 11C-4 and 11C-5 of this Act, less the unfunded indebtedness described in Section 11C-6 of this Act, in the proportion which the number of children in average daily attendance for the last full school year preceding the filing of the petition from the part of the district so included bears to the total number of children in average daily attendance from such district for such period, and the balance shall be credited to the district from which territory is taken.
(Source: P.A. 83-686.)

105 ILCS 5/11C-8

    (105 ILCS 5/11C-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 11C-8)
    Sec. 11C-8. Reports. The regional superintendent is hereby given the power to require reports from the treasurer or any other officer of the district from which territory is taken to give it any information necessary for it to perform its functions hereunder and to require from time to time transfers of funds from one treasurer to another, or if the districts have a common treasurer from the funds held by such treasurer for one district to the funds held by such treasurer for the other district as may be necessary to give effect to the accounting herein provided for.
(Source: P.A. 83-686.)

105 ILCS 5/11C-9

    (105 ILCS 5/11C-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 11C-9)
    Sec. 11C-9. Accounting waived. If the stipulation is refused by the regional superintendent the boards of the districts affected by the change in boundaries in the creation of a new district may waive accounting or stipulate as to the valuation of any kind or parcel of property or as to a basis for apportionment by concurrent resolution filed with the regional superintendent prior to or within 30 days after the election of the school board for the newly created district. Such resolution shall be subject to the approval of the regional superintendent and if approved, the accounting shall be dispensed with or modified as the resolution may provide.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 11D

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 11D heading)
ARTICLE 11D. SCHOOL DISTRICT CONVERSION
(Repealed)
Source: Repealed by P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 11E

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 11E heading)
ARTICLE 11E. CONVERSION AND FORMATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-5

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-5)
    Sec. 11E-5. Purpose and applicability. The purpose of this Article is to permit greater flexibility and efficiency in the reorganization and formation of school districts for the improvement of the administration and quality of educational services and for the best interests of pupils. This Article applies only to school districts with under 500,000 inhabitants.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-10

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-10)
    Sec. 11E-10. Definitions. In this Article:
    "Affected district" means any school district with territory included in a petition for reorganization under this Article that encompasses (i) 25% or more of the total land area of the district, (ii) more than 8% of the student enrollment of the district, or (iii) more than 8% of the equalized assessed valuation of the district.
    "Combined high school - unit district" means a school district resulting from the combination of a high school district and a unit district.
    "Combined school district" means any district resulting from the combination of 2 or more entire elementary districts, 2 or more entire high school districts, or 2 or more entire unit districts.
    "Dual district" means a high school district and all of its feeder elementary districts collectively.
    "Elementary district" means a school district organized and established for purposes of providing instruction up to and including grade 8. "Elementary district" includes common elementary school districts, consolidated elementary school districts, community consolidated school districts, combined elementary districts, and charter elementary districts.
    "Elementary purposes" means the purposes of providing instruction up to and including grade 8.
    "High school district" means a school district organized and established for purposes of providing instruction in grades 9 through 12. "High school district" includes charter high school districts, township high school districts, consolidated high school districts, community high school districts, and non-high school districts.
    "High school purposes" means the purposes of providing instruction in grades nine through 12.
    "High school - unit conversion" means a school district conversion authorized under subsection (a) of Section 11E-15 of this Code.
    "K through 12 purposes" means the purposes of providing instruction up to and including grade 12.
    "Multi-unit conversion" means the formation of a combined high school - unit district and one or more new elementary districts as authorized under subsection (b) of Section 11E-30 of this Code.
    "Optional elementary unit district" means a unit district resulting from the combination of a high school district and the combination of any one or more elementary districts electing to organize as an optional elementary unit district.
    "Partial elementary unit district" means either a combined high school - unit district or an optional elementary unit district.
    "School board" means either a board of education or a board of school directors.
    "School district conversion" means a high school - unit conversion or a unit to dual conversion.
    "School needs" means the needs of the proposed school district and any districts in the area adjacent thereto in relation to, without limitation, providing a full range of high quality educational and extracurricular programs, maintaining a full complement of professional staff to deliver optimal educational services, meeting the program and staff needs of all students, including students with disabilities and students in career and technical education courses, maximizing community involvement in school governance, operating on an economically efficient basis, and maintaining a sufficient local tax base.
    "Substantially coterminous" means that a high school district and one or more elementary districts share the same boundaries or share the same boundaries except for territory encompassing, for a particular district, (i) less than 25% of the land area of the district, (ii) less than 8% of the student enrollment of the district, and (iii) less than 8% of the equalized assessed valuation of the district.
    "Unit district" means a school district organized and established for purposes of providing instruction up to and including grade 12. "Unit district" includes charter (K through 12) districts, community unit districts, community consolidated unit districts, other districts that, prior to the adoption of the community consolidated unit district and community unit district, authorizing legislation had expanded to provide instruction through the 12th grade (commonly referred to as "Old Type" unit districts), and partial elementary unit districts organized pursuant to the provisions of this Article.
    "Unit to dual conversion" means a school district conversion authorized under subsection (b) of Section 11E-15 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-15

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-15)
    Sec. 11E-15. School district conversion.
    (a) One or more unit districts and one or more high school districts, all of which are contiguous, may, under the provisions of this Article, be converted into a dual district through the dissolution of the unit district or districts and the high school district or districts if the following apply:
        (1) each elementary district to be created includes
    
all of the territory within a unit district to be dissolved; and
        (2) the high school district to be created includes
    
all of the territory within the unit districts and high school districts to be dissolved.
    (b) Two or more contiguous unit districts may, under the provisions of this Article, dissolve and form a single new high school district and new elementary districts that are based upon the boundaries of the dissolved unit districts.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-20

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-20)
    Sec. 11E-20. Combined school district formation.
    (a)(1) The territory of 2 or more entire contiguous elementary districts may be organized into a combined elementary district under the provisions of this Article.
    (2) Any 2 or more entire elementary districts that collectively are within or substantially coterminous with the boundaries of a high school district, regardless of whether the districts are compact and contiguous with each other, may be organized into a combined school district in accordance with this Article.
    (3) Any 2 or more entire elementary districts that are not contiguous may be organized into a combined school district in accordance with this Article if the following requirements are met and documented within 2 calendar years prior to the petition filing date:
        (A) the distance between each district administrative
    
office is documented as no more than 30 miles; and
        (B) every district contiguous to a district wishing
    
to organize into a combined school district under the provisions of this paragraph (3) determines that it is not interested in participating in a petition for a combined school district filed in accordance with this Article, through a vote of its school board, and documents that non-interest in a letter to the regional superintendent of schools containing approved minutes that record the school board vote.
    (b)(1) The territory of 2 or more entire contiguous high school districts may be organized into a combined high school district under the provisions of this Article.
    (2) Any 2 or more entire high school districts that are not contiguous may be organized into a combined school district in accordance with this Article if the following requirements are met and documented within 2 calendar years prior to the petition filing date:
        (A) the distance between each district administrative
    
office is documented as no more than 30 miles; and
        (B) every district contiguous to a district wishing
    
to organize into a combined school district under the provisions of this paragraph (2) determines that it is not interested in participating in a petition for a combined school district filed in accordance with this Article, through a vote of its school board, and documents that non-interest in a letter to the regional superintendent of schools containing approved minutes that record the school board vote.
    (c)(1) The territory of 2 or more entire contiguous unit districts may be organized into a combined unit district under the provisions of this Article.
    (2) Any 2 or more entire unit districts that are not contiguous may be organized into a combined school district in accordance with this Article if the following requirements are met and documented within 2 calendar years prior to the petition filing date:
        (A) the distance between each district administrative
    
office is documented as no more than 30 miles; and
        (B) every district contiguous to the district wishing
    
to organize into a combined school district under the provisions of this paragraph (2) determines that it is not interested in participating in a petition for a combined school district filed in accordance with this Article, through a vote of its school board, and documents that non-interest in a letter to the regional superintendent of schools containing approved minutes that record the school board vote.
(Source: P.A. 98-125, eff. 8-2-13.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-25

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-25)
    Sec. 11E-25. Unit district formation.
    (a) Any contiguous and compact territory, no part of which is included within any unit district, may be organized into a unit district as provided in this Article.
    (b) The territory of one or more entire unit districts that are contiguous to each other, plus any contiguous and compact territory no part of which is included within any unit district, and the territory of which taken as a whole is compact may be organized into a unit district as provided in this Article.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-30

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-30)
    Sec. 11E-30. Partial elementary unit district formation.
    (a) One or more entire high school districts and one or more entire unit districts, all of which are contiguous, may be organized into a combined high school - unit district as provided in this Article. The combined high school - unit district shall serve all residents of the district for high school purposes and those residents residing in the portion of the territory included within the boundaries of the dissolved unit district or districts for elementary purposes.
    (b) One or more contiguous unit districts may, as provided in this Article, dissolve and form a single new combined high school - unit district and one or more new elementary districts. The boundaries of the new elementary district or districts shall be based upon the boundaries of the dissolved unit district or districts electing to join the combined high school - unit district only for high school purposes. Territory included within the boundaries of the new elementary district or districts shall be served by the new combined high school - unit district only for high school purposes. All other territory within the combined high school - unit district shall be served by the combined high school - unit district for both high school and elementary purposes.
    (c) A high school district and 2 or more elementary districts that collectively are substantially coterminous may seek to organize into an optional elementary unit district as provided in this Article, provided that territory comprising at least 51% of the equalized assessed valuation of the high school district is subject to a combined high school and elementary maximum annual authorized tax rate for educational purposes of 4.0% or less. The optional elementary unit district shall serve all residents of the district for high school purposes. The optional elementary unit district shall serve residents of only those elementary districts electing to join the optional elementary unit district, as determined in accordance with subsection (b) of Section 11E-65 of this Code, for elementary purposes. The corporate existence of any elementary district electing not to join the optional elementary unit district in accordance with subsection (b) of Section 11E-65 of this Code shall not be affected by the formation of an optional elementary unit district, and an elementary district electing not to join the optional elementary unit district shall continue to serve residents of the district for elementary purposes.
    (d)(1) For 5 years following the formation of an optional elementary unit district, any elementary district that elected not to join an optional elementary unit district for elementary purposes may elect to dissolve and combine with the optional elementary unit district by filing a petition that requests the submission of the proposition at a regularly scheduled election for the purpose of voting for or against joining the optional elementary unit district and that complies with the other provisions of this Article.
        (2) After an election in which an elementary district
    
votes to join an optional elementary unit district in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection (d), but prior to the dissolution of the elementary district, the elementary district must first issue funding bonds pursuant to Sections 19-8 and 19-9 of this Code to liquidate any operational deficit or debt incurred or accumulated since the date of the election in which the proposition to form the optional elementary unit district passed. The elementary district shall not be required to comply with the backdoor referenda provisions of Section 19-9 of this Code as a condition of issuing the funding bonds. If applicable, the tax levy to pay the debt service on the funding bonds shall not be included in the district's aggregate extension base under Section 18-210 of the Property Tax Code. Taxes levied to repay principal and interest on any long term debt incurred or accumulated between the date of the election in which the proposition to form the optional elementary unit district passed and the date of the elementary district's dissolution and joining the optional elementary unit district in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection (d) shall be levied and extended only against the territory of the elementary district as it existed prior to dissolution.
        (3) If all eligible elementary districts elect to
    
join an optional elementary unit district in accordance with this subsection (d), the optional elementary unit district shall thereafter be deemed a unit district for all purposes of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-35

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-35)
    Sec. 11E-35. Petition filing.
    (a) A petition shall be filed with the regional superintendent of schools of the educational service region in which the territory described in the petition or that part of the territory with the greater percentage of equalized assessed valuation is situated. The petition must do the following:
        (1) be signed by at least 50 legal resident voters or
    
10% of the legal resident voters, whichever is less, residing within each affected district; or
        (2) be approved by the school board in each affected
    
district.
    (b) The petition shall contain all of the following:
        (1) A request to submit the proposition at a regular
    
scheduled election for the purpose of voting:
            (A) for or against a high school - unit
        
conversion;
            (B) for or against a unit to dual conversion;
            (C) for or against the establishment of a
        
combined elementary district;
            (D) for or against the establishment of a
        
combined high school district;
            (E) for or against the establishment of a
        
combined unit district;
            (F) for or against the establishment of a unit
        
district from dual district territory exclusively;
            (G) for or against the establishment of a unit
        
district from both dual district and unit district territory;
            (H) for or against the establishment of a
        
combined high school - unit district from a combination of one or more high school districts and one or more unit districts;
            (I) for or against the establishment of a
        
combined high school - unit district and one or more new elementary districts through a multi-unit conversion;
            (J) for or against the establishment of an
        
optional elementary unit district from a combination of a substantially coterminous dual district; or
            (K) for or against dissolving and becoming part
        
of an optional elementary unit district.
        (2) A description of the territory comprising the
    
districts proposed to be dissolved and those to be created, which, for an entire district, may be a general reference to all of the territory included within that district.
        (3) A specification of the maximum tax rates for
    
various purposes the proposed district or districts shall be authorized to levy for various purposes and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Section 11E-80 of this Code.
        (4) A description of how supplementary State deficit
    
difference payments made under subsection (c) of Section 11E-135 of this Code will be allocated among the new districts proposed to be formed.
        (5) Where applicable, a division of assets and
    
liabilities to be allocated to the proposed new or annexing school district or districts in the manner provided in Section 11E-105 of this Code.
        (6) If desired, a request that at that same election
    
as the reorganization proposition a school board or boards be elected on a separate ballot or ballots to serve as the school board or boards of the proposed new district or districts. Any election of board members at the same election at which the proposition to create the district or districts to be served by the board or boards is submitted to the voters shall proceed under the supervision of the regional superintendent of schools as provided in Section 11E-55 of this Code.
        (7) If desired, a request that the referendum at
    
which the proposition is submitted for the purpose of voting for or against the establishment of a unit district (other than a partial elementary unit district) include as part of the proposition the election of board members by school board district rather than at large. Any petition requesting the election of board members by district shall divide the proposed school district into 7 school board districts, each of which must be compact and contiguous and substantially equal in population to each other school board district. Any election of board members by school board district shall proceed under the supervision of the regional superintendent of schools as provided in Section 11E-55 of this Code.
        (8) If desired, a request that the referendum at
    
which the proposition is submitted for the purpose of voting for or against the establishment of a unit to dual conversion include as part of the proposition the election of board members for the new high school district (i) on an at large basis, (ii) with board members representing each of the forming elementary school districts, or (iii) a combination of both. The format for the election of the new high school board must be defined in the petition. When 4 or more unit school districts and a combination of board members representing each of the forming elementary school districts are involved and at large formats are used, one member must be elected from each of the forming elementary school districts. The remaining members may be elected on an at large basis, provided that none of the underlying elementary school districts have a majority on the resulting high school board. When 3 unit school districts and a combination of board members representing each of the forming elementary school districts are involved and at large formats are used, 2 members must be elected from each of the forming elementary school districts. The remaining member must be elected at large.
        (9) If desired, a request that the referendum at
    
which the proposition shall be submitted include a proposition on a separate ballot authorizing the issuance of bonds by the district or districts when organized in accordance with this Article. However, if the petition is submitted for the purpose of voting for or against the establishment of an optional elementary unit district, the petition may request only that the referendum at which the proposition is submitted include a proposition on a separate ballot authorizing the issuance of bonds for high school purposes (and not elementary purposes) by the district when organized in accordance with this Article. The principal amount of the bonds and the purposes of issuance, including a specification of elementary or high school purposes if the proposed issuance is to be made by a combined high school - unit district, shall be stated in the petition and in all notices and propositions submitted thereunder. Only residents in the territory of the district proposing the bond issuance may vote on the bond issuance.
        (10) A designation of a committee of ten of the
    
petitioners as attorney in fact for all petitioners, any 7 of whom may at any time, prior to the final decision of the regional superintendent of schools, amend the petition in all respects (except that, for a unit district formation, there may not be an increase or decrease of more than 25% of the territory to be included in the proposed district) and make binding stipulations on behalf of all petitioners as to any question with respect to the petition, including the power to stipulate to accountings or the waiver thereof between school districts.
    (c) The regional superintendent of schools shall not accept for filing under the authority of this Section any petition that includes any territory already included as part of the territory described in another pending petition filed under the authority of this Section.
    (d)(1) Those designated as the Committee of Ten shall serve in that capacity until such time as the regional superintendent of schools determines that, because of death, resignation, transfer of residency from the territory, failure to qualify, or any other reason, the office of a particular member of the Committee of Ten is vacant. Upon determination by the regional superintendent of schools that these vacancies exist, he or she shall declare the vacancies and shall notify the remaining members to appoint a petitioner or petitioners, as the case may be, to fill the vacancies in the Committee of Ten so designated. An appointment by the Committee of Ten to fill a vacancy shall be made by a simple majority vote of the designated remaining members.
    (2) Failure of a person designated as a member of the Committee of Ten to sign the petition shall not disqualify that person as a member of the Committee of Ten, and that person may sign the petition at any time prior to final disposition of the petition and the conclusion of the proceedings to form a new school district or districts, including all litigation pertaining to the petition or proceedings.
    (3) Except as stated in item (10) of subsection (b) of this Section, the Committee of Ten shall act by majority vote of the membership.
    (4) The regional superintendent of schools may accept a stipulation made by the Committee of Ten instead of evidence or proof of the matter stipulated or may refuse to accept the stipulation, provided that the regional superintendent sets forth the basis for the refusal.
    (5) The Committee of Ten may voluntarily dismiss its petition at any time before a final decision is issued by the State Superintendent of Education.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06; 95-903, eff. 8-25-08.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-40

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-40)
    Sec. 11E-40. Notice and petition amendments.
    (a) Upon the filing of a petition with the regional superintendent of schools as provided in Section 11E-35 of this Code, the regional superintendent shall do all of the following:
        (1) Cause a copy of the petition to be given to each
    
school board of the affected districts and the regional superintendent of schools of any other educational service region in which territory described in the petition is situated.
        (2) Cause a notice thereof to be published at least
    
once each week for 3 successive weeks in at least one newspaper having general circulation within the area of all of the territory of the proposed district or districts. The expense of publishing the notice shall be borne by the petitioners and paid on behalf of the petitioners by the Committee of Ten.
    (b) The notice shall state all of the following:
        (1) When and to whom the petition was presented.
        (2) The prayer of the petition.
        (3) A description of the territory comprising the
    
districts proposed to be dissolved and those to be created, which, for an entire district, may be a general reference to all of the territory included within that district.
        (4) If applicable, the proposition to elect, by
    
separate ballot, school board members at the same election, indicating whether the board members are to be elected at large or by school board district.
        (5) If requested in the petition, the proposition to
    
issue bonds, indicating the amount and purpose thereof.
        (6) The day, time, and location on which the hearing
    
on the action proposed in the petition shall be held.
    (c) The requirements of subsection (g) of Section 28-2 of the Election Code do not apply to any petition filed under this Article. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Election Code, the regional superintendent of schools shall make all determinations regarding the validity of the petition, including without limitation signatures on the petition, subject to State Superintendent and administrative review in accordance with Section 11E-50 of this Code.
    (d) Prior to the hearing described in Section 11E-45 of this Code, the regional superintendent of schools shall inform the Committee of Ten as to whether the petition, as amended or filed, is proper and in compliance with all applicable petition requirements set forth in the Election Code. If the regional superintendent determines that the petition is not in proper order or not in compliance with any applicable petition requirements set forth in the Election Code, the regional superintendent must identify the specific alleged defects in the petition and include specific recommendations to cure the alleged defects. The Committee of Ten may amend the petition to cure the alleged defects at any time prior to the receipt of the regional superintendent's written order made in accordance with subsection (a) of Section 11E-50 of this Code or may elect not to amend the petition, in which case the Committee of Ten may appeal a denial by the regional superintendent following the hearing in accordance with Section 11E-50 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06; 95-903, eff. 8-25-08.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-45

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-45)
    Sec. 11E-45. Hearing.
    (a) No more than 15 days after the last date on which the required notice under Section 11E-40 of this Code is published, the regional superintendent of schools with whom the petition is required to be filed shall hold a hearing on the petition. Prior to the hearing, the Committee of Ten shall submit to the regional superintendent maps showing the districts involved and any other information deemed pertinent by the Committee of Ten to the proposed action. The regional superintendent of schools may adjourn the hearing from time to time or may continue the matter for want of sufficient notice or other good cause.
    (b) At the hearing, the regional superintendent of schools shall allow public testimony on the action proposed in the petition. The Committee of Ten shall present, or arrange for the presentation of all of the following:
        (1) Evidence as to the school needs and conditions in
    
the territory described in the petition and the area adjacent thereto.
        (2) Evidence with respect to the ability of the
    
proposed district or districts to meet standards of recognition as prescribed by the State Board of Education.
        (3) A consideration of the division of funds and
    
assets that will occur if the petition is approved.
        (4) A description of the maximum tax rates the
    
proposed district or districts is authorized to levy for various purposes and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Section 11E-80 of this Code.
        (5) For a non-contiguous combined school district, as
    
specified in paragraph (3) of subsection (a), paragraph (2) of subsection (b), or paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of Section 11E-20 of this Code, evidence that the action proposed in the petition meets the requirements of the respective paragraph.
    (c) Any regional superintendent of schools entitled under the provisions of this Article to be given a copy of the petition and any resident or representative of a school district in which any territory described in the petition is situated may appear in person or by an attorney at law to provide oral or written testimony or both in relation to the action proposed in the petition.
    (d) The regional superintendent of schools shall arrange for a written transcript of the hearing. The expense of the written transcript shall be borne by the petitioners and paid on behalf of the petitioners by the Committee of Ten.
(Source: P.A. 98-125, eff. 8-2-13.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-50

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-50)
    Sec. 11E-50. Approval or denial of the petition; administrative review.
    (a) Within 14 days after the conclusion of the hearing under Section 11E-45 of this Code, the regional superintendent of schools shall take into consideration the school needs and conditions of the affected districts and in the area adjacent thereto, the division of funds and assets that will result from the action described in the petition, the best interests of the schools of the area, and the best interests and the educational welfare of the pupils residing therein and, through a written order, either approve or deny the petition. If the regional superintendent fails to act upon a petition within 14 days after the conclusion of the hearing, the regional superintendent shall be deemed to have denied the petition.
    (b) Upon approving or denying the petition, the regional superintendent of schools shall submit the petition and all evidence to the State Superintendent of Education. The State Superintendent shall review the petition, the record of the hearing, and the written order of the regional superintendent, if any. Within 21 days after the receipt of the regional superintendent's decision, the State Superintendent shall take into consideration the school needs and conditions of the affected districts and in the area adjacent thereto, the division of funds and assets that will result from the action described in the petition, the best interests of the schools of the area, and the best interests and the educational welfare of the pupils residing therein and, through a written order, either approve or deny the petition. If the State Superintendent denies the petition, the State Superintendent shall set forth in writing the specific basis for the denial. The decision of the State Superintendent shall be deemed an administrative decision as defined in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The State Superintendent shall provide a copy of the decision by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Committee of Ten, any person appearing in support or opposition of the petition at the hearing, each school board of a district in which territory described in the petition is situated, the regional superintendent with whom the petition was filed, and the regional superintendent of schools of any other educational service region in which territory described in the petition is situated.
    (c) Any resident of any territory described in the petition who appears in support of or opposition to the petition at the hearing or any petitioner or school board of any district in which territory described in the petition is situated may, within 35 days after a copy of the decision sought to be reviewed was served by certified mail, return receipt requested, upon the party affected thereby or upon the attorney of record for the party, apply for a review of an administrative decision of the State Superintendent of Education in accordance with the Administrative Review Law and any rules adopted pursuant to the Administrative Review Law. The commencement of any action for review shall operate as a supersedeas, and no further proceedings shall be had until final disposition of the review. The circuit court of the county in which the petition is filed with the regional superintendent of schools shall have sole jurisdiction to entertain a complaint for the review.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06; 95-903, eff. 8-25-08.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-55

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-55)
    Sec. 11E-55. Holding of elections.
    (a) Elections provided by this Article shall be conducted in accordance with the general election law. The regional superintendent of schools shall perform the election duties assigned by law to the secretary of a school board for the election and shall certify the officers and candidates therefore pursuant to the general election law.
    (b) Nomination papers filed under this Article are not valid unless the candidate named therein files with the regional superintendent of schools a receipt from the county clerk showing that the candidate has filed a statement of economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. This receipt shall be so filed either previously during the calendar year in which his or her nomination papers were filed or within the period for the filing of nomination papers in accordance with the general election law.
    (c)(1) If the petition requests the election of school board members of the school district proposed to be created at the same election at which the proposition to establish that district is to be submitted to voters or if the regional superintendent of schools finds it to be in the best interest of the districts involved to elect school board members of the school district proposed to be created at a consolidated election or general primary election, then that fact shall be included in the notice of referendum.
    (2) If the members of the school board of the school district proposed to be created are not to be elected at the same election at which the proposition to establish that district is to be submitted to the voters, then the regional superintendent of schools shall order an election to be held on the next regularly scheduled election date for the purpose of electing a school board for that district.
    (3) In either event, the school board elected for a new school district or districts created under this Article shall consist of 7 members who shall have the terms and the powers and duties of school boards as provided by statute.
    (d) All notices regarding propositions for reorganization or creation of new school districts under this Article shall be given in accordance with the general election law in substantially the following form:
        (1) Notice in high school - unit conversion or unit
    
to dual conversion:

 
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM TO DISSOLVE
CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND
ESTABLISH CERTAIN NEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS

        NOTICE is hereby given that on (insert date), a
    
referendum will be held in part(s) of ....... county (counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to dissolve (here identify the school districts to be dissolved by name and number) and to establish new school districts for the following described territory: A new (here specify elementary, high school, or unit) district shall be formed from (here describe the territory, which, for territory currently included in an entire school district, may be a general reference to all of the territory included within that particular school district). (Here repeat the territory information for each new school district.)
        The election is called and will be held pursuant to
    
an order of the Regional Superintendent dated on (insert date), which order states that if a majority of the voters in each of the affected districts voting on the proposition at the referendum vote in favor thereof, the tax rates for various purposes of the new districts shall be as follows: For the new (here specify elementary, high school, or unit) district formed from the territory of (here describe territory, which, for territory currently included in an entire school district, may be a general reference to all of the territory included within that particular district), the tax rates for various purposes shall be (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the proposed school district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Section 11E-80 of this Code). (Here repeat the tax rate information for each new school district.)
    Dated (insert date).
    Regional Superintendent of Schools ..................
 
        (2) Notice for combined school district formation:
 
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM
TO ESTABLISH COMBINED SCHOOL DISTRICT

        NOTICE is hereby given that on (insert date), a
    
referendum will be held in part(s) of ....... county (counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to establish a combined (here insert elementary, high school, or unit) school district for the following described territory: (here describe the territory, which, for territory currently included in an entire school district, may be a general reference to all of the territory included within that particular school district). The election is called and will be held pursuant to an order of the Regional Superintendent dated on (insert date), which order states that if a majority of the voters in each of the affected school districts voting on the proposition at the referendum vote in favor thereof, the tax rates for various purposes of the proposed combined school district shall be (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the proposed combined school district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Section 11E-80 of this Code).
    Dated (insert date).
    Regional Superintendent of Schools ..................
 
        (3) Notice for unit district formation (other than a
    
partial elementary unit district):

 
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM TO ESTABLISH
A COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT

        NOTICE is hereby given that on (insert date), a
    
referendum will be held in part(s) of ....... county (counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to establish a unit district for the following described territory: (here describe the territory, which, for territory currently included in an entire school district, may be a general reference to all of the territory included within that particular school district). The election is called and will be held pursuant to an order of the Regional Superintendent dated on (insert date), which order states that if a majority of the voters in each of the affected school districts voting on the proposition at the referendum vote in favor thereof, the tax rates for various purposes for the proposed unit district shall be (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the proposed unit district shall be authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Section 11E-80 of this Code).
    Dated (insert date).
    Regional Superintendent of Schools ..................
 
        (4) Notice for combined high school - unit district
    
formation:

 
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM
TO ESTABLISH COMBINED HIGH SCHOOL - UNIT DISTRICT

        NOTICE is hereby given that on (insert date), a
    
referendum will be held in part(s) of ....... county (counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to establish a combined high school - unit district for the following described territory: (here describe the territory, which, for territory currently included in an entire school district, may be a general reference to all of the territory included within that particular school district). The following described territory shall be included in the combined high school - unit district for high school purposes only: (here describe the territory that will be included only for high school purposes, which, for territory currently included in an entire school district, may be a general reference to all of the territory included within that particular school district). The election is called and will be held pursuant to an order of the Regional Superintendent dated on (insert date), which order states that if a majority of the voters in each of the affected school districts voting on the proposition at the referendum vote in favor thereof, the tax rates for various purposes for the proposed combined high school - unit district shall be (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the proposed combined high school - unit district shall be authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Sections 11E-80 and 11E-90 of this Code).
    Dated (insert date).
    Regional Superintendent of Schools ..................
 
         (5) Notice for multi-unit conversion:
 
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM TO DISSOLVE CERTAIN
UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ESTABLISH CERTAIN
NEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS

        NOTICE is hereby given that on (insert date), a
    
referendum will be held in part(s) of ....... county (counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to dissolve (here identify the districts to be dissolved by name and number) and to establish new school districts for the following described territory: A new (here specify elementary or combined high school - unit) district shall be formed from (here describe the territory, which, for territory currently included in an entire school district, may be a general reference to all of the territory included within that particular school district). (Here repeat the territory information for each new school district.) The following described territory shall be included in the proposed combined high school - unit district only for high school purposes: (here describe the territory that will only be included for high school purposes, which, for territory currently included in an entire school district, may be a general reference to all of the territory included within that particular school district).
        The election is called and will be held pursuant to
    
an order of the Regional Superintendent dated on (insert date), which order states that if a majority of the voters in each of the affected districts voting on the proposition at the referendum vote in favor thereof, the tax rates for various purposes of the new districts shall be as follows: For the new elementary district formed from the territory of (here identify the unit district by name and number) the tax rates for various purposes shall be (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the proposed elementary district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Section 11E-80 of this Code). (Here repeat the tax rate and Property Tax Extension Limitation Law information for each new elementary district.) For the new combined high school - unit district, the tax rates for various purposes shall be (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the proposed combined high school - unit district shall be authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Sections 11E-80 and 11E-90 of this Code).
    Dated (insert date).
    Regional Superintendent of Schools ..................
 
        (6) Notice for optional elementary unit district
    
formation:

 
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM TO ESTABLISH
AN OPTIONAL ELEMENTARY UNIT DISTRICT

        NOTICE is hereby given that on (insert date), a
    
referendum will be held in part(s) of ....... county (counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to establish an optional elementary unit district for the following described territory: (here describe the elementary and high school district territory by name and number). If a majority of the voters in one or more of the affected elementary districts and in the affected high school district voting on the proposition at the referendum vote in favor thereof, all of the territory included within the affected high school district shall be included in the optional elementary unit district for high school purposes. However, only the territory of elementary districts in which a majority of the voters voting in the proposition at the referendum vote in favor thereof shall be included in the optional elementary unit district for elementary purposes. The election is called and will be held pursuant to an order of the Regional Superintendent dated on (insert date), which order states that if a majority of the voters in one or more of the affected elementary districts and in the affected high school district voting on the proposition at the referendum vote in favor thereof, the tax rates for various purposes for the proposed optional elementary unit district shall be (here list the maximum tax rates for various purposes the proposed optional elementary unit district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Sections 11E-80 and 11E-95 of this Code).
    Dated (insert date).
    Regional Superintendent of Schools ..................
 
        (7) Notice for an elementary district to opt into a
    
partial elementary unit district:

 
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM TO JOIN
AN OPTIONAL ELEMENTARY UNIT DISTRICT

        NOTICE is hereby given that on (insert date), a
    
referendum will be held in part(s) of ....... county (counties) for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to dissolve an elementary district and join an optional elementary unit district for kindergarten through 12 grade-level purposes for all of the territory included within (here identify the elementary district by name and number). The election is called and will be held pursuant to an order of the Regional Superintendent dated on (insert date), which order states that if a majority of the voters in the elementary school district voting on the proposition at the referendum vote in favor thereof, the tax rates for various purposes for the optional elementary unit district shall be (here list the maximum tax rates for various purposes the optional elementary unit district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Sections 11E-80 and 11E-95 of this Code) and the elementary district, prior to dissolution, shall issue funding bonds pursuant to Sections 19-8 and 19-9 of the School Code to liquidate any operational deficit or debt incurred or accumulated since the date of the election in which the proposition to form the optional elementary unit district passed.
    Dated (insert date).
    Regional Superintendent of Schools ....................
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-60

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-60)
    Sec. 11E-60. Ballots.
    (a) Separate ballots shall be used for the election in each affected district. If the petition requests the submission of a proposition for the issuance of bonds, then that question shall be submitted to the voters at the referendum on a separate ballot.
    (b) Ballots for all reorganization propositions submitted under the provisions of this Article must be in substantially the following form:
        (1) Ballot for high school - unit conversion or unit
    
to dual conversion:

 
        OFFICIAL BALLOT
 
        Shall (here identify the districts to be dissolved by
    
name and number) be dissolved and new school districts be established as follows: a new (here specify elementary, high school, or unit) district formed from all of the territory included within (here identify the existing school district by name and number), with the authority to levy taxes for various purposes as follows: (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the new school district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Section 11E-80 of this Code), each upon all of the taxable property of the school district at the value thereof, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, and a new (here repeat the information for each new school district)?

 
        The election authority must record the votes "Yes" or
    
"No".

 
        (2) Ballot for combined school district formation:
 
        OFFICIAL BALLOT
 
        Shall a combined (here insert elementary, high, or
    
unit) school district, with the authority to levy taxes at the rate of (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the new unit district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Section 11E-80 of this Code), each upon all of the taxable property of the district at the value thereof, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, be established?

 
        The election authority must record the votes "Yes" or
    
"No".

 
        (3) Ballot for unit district formation (other than a
    
partial elementary unit district formation):

 
        OFFICIAL BALLOT
 
        Shall a unit district, with the authority to levy
    
taxes at the rate of (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the new unit district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Section 11E-80 of this Code), each upon all of the taxable property of the district at the value thereof, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, be established?

 
        The election authority must record the votes "Yes" or
    
"No".

 
        (4) Ballot for a combined high school - unit district
    
formation:

 
        OFFICIAL BALLOT
 
        Shall a combined high school - unit district formed
    
from all of the territory included within (here identify existing school districts by name and number), serving the territory included within (here identify existing school district by name and number) only for high school purposes, with the authority to levy taxes for various purposes as follows: (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the new combined high school - unit district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Sections 11E-80 and 11E-90 of this Code), each upon all of the taxable property of the district at the value thereof, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, be established?

 
        The election authority must record the votes "Yes" or
    
"No".

 
        (5) Ballot for an optional elementary unit district
    
formation:

 
        OFFICIAL BALLOT
 
        Shall an optional elementary unit district, with the
    
authority to levy taxes at the rate of (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the new optional elementary unit district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Sections 11E-80 and 11E-95 of this Code), each upon all of the taxable property of the district at the value thereof, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, be established?

 
        The election authority must record the votes "Yes" or
    
"No".

 
        (6) Ballot for multi-unit conversion:
 
        OFFICIAL BALLOT
 
        Shall (here identify the districts to be dissolved by
    
name and number) be dissolved and new school districts established as follows: a new elementary district formed from all of the territory included within (here identify the existing school district by name and number), with the authority to levy taxes for various purposes as follows: (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the new school district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Section 11E-80 of this Code), each upon all of the taxable property of the school district at the value thereof, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, (here repeat the information for each new elementary school district), and a new combined high school - unit district formed from all of the territory included within (here identify the existing school district by name and number), with the authority to levy taxes for various purposes as follows: (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the new combined high school - unit district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Sections 11E-80 and 11E-90 of this Code), each upon all of the taxable property of the school district at the value thereof, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue?

 
        The election authority must record the votes "Yes" or
    
"No".

 
        (7) Ballot for an elementary school district to
    
dissolve and join an optional elementary unit district:

 
        OFFICIAL BALLOT
 
        Shall (here identify the elementary district by name
    
and number) be dissolved and join (here identify the optional elementary unit district by name and number), with the authority to levy taxes at the rate of (here specify the maximum tax rates for various purposes the optional elementary unit district is authorized to levy and, if applicable, the specifications related to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, in accordance with Sections 11E-80 and 11E-95 of this Code), each upon all of the taxable property of the district at the value thereof, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue and shall (here identify the elementary district by name and number), prior to dissolution, issue funding bonds pursuant to Sections 19-8 and 19-9 of the School Code to liquidate any operational deficit or debt incurred or accumulated since the date of the election in which the proposition to form (here identify the optional elementary unit district by name and number) passed?

 
        The election authority must record the votes "Yes" or
    
"No".
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06; 95-903, eff. 8-25-08.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-65

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-65)
    Sec. 11E-65. Passage requirements.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section, if a majority of the electors voting at the election in each affected district vote in favor of the proposition submitted to them, then the proposition shall be deemed to have passed.
    (b) In the case of an optional elementary unit district to be created as provided in subsection (c) of Section 11E-30 of this Code, if a majority of the electors voting in the high school district and a majority of the voters voting in at least one affected elementary district vote in favor of the proposition submitted to them, then the proposition shall be deemed to have passed and an optional elementary unit district shall be created for all of the territory included in the petition for high school purposes, and for the territory included in the affected elementary districts voting in favor of the proposition for elementary purposes.
    (c) In the case of an elementary district electing to join an optional elementary unit district in accordance with subsection (d) of Section 11E-30 of this Code, a majority of the electors voting in that elementary district only must vote in favor of the proposition at a regularly scheduled election.
    (d)(1) If a majority of the voters in at least 2 unit districts have voted in favor of a proposition to create a new unit district, but the proposition was not approved under the standards set forth in subsection (a) of this Section, then the members of the Committee of Ten shall submit an amended petition for consolidation to the school boards of those districts, as long as the territory involved is compact and contiguous. The petition submitted to the school boards shall be identical in form and substance to the petition previously approved by the regional superintendent of schools, with the sole exception that the territory comprising the proposed district shall be amended to include the compact and contiguous territory of those unit districts in which a majority of the voters voted in favor of the proposal.
    (2) Each school board to which the petition is submitted shall meet and vote to approve or not approve the amended petition no more than 30 days after it has been filed with the school board. The regional superintendent of schools shall make available to each school board with which a petition has been filed all transcripts and records of the previous petition hearing. The school boards shall, by appropriate resolution, approve or disapprove the amended petition. No school board may approve an amended petition unless it first finds that the territory described in the petition is compact and contiguous.
    (3) If a majority of the members of each school board to whom a petition is submitted votes in favor of the amended petition, then the approved petition shall be transmitted by the secretary of each school board to the State Superintendent of Education, who shall, within 21 days after receipt, approve or deny the amended petition based on the criteria stated in subsection (b) of Section 11E-50 of this Code. If approved by the State Superintendent of Education, the petition shall be placed on the ballot at the next regularly scheduled election.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06; 95-903, eff. 8-25-08.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-70

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-70)
    Sec. 11E-70. Effective date of change.
    (a) Except as provided in subsections (a-5) and (a-10) of this Section, if a petition is filed under the authority of this Article, the change is granted and approved at election, and no appeal is taken, then the change shall become effective after the time for appeal has run for the purpose of all elections; however, the change shall not affect the administration of the schools until July 1 following the date that the school board election is held for the new district or districts and the school boards of the districts as they existed prior to the change shall exercise the same power and authority over the territory until that date.
    (a-5) If a petition is filed under the authority of this Article for the consolidation of Christopher Unit School District 99 and Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District 188, the change is granted and approved at election, and no appeal is taken, then the change shall become effective after one or both of the school districts have been awarded school construction grants under the School Construction Law.
    (a-10) If (i) a petition is filed under the authority of this Article for the reorganization of 2 or more school districts that requires a new school building to effectively educate students, (ii) the change is granted and approved at an election, and (iii) no appeal is taken, then, with the approval of the regional superintendent of schools, the change may become effective after one or more of the school districts have been awarded school construction grants, in accordance with the School Construction Law. The intent to postpone the reorganization's effective date must be documented in the petition, and the petition is void if it does not take effect within 5 years after being filed. After the referendum approval and before the effective date of the reorganization, the petition becomes void if the following requirements are met:
        (1) the board of each affected district, by proper
    
resolution, causes the proposition to void the petition to be submitted to the voters of each affected district at a regularly scheduled election; and
        (2) a majority of the electors voting at the
    
election in each affected district votes in favor of voiding the petition.
    (b) If any school district is dissolved in accordance with this Article, upon the close of the then current school year, the terms of office of the school board of the dissolved district shall terminate.
    (c) New districts shall be permitted to organize and elect officers within the time prescribed by the general election law. Additionally, between the date of the organization and the election of officers and the date on which the new district takes effect for all purposes, the new district shall also be permitted, with the stipulation of the districts from which the new district is formed and the approval of the regional superintendent of schools, to take all action necessary or appropriate to do the following:
        (1) Establish the tax levy for the new district, in
    
lieu of the levies by the districts from which the new district is formed, within the time generally provided by law and in accordance with this Article. The funds produced by the levy shall be transferred to the new district as generally provided by law at such time as they are received by the county collector.
        (2) Enter into agreements with depositories and
    
direct the deposit and investment of any funds received from the county collector or any other source, all as generally provided by law.
        (3) Conduct a search for the superintendent of the
    
new district and enter into a contract with the person selected to serve as the superintendent of the new district in accordance with the provisions of this Code generally applicable to the employment of a superintendent.
        (4) Conduct a search for other administrators and
    
staff of the new district and enter into a contract with these persons in accordance with the provisions of this Code generally applicable to the employment of administrators and other staff.
        (5) Engage the services of accountants, architects,
    
attorneys, and other consultants, including but not limited to consultants to assist in the search for the superintendent.
        (6) Plan for the transition from the administration
    
of the schools by the districts from which the new district is formed.
        (7) Bargain collectively, pursuant to the Illinois
    
Educational Labor Relations Act, with the certified exclusive bargaining representative or certified exclusive bargaining representatives of the new district's employees.
        (8) Expend the funds received from the levy and any
    
funds received from the districts from which the new district is formed to meet payroll and other essential operating expenses or otherwise in the exercise of the foregoing powers until the new district takes effect for all purposes.
        (9) Issue bonds authorized in the proposition to form
    
the new district or bonds pursuant to and in accordance with all of the requirements of Section 17-2.11 of this Code, levy taxes upon all of the taxable property within the new district to pay the principal of and interest on those bonds as provided by statute, expend the proceeds of the bonds and enter into any necessary contracts for the work financed therewith as authorized by statute, and avail itself of the provisions of other applicable law, including the Omnibus Bond Acts, in connection with the issuance of those bonds.
    (d) After the granting of a petition has become final and approved at election, the date when the change becomes effective for purposes of administration and attendance may be accelerated or postponed by stipulation of the school board of each district affected and approval by the regional superintendent of schools with which the original petition is required to be filed.
(Source: P.A. 97-925, eff. 8-10-12; 98-125, eff. 8-2-13.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-75

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-75)
    Sec. 11E-75. Map showing change. Within 30 days after a new school district has been created or the boundaries of an existing district have been changed under the provisions of this Article, the regional superintendent of schools of any county involved shall make and file with the county clerk of his or her county a map of any districts changed by the action, whereupon the county clerk or county clerks, as the case may be, shall extend taxes against the territory in accordance therewith.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-80

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-80)
    Sec. 11E-80. Specification of taxing purposes and rates. Whenever taxing purposes and rates are required to be specified or described under this Article for petition, hearing, notice, or ballot requirements, the purposes and rates shall be specified or described in accordance with this Section and, where applicable, shall also include a specification of the aggregate extension base and debt service extension base in accordance with the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law.
        (1) For the formation of a district not subject to
    
the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, other than a partial elementary unit district, all of the following must be done:
            (A) List the maximum rate at which the district
        
will be authorized to levy a tax for educational purposes, operations and maintenance purposes, and pupil transportation purposes (such as .....% for educational purposes, .....% for operations and maintenance purposes, and .....% for pupil transportation purposes), subject to the rate limitations specified in Sections 17-2 and 17-3 of this Code.
            (B) If it is desired to secure authority to levy
        
other taxes above the statutory permissive rate, then list the maximum rate at which the district will be authorized to levy a tax for each such purpose (such as .....% for special educational purposes, .....% for leasing educational facilities or computer technology purposes, .....% for capital improvement purposes, and .....% for fire prevention and safety purposes), subject to all applicable statutory rate limitations.
        (2) For the formation of a district that is subject
    
to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, other than a partial elementary unit district, all of the following must be done:
            (A) List the purpose for each and every tax that
        
the new district will be authorized to levy (such as educational purposes and operations and maintenance purposes).
            (B) For each tax purpose listed, specify the
        
maximum rate at which the district will be authorized to levy each tax (such as .....% for educational purposes and .....% for operations and maintenance purposes), subject to all applicable statutory rate limitations.
            (C) Specify the aggregate extension base the
        
district will seek to establish in conformity with the provisions of Section 18-210 of the Property Tax Code. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, no notice and referendum requirements other than those set forth in this Article shall be required to establish an aggregate extension base for a new district formed in accordance with this Article.
            (D) If desired, specify the debt service
        
extension base the district will seek to establish in accordance with Section 18-212 of the Property Tax Code. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, no notice and referendum requirements other than those set forth in this Article shall be required to establish a debt service extension base for a new district formed in accordance with this Article.
        (3) For the formation of a partial elementary unit
    
district not subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, the purposes and tax rate information required by subsection (b) of Section 11E-90 or subsection (b) of Section 11E-95 of this Code, as applicable, must be specified.
        (4) For the formation of a partial elementary unit
    
district that is subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, all of the following must be done:
            (A) List the purpose for each and every tax that
        
the new district will be authorized to levy, including an indication of whether the tax is for grade K through 8 or grade 9 through 12 purposes, to the extent required by Section 11E-90 or 11E-95 of this Code.
            (B) For each tax purpose listed, list the maximum
        
rate at which the district will be authorized to levy each tax, subject to the rate limitations specified in subsection (b) of Section 11E-90 or subsection (b) of Section 11E-95 of this Code, as applicable, and elsewhere in statute.
            (C) Specify the aggregate extension base the
        
district will seek to establish in conformity with the provisions of Section 18-210 of the Property Tax Code. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, no notice and referendum requirements other than those set forth in this Article shall be required to establish an aggregate extension base for a new district formed in accordance with this Article.
            (D) If desired, specify the debt service
        
extension base the district will seek to establish in accordance with Section 18-212 of the Property Tax Code. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, no notice and referendum requirements other than those set forth in this Article shall be required to establish a debt service extension base for a new district formed in accordance with this Article.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-85

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-85)
    Sec. 11E-85. Tax levy and borrowing authority, bonds, and working cash funds; districts other than partial elementary unit districts. The school board of any district involved in a school district conversion or the school board of any new district created under the provisions of this Article other than a partial elementary unit district may do any of the following:
        (1) Levy for the purposes and at not exceeding the
    
rates specified in the petition with respect to each district, which rates thereafter may be increased or decreased in accordance with Sections 17-2 through 17-7 of this Code, and further levy taxes for other purposes as generally permitted by law.
        (2) Borrow money and issue bonds as authorized in
    
Articles 10 and 19 of this Code and as otherwise permitted by law.
        (3) Establish, maintain, or re-create a working cash
    
fund as authorized by Article 20 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-90

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-90)
    Sec. 11E-90. Classification of property, taxes, bonds, and funds for combined high school - unit districts.
    (a) All real property included within the boundaries of a combined high school - unit district created in accordance with this Article shall be classified into either a high school only classification or elementary and high school classification as follows:
        (1) Real property included within the high school
    
only classification shall include all of the real property included within both the boundaries of the combined high school - unit district and the boundaries of a separate school district organized and established for purposes of providing instruction up to and including grade 8.
        (2) Real property included within the elementary and
    
high school classification shall include all of the real property of the combined high school - unit district not included in the high school only classification.
    (b) The petition to establish a combined high school - unit district shall set forth the maximum annual authorized tax rates for the proposed district as follows:
        (1) The petition to establish a combined high school
    
- unit district must include a maximum annual authorized tax rate for both grade K through 8 educational purposes and grade 9 through 12 educational purposes. The rate for grade K through 8 educational purposes shall not exceed 3.5%. The rate for grade 9 through 12 educational purposes shall not exceed 3.5%. The combined rate for both grade K through 8 and grade 9 through 12 educational purposes shall not exceed 4.0%.
        (2) The petition to establish a combined high school
    
- unit district must include a maximum annual authorized tax rate for both grade K through 8 operations and maintenance purposes and grade 9 through 12 operations and maintenance purposes. The rate for grade K through 8 operations and maintenance purposes shall not exceed 0.55%. The rate for grade 9 through 12 operations and maintenance purposes shall not exceed 0.55%. The combined rate for both grade K through 8 and grade 9 through 12 operations and maintenance purposes shall not exceed 0.75%.
        (3) The petition to establish a combined high school
    
- unit district must include a maximum annual authorized tax rate for both grade K through 8 special education purposes and grade 9 through 12 special education purposes. The rate for grade K through 8 special education purposes shall not exceed 0.40%. The rate for grade 9 through 12 special education purposes shall not exceed 0.40%.
        (4) The petition to establish a combined high school
    
- unit district must include a maximum annual authorized tax rate for transportation purposes.
        (5) If it is desired to secure authority to levy
    
other taxes above the permissive rate applicable to unit districts as specified elsewhere in statute, the petition must include the maximum annual authorized tax rate at which the district will be authorized to levy a tax for each such purpose, not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to unit districts as specified elsewhere in statute.
    (c) The school board of any new combined high school - unit district created under the provisions of this Article may levy a tax annually upon all of the taxable property of the district at the value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, as follows:
        (1) For all real property within the district, rates
    
not to exceed the maximum annual authorized grade 9 through 12 educational purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this Section, the maximum annual authorized grade 9 through 12 operation and maintenance purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this Section, the maximum annual authorized grade 9 through 12 special education purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this Section, the maximum annual authorized transportation purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this Section, and for all other purposes, the statutory permissive rate for unit districts or the maximum annual authorized rate for that purpose established in accordance with subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of this Section.
        (2) For all real property in the district included
    
within the elementary and high school classification, in addition to the rates authorized by subdivision (1) of this subsection (c), rates not to exceed the maximum annual authorized grade K through 8 educational purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this Section, the maximum annual authorized grade K through 8 operation and maintenance purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this Section, and the maximum annual authorized grade K through 8 special education purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this Section.
    (d) The school board may, subsequent to the formation of the district and in accordance with Sections 17-2 through 17-7 of this Code, seek to increase the maximum annual authorized tax rates for any statutorily authorized purpose up to the maximum rate set forth in subsection (b) of this Section or otherwise applicable to unit districts as specified elsewhere in statute, whichever is less, subject to the following approval requirements:
        (1) The school board may increase the following
    
rates only after submitting a proper resolution to the voters of the district at any regular scheduled election and obtaining approval by both a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the high school only classification voting on the proposition and a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition:
            (A) The maximum annual authorized grade 9
        
through 12 educational purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
            (B) The maximum annual authorized grade 9
        
through 12 operation and maintenance purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
            (C) The maximum annual authorized grade 9
        
through 12 special education purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this Section.
            (D) The maximum annual authorized transportation
        
purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
            (E) For all other statutorily authorized
        
purposes, any rate exceeding the statutory permissive rate for unit districts established in accordance with subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this Section.
        (2) The school board may increase the following rates
    
only after submitting a proper resolution to the voters of the district living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification at any regular scheduled election and obtaining approval by a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition:
            (A) The maximum annual authorized grade K
        
through 8 educational purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
            (B) The maximum annual authorized grade K
        
through 8 operation and maintenance purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
            (C) The maximum annual authorized grade K
        
through 8 special education purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this Section.
    (e) The school board may, after submitting a proper resolution to the voters of the district at any regular scheduled election, seek to do either of the following:
        (1) Increase or decrease the maximum authorized
    
annual tax rate for grade K through 8 educational purposes with an equal corresponding increase or decrease of the maximum authorized annual tax rate for grade 9 through 12 educational purposes, such that there is no change in the total combined maximum authorized annual tax rate for both purposes.
        (2) Increase or decrease the maximum authorized
    
annual tax rate for grade K through 8 operations and maintenance purposes with an equal corresponding increase or decrease of the maximum authorized annual tax rate for grade 9 through 12 operations and maintenance purposes, such that there is no change in the total combined maximum authorized annual tax rate for both purposes.
    Any modification to maximum authorized annual tax rates pursuant to this subsection (e) must be approved by both a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the high school only classification voting on the proposition and a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition. No maximum tax rate secured hereunder may exceed the maximum tax rate for a particular purpose specified elsewhere in statute.
    (f) The school board may seek to do either of the following:
        (1) Increase the maximum authorized annual tax rate
    
for either grade K through 8 educational purposes or grade K through 8 operations and maintenance purposes with an equal corresponding decrease being effected to the maximum authorized tax rate for the other fund.
        (2) Increase the maximum authorized annual tax rate
    
for either grade 9 through 12 educational purposes or grade 9 through 12 operations and maintenance purposes with an equal corresponding decrease being effected to the maximum authorized tax rate for the other fund.
    A proper resolution to increase and concurrently decrease the maximum authorized annual tax rates for grade K through 8 purposes in accordance with this subsection (f) shall be submitted to the voters of the district residing in the elementary and high school classification at any regular scheduled election and must be approved by a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition. A proper resolution to increase and concurrently decrease the maximum authorized annual tax rates for grade 9 through 12 purposes in accordance with this subsection (f) shall be submitted to all of the voters of the district at any regular scheduled election and must be approved by a majority of voters voting on the proposition. No maximum tax rate secured hereunder may exceed the maximum tax rate for a particular purpose specified elsewhere in statute. The terms and provisions of this subsection (f) shall apply instead of the terms and provisions of Section 17-6.1 of this Code to any concurrent equal increase and decrease in the maximum authorized rates for educational and operations and maintenance purposes by a combined high school - unit district.
    (g) The school board may borrow money and issue bonds for elementary or high school purposes (but not K through 12 purposes) as authorized by Articles 10 and 19 and Section 17-2.11 of this Code and as otherwise permitted by law. All notices, resolutions, and ballots related to borrowing money and issuing bonds in accordance with this subsection (g) shall indicate whether the proposed action is for elementary or high school purposes. Taxes to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on bonds issued for high school purposes shall be extended against the entire district, and taxes to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on bonds issued for elementary purposes shall be extended only against property within the elementary and high school classification. The proposition to issue bonds for high school purposes must be submitted to and approved by a majority of voters of the district voting on the proposition. The proposition to issue bonds for elementary purposes must only be submitted to and approved by a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory proposed to be included or included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition. Notwithstanding the terms and provisions of Section 19-4 of this Code, the board of a combined high school - unit district may not seek to designate any bonds issued for high school purposes as bonds issued for elementary purposes or designate any bonds issued for elementary purposes as bonds issued for high school purposes. Any petition filed in accordance with Section 19-9 of this Code requesting that the proposition to issue bonds for the payment of orders or claims for elementary purposes be submitted to the voters must be signed by 10% or more of the registered voters of the elementary and high school classification. If required pursuant to Section 19-9 of this Code, the proposition to issue bonds for the payment of orders or claims for elementary purposes must only be submitted to and approved by a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition. Taxes to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on any refunding bonds issued in accordance with Article 19 of this Code to refund bonds, coupons, or other evidences of indebtedness for bonds issued by the combined high school - unit district for high school purposes or issued by a district that dissolved to form the combined high school - unit district shall be extended against the entire district. Taxes to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on any refunding bonds issued in accordance with Article 19 of this Code to refund bonds, coupons, or other evidences of indebtedness for bonds issued by the combined high school - unit district for elementary purposes shall only be extended against the property within the elementary and high school classification.
    (h) The school board may establish, maintain, or re-create a working cash fund for elementary or high school purposes (but not K through 12 purposes) as authorized by Article 20 of this Code. All notices, resolutions, and ballots related to the establishment of a working cash fund shall indicate whether the working cash fund shall be for elementary or high school purposes. For purposes of Section 20-2 of this Code, taxes to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on bonds issued to create a working cash fund for high school purposes shall be extended against the entire district, and taxes to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on bonds issued to create a working cash fund for elementary purposes shall be extended only against property within the elementary and high school classification. Any petition filed in accordance with Section 20-7 of this Code requesting that the proposition to issue bonds to establish a working cash fund for elementary purposes be submitted to the voters must be signed by 10% or more of the registered voters of the elementary and high school classification. If required pursuant to Section 20-7 of this Code, the proposition to issue bonds for a working cash fund for elementary purposes must only be submitted to and approved by a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition. Upon the abolishment of the working cash fund for elementary purposes in accordance with Section 20-8 of this Code, the balance shall be transferred to the fund established for the receipt of proceeds from levies specified for grade K through 8 educational purposes. Upon the abolishment of the working cash fund for high school purposes in accordance with Section 20-8 of this Code, the balance shall be transferred to the fund established for the receipt of proceeds from levies specified for grade 9 through 12 educational purposes.
    (i) The school board shall establish separate funds for the receipt of tax proceeds from levies specified for grade K through 8 purposes and grade 9 through 12 purposes in accordance with subdivisions (1) through (3) of subsection (b) of this Section and the receipt of tax and other proceeds from bond issuances for grade K through 8 purposes and grade 9 through 12 purposes in accordance with subsection (g) of this Section. Proceeds received from any levy or bond issuance specified for grade K through 8 purposes shall not be used to pay for any staff, equipment, materials, facilities, buildings, land, or services solely related to instruction in grades 9 through 12. Proceeds received from any levy or bond issuance specified for grade 9 through 12 purposes shall not be used to pay for any staff, equipment, materials, facilities, buildings, land, or services solely related to instruction in grades K through 8. Expenses related to staff, equipment, materials, facilities, buildings, land, or services related to instruction in both grades K through 8 and grades 9 through 12 may be paid from proceeds received from a levy or bond issuance specified for either grade K through 8 purposes or grade 9 through 12 purposes.
    (j) The school board of a combined high school - unit district may abate or abolish any fund in accordance with this Code, provided that no funds may be transferred from an abated or abolished fund specified for grade K through 8 purposes to a fund specified for grade 9 through 12 purposes, and no funds may be transferred from an abated or abolished fund specified for grade 9 through 12 purposes to a fund specified for grade K through 8 purposes.
    (k) To the extent the specific requirements for borrowing money, levying taxes, issuing bonds, establishing, maintaining, or re-creating a working cash fund, and transferring funds by a combined high school - unit district set forth in this Section conflicts with any general requirements for school districts set forth in Article 10, 17, 19, or 20 of this Code, the requirements set forth in this Section shall control over any such general requirements.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-95

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-95)
    Sec. 11E-95. Classification of property, taxes, bonds, and funds for optional elementary unit districts.
    (a) All real property included within the boundaries of an optional elementary unit district created in accordance with this Article shall be classified into either a high school only classification or an elementary and high school classification as follows:
        (1) Real property included within the high school
    
only classification shall include all of the real property included within both the boundaries of the optional elementary unit district and the boundaries of a separate school district organized and established for purposes of providing instruction up to and including grade 8 that did not elect to join the optional elementary unit district in accordance with this Article.
        (2) Real property included within the elementary and
    
high school classification shall include all real property of the optional elementary unit district not included in the high school only classification.
    (b) The petition to establish an optional elementary unit district shall set forth the maximum annual authorized tax rates for the proposed district as follows:
        (1) The petition must specify a maximum annual
    
authorized tax rate for both grade K through 8 educational purposes and grade 9 through 12 educational purposes. The rate for grade K through 8 educational purposes shall not exceed 3.5%. The rate for grade 9 through 12 educational purposes shall not exceed 3.5%. The combined rate for both grade K through 8 and grade 9 through 12 educational purposes shall not exceed 4.0%.
        (2) The petition must specify a maximum annual
    
authorized tax rate for both grade K through 8 operations and maintenance purposes and grade 9 through 12 operations and maintenance purposes. The rate for grade K through 8 operations and maintenance purposes shall not exceed 0.55%. The rate for grade 9 through 12 operations and maintenance purposes shall not exceed 0.55%. The combined rate for both grade K through 8 and grade 9 through 12 operations and maintenance purposes shall not exceed 0.75%.
        (3) The petition must specify a maximum annual
    
authorized tax rate for both grade K through 8 special education purposes and grade 9 through 12 special education purposes. The rate for grade K through 8 special education purposes shall not exceed 0.40%. The rate for grade 9 through 12 special education purposes shall not exceed 0.40%.
        (4) The petition must specify a maximum annual
    
authorized tax rate for transportation purposes.
        (5) If it is desired to secure authority to levy
    
other taxes above the permissive rate applicable to unit districts as specified elsewhere in statute, the petition must specify the maximum annual authorized tax rate at which the district will be authorized to levy a tax for each such purpose, not to exceed the maximum annual authorized tax rate applicable to unit districts as specified elsewhere in statute.
        (6) The aggregate of all rates specified in
    
accordance with this subsection (b) shall not exceed the highest dual district rate, excluding rates for bond and interest levies, applicable to any territory within the high school district included in the petition in the year immediately preceding the creation of the new district.
    (c) The school board of any new optional elementary unit district created under the provisions of this Article may levy a tax annually upon all of the taxable property of the district at the value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue as follows:
        (1) For all real property within the district, rates
    
not to exceed the maximum annual authorized grade 9 through 12 educational purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this Section, the maximum annual authorized grade 9 through 12 operation and maintenance purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this Section, the maximum annual authorized grade 9 through 12 special education purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this Section, the maximum annual authorized transportation purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this Section, and, for all other purposes, the statutory permissive rate for unit districts or the maximum annual authorized rate for that purpose established in accordance with subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of this Section.
        (2) For all real property in the district included
    
within the elementary and high school classification, in addition to the rates authorized by subdivision (1) of this subsection (c), rates not to exceed the maximum annual authorized grade K through 8 educational purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this Section, the maximum annual authorized grade K through 8 operation and maintenance purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this Section, and the maximum annual authorized grade K through 8 special education purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this Section.
    (d) The school board may, subsequent to the formation of the district and in accordance with Sections 17-2 through 17-7 of this Code, seek to increase the maximum annual authorized tax rates for any statutorily authorized purpose up to the maximum rate set forth in subsection (b) of this Section or otherwise applicable to unit school districts as specified elsewhere in statute, whichever is less, subject to the following approval requirements:
        (1) The school board may increase the following
    
rates only after submitting a proper resolution to the voters of the district at any regular scheduled election and obtaining approval by both a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the high school only classification voting on the proposition and a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition:
            (A) The maximum annual authorized grade 9
        
through 12 educational purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
            (B) The maximum annual authorized grade 9
        
through 12 operation and maintenance purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
            (C) The maximum annual authorized grade 9
        
through 12 special education purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
            (D) The maximum annual authorized transportation
        
purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
            (E) For all other statutorily authorized
        
purposes, any rate exceeding the statutory permissive rate for unit districts established in accordance with subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
        (2) The school board may increase the following
    
rates only after submitting a proper resolution to the voters of the district living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification at any regular scheduled election and obtaining approval by a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition:
            (A) The maximum annual authorized grade K
        
through 8 educational purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
            (B) The maximum annual authorized grade K through
        
8 operation and maintenance purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
            (C) The maximum annual authorized grade K
        
through 8 special education purposes rate established in accordance with subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this Section, as may be increased thereafter in accordance with this subsection (d).
    (e) The school board may, after submitting a proper resolution to the voters of the district at any regular scheduled election, seek to do either of the following:
        (1) Increase or decrease the maximum authorized
    
annual tax rate for grade K through 8 educational purposes with an equal corresponding increase or decrease of the maximum authorized annual tax rate for grade 9 through 12 educational purposes, such that there is no change in the total combined maximum authorized annual tax rate for both purposes.
        (2) Increase or decrease the maximum authorized
    
annual tax rate for grade K through 8 operations and maintenance purposes with an equal corresponding increase or decrease of the maximum authorized annual tax rate for grade 9 through 12 operations and maintenance purposes, such that there is no change in the total combined maximum authorized annual tax rate for both purposes.
    Any modification to maximum authorized annual tax rates pursuant to this subsection (e) must be approved by both a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the high school only classification voting on the proposition and a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition. No maximum tax rate secured hereunder may exceed the maximum tax rate for a particular purpose specified elsewhere in statute.
    (f) The school board may seek to do either of the following:
        (1) Increase the maximum authorized annual tax rate
    
for either grade K through 8 educational purposes or grade K through 8 operations and maintenance purposes with an equal corresponding decrease being effected to the maximum authorized tax rate for the other fund.
        (2) Increase the maximum authorized annual tax rate
    
for either grade 9 through 12 educational purposes or grade 9 through 12 operations and maintenance purposes with an equal corresponding decrease being effected to the maximum authorized tax rate for the other fund.
    A proper resolution to increase and concurrently decrease the maximum authorized annual tax rates for grade K through 8 purposes in accordance with this subsection (f) shall be submitted to the voters of the district residing in the elementary and high school classification at any regular scheduled election and must be approved by a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition. A proper resolution to increase and concurrently decrease the maximum authorized annual tax rates for grade 9 through 12 purposes in accordance with this subsection (f) shall be submitted to all of the voters of the district at any regular scheduled election and must be approved by a majority of voters voting on the proposition. No maximum tax rate secured hereunder may exceed the maximum tax rate for a particular purpose specified elsewhere in statute. The terms and provisions of this subsection (f) shall apply instead of the terms and provisions of Section 17-6.1 of this Code to any concurrent equal increase and decrease in the maximum authorized rates for educational and operations and maintenance purposes by an optional elementary unit district.
    (g) The school board may borrow money and issue bonds for elementary or high school purposes (but not grade K through 12 purposes) as authorized by Articles 10 and 19 and Section 17-2.11 of this Code and as otherwise permitted by law. All notices, resolutions, and ballots related to borrowing money and issuing bonds in accordance with this subsection (g) shall indicate whether the proposed action is for elementary or high school purposes. Taxes to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on bonds issued for high school purposes shall be extended against the entire district, and taxes to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on bonds issued for elementary purposes shall be extended only against property within the elementary and high school classification. The proposition to issue bonds for high school purposes must be submitted to and approved by a majority of voters of the district voting on the proposition. The proposition to issue bonds for elementary purposes must only be submitted to and approved by a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition. Notwithstanding the terms and provisions of Section 19-4 of this Code, the board of an optional elementary unit district may not seek to designate any bonds issued for high school purposes as bonds issued for elementary purposes or designate any bonds issued for elementary purposes as bonds issued for high school purposes. Any petition filed in accordance with Section 19-9 of this Code requesting that the proposition to issue bonds for the payment of orders or claims for elementary purposes be submitted to the voters must be signed by 10% or more of the registered voters of the elementary and high school classification. If required pursuant to Section 19-9 of this Code, the proposition to issue bonds for the payment of orders or claims for elementary purposes must only be submitted to and approved by a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition. Taxes to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on any refunding bonds issued in accordance with Article 19 of this Code to refund bonds, coupons, or other evidences of indebtedness for bonds issued by the optional elementary unit district for high school purposes or issued by a district that dissolved to form the optional elementary unit district shall be extended against the entire district. Taxes to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on any refunding bonds issued in accordance with Article 19 of this Code to refund bonds, coupons, or other evidences of indebtedness for bonds issued by the optional elementary unit district for elementary purposes shall only be extended against the property within the elementary and high school classification.
    (h) The school board may establish, maintain, or re-create a working cash fund for elementary or high school purposes (but not grade K through 12 purposes) as authorized by Article 20 of this Code. All notices, resolutions, and ballots related to the establishment of a working cash fund shall indicate whether the working cash fund shall be for elementary or high school purposes. For purposes of Section 20-2 of this Code, taxes to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on bonds issued to create a working cash fund for high school purposes shall be extended against the entire district, and taxes to pay the principal of, interest on, and premium, if any, on bonds issued to create a working cash fund for elementary purposes shall be extended only against property within the elementary and high school classification. Any petition filed in accordance with Section 20-7 of this Code requesting that the proposition to issue bonds to establish a working cash fund for elementary purposes be submitted to the voters must be signed by 10% or more of the registered voters of the elementary and high school classification. If required pursuant to Section 20-7 of this Code, the proposition to issue bonds for a working cash fund for elementary purposes must only be submitted to and approved by a majority of voters living in the portion of the territory included within the elementary and high school classification voting on the proposition. Upon the abolishment of the working cash fund for elementary purposes in accordance with Section 20-8 of this Code, the balance shall be transferred to the fund established for the receipt of proceeds from levies specified for grade K through 8 educational purposes. Upon the abolishment of the working cash fund for high school purposes in accordance with Section 20-8 of this Code, the balance shall be transferred to the fund established for the receipt of proceeds from levies specified for grade 9 through 12 educational purposes.
    (i) The school board shall establish separate funds for the receipt of tax proceeds from levies specified for grade K through 8 purposes and grade 9 through 12 purposes in accordance with subdivisions (1) through (3) of subsection (b) of this Section and the receipt of tax and other proceeds from bond issuances for grade K through 8 purposes and grade 9 through 12 purposes in accordance with subsection (g) of this Section. Proceeds received from any levy or bond issuance specified for grade K through 8 purposes shall not be used to pay for any staff, equipment, materials, facilities, buildings, land, or services solely related to instruction in grades 9 through 12. Proceeds received from any levy or bond issuance specified for grade 9 through 12 purposes shall not be used to pay for any staff, equipment, materials, facilities, buildings, land, or services solely related to instruction in grades K through 8. Expenses related to staff, equipment, materials, facilities, buildings, land, or services related to instruction in both grades K through 8 and grades 9 through 12 may be paid from proceeds received from a levy or bond issuance specified for either grade K through 8 purposes or grade 9 through 12 purposes.
    (j) The school board of an optional elementary unit district may abate or abolish any fund in accordance with this Code, provided that no funds may be transferred from an abated or abolished fund specified for grade K through 8 purposes to a fund specified for grade 9 through 12 purposes, and no funds may be transferred from an abated or abolished fund specified for grade 9 through 12 purposes to a fund specified for grade K through 8 purposes.
    (k) To the extent that the specific requirements for borrowing money, levying taxes, issuing bonds, establishing, maintaining, or re-creating a working cash fund, and transferring funds by an optional elementary unit district set forth in this Section conflicts with any general requirements for school districts set forth in Article 10, 17, 19, or 20 of this Code, the requirements set forth in this Section shall control over any such general requirements.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-100

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-100)
    Sec. 11E-100. Timing of extension of tax levies.
    (a) If the election of the school board of the new district occurs at a regular election and the board of education makes its initial levy or levies in that same year, the county clerk shall extend the levy or levies, notwithstanding any other law that requires the adoption of a budget before the clerk may extend the levy. In addition, the districts from which the new district is formed, by joint agreement and with the approval of the regional superintendent of schools, shall be permitted to amend outstanding levies in the same calendar year in which the creation of the new district is approved at the rates specified in the petition.
    (b) If the election of the board of education of the new district does not occur in the same calendar year that the proposition to create the new district is approved, the districts from which the new district or districts are formed, by joint agreement and with the approval of the regional superintendent of schools, shall be permitted to levy in the same calendar year in which the creation of the new district is approved at the rates specified in the petition. The county clerks shall extend any such levy notwithstanding any law that requires adoption of a budget before extension of the levy.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-105

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-105)
    Sec. 11E-105. Assets, liabilities and bonded indebtedness; tax rate.
    (a) Subject to the terms and provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this Section, whenever a new district is created under any of the provisions of this Article, the outstanding bonded indebtedness shall be treated as provided in this subsection (a) and in Section 19-29 of this Code. The tax rate for bonded indebtedness shall be determined in the manner provided in Section 19-7 of this Code, and, notwithstanding the creation of any such district, the county clerk or clerks shall annually extend taxes, for each outstanding bond issue against all of the taxable property that was situated within the boundaries of the district, as those boundaries existed at the time of the issuance of the bond issue, regardless of whether the property is still contained in that same district at the time of the extension of the taxes by the county clerk or clerks; provided that, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 19-18 of this Code, upon resolution of the school board, the county clerk must extend taxes to pay the principal of and interest on any general obligation bonds issued by the new district exclusively to refund any bonded indebtedness of a district organized into the new district against all of the taxable property that was situated within the boundaries of the previously existing district as the boundaries existed at the time of the issuance of the bonded indebtedness being refunded; however, (i) the net interest rate on the refunding bonds may not exceed the net interest rate on the refunded bonds, (ii) the final maturity date of the refunding bonds may not extend beyond the final maturity date of the refunded bonds, and (iii) the tax levy to pay the refunding bonds in any levy year may not exceed the tax levy that would have been required to pay the refunded bonds for that levy year. The terms of the proviso are applicable to districts that were created pursuant to a referendum held in November of 2008. The terms of the proviso, other than this sentence, are inoperative after June 30, 2016.
    (b) For a unit district formation, whenever a part of a district is included within the boundaries of a newly created unit district, the regional superintendent of schools shall cause an accounting to be had between the districts affected by the change in boundaries as provided for in Article 11C of this Code. Whenever the entire territory of 2 or more school districts is organized into a unit district pursuant to a petition filed under this Article, the petition may provide that the entire territory of the new unit district shall assume the bonded indebtedness of the previously existing school districts. In that case, the tax rate for bonded indebtedness shall be determined in the manner provided in Section 19-7 of this Code, except that the county clerk shall annually extend taxes for each outstanding bond issue against all the taxable property situated in the new unit district as it exists after the organization.
    (c)(1) For a high school-unit conversion, unit to dual conversion, or multi-unit conversion, upon the effective date of the change as provided in Section 11E-70 of this Code and subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection (c), each newly created elementary district shall receive all of the assets and assume all of the liabilities and obligations of the dissolved unit district forming the boundary of the newly created elementary district.
    (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection (c), upon the stipulation of the school board of the school district serving a newly created elementary district for high school purposes and either (i) the school board of the unit district prior to the effective date of its dissolution or (ii) thereafter the school board of the newly created elementary district and with the approval in either case of the regional superintendent of schools of the educational service region in which the territory described in the petition filed under this Article or the greater percentage of equalized assessed valuation of the territory is situated, the assets, liabilities, and obligations of the dissolved unit district may be divided and assumed between and by the newly created elementary district and the school district serving the newly created elementary district for high school purposes, in accordance with the terms and provisions of the stipulation and approval. In this event, the provisions of Section 19-29 shall be applied to determine the debt incurring power of the newly created elementary district and of the school district serving the newly created elementary district for high school purposes.
    (3) Without regard to whether the receipt of assets and the assumption of liabilities and obligations of the dissolved unit district is determined pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection (c), the tax rate for bonded indebtedness shall be determined in the manner provided in Section 19-7, and, notwithstanding the creation of this new elementary district, the county clerk or clerks shall annually extend taxes for each outstanding bond issue against all of the taxable property that was situated within the boundaries of the dissolved unit district as those boundaries existed at the time of the issuance of the bond issue, regardless of whether the property was still contained in that unit district at the time of its dissolution and regardless of whether the property is contained in the newly created elementary district at the time of the extension of the taxes by the county clerk or clerks.
(Source: P.A. 98-1112, eff. 1-1-15.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-110

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-110)
    Sec. 11E-110. Teachers in contractual continued service; educational support personnel employees.
    (a) When a school district conversion or multi-unit conversion becomes effective for purposes of administration and attendance, as determined pursuant to Section 11E-70 of this Code, the provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code relative to the contractual continued service status of teachers having contractual continued service whose positions are transferred from one school board to the control of a new or different school board shall apply, and the positions held by teachers, as that term is defined in subsection (a) of Section 24-11 of this Code, having contractual continued service with the unit district at the time of its dissolution shall be transferred on the following basis:
        (1) positions of teachers in contractual continued
    
service that, during the 5 school years immediately preceding the effective date of the change, as determined under Section 11E-70 of this Code, were full-time positions in which all of the time required of the position was spent in one or more of grades 9 through 12 shall be transferred to the control of the school board of the new high school district or combined high school - unit district, as the case may be;
        (2) positions of teachers in contractual continued
    
service that, during the 5 school years immediately preceding the effective date of the change, as determined under Section 11E-70 of this Code, were full-time positions in which all of the time required of the position was spent in one or more of grades kindergarten through 8 shall be transferred to the control of the school board of the newly created successor elementary district; and
        (3) positions of teachers in contractual continued
    
service that were full-time positions not required to be transferred to the control of the school board of the new high school district or combined high school - unit district, as the case may be, or the school board of the newly created successor elementary district under the provisions of subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection (a) shall be transferred to the control of whichever of the boards the teacher shall request.
    With respect to each position to be transferred under the provisions of this subsection (a), the amount of time required of each position to be spent in one or more of grades kindergarten through 8 and 9 through 12 shall be determined with reference to the applicable records of the unit district being dissolved pursuant to stipulation of the school board of the unit district prior to the effective date of its dissolution or thereafter of the school board of the newly created districts and with the approval in either case of the regional superintendent of schools of the educational service region in which the territory described in the petition filed under this Article or the greater percentage of equalized assessed evaluation of the territory is situated; however, if no such stipulation can be agreed upon, the regional superintendent of schools, after hearing any additional relevant and material evidence that any school board desires to submit, shall make the determination.
    (a-5) When a school district conversion or multi-unit conversion becomes effective for purposes of administration and attendance, as determined pursuant to Section 11E-70 of this Code, the provisions of subsection (b) of Section 10-23.5 of this Code relative to the transfer of educational support personnel employees shall apply, and the positions held by educational support personnel employees shall be transferred on the following basis:
        (1) positions of educational support personnel
    
employees that, during the 5 school years immediately preceding the effective date of the change, as determined under Section 11E-70 of this Code, were full-time positions in which all of the time required of the position was spent in one or more of grades 9 through 12 shall be transferred to the control of the school board of the new high school district or combined high school - unit district, as the case may be;
        (2) positions of educational support personnel
    
employees that, during the 5 school years immediately preceding the effective date of the change, as determined under Section 11E-70 of this Code, were full-time positions in which all of the time required of the position was spent in one or more of grades kindergarten through 8 shall be transferred to the control of the school board of the newly created successor elementary district; and
        (3) positions of educational support personnel
    
employees that were full-time positions not required to be transferred to the control of the school board of the new high school district or combined high school - unit district, as the case may be, or the school board of the newly created successor elementary district under subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection (a-5) shall be transferred to the control of whichever of the boards the educational support personnel employee requests.
    With respect to each position to be transferred under this subsection (a-5), the amount of time required of each position to be spent in one or more of grades kindergarten through 8 and 9 through 12 shall be determined with reference to the applicable records of the unit district being dissolved pursuant to stipulation of the school board of the unit district prior to the effective date of its dissolution or thereafter of the school board of the newly created districts and with the approval in either case of the regional superintendent of schools of the educational service region in which the territory described in the petition filed under this Article or the greater percentage of equalized assessed evaluation of the territory is situated; however, if no such stipulation can be agreed upon, the regional superintendent of schools, after hearing any additional relevant and material evidence that any school board desires to submit, shall make the determination.
    (b) When the creation of a unit district or a combined school district becomes effective for purposes of administration and attendance, as determined pursuant to Section 11E-70 of this Code, the positions of teachers in contractual continued service in the districts involved in the creation of the new district are transferred to the newly created district pursuant to the provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code relative to teachers having contractual continued service status whose positions are transferred from one board to the control of a different board, and those provisions of subsection (h) of Section 24-11 of this Code shall apply to these transferred teachers. The contractual continued service status of any teacher thereby transferred to the newly created district is not lost and the new school board is subject to this Code with respect to the transferred teacher in the same manner as if the teacher was that district's employee and had been its employee during the time the teacher was actually employed by the school board of the district from which the position was transferred.
    (c) When the creation of a unit district or a combined school district becomes effective for purposes of administration and attendance, as determined pursuant to Section 11E-70 of this Code, the positions of educational support personnel employees in the districts involved in the creation of the new district shall be transferred to the newly created district pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 10-23.5 of this Code. The length of continuing service of any educational support personnel employee thereby transferred to the newly created district is not lost and the new school board is subject to this Code with respect to the transferred educational support personnel employee in the same manner as if the educational support personnel employee had been that district's employee during the time the educational support personnel employee was actually employed by the school board of the district from which the position was transferred.
(Source: P.A. 99-657, eff. 7-28-16.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-115

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-115)
    Sec. 11E-115. Limitations on contesting boundary change. Neither the People of the State of Illinois, any person or corporation, private or public, nor any association of persons shall commence an action contesting either directly or indirectly the dissolution, division, annexation, or creation of any new school district under the provisions of this Article, unless the action is commenced within one year after the date of the election provided for in this Article if no proceedings to contest the election are duly instituted within the time permitted by law, or within one year after the final disposition of any proceedings that may be so instituted to contest the election; however, where a limitation of a shorter period is prescribed by statute, the shorter limitation shall apply, and the limitation set forth in this Section shall not apply to any order where the judge, body, or officer entering the order being challenged did not at the time of the entry of the order have jurisdiction of the subject matter.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-120

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-120)
    Sec. 11E-120. Limitation on successive petitions.
    (a) No affected district shall be again involved in proceedings under this Article for at least 2 years after a final non-procedural determination of the first proceeding, unless during that 2-year period a petition filed is substantially different than any other previously filed petition during the previous 2 years or if an affected district is identified as a priority district under Section 2-3.25d-5 of this Code, is placed on the financial watch list by the State Board of Education, or is certified as being in financial difficulty during that 2-year period.
    (b) Nothing contained in this Section shall be deemed to limit or restrict the ability of an elementary district to join an optional elementary unit district in accordance with the terms and provisions of subsection (d) of Section 11E-30 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 99-193, eff. 7-30-15.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-125

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-125)
    Sec. 11E-125. Districts not penalized for nonrecognition. Any school district included in a petition for reorganization as authorized under this Article shall not suffer loss of State aid as a result of being placed on nonrecognition status if the district continues to operate and the petition is granted.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-130

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-130)
    Sec. 11E-130. Unit district formation and joint agreement vocational education program.
    (a) If a unit district is established under the provisions of this Article and more than 50% of the territory of the unit district is territory that immediately prior to its inclusion in the unit district was included in a high school district or districts that were signatories under the same joint agreement vocational education program, pursuant to the provisions of this Code, then the unit district shall upon its establishment be deemed to be a member and signatory to the joint agreement and shall also have the right to continue to extend taxes under any previous authority to levy a tax under Section 17-2.4 of this Code.
    (b) In those instances, however, when more than 50% of the territory of any unit district was not, immediately prior to its establishment, included within the territory of a high school district that was a signatory to the same joint agreement vocational education program, then the unit district shall not be deemed upon its establishment to be a signatory to the joint agreement nor shall the unit district be deemed to have the special tax levy rights under Section 17-2.4 of this Code.
    (c) Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to forbid the unit district from subsequently joining a joint agreement vocational education program and to thereafter levy a tax under Section 17-2.4 of this Code by following the provisions of Section 17-2.4. In the event that any such unit district should subsequently join any such joint agreement vocational education program, it shall be entitled to a fair credit, as computed by the State Board of Education, for any capital contributions previously made to the joint agreement vocational education program from taxes levied against the assessed valuation of property situated in any part of the territory included within the unit district.
(Source: P.A. 94-1019, eff. 7-10-06.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-135

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-135)
    Sec. 11E-135. Incentives. For districts reorganizing under this Article and for a district or districts that annex all of the territory of one or more entire other school districts in accordance with Article 7 of this Code, the following payments shall be made from appropriations made for these purposes:
    (a)(1) For a combined school district, as defined in Section 11E-20 of this Code, or for a unit district, as defined in Section 11E-25 of this Code, for its first year of existence, the general State aid and supplemental general State aid calculated under Section 18-8.05 of this Code or the evidence-based funding calculated under Section 18-8.15 of this Code, as applicable, shall be computed for the new district and for the previously existing districts for which property is totally included within the new district. If the computation on the basis of the previously existing districts is greater, a supplementary payment equal to the difference shall be made for the first 4 years of existence of the new district.
    (2) For a school district that annexes all of the territory of one or more entire other school districts as defined in Article 7 of this Code, for the first year during which the change of boundaries attributable to the annexation becomes effective for all purposes, as determined under Section 7-9 of this Code, the general State aid and supplemental general State aid calculated under Section 18-8.05 of this Code or the evidence-based funding calculated under Section 18-8.15 of this Code, as applicable, shall be computed for the annexing district as constituted after the annexation and for the annexing and each annexed district as constituted prior to the annexation; and if the computation on the basis of the annexing and annexed districts as constituted prior to the annexation is greater, then a supplementary payment equal to the difference shall be made for the first 4 years of existence of the annexing school district as constituted upon the annexation.
    (3) For 2 or more school districts that annex all of the territory of one or more entire other school districts, as defined in Article 7 of this Code, for the first year during which the change of boundaries attributable to the annexation becomes effective for all purposes, as determined under Section 7-9 of this Code, the general State aid and supplemental general State aid calculated under Section 18-8.05 of this Code or the evidence-based funding calculated under Section 18-8.15 of this Code, as applicable, shall be computed for each annexing district as constituted after the annexation and for each annexing and annexed district as constituted prior to the annexation; and if the aggregate of the general State aid and supplemental general State aid or evidence-based funding, as applicable, as so computed for the annexing districts as constituted after the annexation is less than the aggregate of the general State aid and supplemental general State aid or evidence-based funding, as applicable, as so computed for the annexing and annexed districts, as constituted prior to the annexation, then a supplementary payment equal to the difference shall be made and allocated between or among the annexing districts, as constituted upon the annexation, for the first 4 years of their existence. The total difference payment shall be allocated between or among the annexing districts in the same ratio as the pupil enrollment from that portion of the annexed district or districts that is annexed to each annexing district bears to the total pupil enrollment from the entire annexed district or districts, as such pupil enrollment is determined for the school year last ending prior to the date when the change of boundaries attributable to the annexation becomes effective for all purposes. The amount of the total difference payment and the amount thereof to be allocated to the annexing districts shall be computed by the State Board of Education on the basis of pupil enrollment and other data that shall be certified to the State Board of Education, on forms that it shall provide for that purpose, by the regional superintendent of schools for each educational service region in which the annexing and annexed districts are located.
    (4) For a school district conversion, as defined in Section 11E-15 of this Code, or a multi-unit conversion, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 11E-30 of this Code, if in their first year of existence the newly created elementary districts and the newly created high school district, from a school district conversion, or the newly created elementary district or districts and newly created combined high school - unit district, from a multi-unit conversion, qualify for less general State aid under Section 18-8.05 of this Code or evidence-based funding under Section 18-8.15 of this Code than would have been payable under Section 18-8.05 or 18-8.15, as applicable, for that same year to the previously existing districts, then a supplementary payment equal to that difference shall be made for the first 4 years of existence of the newly created districts. The aggregate amount of each supplementary payment shall be allocated among the newly created districts in the proportion that the deemed pupil enrollment in each district during its first year of existence bears to the actual aggregate pupil enrollment in all of the districts during their first year of existence. For purposes of each allocation:
        (A) the deemed pupil enrollment of the newly created
    
high school district from a school district conversion shall be an amount equal to its actual pupil enrollment for its first year of existence multiplied by 1.25;
        (B) the deemed pupil enrollment of each newly created
    
elementary district from a school district conversion shall be an amount equal to its actual pupil enrollment for its first year of existence reduced by an amount equal to the product obtained when the amount by which the newly created high school district's deemed pupil enrollment exceeds its actual pupil enrollment for its first year of existence is multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the actual pupil enrollment of the newly created elementary district for its first year of existence and the denominator of which is the actual aggregate pupil enrollment of all of the newly created elementary districts for their first year of existence;
        (C) the deemed high school pupil enrollment of the
    
newly created combined high school - unit district from a multi-unit conversion shall be an amount equal to its actual grades 9 through 12 pupil enrollment for its first year of existence multiplied by 1.25; and
        (D) the deemed elementary pupil enrollment of each
    
newly created district from a multi-unit conversion shall be an amount equal to each district's actual grade K through 8 pupil enrollment for its first year of existence, reduced by an amount equal to the product obtained when the amount by which the newly created combined high school - unit district's deemed high school pupil enrollment exceeds its actual grade 9 through 12 pupil enrollment for its first year of existence is multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the actual grade K through 8 pupil enrollment of each newly created district for its first year of existence and the denominator of which is the actual aggregate grade K through 8 pupil enrollment of all such newly created districts for their first year of existence.
    The aggregate amount of each supplementary payment under this subdivision (4) and the amount thereof to be allocated to the newly created districts shall be computed by the State Board of Education on the basis of pupil enrollment and other data, which shall be certified to the State Board of Education, on forms that it shall provide for that purpose, by the regional superintendent of schools for each educational service region in which the newly created districts are located.
    (5) For a partial elementary unit district, as defined in subsection (a) or (c) of Section 11E-30 of this Code, if, in the first year of existence, the newly created partial elementary unit district qualifies for less general State aid and supplemental general State aid under Section 18-8.05 of this Code or less evidence-based funding under Section 18-8.15 of this Code, as applicable, than would have been payable under those Sections for that same year to the previously existing districts that formed the partial elementary unit district, then a supplementary payment equal to that difference shall be made to the partial elementary unit district for the first 4 years of existence of that newly created district.
    (6) For an elementary opt-in, as described in subsection (d) of Section 11E-30 of this Code, the general State aid or evidence-based funding difference shall be computed in accordance with paragraph (5) of this subsection (a) as if the elementary opt-in was included in an optional elementary unit district at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date. If the calculation in this paragraph (6) is less than that calculated in paragraph (5) of this subsection (a) at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date, then no adjustments may be made. If the calculation in this paragraph (6) is more than that calculated in paragraph (5) of this subsection (a) at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date, then the excess must be paid as follows:
        (A) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is one year after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 100% of the calculated excess shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district in each of the first 4 years after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (B) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 2 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 75% of the calculated excess shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district in each of the first 4 years after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (C) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 3 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 50% of the calculated excess shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district in each of the first 4 years after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (D) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 4 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 25% of the calculated excess shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district in each of the first 4 years after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (E) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 5 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, the optional elementary unit district is not eligible for any additional incentives due to the elementary opt-in.
    (6.5) For a school district that annexes territory detached from another school district whereby the enrollment of the annexing district increases by 90% or more as a result of the annexation, for the first year during which the change of boundaries attributable to the annexation becomes effective for all purposes as determined under Section 7-9 of this Code, the general State aid and supplemental general State aid or evidence-based funding, as applicable, calculated under this Section shall be computed for the district gaining territory and the district losing territory as constituted after the annexation and for the same districts as constituted prior to the annexation; and if the aggregate of the general State aid and supplemental general State aid or evidence-based funding, as applicable, as so computed for the district gaining territory and the district losing territory as constituted after the annexation is less than the aggregate of the general State aid and supplemental general State aid or evidence-based funding, as applicable, as so computed for the district gaining territory and the district losing territory as constituted prior to the annexation, then a supplementary payment shall be made to the annexing district for the first 4 years of existence after the annexation, equal to the difference multiplied by the ratio of student enrollment in the territory detached to the total student enrollment in the district losing territory for the year prior to the effective date of the annexation. The amount of the total difference and the proportion paid to the annexing district shall be computed by the State Board of Education on the basis of pupil enrollment and other data that must be submitted to the State Board of Education in accordance with Section 7-14A of this Code. The changes to this Section made by Public Act 95-707 are intended to be retroactive and applicable to any annexation taking effect on or after July 1, 2004. For annexations that are eligible for payments under this paragraph (6.5) and that are effective on or after July 1, 2004, but before January 11, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-707), the first required yearly payment under this paragraph (6.5) shall be paid in the fiscal year of January 11, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-707). Subsequent required yearly payments shall be paid in subsequent fiscal years until the payment obligation under this paragraph (6.5) is complete.
    (7) Claims for financial assistance under this subsection (a) may not be recomputed except as expressly provided under Section 18-8.05 or 18-8.15 of this Code.
    (8) Any supplementary payment made under this subsection (a) must be treated as separate from all other payments made pursuant to Section 18-8.05 or 18-8.15 of this Code.
    (b)(1) After the formation of a combined school district, as defined in Section 11E-20 of this Code, or a unit district, as defined in Section 11E-25 of this Code, a computation shall be made to determine the difference between the salaries effective in each of the previously existing districts on June 30, prior to the creation of the new district. For the first 4 years after the formation of the new district, a supplementary State aid reimbursement shall be paid to the new district equal to the difference between the sum of the salaries earned by each of the certificated members of the new district, while employed in one of the previously existing districts during the year immediately preceding the formation of the new district, and the sum of the salaries those certificated members would have been paid during the year immediately prior to the formation of the new district if placed on the salary schedule of the previously existing district with the highest salary schedule.
    (2) After the territory of one or more school districts is annexed by one or more other school districts as defined in Article 7 of this Code, a computation shall be made to determine the difference between the salaries effective in each annexed district and in the annexing district or districts as they were each constituted on June 30 preceding the date when the change of boundaries attributable to the annexation became effective for all purposes, as determined under Section 7-9 of this Code. For the first 4 years after the annexation, a supplementary State aid reimbursement shall be paid to each annexing district as constituted after the annexation equal to the difference between the sum of the salaries earned by each of the certificated members of the annexing district as constituted after the annexation, while employed in an annexed or annexing district during the year immediately preceding the annexation, and the sum of the salaries those certificated members would have been paid during the immediately preceding year if placed on the salary schedule of whichever of the annexing or annexed districts had the highest salary schedule during the immediately preceding year.
    (3) For each new high school district formed under a school district conversion, as defined in Section 11E-15 of this Code, the State shall make a supplementary payment for 4 years equal to the difference between the sum of the salaries earned by each certified member of the new high school district, while employed in one of the previously existing districts, and the sum of the salaries those certified members would have been paid if placed on the salary schedule of the previously existing district with the highest salary schedule.
    (4) For each newly created partial elementary unit district, the State shall make a supplementary payment for 4 years equal to the difference between the sum of the salaries earned by each certified member of the newly created partial elementary unit district, while employed in one of the previously existing districts that formed the partial elementary unit district, and the sum of the salaries those certified members would have been paid if placed on the salary schedule of the previously existing district with the highest salary schedule. The salary schedules used in the calculation shall be those in effect in the previously existing districts for the school year prior to the creation of the new partial elementary unit district.
    (5) For an elementary district opt-in, as described in subsection (d) of Section 11E-30 of this Code, the salary difference incentive shall be computed in accordance with paragraph (4) of this subsection (b) as if the opted-in elementary district was included in the optional elementary unit district at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date. If the calculation in this paragraph (5) is less than that calculated in paragraph (4) of this subsection (b) at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date, then no adjustments may be made. If the calculation in this paragraph (5) is more than that calculated in paragraph (4) of this subsection (b) at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date, then the excess must be paid as follows:
        (A) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is one year after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 100% of the calculated excess shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district in each of the first 4 years after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (B) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 2 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 75% of the calculated excess shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district in each of the first 4 years after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (C) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 3 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 50% of the calculated excess shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district in each of the first 4 years after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (D) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 4 years after the effective date for the partial elementary unit district, 25% of the calculated excess shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district in each of the first 4 years after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (E) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 5 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, the optional elementary unit district is not eligible for any additional incentives due to the elementary opt-in.
    (5.5) After the formation of a cooperative high school by 2 or more school districts under Section 10-22.22c of this Code, a computation shall be made to determine the difference between the salaries effective in each of the previously existing high schools on June 30 prior to the formation of the cooperative high school. For the first 4 years after the formation of the cooperative high school, a supplementary State aid reimbursement shall be paid to the cooperative high school equal to the difference between the sum of the salaries earned by each of the certificated members of the cooperative high school while employed in one of the previously existing high schools during the year immediately preceding the formation of the cooperative high school and the sum of the salaries those certificated members would have been paid during the year immediately prior to the formation of the cooperative high school if placed on the salary schedule of the previously existing high school with the highest salary schedule.
    (5.10) After the annexation of territory detached from another school district whereby the enrollment of the annexing district increases by 90% or more as a result of the annexation, a computation shall be made to determine the difference between the salaries effective in the district gaining territory and the district losing territory as they each were constituted on June 30 preceding the date when the change of boundaries attributable to the annexation became effective for all purposes as determined under Section 7-9 of this Code. For the first 4 years after the annexation, a supplementary State aid reimbursement shall be paid to the annexing district equal to the difference between the sum of the salaries earned by each of the certificated members of the annexing district as constituted after the annexation while employed in the district gaining territory or the district losing territory during the year immediately preceding the annexation and the sum of the salaries those certificated members would have been paid during such immediately preceding year if placed on the salary schedule of whichever of the district gaining territory or district losing territory had the highest salary schedule during the immediately preceding year. To be eligible for supplementary State aid reimbursement under this Section, the intergovernmental agreement to be submitted pursuant to Section 7-14A of this Code must show that staff members were transferred from the control of the district losing territory to the control of the district gaining territory in the annexation. The changes to this Section made by Public Act 95-707 are intended to be retroactive and applicable to any annexation taking effect on or after July 1, 2004. For annexations that are eligible for payments under this paragraph (5.10) and that are effective on or after July 1, 2004, but before January 11, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-707), the first required yearly payment under this paragraph (5.10) shall be paid in the fiscal year of January 11, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-707). Subsequent required yearly payments shall be paid in subsequent fiscal years until the payment obligation under this paragraph (5.10) is complete.
    (5.15) After the deactivation of a school facility in accordance with Section 10-22.22b of this Code, a computation shall be made to determine the difference between the salaries effective in the sending school district and each receiving school district on June 30 prior to the deactivation of the school facility. For the lesser of the first 4 years after the deactivation of the school facility or the length of the deactivation agreement, including any renewals of the original deactivation agreement, a supplementary State aid reimbursement shall be paid to each receiving district equal to the difference between the sum of the salaries earned by each of the certificated members transferred to that receiving district as a result of the deactivation while employed in the sending district during the year immediately preceding the deactivation and the sum of the salaries those certificated members would have been paid during the year immediately preceding the deactivation if placed on the salary schedule of the sending or receiving district with the highest salary schedule.
    (6) The supplementary State aid reimbursement under this subsection (b) shall be treated as separate from all other payments made pursuant to Section 18-8.05 of this Code. In the case of the formation of a new district or cooperative high school or a deactivation, reimbursement shall begin during the first year of operation of the new district or cooperative high school or the first year of the deactivation, and in the case of an annexation of the territory of one or more school districts by one or more other school districts or the annexation of territory detached from a school district whereby the enrollment of the annexing district increases by 90% or more as a result of the annexation, reimbursement shall begin during the first year when the change in boundaries attributable to the annexation becomes effective for all purposes as determined pursuant to Section 7-9 of this Code, except that for an annexation of territory detached from a school district that is effective on or after July 1, 2004, but before January 11, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-707), whereby the enrollment of the annexing district increases by 90% or more as a result of the annexation, reimbursement shall begin during the fiscal year of January 11, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-707). Each year that the new, annexing, or receiving district or cooperative high school, as the case may be, is entitled to receive reimbursement, the number of eligible certified members who are employed on October 1 in the district or cooperative high school shall be certified to the State Board of Education on prescribed forms by October 15 and payment shall be made on or before November 15 of that year.
    (c)(1) For the first year after the formation of a combined school district, as defined in Section 11E-20 of this Code or a unit district, as defined in Section 11E-25 of this Code, a computation shall be made totaling each previously existing district's audited fund balances in the educational fund, working cash fund, operations and maintenance fund, and transportation fund for the year ending June 30 prior to the referendum for the creation of the new district. The new district shall be paid supplementary State aid equal to the sum of the differences between the deficit of the previously existing district with the smallest deficit and the deficits of each of the other previously existing districts.
    (2) For the first year after the annexation of all of the territory of one or more entire school districts by another school district, as defined in Article 7 of this Code, computations shall be made, for the year ending June 30 prior to the date that the change of boundaries attributable to the annexation is allowed by the affirmative decision issued by the regional board of school trustees under Section 7-6 of this Code, notwithstanding any effort to seek administrative review of the decision, totaling the annexing district's and totaling each annexed district's audited fund balances in their respective educational, working cash, operations and maintenance, and transportation funds. The annexing district as constituted after the annexation shall be paid supplementary State aid equal to the sum of the differences between the deficit of whichever of the annexing or annexed districts as constituted prior to the annexation had the smallest deficit and the deficits of each of the other districts as constituted prior to the annexation.
    (3) For the first year after the annexation of all of the territory of one or more entire school districts by 2 or more other school districts, as defined by Article 7 of this Code, computations shall be made, for the year ending June 30 prior to the date that the change of boundaries attributable to the annexation is allowed by the affirmative decision of the regional board of school trustees under Section 7-6 of this Code, notwithstanding any action for administrative review of the decision, totaling each annexing and annexed district's audited fund balances in their respective educational, working cash, operations and maintenance, and transportation funds. The annexing districts as constituted after the annexation shall be paid supplementary State aid, allocated as provided in this paragraph (3), in an aggregate amount equal to the sum of the differences between the deficit of whichever of the annexing or annexed districts as constituted prior to the annexation had the smallest deficit and the deficits of each of the other districts as constituted prior to the annexation. The aggregate amount of the supplementary State aid payable under this paragraph (3) shall be allocated between or among the annexing districts as follows:
        (A) the regional superintendent of schools for each
    
educational service region in which an annexed district is located prior to the annexation shall certify to the State Board of Education, on forms that it shall provide for that purpose, the value of all taxable property in each annexed district, as last equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue prior to the annexation, and the equalized assessed value of each part of the annexed district that was annexed to or included as a part of an annexing district;
        (B) using equalized assessed values as certified by
    
the regional superintendent of schools under clause (A) of this paragraph (3), the combined audited fund balance deficit of each annexed district as determined under this Section shall be apportioned between or among the annexing districts in the same ratio as the equalized assessed value of that part of the annexed district that was annexed to or included as a part of an annexing district bears to the total equalized assessed value of the annexed district; and
        (C) the aggregate supplementary State aid payment
    
under this paragraph (3) shall be allocated between or among, and shall be paid to, the annexing districts in the same ratio as the sum of the combined audited fund balance deficit of each annexing district as constituted prior to the annexation, plus all combined audited fund balance deficit amounts apportioned to that annexing district under clause (B) of this subsection, bears to the aggregate of the combined audited fund balance deficits of all of the annexing and annexed districts as constituted prior to the annexation.
    (4) For the new elementary districts and new high school district formed through a school district conversion, as defined in Section 11E-15 of this Code or the new elementary district or districts and new combined high school - unit district formed through a multi-unit conversion, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 11E-30 of this Code, a computation shall be made totaling each previously existing district's audited fund balances in the educational fund, working cash fund, operations and maintenance fund, and transportation fund for the year ending June 30 prior to the referendum establishing the new districts. In the first year of the new districts, the State shall make a one-time supplementary payment equal to the sum of the differences between the deficit of the previously existing district with the smallest deficit and the deficits of each of the other previously existing districts. A district with a combined balance among the 4 funds that is positive shall be considered to have a deficit of zero. The supplementary payment shall be allocated among the newly formed high school and elementary districts in the manner provided by the petition for the formation of the districts, in the form in which the petition is approved by the regional superintendent of schools or State Superintendent of Education under Section 11E-50 of this Code.
    (5) For each newly created partial elementary unit district, as defined in subsection (a) or (c) of Section 11E-30 of this Code, a computation shall be made totaling the audited fund balances of each previously existing district that formed the new partial elementary unit district in the educational fund, working cash fund, operations and maintenance fund, and transportation fund for the year ending June 30 prior to the referendum for the formation of the partial elementary unit district. In the first year of the new partial elementary unit district, the State shall make a one-time supplementary payment to the new district equal to the sum of the differences between the deficit of the previously existing district with the smallest deficit and the deficits of each of the other previously existing districts. A district with a combined balance among the 4 funds that is positive shall be considered to have a deficit of zero.
    (6) For an elementary opt-in as defined in subsection (d) of Section 11E-30 of this Code, the deficit fund balance incentive shall be computed in accordance with paragraph (5) of this subsection (c) as if the opted-in elementary was included in the optional elementary unit district at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date. If the calculation in this paragraph (6) is less than that calculated in paragraph (5) of this subsection (c) at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date, then no adjustments may be made. If the calculation in this paragraph (6) is more than that calculated in paragraph (5) of this subsection (c) at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date, then the excess must be paid as follows:
        (A) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is one year after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 100% of the calculated excess shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district in the first year after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (B) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 2 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 75% of the calculated excess shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district in the first year after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (C) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 3 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 50% of the calculated excess shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district in the first year after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (D) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 4 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 25% of the calculated excess shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district in the first year after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (E) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 5 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, the optional elementary unit district is not eligible for any additional incentives due to the elementary opt-in.
    (6.5) For the first year after the annexation of territory detached from another school district whereby the enrollment of the annexing district increases by 90% or more as a result of the annexation, a computation shall be made totaling the audited fund balances of the district gaining territory and the audited fund balances of the district losing territory in the educational fund, working cash fund, operations and maintenance fund, and transportation fund for the year ending June 30 prior to the date that the change of boundaries attributable to the annexation is allowed by the affirmative decision of the regional board of school trustees under Section 7-6 of this Code, notwithstanding any action for administrative review of the decision. The annexing district as constituted after the annexation shall be paid supplementary State aid equal to the difference between the deficit of whichever district included in this calculation as constituted prior to the annexation had the smallest deficit and the deficit of each other district included in this calculation as constituted prior to the annexation, multiplied by the ratio of equalized assessed value of the territory detached to the total equalized assessed value of the district losing territory. The regional superintendent of schools for the educational service region in which a district losing territory is located prior to the annexation shall certify to the State Board of Education the value of all taxable property in the district losing territory and the value of all taxable property in the territory being detached, as last equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue prior to the annexation. To be eligible for supplementary State aid reimbursement under this Section, the intergovernmental agreement to be submitted pursuant to Section 7-14A of this Code must show that fund balances were transferred from the district losing territory to the district gaining territory in the annexation. The changes to this Section made by Public Act 95-707 are intended to be retroactive and applicable to any annexation taking effect on or after July 1, 2004. For annexations that are eligible for payments under this paragraph (6.5) and that are effective on or after July 1, 2004, but before January 11, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-707), the required payment under this paragraph (6.5) shall be paid in the fiscal year of January 11, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-707).
    (7) For purposes of any calculation required under paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (6.5) of this subsection (c), a district with a combined fund balance that is positive shall be considered to have a deficit of zero. For purposes of determining each district's audited fund balances in its educational fund, working cash fund, operations and maintenance fund, and transportation fund for the specified year ending June 30, as provided in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (6.5) of this subsection (c), the balance of each fund shall be deemed decreased by an amount equal to the amount of the annual property tax theretofore levied in the fund by the district for collection and payment to the district during the calendar year in which the June 30 fell, but only to the extent that the tax so levied in the fund actually was received by the district on or before or comprised a part of the fund on such June 30. For purposes of determining each district's audited fund balances, a calculation shall be made for each fund to determine the average for the 3 years prior to the specified year ending June 30, as provided in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (6.5) of this subsection (c), of the district's expenditures in the categories "purchased services", "supplies and materials", and "capital outlay", as those categories are defined in rules of the State Board of Education. If this 3-year average is less than the district's expenditures in these categories for the specified year ending June 30, as provided in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (6.5) of this subsection (c), then the 3-year average shall be used in calculating the amounts payable under this Section in place of the amounts shown in these categories for the specified year ending June 30, as provided in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (6.5) of this subsection (c). Any deficit because of State aid not yet received may not be considered in determining the June 30 deficits. The same basis of accounting shall be used by all previously existing districts and by all annexing or annexed districts, as constituted prior to the annexation, in making any computation required under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), and (6.5) of this subsection (c).
    (8) The supplementary State aid payments under this subsection (c) shall be treated as separate from all other payments made pursuant to Section 18-8.05 of this Code.
    (d)(1) Following the formation of a combined school district, as defined in Section 11E-20 of this Code, a new unit district, as defined in Section 11E-25 of this Code, a new elementary district or districts and a new high school district formed through a school district conversion, as defined in Section 11E-15 of this Code, a new partial elementary unit district, as defined in Section 11E-30 of this Code, or a new elementary district or districts formed through a multi-unit conversion, as defined in subsection (b) of Section 11E-30 of this Code, or the annexation of all of the territory of one or more entire school districts by one or more other school districts, as defined in Article 7 of this Code, a supplementary State aid reimbursement shall be paid for the number of school years determined under the following table to each new or annexing district equal to the sum of $4,000 for each certified employee who is employed by the district on a full-time basis for the regular term of the school year:
 
Reorganized District's RankReorganized District's Rank
by type of district (unit,in Average Daily Attendance
high school, elementary)By Quintile
in Equalized Assessed Value
Per Pupil by Quintile

3rd, 4th,

1st2ndor 5th

QuintileQuintileQuintile
    1st Quintile1 year1 year1 year
    2nd Quintile1 year2 years2 years
    3rd Quintile2 years3 years3 years
    4th Quintile2 years3 years3 years
    5th Quintile2 years3 years3 years

 
The State Board of Education shall make a one-time calculation of a reorganized district's quintile ranks. The average daily attendance used in this calculation shall be the best 3 months' average daily attendance for the district's first year. The equalized assessed value per pupil shall be the district's real property equalized assessed value used in calculating the district's first-year general State aid claim, under Section 18-8.05 of this Code, or first-year evidence-based funding claim, under Section 18-8.15 of this Code, as applicable, divided by the best 3 months' average daily attendance.
    No annexing or resulting school district shall be entitled to supplementary State aid under this subsection (d) unless the district acquires at least 30% of the average daily attendance of the district from which the territory is being detached or divided.
    If a district results from multiple reorganizations that would otherwise qualify the district for multiple payments under this subsection (d) in any year, then the district shall receive a single payment only for that year based solely on the most recent reorganization.
    (2) For an elementary opt-in, as defined in subsection (d) of Section 11E-30 of this Code, the full-time certified staff incentive shall be computed in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection (d), equal to the sum of $4,000 for each certified employee of the elementary district that opts-in who is employed by the optional elementary unit district on a full-time basis for the regular term of the school year. The calculation from this paragraph (2) must be paid as follows:
        (A) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is one year after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 100% of the amount calculated in this paragraph (2) shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district for the number of years calculated in paragraph (1) of this subsection (d) at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date, starting in the second year after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (B) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 2 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 75% of the amount calculated in this paragraph (2) shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district for the number of years calculated in paragraph (1) of this subsection (d) at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date, starting in the second year after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (C) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 3 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 50% of the amount calculated in this paragraph (2) shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district for the number of years calculated in paragraph (1) of this subsection (d) at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date, starting in the second year after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (D) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 4 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, 25% of the amount calculated in this paragraph (2) shall be paid to the optional elementary unit district for the number of years calculated in paragraph (1) of this subsection (d) at the optional elementary unit district's original effective date, starting in the second year after the effective date of the elementary opt-in.
        (E) If the effective date for the elementary opt-in
    
is 5 years after the effective date for the optional elementary unit district, the optional elementary unit district is not eligible for any additional incentives due to the elementary opt-in.
    (2.5) Following the formation of a cooperative high school by 2 or more school districts under Section 10-22.22c of this Code, a supplementary State aid reimbursement shall be paid for 3 school years to the cooperative high school equal to the sum of $4,000 for each certified employee who is employed by the cooperative high school on a full-time basis for the regular term of any such school year. If a cooperative high school results from multiple agreements that would otherwise qualify the cooperative high school for multiple payments under this Section in any year, the cooperative high school shall receive a single payment for that year based solely on the most recent agreement.
    (2.10) Following the annexation of territory detached from another school district whereby the enrollment of the annexing district increases 90% or more as a result of the annexation, a supplementary State aid reimbursement shall be paid to the annexing district equal to the sum of $4,000 for each certified employee who is employed by the annexing district on a full-time basis and shall be calculated in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section. To be eligible for supplementary State aid reimbursement under this Section, the intergovernmental agreement to be submitted pursuant to Section 7-14A of this Code must show that certified staff members were transferred from the control of the district losing territory to the control of the district gaining territory in the annexation. The changes to this Section made by Public Act 95-707 are intended to be retroactive and applicable to any annexation taking effect on or after July 1, 2004. For annexations that are eligible for payments under this paragraph (2.10) and that are effective on or after July 1, 2004, but before January 11, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-707), the first required yearly payment under this paragraph (2.10) shall be paid in the second fiscal year after January 11, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-707). Any subsequent required yearly payments shall be paid in subsequent fiscal years until the payment obligation under this paragraph (2.10) is complete.
    (2.15) Following the deactivation of a school facility in accordance with Section 10-22.22b of this Code, a supplementary State aid reimbursement shall be paid for the lesser of 3 school years or the length of the deactivation agreement, including any renewals of the original deactivation agreement, to each receiving school district equal to the sum of $4,000 for each certified employee who is employed by that receiving district on a full-time basis for the regular term of any such school year who was originally transferred to the control of that receiving district as a result of the deactivation. Receiving districts are eligible for payments under this paragraph (2.15) based on the certified employees transferred to that receiving district as a result of the deactivation and are not required to receive at least 30% of the deactivating district's average daily attendance as required under paragraph (1) of this subsection (d) to be eligible for payments.
    (3) The supplementary State aid reimbursement payable under this subsection (d) shall be separate from and in addition to all other payments made to the district pursuant to any other Section of this Article.
    (4) During May of each school year for which a supplementary State aid reimbursement is to be paid to a new, annexing, or receiving school district or cooperative high school pursuant to this subsection (d), the school board or governing board shall certify to the State Board of Education, on forms furnished to the school board or governing board by the State Board of Education for purposes of this subsection (d), the number of certified employees for which the district or cooperative high school is entitled to reimbursement under this Section, together with the names, certificate numbers, and positions held by the certified employees.
    (5) Upon certification by the State Board of Education to the State Comptroller of the amount of the supplementary State aid reimbursement to which a school district or cooperative high school is entitled under this subsection (d), the State Comptroller shall draw his or her warrant upon the State Treasurer for the payment thereof to the school district or cooperative high school and shall promptly transmit the payment to the school district or cooperative high school through the appropriate school treasurer.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/11E-190

    (105 ILCS 5/11E-190)
    Sec. 11E-190. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 97-503, eff. 8-23-11. Repealed internally, eff. 1-31-13.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 12

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 12 heading)
ARTICLE 12. HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS--NONHIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS--COMMUNITY HIGH
SCHOOL DISTRICTS

105 ILCS 5/12-1

    (105 ILCS 5/12-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-1)
    Sec. 12-1. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 225. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/12-2

    (105 ILCS 5/12-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-2)
    Sec. 12-2. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1490. Repealed by 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/12-6

    (105 ILCS 5/12-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-6)
    Sec. 12-6. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 79-1366. Repealed by 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/12-7

    (105 ILCS 5/12-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-7)
    Sec. 12-7. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 84-545. Repealed by 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/12-8

    (105 ILCS 5/12-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-8)
    Sec. 12-8. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 3739. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/12-9

    (105 ILCS 5/12-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-9)
    Sec. 12-9. Application of laws of community high school district to other districts. All high school districts shall be governed by the provisions of this Act for the operation of a community high school district.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 12-10

 
    (105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 12-10 heading)
NON-HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS

105 ILCS 5/12-10

    (105 ILCS 5/12-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-10)
    Sec. 12-10. Territory constituting - Board of education. All the territory of each county not included in a district maintaining a recognized four year high school is a non-high school district for the purpose of levying a tax to pay the tuition of all eighth grade graduates residing therein, including pupils attending a recognized two or three year high school conducted by a school district. The board of education for each non-high school district shall consist of the county superintendent of schools who shall be an ex-officio member of the board and secretary thereof but who shall have no vote, and 3 members each of whom shall serve for 4 years from the first Monday of the month following his election. At the first such election those elected shall, by lot, determine one to serve for 2 years and 2 for 4 years; thereafter all terms shall be for 4 years. When a vacancy occurs on the board, the remaining members shall, within 30 days, fill the vacancy by appointment until the next regular election for members of the board. Within 10 days after the commencement of their terms the members of the board shall meet and organize by electing one of their number president.
    Notwithstanding any provision of Article 7 the non-high school board shall remain in existence after the elimination of all the non-high school territory of the county for which it was elected until it prepares for and delivers to the county clerk a final statement showing the amount of debts or obligations, other than bonded indebtedness, of the district, the date upon which such debts or obligations were incurred and to whom the obligations run, together with a map showing the extent of the territory on such dates.
    This section does not prevent the organization of any territory of non-high school districts into community high school districts.
(Source: P.A. 80-1469.)

105 ILCS 5/12-11

    (105 ILCS 5/12-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-11)
    Sec. 12-11. Duties of board of education. The board of education of a non-high school district shall perform the duties prescribed in sections 12-11.1 through 12-11.5.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/12-11.1

    (105 ILCS 5/12-11.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-11.1)
    Sec. 12-11.1. Tax levy. Levy a tax annually upon all the taxable property of the district not to exceed 1% of value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, for the purpose of paying the tuition of all eighth-grade graduates residing within the district attending any recognized high school. The board of education of such nonhigh school district may by proper resolution cause a proposition to increase the annual tax rate for such purpose to be submitted to the voters of such district at any regular scheduled election. The rate shall not be increased at any single referendum more than 0.21% upon the value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue for such purpose, and the maximum rate for such purpose shall not exceed 1.60%. Such amount shall be certified and returned to the county clerk on or before the last Tuesday in September of each year. The certificate shall be signed by the president and the secretary of the board and may be in the following form:
CERTIFICATE OF TAX LEVY
    We hereby certify that we require the sum of .... dollars to be levied as a special tax to pay the tuition of graduates of the eighth grade residing in the nonhigh school district of .... County, on the equalized assessed valuation of the taxable property of our nonhigh school district.
    Signed on (insert date).
A..... B....., President
C..... D....., Secretary

    A failure to certify and return the certificate of tax levy to the county clerk in the time required shall not vitiate the assessment.
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

105 ILCS 5/12-11.2

    (105 ILCS 5/12-11.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-11.2)
    Sec. 12-11.2. Orders for payment of tuition.
    Issue orders on the county treasurer for the payment of the tuition of eighth-grade graduates residing within the non-high school district attending a recognized high school, provided such attendance is certified to the board by the board of education of the high school attended. Such orders shall be payable out of any funds belonging to the district.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/12-11.3

    (105 ILCS 5/12-11.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-11.3)
    Sec. 12-11.3. Reports. Make such reports as may be required by the State Board of Education and by the regional superintendent of schools.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/12-11.5

    (105 ILCS 5/12-11.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-11.5)
    Sec. 12-11.5. Transportation of pupils.
    If in the discretion of the board of education sufficient moneys of the district are available after payment of the other expenses of the district, including tuition, may provide free transportation for the pupils of their district not living within one and one-half miles of a high school which they may lawfully attend to the most convenient high school which such pupils may lawfully attend under the provisions of this Act, or reimburse pupils living in a portion of such district which cannot be reached by bus or train for the reasonable cost of their transportation, or for the amount necessarily expended by them for transportation in attending a high school approved by such board.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/12-12

    (105 ILCS 5/12-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-12)
    Sec. 12-12. Anticipation warrants. When there is no money in the treasury of any non-high school district to defray the necessary expenses of the district, including amounts necessary to pay maturing principal and interest of bonds, the board of education may issue warrants or may provide a fund to meet the expenses by issuing and disposing of warrants drawn against and in anticipation of any taxes levied for the payment of such expenses, either for educational or building purposes or for the payment of maturing principal and interest of bonds, to the extent of 85% of the total amount of the tax so levied. The warrants shall show upon their faces that they are payable, in the numerical order of their issuance, solely from such taxes when collected, and shall be received by any collector of taxes in payment of the taxes against which they are issued, and such taxes shall be set apart and held for their payment.
    Every warrant shall bear interest payable only out of the taxes against which it is drawn, at the rate of not more than the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, for warrants issued before January 1, 1972 and not more than the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, for warrants issued after January 1, 1972, from the date of its issuance until paid or until notice is given by publication in a newspaper or otherwise that the money for its payment is available and that it will be paid on presentation, unless a lower rate of interest shall be specified therein, in which case the interest shall be computed and paid at the lower rate.
    With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts.
(Source: P.A. 86-4.)

105 ILCS 5/12-13

    (105 ILCS 5/12-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-13)
    Sec. 12-13. Bond issue - Resolution - Election. If there has been a delay in the extension and collection of taxes levied by the governing body of any nonhigh school district caused by a reassessment of real property therein, the district may issue bonds for the purpose of paying unpaid tuition claims or other claims against it.
    Before any nonhigh school district issues any such bonds the board of education shall examine and consider the claims proposed to be paid, and if it appears that they were authorized and allowed for proper nonhigh school purposes, it shall adopt a resolution so declaring and set forth and describe in detail such claims. The adoption of the resolution shall establish the validity thereof. The resolution shall also declare the intention of the nonhigh school district to issue bonds for the purpose of paying such claims and direct that notice of such intention be published at least once in a newspaper published and having a general circulation in the district, if there be one, but if there is no newspaper published in such district then by publishing such notice in a newspaper having a general circulation in the district or if no newspaper is published in the district in one or more newspapers with a general circulation in the district. The notice shall include a statement of (1) the specific number of voters required to sign a petition requesting that the question of the adoption of the resolution be submitted to the electors of the district; (2) the time in which the petition must be filed; and (3) the date of the prospective referendum. The recording officer of the district shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one. If within 30 days after the publication a petition is filed with the recording officer of the district, signed by voters of the district equal to 10% or more of the registered voters of the district, requesting that the proposition to issue the bonds be submitted to the voters thereof, then such district shall not be authorized to issue them until either the petition has been determined to be invalid or insufficient or the proposition has been submitted to and approved by a majority of the voters voting on the proposition at a regular scheduled election. The board shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities for submission in accordance with the general election law. If no such petition is filed, or if any and all petitions filed are invalid, such district may issue the bonds. In addition to the requirements of the general election law the notice of the election shall set forth the intention of the district to issue bonds under the provisions of this Section. The ballot to be used at the election shall be in substantially the following form:
OFFICIAL BALLOT
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall the Board of Education
of Nonhigh School District No.                YES
...., .... County, Illinois, be            -------------------
authorized to issue bonds as authorized        NO
by Sec. 12-13 of the School Code?
--------------------------------------------------------------
(Source: P.A. 87-767.)

105 ILCS 5/12-14

    (105 ILCS 5/12-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-14)
    Sec. 12-14. Resolution authorizing issue - Interest - Maturity - Taxes - Sale or exchange. Any non-high school district which has complied with the provisions of Section 12-13 and which is authorized to issue bonds thereunder shall adopt a resolution authorizing the issue of bonds. The resolution shall set forth the date, denomination, rate of interest and maturities of the bonds, fix all the details with respect to the issue and execution thereof, and provide for the levy of a separate tax sufficient to pay both principal and interest of the bonds as they mature. The bonds shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, for bonds issued before January 1, 1972 and not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, for bonds issued after January 1, 1972, payable annually or semi-annually as the board of education may determine, and mature in not more than 20 years from the date thereof.
    A certified copy of the resolution shall be filed with the county clerk of the county in which the non-high school district is situated. The county clerk shall annually extend taxes against all of the taxable property contained in the non-high school district in amounts sufficient to pay maturing principal and interest of the bonds without limitation as to rate and amount, and in addition to and in excess of any taxes authorized to be levied by the district.
    The bonds may be exchanged par for par for unpaid tuition claims or other unpaid claims or both or may be sold and the proceeds used to pay such claims.
    Purchasers of bonds shall not be obligated to inquire into the validity of the claims funded thereby but the determination of the board of education by resolution to issue such bonds for such purpose shall be conclusive evidence to such purchaser or owner as to the validity of the claims thereby funded.
    With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts.
(Source: P.A. 86-4.)

105 ILCS 5/12-15

    (105 ILCS 5/12-15) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-15)
    Sec. 12-15. Bonds to pay tuition or judgments - Resolution - Election. Any nonhigh school district may issue bonds for the purpose of paying unpaid tuition claims or judgments which have been obtained by any school district against the nonhigh school district on unpaid tuition claims, or for the purpose of paying other claims against the nonhigh school district.
    Before any such district issues any such bonds the board of education thereof shall examine and consider the claims for unpaid tuition and other claims proposed to be paid including any judgments obtained against the district on unpaid tuition claims and if it appears that such claims and judgments were authorized and allowed for proper nonhigh school purposes, it shall adopt a resolution so declaring and set forth and describe in detail such claims and judgments and the adoption of the resolution shall establish the validity thereof. The intention of the district to issue bonds for the purpose of paying such claims and judgments shall be declared in the resolution and it shall be directed therein that notice of such intention be published in accordance with the general election law. The proposition to issue bonds shall be certified to the proper election authorities for submission to the voters of the district at a regular scheduled election, in accordance with the general election law and if approved by a majority of such voters voting thereon the district may issue the bonds. In addition to the requirements in the general election law notice of the election shall set forth the intention of the district to issue bonds under the provisions of this Section. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
OFFICIAL BALLOT
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall the Board of Education of
Nonhigh School District No.....,          YES
.... County, Illinois, be authorized     ---------------------
to issue bonds as authorized by           NO
Section 12-15 of the School Code?
--------------------------------------------------------------
(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

105 ILCS 5/12-16

    (105 ILCS 5/12-16) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-16)
    Sec. 12-16. Resolution authorizing issue - interest - maturity - taxes - sale or exchange. Any non-high school district which has complied with Section 12-15 and which is authorized to issue bonds thereunder shall adopt a resolution authorizing their issuance. The resolution shall set forth the date, denomination, rate of interest and maturities of the bonds, fix all details with respect to the issue and execution thereof, and provide for the levy of a separate tax sufficient to pay both principal and interest of the bonds as they mature. The bonds shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, payable annually or semi-annually as the board of education may determine, and mature in not more than 20 years from the date thereof.
    A certified copy of the resolution authorizing the issue of the bonds shall be filed with the county clerk of the county in which the non-high school district is situated and the county clerk shall annually extend taxes against all of the taxable property in the non-high school district in amounts sufficient to pay maturing principal and interest of the bonds without limitation as to rate and amount, and in addition to and in excess of any taxes authorized to be levied by the district.
    The bonds may be exchanged par for par for unpaid tuition claims or such judgment or judgments or other unpaid claims or both, or may be sold and the proceeds used to pay such claims or judgments.
    Purchasers of bonds shall not be obligated to inquire into the validity of the claims funded thereby but the determination of the board of education by resolution to issue them shall be conclusive evidence of the validity of the claims thereby funded.
    With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts.
(Source: P.A. 86-4.)

105 ILCS 5/12-17

    (105 ILCS 5/12-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-17)
    Sec. 12-17. Clerk to extend taxes.
    The County Clerk shall extend taxes to pay principal and interest of any outstanding bonds of a non-high school district issued to fund and pay unpaid tuition claims or judgments obtained by any school district against a non-high school district on unpaid tuition claims, as provided by each bond resolution on file in his office, against all the taxable property included within the said non-high school district as of the date of the said bonds, and the County Clerk shall extend taxes to pay principal and interest of any outstanding refunding bonds, as provided by each bond resolution on file in his office, against all of the taxable property included within said non-high school district as of the date of the bonds which were refunded thereby, and the County Clerk shall extend taxes for the payment of principal and interest of any refunding bonds hereafter issued, according to each such bond resolution on file in his office, against all the taxable property included within any non-high school district as of the date of the bonds of said District refunded thereby.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/12-18

    (105 ILCS 5/12-18) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-18)
    Sec. 12-18. Winding up of affairs of Non-High School District.
    Upon the elimination of any non-high school district, as provided by Section 12-24 of this Article, the Regional Superintendent of Schools, the County Treasurer and the County Clerk shall constitute a Board of Education, ex-officio, for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the non-high school district and paying all outstanding obligations. The County Treasurer shall be Treasurer, ex-officio, of that Board to receive and collect all delinquent taxes and taxes in process of collection of the district at the time of its elimination, and the Board shall apply the taxes so collected to the payment of any outstanding obligations of the eliminated non-high school district. Such Board of Education shall meet annually by the second Tuesday in September of each year and ascertain the amount of outstanding bonds of the non-high school district, the amount of funds on hand from the tax levies for the payment of either principal or interest, or both, of such bond issues, and to ascertain the deficiencies in the collection of the taxes for the purpose of paying such principal and interest of such bonds, and to provide for and levy taxes annually in an amount sufficient to make up the deficiency in the levy and collection of such taxes for the purpose of paying in full the principal and interest of any outstanding bonds of such non-high school district. Such Board of Education shall file with the County Clerk by the second Monday of October in each year a certificate of the amounts necessary to be levied to make up any deficiency in the collection of taxes for payment of principal and interest of any outstanding bonds of the non-high school district over the signature of the Regional Superintendent of Schools and the County Treasurer, and the County Clerk shall extend the tax for the deficiency as so ascertained against all the taxable property of the non-high school district as it existed as of the date of the bonds for which the tax levy is made, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 12-17 of this Article.
    After payment of all outstanding bonds or after provision has been made for the payment of such bonds, any funds remaining in the bond principal and interest account shall be paid by the Board to high school districts organized since January 1, 1955 solely from the territory of an eliminated non-high school district. Payment to each high school district shall be made in the same ratio as the assessed valuation of each high school district bears to the total valuation of all high school districts to which payment is being made. In the event payment is made in more than one installment, second and succeeding installments shall be computed on the basis of the same percentages as were used for the first payment.
(Source: P.A. 86-1028.)

105 ILCS 5/12-19

    (105 ILCS 5/12-19) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-19)
    Sec. 12-19. Treasurer.
    The county treasurer shall be the treasurer of the non-high school district of the county. He shall: (1) receive and hold all moneys belonging to the district and disburse them upon lawful orders issued by the board of education of the district; (2) report to the secretary of the board of education of the district on or before June 30, annually, the receipts and expenditures of funds belonging to the district and the balance on hand; (3) make annually a complete report to the county superintendent of schools, including therein whatever statistics may be required by the county superintendent; (4) perform such other duties in connection with the non-high school district as are performed by the township treasurers for school districts.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/12-20

    (105 ILCS 5/12-20) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-20)
    Sec. 12-20. Attendance in other districts.
    If a recognized two or three year high school is conducted in a non-high school district, any eighth grade graduate residing in the district, upon the approval of the county superintendent of schools, may attend a recognized high school more convenient in some district other than the district in which he resides and his tuition shall be paid by the board of education of the non-high school district. If no recognized two or three year high school is conducted in a non-high school district, any eighth grade graduate residing in the district may attend any recognized two, three or four year high school, and his tuition shall be paid by the board of education of the non-high school district.
    When non-high school territory is eliminated from the non-high school district the pupils residing in the former non-high school territory who have been attending a recognized public high school in another district as tuition pupils may continue to attend such school until their high school education is finished and the annexing board shall pay the tuition after the annexation of the former non-high school territory.
    "Eighth grade graduate" in this section means any person of school age who gives satisfactory evidence of having completed the first eight grades of school work by presenting a certificate of promotion issued by the school board of the school attended by him, or by passing an examination given by the county superintendent of schools or by passing an examination given by the school attended.
    "Recognized high school" in this section means any public high school providing a course of two or more years of work approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/12-21

    (105 ILCS 5/12-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-21)
    Sec. 12-21. Attendance in adjoining state. Upon a determination by the State Board of Education and of the regional superintendent of schools of the region in which a high school student or an eighth grade graduate resides that no high school of this State is readily accessible to the pupil or graduate, but that a high school in an adjoining state providing a course of two or more years of work approved by the State Board of Education of this State is readily accessible to him, the pupil or graduate may attend such high school in an adjoining state and the board of education of the high school district or of the non-high school district in which he resides shall pay his tuition.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/12-22

    (105 ILCS 5/12-22) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-22)
    Sec. 12-22. Computation of tuition - audit of claims.
    The tuition paid shall in no case exceed the per capita cost of maintaining the high school attended, which tuition shall be computed by dividing the total cost of conducting and maintaining the high school by the average number of pupils enrolled, including tuition pupils. Depreciation on the building and equipment of the high school attended shall be included as part of the cost of maintaining the high school attended, and the amount of annual depreciation on such building and equipment shall be dependent upon the useful life of such property. The board of education of any non-high school district may audit the claims of any school submitting a claim for tuition, and shall, after making request of the school board and the school treasurer, have access to the school records and financial records of the district for the purpose of making the audit.
    The school board of the high school that the tuition pupils attend shall certify not later than August 1, of each year, to the non-high school board, the estimated amount of the tuition charges for the succeeding school year.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/12-23

    (105 ILCS 5/12-23) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-23)
    Sec. 12-23. Detachment of territory from non-high school district.
    When all of the territory of the non-high school district is annexed to one or more districts, the funds remaining to the credit of the non-high school district and property of such district shall within 60 days be apportioned and paid by the county board of school trustees to the respective school districts to which non-high school territory has been annexed since May 1, 1945, on the basis of the assessed valuation of the non-high school territory annexed at the date of the annexation to the respective school districts.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/12-24

    (105 ILCS 5/12-24) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-24)
    Sec. 12-24. Elimination of non-high school district. The territory of the non-high school district or unit district not maintaining a high school in existence on January 1, 1950 of any county having a population of 500,000 or less shall be automatically eliminated from the non-high school district or unit district, unless (1) the non-high school territory is adjacent to a district created by a special Act whose boundaries are required by such Act to be coterminous with some city or village or to a district maintaining grades 1 through 12 and (2) has children in such territory who customarily attend the high school of such district and (3) has no school district operating grades 9 through 12 to which such territory could be annexed without impairing the educational opportunities of the children of such territory and in such case the territory shall remain non-high school territory.
    Any such non-high school district including any unit district not maintaining a high school pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall pay tuition for high school students at a rate to be mutually agreed by the boards of education of each district affected.
    When territory is eliminated from a non-high school district or unit district not maintaining a high school it shall be annexed by the county board of school trustees as provided in Section 7-27 of this Code (now repealed).
    Any non-high school district affected by such elimination and annexation may continue to exercise all previously conferred and existing powers pending final administrative or judicial affirmance thereof.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/12-25

    (105 ILCS 5/12-25) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-25)
    Sec. 12-25. Non-high territory surrounded by water or possessing an ancient grant.
    Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Article for the elimination of non-high school territory and in addition to the exemptions provided in this Article for the elimination of non-high school territory, any non-high school territory that has no direct land connection with any school district to which it could be annexed or any school district whose inhabitants were entitled to the use and benefit of certain lands by virtue of an ancient grant prior to the admission of Illinois to the Union and which grant was recognized and confirmed by the government of the United States, may be permitted to remain non-high school territory, in whole or in part, or may be eliminated, in whole or in part, from the non-high school district of the county as part of an attachment, assignment, annexation, detachment, division, or dissolution action of the regional board of school trustees. In the event an elementary district is non-recognized by the State Board of Education, the elementary district and that portion of any non-high school district with coterminous boundaries with such elementary district shall be assigned, annexed, and attached to a unit district or to an elementary district and a high school district by the regional board of school trustees under the guidelines of Section 7-11.
(Source: P.A. 86-139.)

105 ILCS 5/12-26

    (105 ILCS 5/12-26) (from Ch. 122, par. 12-26)
    Sec. 12-26. Transferred territory liable for indebtedness-Levy of tax.
    If any non-high school district or protectorate high school district has outstanding debts and obligations other than bonded indebtedness the territory constituting the district at the time the indebtedness is incurred shall remain liable for the indebtedness even though the district is dissolved or a part of the territory is detached from or ceases to be a part of such district.
    The board of education of the non-high school district or protectorate high school district at the time of making its annual tax levy or prior to the time it ceases to exist shall prepare and file with the county clerk a map of the district showing the territory embraced therein prior to any dissolution or change in the boundary thereof and shall also file with the county clerk a statement certified by the county superintendent of schools showing the amount of outstanding debts or obligations other than bonded indebtedness of the district remaining unpaid, the time when the indebtedness was created, the changes in the boundary of the district and the date of such changes.
    The board of education shall determine and certify to the county clerk the amount of tax required for the purpose of paying the outstanding debts or obligations other than bonded indebtedness and the county clerk shall extend each year upon all the territory so liable a rate of tax necessary to raise the amount thereof at the maximum rate permissible at the time the territory ceased to be non-high school territory or protectorate high school territory until such outstanding debts or obligations other than bonded indebtedness have been paid.
    When collected the tax shall be paid to the county superintendent of schools who shall pay the debts and obligations other than bonded indebtedness in the order that they were incurred.
(Source: P.A. 76-124.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 13

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 13 heading)
ARTICLE 13. SCHOOLS FOR DESIGNATED PURPOSES

105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 13-1

 
    (105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 13-1 heading)
CONTINUATION SCHOOLS

105 ILCS 5/13-1

    (105 ILCS 5/13-1)
    Sec. 13-1. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/13-2

    (105 ILCS 5/13-2)
    Sec. 13-2. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/13-3

    (105 ILCS 5/13-3)
    Sec. 13-3. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/13-4

    (105 ILCS 5/13-4)
    Sec. 13-4. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 3745. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/13-5

    (105 ILCS 5/13-5)
    Sec. 13-5. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 3745. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/13-6

    (105 ILCS 5/13-6)
    Sec. 13-6. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 77-2267. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/13-7

    (105 ILCS 5/13-7)
    Sec. 13-7. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 77-2267. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/13-8

    (105 ILCS 5/13-8)
    Sec. 13-8. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/13-9

    (105 ILCS 5/13-9)
    Sec. 13-9. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 13-10

 
    (105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 13-10 heading)
PARENTAL SCHOOLS

105 ILCS 5/13-10

    (105 ILCS 5/13-10)
    Sec. 13-10. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1489. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 13-11

 
    (105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 13-11 heading)
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

105 ILCS 5/13-11

    (105 ILCS 5/13-11)
    Sec. 13-11. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 13-12

 
    (105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 13-12 heading)
JUNIOR COLLEGES

105 ILCS 5/13-12

    (105 ILCS 5/13-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-12)
    Sec. 13-12. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 1606. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/13-16

    (105 ILCS 5/13-16) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-16)
    Sec. 13-16. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 1606. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/13-17

    (105 ILCS 5/13-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-17)
    Sec. 13-17. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1489. Repealed by 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/13-17.1

    (105 ILCS 5/13-17.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-17.1)
    Sec. 13-17.1. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 87-767. Repealed by 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/13-18

    (105 ILCS 5/13-18) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-18)
    Sec. 13-18. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/13-19

    (105 ILCS 5/13-19) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-19)
    Sec. 13-19. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 78-592. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/13-19.1

    (105 ILCS 5/13-19.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-19.1)
    Sec. 13-19.1. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1963, p. 3053. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 13-36

 
    (105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 13-36 heading)
COUNTY NORMAL SCHOOLS

105 ILCS 5/13-36

    (105 ILCS 5/13-36)
    Sec. 13-36. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 79-1366. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 13-40

 
    (105 ILCS 5/prec. Sec. 13-40 heading)
DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE SCHOOL DISTRICT
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13-40

    (105 ILCS 5/13-40) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-40)
    Sec. 13-40. To increase the effectiveness of the Department of Juvenile Justice and thereby to better serve the interests of the people of Illinois the following bill is presented.
    Its purpose is to enhance the quality and scope of education for inmates and wards within the Department of Juvenile Justice so that they will be better motivated and better equipped to restore themselves to constructive and law-abiding lives in the community. The specific measure sought is the creation of a school district within the Department so that its educational programs can meet the needs of persons committed and so the resources of public education at the state and federal levels are best used, all of the same being contemplated within the provisions of the Illinois State Constitution of 1970 which provides that "A fundamental goal of the People of the State is the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities." Therefore, on July 1, 2006, the Department of Corrections school district shall be transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice. It shall be responsible for the education of youth within the Department of Juvenile Justice and inmates age 21 or under within the Department of Corrections who have not yet earned a high school diploma or a State of Illinois High School Diploma, and the district may establish primary, secondary, vocational, adult, special, and advanced educational schools as provided in this Act. The Department of Corrections retains authority as provided for in subsection (d) of Section 3-6-2 of the Unified Code of Corrections. The Board of Education for this district shall with the aid and advice of professional educational personnel of the Department of Juvenile Justice and the State Board of Education determine the needs and type of schools and the curriculum for each school within the school district and may proceed to establish the same through existing means within present and future appropriations, federal and state school funds, vocational rehabilitation grants and funds and all other funds, gifts and grants, private or public, including federal funds, but not exclusive to the said sources but inclusive of all funds which might be available for school purposes.
(Source: P.A. 102-1100, eff. 1-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/13-41

    (105 ILCS 5/13-41) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-41)
    Sec. 13-41. The Board of Education for this school district shall be composed of the Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice, 2 members appointed by the Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice and 4 members appointed by the State Board of Education, at least one of whom shall have knowledge of, or experience in, vocational education and one of whom shall have knowledge of, or experience in, higher and continuing education. All members of the Board shall hold office for a period of 3 years, except that members shall continue to serve until their replacements are appointed. Vacancies shall be filled in like manner for the unexpired balance of the term. The members appointed shall be selected so far as is practicable on the basis of their knowledge of, or experience in, problems of education in correctional, vocational and general educational institutions. Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13-42

    (105 ILCS 5/13-42) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-42)
    Sec. 13-42. The Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice shall be the President of the Board of Education and the Secretary of said Board of Education shall be designated at the first regular meeting of said Board of Education. The Board shall hold regular meetings upon the call of the Chairman or any 3 members at such times as they may designate so long as they meet at least 6 times a year. Public notice of meetings must be given as prescribed in Sections 2.02 and 2.03 of "An Act in relation to meetings", approved July 11, 1957, as heretofore or hereafter amended. No official business shall be transacted by the Board except at a regular or special meeting. A majority of said Board shall constitute a quorum.
    The Board shall keep a record of the official acts of the Board and shall make reports as required by the State Board of Education and any reports required which shall be applicable to this type of school district and specifically shall maintain records to substantiate all district claims for State aid in accordance with regulations prescribed by the State Board of Education and to retain such records for a period of three years.
    The Board shall be supplied such clerical employee or employees as are necessary for the efficient operation by the Department of Juvenile Justice.
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43)
    Sec. 13-43. The Board of Education shall have the duties set out in Sections 13-43.1 through 13-43.20.
(Source: P.A. 86-1028.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.1

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.1)
    Sec. 13-43.1. To report to the County Superintendent within ten days after their employment the names of all teachers employed, with the dates of the beginning of their term of service.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.2

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.2)
    Sec. 13-43.2. To adopt and enforce all necessary rules and for the management and government of the public schools of their district.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.3

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.3)
    Sec. 13-43.3. To visit and inspect the public schools as the good of the schools may require.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.4

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.4)
    Sec. 13-43.4.
    To close the schools during the holding of Teachers Institute.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.5)
    Sec. 13-43.5. To establish schools of different grades and levels and types as enumerated in Section 13-40 of this Act, and to adopt regulations for the admission of pupils into them.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.6

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.6) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.6)
    Sec. 13-43.6. To employ a superintendent who shall have charge of the administration of the schools under the direction of the Board of Education. In addition to the administrative duties, the superintendent shall make recommendations to the Board concerning the budget, building plans, the location of sites, the selection of textbooks, instructional material and courses of study. The superintendent shall keep or cause to be kept the records and accounts as directed and required of the Board, aid in making reports required by the Board, and perform such other duties as the Board may delegate to him.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.7

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.7) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.7)
    Sec. 13-43.7. To employ supervisory personnel who hold valid supervisory or administrative certificates who shall supervise the operation of attendance centers as the Board shall determine necessary. Such supervisory personnel shall assume administrative responsibilities and instructional leadership, under the supervision of the superintendent, and in accordance with reasonable rules and regulations of the Board, for the planning, operation and evaluation of the educational program of the attendance area to which he is assigned. Such supervisory personnel shall submit recommendations to the superintendent concerning the appointment, retention, promotion and assignment of all personnel assigned to the attendance center.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.8

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.8) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.8)
    Sec. 13-43.8. To enter agreements with school districts, private junior colleges and public community colleges, and public and private colleges and universities for the purpose of providing advanced vocational training of students who desire preparation for a trade. Such program would utilize private junior college and public community college facilities with transportation to and from those facilities provided by the participating school district, or by the participating school district in conjunction with other school districts. The duration of the advanced vocational training program shall be such period as the school district may approve, but it may not exceed 2 years. Participation in the program is accorded the same credit toward a high school diploma as time spent in other courses. If a student of this school district, because of his educational needs, attends a class or school in another school district or educational facility, the Department of Juvenile Justice School District where he resides shall be granted the proper permit, provide any necessary transportation, and pay to the school district or educational facility maintaining the educational facility the proportional per capita cost of educating such student.
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.9

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.9) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.9)
    Sec. 13-43.9. To grant special holidays, but no deduction shall be made from the time or compensation of a teacher on account of such days.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.10

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.10) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.10)
    Sec. 13-43.10. To have control and supervision of all schoolhouses in their district.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.11

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.11) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.11)
    Sec. 13-43.11. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Department of Juvenile Justice and the laws and statutes applicable, the Board shall have the power and the authority to assign to schools within the district and to expel or suspend pupils for disciplinary purposes or to assign or reassign them as the needs of the district or the pupil shall be determined best. Once a student commences a course of training he shall attend all sessions unless restricted by illness, a reasonable excuse or by direction of the Department of Juvenile Justice or the facility at which he is located. Conferences shall be held at regular periodic intervals with the ward or the inmate and the school district authorities and facility officials shall determine the extent the ward or inmate is benefiting from the particular program, and shall further determine whether the said ward or inmate shall continue in the program to which he is assigned or be dropped from the same or be transferred to another program more suited to his needs or the school district's needs.
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.12

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.12) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.12)
    Sec. 13-43.12. To make the necessary rules and regulations as to enrollment, attendance and all other matters regarding said school district and to determine the educability of each inmate. Rules shall be promulgated to prevent any discrimination as to race, creed, color, sex or nationality throughout the entire system.
(Source: P.A. 80-1155.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.13

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.13) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.13)
    Sec. 13-43.13. The length of the school year shall be determined by the Board of Education, but must comply with minimum requirements as established by law.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.14

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.14) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.14)
    Sec. 13-43.14. The Board shall determine the branches and courses of study and the type of schools for each facility as well as to establish special schools at various facilities or facility within said district and to establish district wide schools at one or more locations for special purposes, and is empowered to enter into agreements with local school districts for the purpose of using their facilities or coordinating facilities for a more efficient use of funds, personnel, physical plants and other combined available resources. The Board shall also determine the type of textbooks and apparatus for said schools.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.15

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.15) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.15)
    Sec. 13-43.15. To name the various individual schools but said names need not be associated or identified with the institution or facility within which they are situated, the same may be named for distinguished American educators.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.16

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.16) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.16)
    Sec. 13-43.16. The Board of Education shall comply with and require all facilities within the school district to comply with the rules, regulations, statutes, both state and federal which are applicable to the individual unit. This includes primary, secondary, vocational, adult educational, special educational and advanced educational schools.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.17

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.17) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.17)
    Sec. 13-43.17. To employ teacher personnel in accordance with the Personnel Code, of the State of Illinois, including Provisional Appointments, and such teacher personnel will be subject to Article 16 of the "Illinois Pension Code" and shall not be subject to Article 14 of that Code; and shall be subject to the "Personnel Code." The Board may also utilize personnel as set forth in Section 10-22.34 of this Act as well as vocational and occupational instructors.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.18

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.18) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.18)
    Sec. 13-43.18. To develop through consultation with the staff of the Department of Juvenile Justice and the staff of the State Board of Education educational goals and objectives for the correctional education programs planned for or conducted by the district, along with the methods for evaluating the extent to which the goals and objectives are or have been achieved and to develop by July 1, 1973, a complete financial control system for all educational funds and programs operated by the school district.
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.19

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.19) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.19)
    Sec. 13-43.19. To develop and annually revise an educational plan for achieving the goals and objectives called for in Section 13-43.18 for the Department of Juvenile Justice with specific recommendations for inmate educational assessment, curriculum, staffing and other necessary considerations.
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13-43.20

    (105 ILCS 5/13-43.20) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-43.20)
    Sec. 13-43.20. To develop a method or methods for allocating state funds to the Board for expenditure within the various divisions and/or for programs conducted by the Board, and to annually determine the average per capita cost of students in the Department of Juvenile Justice and the average per capita cost of students in the Department of Corrections for education classes and/or programs required to accomplish the educational goals and objectives and programs specified in Sections 13-43.18 and 13-43.19 and recommend to the State Board of Education by July 15 of each year the per capita amount necessary to operate the Department of Juvenile Justice School District's educational program for the following fiscal year.
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13-44

    (105 ILCS 5/13-44) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-44)
    Sec. 13-44. Other provisions, duties and conditions of the Department of Juvenile Justice School District are set out in Sections 13-44.1 through 13-44.5.
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13-44.1

    (105 ILCS 5/13-44.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-44.1)
    Sec. 13-44.1. All acts of school personnel, including the Board of Education, shall be acts in a governmental capacity, this includes personnel as set forth in Section 10-22.34 of this Act whose services the Board may utilize.
(Source: P.A. 77-1779.)

105 ILCS 5/13-44.2

    (105 ILCS 5/13-44.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-44.2)
    Sec. 13-44.2. There shall be no restriction as to the age of students in this program, and regardless of the age of its students, the district shall have all the benefits, financial and otherwise, that are accorded to other school districts, including State and Federal grants and aid, Common School Funds, and Vocational Rehabilitation Funds. In calculating such benefits, those inmates or wards who have not completed grade or high school and those taking vocational courses and advanced courses shall be included.
(Source: P.A. 86-1028.)

105 ILCS 5/13-44.3

    (105 ILCS 5/13-44.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-44.3)
    Sec. 13-44.3. In order to fully carry out the purpose of this Act, the School District through its Board or designated supervisory personnel, with the approval of the Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice, may authorize field trips outside of the particular institution or facility where a school is established and may remove students therefrom or may with the approval of the Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice transfer inmates and wards to other schools and other facilities where particular subject matter or facilities are more suited to or are needed to complete the inmates' or wards' education. The Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice may authorize an educational furlough for an inmate or ward to attend institutions of higher education, other schools, vocational or technical schools or enroll and attend classes in subjects not available within the School District, to be financed by the inmate or ward or any grant or scholarship which may be available, including school aid funds of any kind when approved by the Board and the Director of the Department.
    The Department of Juvenile Justice may extend the limits of the place of confinement of an inmate or ward under the above conditions and for the above purposes, to leave for the aforesaid reasons, the confines of such place, accompanied or unaccompanied, in the discretion of the Director of such Department by a custodial agent or educational personnel.
    The willful failure of an inmate or ward to remain within the extended limits of his or her confinement or to return within the time prescribed to the place of confinement designated by the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice in granting such extension or when ordered to return by the custodial personnel or the educational personnel or other departmental order shall be deemed an escape from the custody of such Department and punishable as provided in the Unified Code of Corrections as to the Department of Corrections inmates, and the applicable provision of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 shall apply to wards of the Department of Juvenile Justice who might abscond.
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13-44.4

    (105 ILCS 5/13-44.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-44.4)
    Sec. 13-44.4. Department of Corrections Reimbursement and Education Fund; budget. All moneys received from the Common School Fund, federal aid and grants, vocational and educational funds and grants, and gifts and grants by individuals, foundations and corporations for educational purposes shall be deposited into the Department of Corrections Reimbursement and Education Fund in the State Treasury. Moneys in the Department of Corrections Reimbursement and Education Fund may be used, subject to appropriation, to pay the expense of the schools and school district of the Department of Corrections together with and supplemental to regular appropriations to the Department for educational purposes, including, but not limited to, the cost of teacher salaries, supplies and materials, building upkeep and costs, transportation, scholarships, non-academic salaries, equipment and other school costs.
    Beginning in 1972, the Board of Education shall, by November 15, adopt an annual budget for the use of education moneys for the next school year which it deems necessary to defray all necessary expenses and liabilities of the district, and in such annual budget shall specify the objects and purposes of each item and the amount needed for each object or purpose. The budget shall contain a statement of cash on hand at the beginning of the fiscal year, an estimate of the cash expected to be received during such fiscal year from all sources, an estimate of the expenditure contemplated for such fiscal year, and a statement of the estimated cash expected to be on hand at the end of such year. Prior to the adoption of the annual educational budget, this budget shall be submitted to the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Education for incorporation.
(Source: P.A. 90-9, eff. 7-1-97; 90-587, eff. 7-1-98.)

105 ILCS 5/13-44.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13-44.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-44.5)
    Sec. 13-44.5. In all cases where an inmate or ward is to leave the institution or facility where he or she is confined for educational furloughs, vocational training, for field trips or for any other reason herein stated, authority must first be granted by the Department of Juvenile Justice and the said authority shall be discretionary with the Department of Juvenile Justice. The question of whether or not the said inmate or ward or group of inmates or wards shall be accompanied or not accompanied by security personnel, custodial agent or agents or only educational personnel shall be in the discretion of the Department of Juvenile Justice. All transfers must be approved by the Department of Juvenile Justice.
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13-44.6

    (105 ILCS 5/13-44.6)
    Sec. 13-44.6. Department of Juvenile Justice Reimbursement and Education Fund; budget. Beginning July 1, 2022, all moneys received by the Department of Juvenile Justice from the Common School Fund, federal aid and grants, vocational and educational funds and grants, and gifts and grants by individuals, foundations and corporations for educational purposes shall be deposited into the Department of Juvenile Justice Reimbursement and Education Fund in the State Treasury. Moneys in the Department of Juvenile Justice Reimbursement and Education Fund may be used, subject to appropriation, to pay the expense of the schools and school district of the Department of Juvenile Justice together with and supplemental to regular appropriations to the Department for educational purposes, including, but not limited to, the cost of teacher salaries, supplies and materials, building upkeep and costs, transportation, scholarships, non-academic salaries, contractual services, equipment, and other school costs.
(Source: P.A. 102-699, eff. 7-1-22.)

105 ILCS 5/13-45

    (105 ILCS 5/13-45) (from Ch. 122, par. 13-45)
    Sec. 13-45. Other provisions of this Code shall not apply to the Department of Juvenile Justice School District being all of the following Articles and Sections: Articles 3, 3A, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, those Sections of Article 10 in conflict with any provisions of Sections 13-40 through 13-45, and Articles 11, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, 19A, 20, 22, 24, 24A, 26, 31, 32, 33, and 34. Also Article 28 shall not apply except that this School District may use any funds available from State, Federal and other funds for the purchase of textbooks, apparatus and equipment.
(Source: P.A. 98-689, eff. 1-1-15.)

105 ILCS 5/13-50

    (105 ILCS 5/13-50)
    Sec. 13-50. Contract cancellation; Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education. All contracts between the Illinois Department of Corrections or the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice and the Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education to provide educational services for the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice shall be canceled in accordance with the terms of those contracts. Upon cancellation, each employee of the Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education who had been providing educational services for the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice shall be offered certified employment status under the Personnel Code with the State of Illinois. To the extent that it is reasonably practicable, unless otherwise agreed to by the Department of Central Management Services and the collective bargaining representative, the position offered to each of these persons shall be at the same facility and shall consist of the same duties and hours as previously existed under the canceled contract or contracts.
(Source: P.A. 95-1021, eff. 6-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 13A

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 13A heading)
ARTICLE 13A. ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

105 ILCS 5/13A-0.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-0.5)
    Sec. 13A-0.5. This Article may be cited as the Safe Schools Law.
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-1

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-1)
    Sec. 13A-1. Legislative declaration. The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
        (a) The children of this State constitute its most
    
important resource, and in order to enable those children to reach their full potential, the State must provide them the quality public education that the Constitution of the State of Illinois mandates.
        (b) The State cannot provide its children with the
    
education they deserve and require unless the environment of the public schools is conducive to learning.
        (c) That environment cannot be achieved unless an
    
atmosphere of safety prevails, assuring that the person of each student, teacher, and staff member is respected, and that none of those people are subjected to violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, or otherwise confrontational or inappropriate behaviors that disrupt the educational atmosphere.
        (d) In most schools, although the disruptive students
    
who are the primary cause of inappropriate educational environments comprise a small percentage of the total student body, they nevertheless consume a substantial amount of the time and resources of teachers and school administrators who are required to address and contain that disruptive behavior.
        (e) Disruptive students typically derive little
    
benefit from traditional school programs and may benefit substantially by being transferred from their current school into an alternative public school program, where their particular needs may be more appropriately and individually addressed and where they may benefit from the opportunity for a fresh start in a new educational environment. At those alternative school programs, innovative academic and school-to-work programs, including but not limited to the techniques of work based learning and technology delivered learning, can be utilized to best help the students enrolled in those schools to become productive citizens.
        (f) Students need an appropriate, constructive
    
classroom atmosphere in order to benefit from the teacher's presentations. Students cannot afford the classroom disruptions and often become frustrated and angry at the inability of their teachers and schools to control disruptive students. As a result, they drop out of school too often. Furthermore, even if these students stay in school and graduate, they have been deprived by their disruptive classmates of the attention to their educational needs that their teachers would otherwise have provided, thereby diminishing their receiving the education and skills necessary to secure good jobs and become productive members of an increasingly competitive economic environment.
        (g) Parents of school children statewide have
    
expressed their rising anger and concern at the failure of their local public schools to provide a safe and appropriate educational environment for their children and to deal appropriately with disruptive students, and the General Assembly deems their concerns to be understandable and justified.
        (h) Every school district in the State shall do all
    
it can to ensure a safe and appropriate educational environment for all of its students, and the first, but not the only, step school districts must take to achieve that goal is to administratively transfer disruptive students from the schools they currently attend to the alternative school programs created by this Article. Those administrative transfers will also provide optional educational programs to best fit the needs of the transferred students.
        (i) Administrative transfers may prove more
    
productive for dealing with disruptive students than out-of-school suspensions or expulsions, which have been the subject of much criticism.
        (j) Because of the urgency of the problems described
    
in this Section, as well as their statewide impact, the State of Illinois bears the responsibility to establish and fully fund alternative schools as soon as possible, thereby providing school districts with an option for dealing with disruptive students that they do not now possess.
        (k) While school districts shall comply with all
    
applicable federal laws and regulations, they should do so consistent with the goals and policies stated in this Article. Further, this Article is intended to be consistent with all applicable federal laws and regulations.
        (l) An alternative school program established under
    
this Article is subject to the other provisions of this Code that apply generally in the public schools of this State and to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, except as otherwise provided in this Article.
        (m) The provisions of the Illinois Educational Labor
    
Relations Act apply to those alternative school programs that are created on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995.
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95; 89-629, eff. 8-9-96.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-2

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-2)
    Sec. 13A-2. Definitions. In this Article words and phrases have the meanings set forth in the following Sections.
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-2.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-2.5)
    Sec. 13A-2.5. Disruptive student. "Disruptive student" includes suspension or expulsion eligible students in any of grades 6 through 12. Suspension or expulsion eligible students are those students that have been found to be eligible for suspension or expulsion through the discipline process established by a school district.
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-2.10

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-2.10)
    Sec. 13A-2.10. Regional superintendent. "Regional superintendent" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3A-2 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-2.15

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-2.15)
    Sec. 13A-2.15. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95. Repealed by P.A. 89-629, eff. 8-9-96.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-2.20

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-2.20)
    Sec. 13A-2.20. Educational service region. "Educational service region" has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 3A of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-2.25

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-2.25)
    Sec. 13A-2.25. State board. "State board" means the State Board of Education, as defined in Section 1A-1 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-2.30

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-2.30)
    Sec. 13A-2.30. District superintendent. "District superintendent" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 10-21.4 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-3

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-3)
    Sec. 13A-3. Alternative schools.
    (a) Except with respect to the Chicago public school system as provided in Section 13A-11, beginning with the 1996-97 school year, there is hereby created in this State a system of alternative school education programs. At least one alternative school program may be located within each educational service region or established jointly by more than one regional office of education to serve more than one educational service region.
    (b) Each regional superintendent shall hold a public hearing, by December 1 of the school year following the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995, to determine the need for an alternative school. The hearing shall be held before the regional board. The regional superintendent, after consulting with the district superintendent of each school district located within the regional superintendent's educational service region and the regional board, shall determine the location and the need of the alternative school within that region. In making this determination, the regional superintendent shall consider the following:
        (1) the possible utilization of existing buildings,
    
including but not limited to governmental buildings, that are, or could reasonably be made, usable as an alternative school;
        (2) which available option would be least costly; and
        (3) distances that administratively transferred
    
students would need to travel and the costs of that travel.
    (c) Upon determination of the need for establishment of an alternative school program, each school district located within the region shall provide the regional superintendent with a copy of the district's discipline policy and procedure for effecting the suspension or expulsion of the students of that district. Thereafter, the regional superintendent in cooperation with a representative from each school district in the region shall establish and each school district in the region shall adopt policies and procedures that shall guide each district in the identification and placement of students in the alternative school program.
    (d) The regional superintendent shall locate the alternative school program so that it is as far away from any other school buildings or school grounds in that educational service region as circumstances permit.
    (e) With the approval of the State board, additional alternative school programs may be established in an educational service region. If the regional superintendent determines that an additional alternative school is required in the regional superintendent's educational service region, he or she may petition the State board to authorize one or more additional alternative school programs in that region.
    (f) In determining whether an additional alternative school program is necessary and appropriate for an educational service region requesting it, the State board shall consider, among other factors, the following:
        (1) the geographic size of the educational service
    
region and distances that students within that region must travel in order to attend the existing alternative school program;
        (2) the student population of schools comprising the
    
educational service region and the likely student population of all alternative school programs within that region if the petition is granted;
        (3) any other logistical considerations; and
        (4) the costs necessitated by establishing an
    
additional alternative school in that educational service region.
    (g) In the event the State board grants a petition for an additional alternative school program, then the State board, after consulting the regional superintendent, shall decide where the additional alternative school program shall be located within that region.
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95; 89-629, eff. 8-9-96.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-4

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-4)
    Sec. 13A-4. Administrative transfers.
    (a) A student who is determined to be subject to suspension or expulsion in the manner provided by Section 10-22.6 (or, in the case of a student enrolled in the public schools of a school district organized under Article 34, in accordance with the uniform system of discipline established under Section 34-19) may be immediately transferred to the alternative school program.
    (b) Before the effective date of the transfer, the student's parents or guardians shall receive information about the alternative school program, including the specific nature of the curriculum, the number of students in the program, any available services, the program's disciplinary policies, a typical daily schedule, and any extracurricular activities that may be offered at the alternative school program.
    (c) At the earliest time following the effective date of the transfer, appropriate personnel from the sending school district and appropriate personnel of the alternative school program shall meet to develop an alternative educational plan for the student. The student and the student's parents or guardians shall be invited to this meeting. The alternative educational plan shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
        (1) The duration of the plan, including a date after
    
which the student will be returned to the regular educational program in the public schools of the transferring district.
        (2) The specific academic and behavioral components
    
of the plan.
        (3) A method and time frame for reviewing the
    
student's progress and for transitioning the student back to the regular educational program in the public schools of the transferring district on the date set forth in paragraph (1), including a transition meeting between the sending school district, the alternative school program, and the student's parent or guardian at least 30 days prior to the date after which the student will be returned to the regular educational program in the public schools of the transferring district.
    If the student or the student's parents or guardians are unable to attend the meeting required under this subsection (c), the appropriate personnel from the alternative school program shall offer a meeting within 30 days after the effective date of the transfer to the student and the student's parents or guardians to discuss and provide input on the student's alternative educational plan and shall provide a copy of the alternative educational plan to the student and the student's parents or guardians prior to the meeting.
    (d) The date after which the student will return to the regular educational program in the public schools of the transferring district shall not be extended over the objection of the student's parent or guardian.
    (e) The date after which the student will return to the regular educational program in the public schools of the transferring district may be extended upon written agreement by the transferring school district, the alternative school program, and the student's parent or guardian.
    (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, if a student for whom an individualized education program has been developed under Article 14 is transferred to an alternative school program under this Article, that individualized education program shall continue to apply to that student following the transfer, unless modified in accordance with the provisions of Article 14.
(Source: P.A. 103-473, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-5

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-5)
    Sec. 13A-5. Alternative school program curriculum.
    (a) The regional superintendent shall implement, or contract with one or more school districts to implement, a multi-disciplinary curriculum, which may include work-based learning and community service work approved by the regional superintendent of schools in consultation with the State Board of Education for which academic credit is earned, for the alternative school program designed to address the individualized needs of the students of that program, with special emphasis toward making the educational experience of each student meaningful and worthwhile. In the design and implementation of that curriculum, the regional superintendent or school district shall give due consideration to the rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education for alternative schools and optional education programs. The regional superintendent or school district (i) may contract with third parties for any services otherwise performed by employees and (ii) may apply for waivers or modifications of mandates of this Code or of administrative rules as provided in Section 2-3.25g of this Code and as are necessary for the alternative school program.
    (b) An administratively transferred student who successfully completes the requirements for his or her high school graduation shall receive a diploma identifying the student as graduating from the transferring high school. In the event the student is administratively transferred before enrolling in a high school, then that student shall receive a diploma from the high school the student would have attended if the student had not attended an alternative school program.
(Source: P.A. 90-283, eff. 7-31-97; 91-318, eff. 7-29-99.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-6

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-6)
    Sec. 13A-6. Administration; contracts; waivers.
    (a) The regional superintendent shall administer, or contract with one or more school districts to administer, alternative school programs located within the educational service region. The regional superintendent or school district (i) may contract with third parties for any services otherwise performed by employees and (ii) may apply for waivers or modifications of mandates of this Code or of administrative rules as provided in Section 2-3.25g of this Code and as are necessary for the alternative school program.
    (b) The regional superintendent is responsible for the administrative and fiscal structure for the program.
(Source: P.A. 91-318, eff. 7-29-99.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-7

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-7)
    Sec. 13A-7. Employees. In all school districts, including special charter districts and districts located in cities having a population exceeding 500,000, the local school board shall grant, for a period of up to 5 years, a leave of absence to those of its employees who accept employment with an alternative school, provided that the employee shall satisfy any leave of absence provisions that may exist under a collective bargaining agreement or, if such an agreement does not exist, a school board policy. At the end of the authorized leave of absence, the employee must return to the school district in a comparable position or resign. The contractual continued service status and retirement benefits of an employee of the district who is granted a leave of absence to accept employment with an alternative school shall not be affected by that leave of absence.
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-8

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-8)
    Sec. 13A-8. Funding.
    (a) The State of Illinois shall provide funding for the alternative school programs within each educational service region and within the Chicago public school system by line item appropriation made to the State Board of Education for that purpose. This money, when appropriated, shall be provided to the regional superintendent and to the Chicago Board of Education, who shall establish a budget, including salaries, for their alternative school programs. Each program shall receive funding in the amount of $30,000 plus an amount based on the ratio of the region's or Chicago's best 3 months' average daily attendance in grades pre-kindergarten through 12 to the statewide totals of these amounts. For purposes of this calculation, the best 3 months' average daily attendance for each region or Chicago shall be calculated by adding to the best 3 months' average daily attendance the number of low-income students identified in the most recently available federal census multiplied by one-half times the percentage of the region's or Chicago's low-income students to the State's total low-income students. The State Board of Education shall retain up to 1.1% of the appropriation to be used to provide technical assistance, professional development, and evaluations for the programs.
    (a-5) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, for the 1998-1999 fiscal year, the total amount distributed under subsection (a) for an alternative school program shall be not less than the total amount that was distributed under that subsection for that alternative school program for the 1997-1998 fiscal year. If an alternative school program is to receive a total distribution under subsection (a) for the 1998-1999 fiscal year that is less than the total distribution that the program received under that subsection for the 1997-1998 fiscal year, that alternative school program shall also receive, from a separate appropriation made for purposes of this subsection (a-5), a supplementary payment equal to the amount by which its total distribution under subsection (a) for the 1997-1998 fiscal year exceeds the amount of the total distribution that the alternative school program receives under that subsection for the 1998-1999 fiscal year. If the amount appropriated for supplementary payments to alternative school programs under this subsection (a-5) is insufficient for that purpose, those supplementary payments shall be prorated among the alternative school programs entitled to receive those supplementary payments according to the aggregate amount of the appropriation made for purposes of this subsection (a-5).
    (b) An alternative school program shall be entitled to receive general State aid as calculated in subsection (K) of Section 18-8.05 or evidence-based funding as calculated in subsection (g) of Section 18-8.15 upon filing a claim as provided therein. Any time that a student who is enrolled in an alternative school program spends in work-based learning, community service, or a similar alternative educational setting shall be included in determining the student's minimum number of clock hours of daily school work that constitute a day of attendance for purposes of calculating general State aid or evidence-based funding.
    (c) An alternative school program may receive additional funding from its school districts in such amount as may be agreed upon by the parties and necessary to support the program. In addition, an alternative school program is authorized to accept and expend gifts, legacies, and grants, including but not limited to federal grants, from any source for purposes directly related to the conduct and operation of the program.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-9

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-9)
    Sec. 13A-9. Transportation. Subject to the requirements of Article 29 and except as otherwise agreed by the parents, school and regional superintendent, the school from which a student is administratively transferred shall provide for any transportation that the transfer necessitates, if transportation is required pursuant to Section 29-3. The regional superintendent shall coordinate all transportation arrangements with transferring school districts. The regional superintendent may also arrange for cooperation between school districts in the regional superintendent's educational service region regarding the transportation needs of transferred students in order to reduce the costs of that transportation and to provide greater convenience for the students involved.
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95; 89-629, eff. 8-9-96; 89-636, eff. 8-9-96; 90-14, eff. 7-1-97.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-10

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-10)
    Sec. 13A-10. Alternative School Programs in Class II Counties. The executive director of educational service centers located in Class II counties outside a city of 500,000 or more inhabitants shall, for the educational service center area, perform the duties assigned by this Article to regional superintendents.
(Source: P.A. 89-383, eff. 8-18-95; 89-629, eff. 8-9-96.)

105 ILCS 5/13A-11

    (105 ILCS 5/13A-11)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 102-466)
    Sec. 13A-11. Chicago public schools.
    (a) The Chicago Board of Education may establish alternative schools within Chicago and may contract with third parties for services otherwise performed by employees, including those in a bargaining unit, in accordance with Sections 34-8.1, 34-18, and 34-49.
    (b) Alternative schools operated by third parties within Chicago shall be exempt from all provisions of this Code, except provisions concerning:
        (1) student civil rights;
        (2) staff civil rights;
        (3) health and safety;
        (4) performance and financial audits;
        (5) the assessments required under Section 2-3.64a-5
    
of this Code;
        (6) Chicago learning outcomes;
        (7) Sections 2-3.25a through 2-3.25j of this Code;
        (8) the Inspector General; and
        (9) Section 34-2.4b of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 102-466)
    Sec. 13A-11. Chicago public schools.
    (a) The Chicago Board of Education may establish alternative schools within Chicago and may contract with third parties for services otherwise performed by employees, including those in a bargaining unit, in accordance with Sections 34-8.1, 34-18, and 34-49.
    (b) Alternative schools operated by third parties within Chicago shall be exempt from all provisions of this Code, except provisions concerning:
        (1) student civil rights;
        (2) staff civil rights;
        (3) health and safety;
        (4) performance and financial audits;
        (5) the assessments required under Section 2-3.64a-5
    
of this Code;
        (6) Chicago learning outcomes;
        (7) Sections 2-3.25a through 2-3.25j of this Code;
        (8) the Inspector General;
        (9) Section 34-2.4b of this Code; and
        (10) Article 26A and any other provision of this Code
    
concerning students who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence, as defined in Article 26A.
(Source: P.A. 102-466, eff. 7-1-25.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 13B

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 13B heading)
ARTICLE 13B. ALTERNATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

105 ILCS 5/13B-1

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-1)
    Sec. 13B-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Alternative Learning Opportunities Law.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-5

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-5)
    Sec. 13B-5. Legislative findings and declarations. The General Assembly finds and declares the following:
        (1) It is the responsibility of each school district
    
to provide educational support for every student to meet Illinois Learning Standards.
        (2) School districts need flexibility and financial
    
support to assist local schools in their efforts to provide students with educational and other services needed for students to successfully master the curriculum.
        (3) Alternative education in this State has
    
traditionally provided student-centered curriculum, social services, and other support needed to help students succeed.
        (4) Standards-based reform requires a comprehensive
    
approach to alternative education to ensure that every student has the opportunity to meet the State's rigorous learning standards.
        (5) While school districts operating alternative
    
learning opportunities programs must comply with all applicable State and federal laws and rules, these districts should do so in a manner consistent with the goals and policies stated in this Article.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-10

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-10)
    Sec. 13B-10. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to specify the requirements for the operation of alternative learning opportunities programs, which are intended to provide students at risk of academic failure with the education and support services needed to meet Illinois Learning Standards and to complete their education in an orderly, safe, and secure learning environment. Services provided under this Article should be provided in a manner that addresses individual learning styles, career development, and social needs to enable students to successfully complete their education.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-15

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-15)
    Sec. 13B-15. Definitions. In this Article, words and phrases have the meanings set forth in the following Sections preceding Section 13B-20 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-15.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-15.5)
    Sec. 13B-15.5. State Board. "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-15.10

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-15.10)
    Sec. 13B-15.10. Student at risk of academic failure. "Student at risk of academic failure" means a student at risk of not meeting the Illinois Learning Standards or not graduating from elementary or high school and who demonstrates a need for educational support or social services beyond that provided by the regular school program. Such students are eligible for services up to the age of 21.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-15.15

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-15.15)
    Sec. 13B-15.15. Student Success Plan. "Student Success Plan" means a plan based on an assessment of a student's educational and social functioning and skills and that establishes goals and objectives for satisfactory performance in an alternative learning opportunities program. The Plan must (i) specify the curriculum and instructional methods to be used in improving the student's educational performance, (ii) outline the support services needed to remove barriers to learning, (iii) specify, when appropriate, the career development experiences the student will receive to enhance his or her career awareness, (iv) set objectives to ensure a successful transition back to the regular school program or to post-secondary educational options, and (v) outline the student's responsibilities under the Plan.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-15.20

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-15.20)
    Sec. 13B-15.20. Support services. "Support services" include alcohol and drug rehabilitation; individual, group, and family counseling; mentoring; tutoring; school physicals; health and nutrition education; classroom aides; career counseling; child care; and any other social, health, or supplemental service approved as part of the Student Success Plan that is required by students for their academic success.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-20

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-20)
    Sec. 13B-20. Alternative learning opportunities program. An alternative learning opportunities program shall provide a flexible standards-based learning environment, innovative and varied instructional strategies, a student-centered curriculum, social programs, and supplemental social, health, and support services to improve the educational achievement of students at risk of academic failure.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-20.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-20.5)
    Sec. 13B-20.5. Eligible activities and services. Alternative learning opportunities programs may include, without limitation, evening high school, in-school tutoring and mentoring programs, in-school suspension programs, high school completion programs to assist high school dropouts in completing their education, high school completion programs to allow students eligible for remote learning under Section 34-18.81 to complete their education while incarcerated in an institution or facility of the Department of Corrections, support services, parental involvement programs, and programs to develop, enhance, or extend the transition for students transferring back to the regular school program, an adult education program, or a post-secondary education program.
(Source: P.A. 102-966, eff. 5-27-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-20.10

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-20.10)
    Sec. 13B-20.10. Who may establish and operate programs. School districts may establish alternative learning opportunities programs or may contract with regional offices of education, intermediate service centers, public community colleges, non-profit or for-profit education providers, youth service agencies, community-based organizations, or other appropriate entities to establish alternative learning opportunities programs within the public school system and provide a range of alternative learning opportunities for those students in the State who do not meet Illinois Learning Standards. Districts may individually operate alternative learning opportunities programs or may collaborate with 2 or more districts or one or more regional offices of education or both or with intermediate service centers to create and operate alternative learning opportunities programs.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-20.15

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-20.15)
    Sec. 13B-20.15. Other eligible providers of alternative learning opportunities. School districts may contract with health, mental health, or human service organizations, workforce development boards or agencies, juvenile court services, juvenile justice agencies, juvenile detention programs, programs operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice, or other appropriate agencies or organizations to serve students whose needs are not being met in the regular school program by providing alternative learning opportunities.
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-20.20

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-20.20)
    Sec. 13B-20.20. Enrollment in other programs. High school equivalency testing preparation programs are not eligible for funding under this Article. A student may enroll in a program approved under Section 18-8.05 or 18-8.15 of this Code, as appropriate, or attend both the alternative learning opportunities program and the regular school program to enhance student performance and facilitate on-time graduation.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-20.25

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-20.25)
    Sec. 13B-20.25. Eligible students. Students in grades 4 through 12 who meet enrollment criteria established by the school district and who meet the definition of "student at risk of academic failure" are eligible to participate in an alternative learning opportunities program funded under this Article. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, enrollment in a charter alternative learning opportunities program shall be open to any pupil who has been expelled or suspended for more than 20 days under Section 10-22.6 or 34-19 of this Code. All rights granted under this Article to a student's parent or guardian become exclusively those of the student upon the student's 18th birthday.
(Source: P.A. 97-495, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-20.30

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-20.30)
    Sec. 13B-20.30. Location of program. A school district must consider offering an alternative learning opportunities program on-site in the regular school. An alternative learning opportunities program may be provided at facilities separate from the regular school or in classrooms elsewhere on school premises.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-20.35

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-20.35)
    Sec. 13B-20.35. Transportation of students. School districts that are required to provide transportation pursuant to Section 29-3 of this Code shall provide transportation for students enrolled in alternative learning opportunities programs. Other school districts shall provide transportation to the same extent that they provide transportation to other students. A school district may collaborate with the regional superintendent of schools to establish a cooperative transportation agreement among school districts in the region to reduce the costs of transportation and to provide for greater accessibility for students attending alternative learning opportunities programs.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-25

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-25)
    Sec. 13B-25. Eligibility for funding. The criteria set forth in the following Sections preceding Section 13B-30 of this Code shall determine the eligibility of an alternative learning opportunities program for funding.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-25.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-25.5)
    Sec. 13B-25.5. General standards for eligibility for funding. To be eligible for funding, an alternative learning opportunities program must provide evidence of an administrative structure, program activities, program staff, a budget, and a specific curriculum that is consistent with Illinois Learning Standards but may be different from the regular school program in terms of location, length of school day, program sequence, pace, instructional activities, or any combination of these.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-25.10

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-25.10)
    Sec. 13B-25.10. District policies, guidelines, and procedures; notification. Before receiving State funds for an alternative learning opportunities program, a school district must adopt policies and guidelines for the admission and transfer of students to the program and for transitioning students as appropriate back to the regular school program in a manner consistent with guidelines provided by the State Board. A school district must adopt policies and procedures for the establishment of a new alternative learning opportunities program or for securing State approval for an existing program. Any district that plans to establish an alternative learning opportunities program must notify the State Superintendent of Education before enrolling students in the program.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-25.15

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-25.15)
    Sec. 13B-25.15. Planning process and district plan. To apply for funding to establish or maintain an alternative learning opportunities program, a school district must initiate a planning process to specify the type of program needed by the district. Before submission of the district plan, the school district or consortium may apply for a one-year planning grant. The planning process may involve key education and community stakeholders, such as teachers, administrators, parents, interested members of the community, and other agencies or organizations as appropriate.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-25.20

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-25.20)
    Sec. 13B-25.20. Requirements for the district plan. The district plan must be consistent with the school district's overall mission and goals and aligned with the local school improvement plans of each participating school. The district plan must include all of the following:
        (1) A description of the program, including the
    
students at risk of academic failure to be served, evidence of need, program goals, objectives, and measurable outcomes.
        (2) A staffing plan, including the experiences,
    
competency, and qualifications of licensed and nonlicensed staff and emphasizing their individual and collective abilities to work with students at risk of academic failure.
        (3) A description and schedule of support services
    
that will be available to students as part of their instructional program, including procedures for accessing services required for students on an as-needed basis.
        (4) How the district will use grant funds to improve
    
the educational achievement of students at risk of academic failure.
        (5) A detailed program budget that includes sources
    
of funding to be used in conjunction with alternative learning opportunities grant funds and a plan for allocating costs to those funds.
        (6) A plan that outlines how funding for alternative
    
learning opportunities will be coordinated with other State and federal funds to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the program.
        (7) A description of other sources of revenue the
    
district will allocate to the program.
        (8) An estimate of the total cost per student for the
    
program and an estimate of any gap between existing revenue available for the program and the total cost of the program.
        (9) A description of how parents and community
    
members will be involved in the program.
        (10) Policies and procedures used by the district to
    
grant credit for student work satisfactorily completed in the program.
        (11) How the district will assess students enrolled
    
in the program, including how statewide testing for students in alternative learning opportunities settings will be addressed.
        (12) How students will be admitted to the program and
    
how students will make an effective transition back to the regular school program, as appropriate.
        (13) All cooperative and intergovernmental agreements
    
and subcontracts with eligible entities.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-25.25

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-25.25)
    Sec. 13B-25.25. Testing and assessment. A district plan for an alternative learning opportunities program operated through a cooperative or intergovernmental agreement must provide procedures for ensuring that students are included in the administration of statewide testing programs. Students enrolled in an alternative learning opportunities program shall participate in State assessments under Section 2-3.64a-5 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-25.30

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-25.30)
    Sec. 13B-25.30. Annual update and submission of district plan. A district plan must be updated annually and submitted to the State Board.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-25.35

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-25.35)
    Sec. 13B-25.35. Regional plan. Based on district plans to provide alternative learning opportunities, the regional office of education must submit an annual plan summarizing the number, needs, and demographics of students at risk of academic failure expected to be served in its region. This plan must be updated annually and submitted to the State Board.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-30

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-30)
    Sec. 13B-30. Responsibilities of the State Board; rules. The State Board has the responsibilities set forth in the following Sections preceding Section 13B-35 of this Code. The State Board may adopt rules as necessary to implement this Article.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-30.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-30.5)
    Sec. 13B-30.5. Program assistance, evaluation, and monitoring. Subject to the availability of State funds, the State Board is authorized to assist school districts in developing and implementing alternative learning opportunities programs to meet the educational needs of students at risk of academic failure. The State Board shall develop research-based guidelines for alternative learning opportunities programs, provide technical assistance to ensure the establishment of quality programs aligned with Illinois Learning Standards, and contract for services to conduct an annual statewide evaluation. The State Board shall conduct compliance visits of and monitor programs, as appropriate. The State Board may conduct other program-related research and planning projects, as appropriate, to enhance student outcomes.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-30.10

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-30.10)
    Sec. 13B-30.10. Compliance. The State Board is responsible for ensuring that all alternative learning opportunities programs are in compliance with all applicable federal and State laws, unless otherwise specified in this Article.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-30.15

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-30.15)
    Sec. 13B-30.15. Statewide program evaluation of student outcomes. Alternative learning opportunities programs must be evaluated annually on a statewide basis. Indicators used to measure student outcomes for this evaluation may include program completion, elementary school graduation, high school graduation or passage of high school equivalency testing, attendance, the number of students involved in work-based learning activities, the number of students making an effective transition to the regular school program, further education or work, and improvement in the percentage of students enrolled in the sending school district or districts that meet State standards.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-30.20

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-30.20)
    Sec. 13B-30.20. Suspension or revocation of program approval. The State Board may suspend or revoke approval of an alternative learning opportunities program under any one of the following conditions:
        (1) A failure to meet educational outcomes as
    
enumerated in Section 13B-30.15 of this Code and as specified in the alternative learning opportunities grant agreement for a period of 2 or more consecutive years.
        (2) A failure to comply with all applicable laws as
    
specified in this Code.
        (3) A failure to comply with the terms and conditions
    
of the alternative learning opportunities grant.
        (4) A failure to maintain financial records according
    
to generally accepted accounting procedures as specified by the State Board.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-30.25

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-30.25)
    Sec. 13B-30.25. Corrective action plan. For school districts whose alternative learning opportunities programs are not making progress in specified program outcomes, the State Board may require a school district to submit a corrective action plan.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-30.30

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-30.30)
    Sec. 13B-30.30. Technical assistance before suspension or revocation of funding. Funding of an alternative learning opportunities program may not be suspended or revoked unless the program has been provided with technical assistance and has had an opportunity to implement a corrective action plan.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-30.35

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-30.35)
    Sec. 13B-30.35. Recovery of grant funds. The State may recover grant funds from school districts that consistently fail to improve student performance or have failed to implement corrective actions to improve their alternative learning opportunities programs.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-30.40

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-30.40)
    Sec. 13B-30.40. Application for funding after suspension or revocation of program approval. Once approval to operate an alternative learning opportunities program is suspended or revoked, the school district or consortium must reapply for funding.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-30.45

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-30.45)
    Sec. 13B-30.45. Administrative support. The State Board shall use 1.5% of the State appropriation for the purposes of this Article to conduct activities related to the provision of technical assistance, professional development, evaluations, and compliance monitoring.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-35

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-35)
    Sec. 13B-35. Application to cooperative agreements. The provisions set forth in the following Sections preceding Section 13B-40 of this Code apply to cooperative agreements among alternative learning opportunities program providers.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-35.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-35.5)
    Sec. 13B-35.5. Local governance; cooperative agreements. For an alternative learning opportunities program operated jointly or offered under contract, the local governance of the program shall be established by each local school board through a cooperative or intergovernmental agreement with other school districts. Cooperative agreements may be established among regional offices of education, public community colleges, community-based organizations, health and human service agencies, youth service agencies, juvenile court services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and other non-profit or for-profit education or support service providers as appropriate. Nothing contained in this Section shall prevent a school district, regional office of education, or intermediate service center from forming a cooperative for the purpose of delivering an alternative learning opportunities program.
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-35.10

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-35.10)
    Sec. 13B-35.10. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 94-696, eff. 6-1-06. Repealed by P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-35.15

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-35.15)
    Sec. 13B-35.15. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02. Repealed by P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-35.20

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-35.20)
    Sec. 13B-35.20. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02. Repealed by P.A. 103-175, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-40

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-40)
    Sec. 13B-40. Funding. The provisions set forth in the following Sections preceding Section 13B-45 of this Code apply to the funding of alternative learning opportunities programs under this Article.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-40.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-40.5)
    Sec. 13B-40.5. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-40.10

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-40.10)
    Sec. 13B-40.10. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-40.15

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-40.15)
    Sec. 13B-40.15. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-40.20

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-40.20)
    Sec. 13B-40.20. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-40.25

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-40.25)
    Sec. 13B-40.25. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-40.30

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-40.30)
    Sec. 13B-40.30. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02. Repealed by P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-40.35

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-40.35)
    Sec. 13B-40.35. Supplanting prohibited. Alternative learning opportunities grants may not be used to supplant existing funds that the student would otherwise generate if in attendance in the regular school program.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-40.40

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-40.40)
    Sec. 13B-40.40. Cooperative and intergovernmental agreements funding. Alternative learning opportunities programs operating under a cooperative or intergovernmental agreement shall receive the total of funding that each individual program would be entitled to receive separately.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-40.45

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-40.45)
    Sec. 13B-40.45. Deobligated funds. Within any given grant year, deobligated funds shall be redistributed to existing alternative learning opportunities programs.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-40.50

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-40.50)
    Sec. 13B-40.50. Supplemental funding. An alternative learning opportunities program may receive federal, State, and local grants, gifts, and foundation grants to support the program.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-45

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-45)
    Sec. 13B-45. Days and hours of attendance. An alternative learning opportunities program shall provide students with at least the minimum number of days of pupil attendance required under Section 10-19 of this Code and the minimum number of daily hours of school work required under Section 10-19.05 of this Code, provided that the State Board may approve exceptions to these requirements if the program meets all of the following conditions:
        (1) The district plan submitted under Section
    
13B-25.15 of this Code establishes that a program providing the required minimum number of days of attendance or daily hours of school work would not serve the needs of the program's students.
        (2) Each day of attendance shall provide no fewer
    
than 3 clock hours of school work, as defined under Section 10-19.05 of this Code.
        (3) Each day of attendance that provides fewer than 5
    
clock hours of school work shall also provide supplementary services, including without limitation work-based learning, student assistance programs, counseling, case management, health and fitness programs, or life-skills or conflict resolution training, in order to provide a total daily program to the student of 5 clock hours. A program may claim evidence-based funding for up to 2 hours of the time each day that a student is receiving supplementary services.
        (4) Each program shall provide no fewer than 174 days
    
of actual pupil attendance during the school term; however, approved evening programs that meet the requirements of Section 13B-45 of this Code may offer less than 174 days of actual pupil attendance during the school term.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17; 101-12, eff. 7-1-19.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-50

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-50)
    Sec. 13B-50. Eligibility to receive general State aid or evidence-based funding. In order to receive general State aid or evidence-based funding, alternative learning opportunities programs must meet the requirements for claiming general State aid as specified in Section 18-8.05 of this Code or evidence-based funding as specified in Section 18-8.15 of this Code, as applicable, with the exception of the length of the instructional day, which may be less than 5 hours of school work if the program meets the criteria set forth under Sections 13B-50.5 and 13B-50.10 of this Code and if the program is approved by the State Board.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-50.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-50.5)
    Sec. 13B-50.5. Conditions of funding. If an alternative learning opportunities program provides less than the daily 5 clock hours of school work required under Section 10-19.05, the program must meet guidelines established by the State Board and must provide supplementary services, including without limitation work-based learning, student assistance programs, counseling, case management, health and fitness programs, life skills, conflict resolution, or service learning, that are equal to the required attendance.
(Source: P.A. 101-12, eff. 7-1-19.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-50.10

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-50.10)
    Sec. 13B-50.10. Additional criteria for general State aid or evidence-based funding. In order to claim general State aid or evidence-based funding, an alternative learning opportunities program must meet the following criteria:
        (1) Teacher professional development plans should
    
include education in the instruction of at-risk students.
        (2) Facilities must meet the health, life, and safety
    
requirements in this Code.
        (3) The program must comply with all other State and
    
federal laws applicable to education providers.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-50.15

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-50.15)
    Sec. 13B-50.15. Level of funding. Approved alternative learning opportunities programs are entitled to claim general State aid or evidence-based funding, subject to Sections 13B-50, 13B-50.5, and 13B-50.10 of this Code. Approved programs operated by regional offices of education are entitled to receive general State aid at the foundation level of support. A school district or consortium must ensure that an approved program receives supplemental general State aid, transportation reimbursements, and special education resources, if appropriate, for students enrolled in the program.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-55

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-55)
    Sec. 13B-55. Non-resident students. If one school district can more efficiently serve students from multiple school districts, an approved alternative learning opportunities program may admit non-resident students pursuant to the terms of an intergovernmental agreement negotiated among participating districts. The tuition charge must not be less than 100% nor greater than 110% of the per capita tuition rate for the resident district.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-60

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-60)
    Sec. 13B-60. Enrollment in program. The provisions set forth in the following Sections preceding Section 13B-65 of this Code govern enrollment in an alternative learning opportunities program.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-60.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-60.5)
    Sec. 13B-60.5. Request for enrollment. A school district that operates an alternative learning opportunities program shall ensure that parents and guardians are aware of the program and the services that the program offers. A student may be enrolled in the program only upon the request of the student or the student's parent or guardian and only after a conference under Section 13B-60.10 of this Code has been held.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-60.10

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-60.10)
    Sec. 13B-60.10. Parent conference. Before being enrolled in an alternative learning opportunities program, the student and each of his or her parents or guardians, and, if the student is in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department's Office of Education and Transition Services shall receive written notice to attend a conference to determine if the student would benefit from attending an alternative learning opportunities program. The conference must provide all of the information necessary for the student and parent or guardian to make an informed decision regarding enrollment in an alternative learning opportunities program. The conference shall include a discussion of the extent to which the student, if enrolled in the program, may participate in school activities. No student shall be enrolled in an alternative learning opportunities program without the consent of the student's parent or guardian.
(Source: P.A. 102-199, eff. 7-1-22.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-60.15

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-60.15)
    Sec. 13B-60.15. Review of student progress. A school district must regularly review the progress of students enrolled in an alternative learning opportunities program to ensure that students may return to the regular school program as soon as appropriate. Upon request of the student's parent or guardian, the school district shall review the student's progress using procedures established by the district. A student shall remain in the program only with the consent of the student's parent or guardian and shall be promptly returned to the regular school program upon the request of the student's parent or guardian.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-60.20

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-60.20)
    Sec. 13B-60.20. Enrollment of special education students. Any enrollment of a special education student in an alternative learning opportunities program must be done only if included in the student's individualized education plan. The student's individualized education plan must be implemented in the program by appropriately certified personnel.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-60.25

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-60.25)
    Sec. 13B-60.25. Student Success Plan. A Student Success Plan must be developed for each student enrolled in an alternative learning opportunities program. The student and his or her parent or guardian must be afforded an opportunity to participate in the development of this Plan.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-65

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-65)
    Sec. 13B-65. Teacher licensure. Teachers with a valid and active elementary, secondary, or special PK-12 Illinois teaching license may teach in an alternative learning opportunities program.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-65.5

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-65.5)
    Sec. 13B-65.5. Alternative learning credentials for teachers. Licensed teachers may receive an endorsement or approval in the area of alternative learning. The State Board shall establish teaching standards in alternative learning that lead to such an endorsement or approval.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-65.10

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-65.10)
    Sec. 13B-65.10. Continuing professional development for teachers. Teachers may receive continuing professional development units, subject to the provisions of Section 13B-65.5 of this Code, for professional development related to alternative learning.
(Source: P.A. 95-793, eff. 1-1-09.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-70

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-70)
    Sec. 13B-70. Truancy and attendance problems. If a student is a chronic or habitual truant as defined in Section 26-2a of this Code or if a child has been ordered to attend school, the school district may consider the student for placement in an alternative learning opportunities program specifically designed to prevent truancy, supplement instruction for students with attendance problems, intervene to decrease chronic truancy, and provide alternatives to high school completion. A program operating pursuant to the truants' alternative and optional education program may contract with a school district or consortium to provide these services.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-75

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-75)
    Sec. 13B-75. Subcontracting. A school district, regional office of education, or public community college may contract with a non-profit or for-profit educational entity for the delivery of services under this Article. All educational entities providing instructional services for eligible students must be recognized by the State Board.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-80

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-80)
    Sec. 13B-80. Student credit. A school district must grant academic credit to a student in an alternative learning opportunities program for work completed at an education provider that is accredited by a regional accrediting body or recognized by the State Board if the student's performance meets district standards.
(Source: P.A. 92-42, eff. 1-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/13B-85

    (105 ILCS 5/13B-85)
    Sec. 13B-85. High school equivalency testing. A student 16 years of age or over who satisfactorily completes an alternative learning opportunities program in accordance with school district guidelines and the Student Success Plan may take a high school equivalency test.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 14

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 14 heading)
ARTICLE 14. CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

105 ILCS 5/14-1.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-1.01)
    Sec. 14-1.01. Meaning of terms. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms used in this Article have the meanings ascribed to them in Sections 14-1.02 to 14-1.10, each inclusive.
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 1948.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.02

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.02) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-1.02)
    Sec. 14-1.02. Children with disabilities. "Children with disabilities" means children between the ages of 3 and 21 for whom it is determined, through definitions and procedures described in the Illinois Rules and Regulations to Govern the Organization and Administration of Special Education, that special education services are needed. An eligible student who requires continued public school educational experience to facilitate his or her successful transition and integration into adult life is eligible for such services through age 21, inclusive, which, for purposes of this Article, means the day before the student's 22nd birthday, unless his or her 22nd birthday occurs during the school year, in which case he or she is eligible for such services through the end of the school year. An individualized education program must be written and agreed upon by appropriate school personnel and parents or their representatives for any child receiving special education.
(Source: P.A. 102-172, eff. 7-28-21.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.03a

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.03a) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-1.03a)
    Sec. 14-1.03a. Children with Specific Learning Disabilities. "Children with Specific Learning Disabilities" means children between the ages of 3 and 21 years who have a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do mathematical calculations. Such disorders include such conditions as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. Such term does not include children who have learning problems which are primarily the result of visual, hearing or motor disabilities, of an intellectual disability, emotional disturbance or environmental disadvantage.
(Source: P.A. 97-227, eff. 1-1-12.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.08

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.08) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-1.08)
    Sec. 14-1.08. Special educational facilities and services. "Special educational facilities and services" includes private special schools, separate public special education day schools, special classes, special housing, including residential facilities, special instruction, special reader service, braillists and typists for children with visual disabilities, sign language interpreters, transportation, maintenance, instructional material, therapy, professional consultant services, medical services only for diagnostic and evaluation purposes provided by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches to determine a child's need for special education and related services, psychological services, school social worker services, special administrative services, salaries of all required special personnel, and other special educational services, including special equipment for use in the classroom, required by the child because of his disability if such services or special equipment are approved by the State Superintendent of Education and the child is eligible therefor under this Article and the regulations of the State Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 103-644, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.08a

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.08a)
    Sec. 14-1.08a. Separate public special education day school. "Separate public special education day school" means a separate special education program or facility that is established by a school district, public school, regional office of education, or special education cooperative exclusively to meet the needs of special education students who cannot be educated in the general school environment and that provides services comparable to a private special education school.
(Source: P.A. 103-644, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.09

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.09) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-1.09)
    Sec. 14-1.09. School psychologist. "School psychologist" means a psychologist who meets the following qualifications:
        (1) The psychologist:
            (A) has graduated with a master's or higher
        
degree in psychology or educational psychology from an institution of higher learning that maintains equipment, courses of study, and standards of scholarship approved by the State Board of Education, has had at least one school year of full-time supervised experience in the delivery of school psychological services of a character approved by the State Superintendent of Education, and has such additional qualifications as may be required by the State Board of Education; or
            (B) holds a valid Nationally Certified School
        
Psychologist (NCSP) credential.
        (2) The psychologist holds a Professional Educator
    
License with a school psychologist endorsement issued pursuant to Section 21B-25 of this Code. Persons so licensed may use the title "school psychologist" and may offer school psychological services which are limited to those services set forth in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226, Special Education, pertaining to children between the ages of 3 to 21, promulgated by the State Board of Education.
    School psychologists may make evaluations, recommendations or interventions regarding the placement of children in educational programs or special education classes. However, a school psychologist shall not provide such services outside his or her employment to any student in the district or districts which employ such school psychologist.
(Source: P.A. 100-750, eff. 8-10-18.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.09a

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.09a) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-1.09a)
    Sec. 14-1.09a. School social worker. "School social worker" means a social worker who has graduated with a master's or higher degree in social work from an accredited graduate school of social work and has such additional qualifications as may be required by the State Board of Education and who holds a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement for school social work pursuant to Section 21B-25 of this Code. Only persons so licensed and endorsed may use the title "school social worker". A social worker may offer school social work services as provided in this Code and other applicable laws and as set forth in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226, Special Education, promulgated by the State Board of Education, governing the provision of special education and related services to children with disabilities and requirements for the treatment of children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21. School social workers may make evaluations, recommendations or interventions regarding the placement of children in educational programs or special education classes. However, a school social worker shall not provide such services outside his or her employment to any student in the district or districts which employ such school social worker.
(Source: P.A. 100-356, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.09b

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.09b)
    Sec. 14-1.09b. Speech-language pathologist.
    (a) For purposes of supervision of a speech-language pathology assistant, "speech-language pathologist" means a person who has received a license pursuant to the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act to engage in the practice of speech-language pathology.
    (b) A Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement for speech-language pathologist shall be issued under Section 21B-25 of this Code to a speech-language pathologist who meets all of the following requirements:
        (1) (A) Holds a regular license as a speech-language
    
pathologist pursuant to the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, (B) holds a current Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and a regular license in speech-language pathology from another state or territory or the District of Columbia and has applied for a regular license as a speech-language pathologist pursuant to the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, or (C) holds or has applied for a temporary license pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act.
        (2) Holds a master's or doctoral degree with a major
    
emphasis in speech-language pathology from an institution whose course of study was approved or program was accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or its predecessor.
        (3) Either (i) has completed a program of study that
    
meets the content area standards for speech-language pathologists approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, (ii) has completed a program in another state, territory, or possession of the United States that is comparable to an approved program of study described in item (i), or (iii) holds a certificate or license issued by another state, territory, or possession of the United States that is comparable to the Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement for speech-language pathologist. If the requirements described in items (i), (ii), or (iii) of this paragraph (3) have not been met, a person must provide evidence that he or she has completed at least 150 clock hours of supervised experience in speech-language pathology with students with disabilities in a school setting, including experience required by federal law or federal court order; however, a person who lacks such experience may obtain interim licensure as established by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, and shall participate in school-based professional experience of at least 150 clock hours to meet this requirement.
        (4) Has successfully completed the required Illinois
    
licensure tests.
        (5) Has paid the application fee required for
    
licensure.
    The provisions of this subsection (b) do not preclude the issuance of an educator license to a speech-language pathologist who qualifies for such a license.
    (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement for non-teaching speech-language pathologist shall be issued under Section 21B-25 to a speech-language pathologist who (i) holds a regular license as a speech-language pathologist pursuant to the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act and (ii) holds a current Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
(Source: P.A. 101-94, eff. 1-1-20; 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.09c

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.09c)
    Sec. 14-1.09c. Speech-language pathology assistant. "Speech-language pathology assistant" means a person who has received a license to assist a speech-language pathologist pursuant to the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act.
(Source: P.A. 92-510, eff. 6-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.09.1

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.09.1)
    Sec. 14-1.09.1. School psychological services. In the public schools, school psychological services provided by qualified specialists who hold a Professional Educator License endorsed for school psychology issued by the State Board of Education may include, but are not limited to: (i) administration and interpretation of psychological and educational evaluations; (ii) developing school-based prevention programs, including violence prevention programs; (iii) counseling with students, parents, and teachers on educational and mental health issues; (iv) acting as liaisons between public schools and community agencies; (v) evaluating program effectiveness; (vi) providing crisis intervention within the school setting; (vii) helping teachers, parents, and others involved in the educational process to provide optimum teaching and learning conditions for all students; (viii) supervising school psychologist interns enrolled in school psychology programs that meet the standards established by the State Board of Education; and (ix) screening of school enrollments to identify children who should be referred for individual study. Nothing in this Section prohibits other qualified professionals from providing those services listed for which they are appropriately trained.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.09.2

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.09.2)
    Sec. 14-1.09.2. School Social Work Services. In the public schools, social work services may be provided by qualified specialists who hold a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement in the area of school social worker under Section 21B-25 of this Code.
    School social work services may include, but are not limited to:
        (1) Identifying students in need of special education
    
services by conducting a social-developmental study in a case study evaluation;
        (2) Developing and implementing comprehensive
    
interventions with students, parents, and teachers that will enhance student adjustment to, and performance in, the school setting;
        (3) Consulting and collaborating with teachers and
    
other school personnel regarding behavior management and intervention plans and inclusion in support of special education students in regular classroom settings;
        (4) Counseling with students, parents, and teachers
    
in accordance with the rules and regulations governing provision of related services, provided that parent permission must be obtained in writing before a student participates in a group counseling session;
        (5) Acting as a liaison between the public schools
    
and community resources;
        (6) Developing and implementing school-based
    
prevention programs, including mediation and violence prevention, implementing social and emotional education programs and services, and establishing and implementing bullying prevention and intervention programs;
        (7) Providing crisis intervention within the school
    
setting;
        (8) Supervising school social work interns enrolled
    
in school social work programs that meet the standards established by the State Board of Education;
        (9) Providing parent education and counseling as
    
appropriate in relation to the child's educational assessment;
        (10) Assisting in completing a functional behavioral
    
assessment, as well as assisting in the development of nonaversive behavioral intervention strategies; and
        (11) Evaluating program effectiveness.
    Nothing in this Section prohibits other licensed professionals from providing any of the services listed in this Section for which they are appropriately trained.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.09d

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.09d)
    Sec. 14-1.09d. Behavior analyst. "Behavior analyst" means a person who is certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
(Source: P.A. 94-948, eff. 1-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.10

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.10) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-1.10)
    Sec. 14-1.10. Qualified worker. "Qualified worker" means a trained specialist and includes a behavior analyst, certificated school nurse, professional consultant, registered therapist, school nurse intern, school counselor, school counselor intern, school psychologist, school psychologist intern, school social worker, school social worker intern, special administrator or supervisor giving full time to special education, speech language pathologist, speech language pathologist intern, and teacher of students with IEPs who meets the requirements of this Article, who has the required special training in the understandings, techniques, and special instructional strategies for children with disabilities and who delivers services to students with IEPs, and any other trained specialist set forth by the State Board of Education in rules.
(Source: P.A. 95-363, eff. 8-23-07; 96-257, eff. 8-11-09.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.11

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.11) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-1.11)
    Sec. 14-1.11. Resident district; parent; legal guardian. The resident district is the school district in which the parent or guardian, or both parent and guardian, of the student reside when:
        (1) the parent has legal guardianship of the student
    
and resides within Illinois; or
        (2) an individual guardian has been appointed by the
    
courts and resides within Illinois; or
        (3) an Illinois public agency has legal guardianship
    
and the student resides either in the home of the parent or within the same district as the parent; or
        (4) an Illinois court orders a residential placement
    
but the parents retain any legal rights or guardianship and have not been subject to a termination of parental rights order.
    In cases of divorced or separated parents, when only one parent has legal guardianship or custody, the district in which the parent having legal guardianship or custody resides is the resident district. When both parents retain legal guardianship or custody, the resident district is the district in which either parent who provides the student's primary regular fixed night-time abode resides; provided, that the election of resident district may be made only one time per school year.
    When the parent has legal guardianship and lives outside of the State of Illinois, or when the individual legal guardian other than the natural parent lives outside the State of Illinois, the parent, legal guardian, or other placing agent is responsible for making arrangements to pay the Illinois school district serving the child for the educational services provided. Those service costs shall be determined in accordance with Section 14-7.01.
(Source: P.A. 95-844, eff. 8-15-08.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.11a

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.11a) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-1.11a)
    Sec. 14-1.11a. Resident district; student.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the resident district is the school district in which the student resides when:
        (1) the parent has legal guardianship but the
    
location of the parent is unknown; or
        (2) an individual guardian has been appointed but the
    
location of the guardian is unknown; or
        (3) the student is 18 years of age or older and no
    
legal guardian has been appointed; or
        (4) the student is legally an emancipated minor; or
        (5) an Illinois public agency has legal guardianship
    
and such agency or any court in this State has placed the student residentially outside of the school district in which the parent lives.
    (b) In cases where an Illinois public agency has legal guardianship and has placed the student residentially outside of Illinois, the last school district that provided at least 45 days of educational service to the student shall continue to be the district of residence until the student is no longer under guardianship of an Illinois public agency or until the student is returned to Illinois.
    If a student who is 18 years of age or older with no legal guardian is placed residentially outside of the school district in which the student's parent lives and the placement is funded by a State agency or through private insurance, then the resident district is the school district in which the parent lives.
    The resident district of a homeless student is the Illinois district in which the student enrolls for educational services. Homeless students include individuals as defined in the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act.
    (c) The State Superintendent of Education may determine that the location of the parent or guardian of a student is unknown after considering information submitted from the school district that last enrolled the student or from the school or special education facility providing special education and related services to meet the needs of the student. The information submitted to the State Superintendent of Education must include an affidavit from that school district's superintendent or the facility's director attesting that the location of the parent or guardian is unknown and 4 items of documentary evidence that a minimum of 4 separate attempts were made to locate the parent or guardian. Any determination by the State Superintendent of Education that the location of a parent or guardian is unknown is final. However, any determination made by the State Superintendent of Education is subject to review and reconsideration any time a parent's or guardian's location becomes known.
(Source: P.A. 102-514, eff. 8-20-21; 103-676, eff. 7-19-24.)

105 ILCS 5/14-1.11b

    (105 ILCS 5/14-1.11b) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-1.11b)
    Sec. 14-1.11b. Resident district; applicability. The provisions of Sections 14-1.11 and 14-1.11a shall be used to determine the resident district in all cases where special education services and facilities are provided pursuant to Article 14.
(Source: P.A. 87-1117.)

105 ILCS 5/14-2

    (105 ILCS 5/14-2)
    Sec. 14-2. Definition of general education classroom for special education students receiving services in the general education classroom.
    (a) With respect to any State statute or administrative rule that defines a general education classroom to be composed of a certain percentage of students with individualized education programs (IEPs), students with individualized education programs shall exclude students receiving only speech services outside of the general education classroom, provided that the instruction the students receive in the general education classroom does not require modification.
    (b) In every instance, a school district must ensure that composition of the general education classroom does not interfere with the provision of a free and appropriate public education to any student.
(Source: P.A. 97-284, eff. 8-9-11.)

105 ILCS 5/14-3.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-3.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-3.01)
    Sec. 14-3.01. Advisory Council. This amendatory Act of 1998, in compliance with the reauthorization of IDEA in 1997, makes changes in the membership and responsibilities of the Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities. The Council shall provide advice and policy guidance to the Governor, General Assembly, and the State Board of Education with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities. The State Board of Education shall seek the advice of the Advisory Council regarding all rules and regulations related to the education of children with disabilities that are to be promulgated by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall seek the advice of the Advisory Council on modifications or additions to comprehensive plans submitted under Section 14-4.01. The Council shall consider any rule or regulation or plan submitted to it by the State Board of Education within 60 days after its receipt by the chairperson of the Council.
    Additionally, the Advisory Council shall: (1) advise the General Assembly, the Governor, and the State Board of Education on unmet needs in the education of children with disabilities; (2) assist the State Board of Education in developing evaluations and reporting on data to the United States Secretary of Education; (3) advise the State Board of Education relative to qualifications for hearing officers and the rules and procedures for hearings conducted under Section 14-8.02 or 14-8.02a; (4) comment publicly on any rules or regulations proposed by the State regarding the education of children with disabilities and the procedures for distribution of funds under this Act; (5) advise the State Board of Education in developing corrective action plans to address findings identified in federal monitoring reports pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; (6) advise State and local education agencies regarding educational programs and materials that may be provided to children with disabilities to enable them to fully exercise their constitutional and legal rights and entitlements as citizens, including those afforded under the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Illinois Human Rights Act; and (7) advise the State Board of Education in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities.
    The Council shall be composed of 27 members, including 23 voting members appointed by the Governor and 4 ex-officio voting members. Members shall be broadly representative of the State's population in regard to developmental, physical, and mental disabilities, race, ethnic background, gender, and geographic location. Nine members shall be parents of children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 years currently receiving special education services at public expense. Five members shall be individuals with disabilities, including one student or former student who is at least 18 years of age and no older than 21 years of age at the time of his or her appointment to the Council and who is receiving special education services at public expense or received those services at the time his or her high school program terminated. Within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1998, the Governor or his designee shall invite statewide organizations, being as inclusive as possible and based upon a reasonable inquiry, and Parent Training and Information Centers representing parents of children with disabilities, individuals with disabilities or both, to convene for the purpose of recommending to the Governor twice the number of individuals required to be appointed as members from each of the categories described in this paragraph, from which the Governor may appoint the 14 members of the Council who are parents of children with disabilities and individuals with disabilities. The 9 members who are parents of children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 years receiving special education services at public expense and the 5 members who are individuals with disabilities shall not be current full or part-time employees of school districts, special education cooperatives, regional service areas or centers, or any agency under the jurisdiction of any elected State official.
    In addition, the Governor shall appoint one regional superintendent of schools, one representative of an institution of higher education that prepares special education and related services personnel, one teacher of students with disabilities, one superintendent of a public school district, one director of a special education cooperative or special education administrator from a school district of less than 500,000 population, one representative of a public charter school, one representative of a private school serving children with disabilities, one representative of a vocational, community, or business organization that provides transition services to children with disabilities, and one at-large member from the general public. In addition, the Secretary of Human Services or his or her designee, the Director of Children and Family Services or his or her designee, the Director of Corrections or his or her designee, and the Director of Special Education for the City of Chicago School District #299 or his or her designee shall serve as ex-officio voting members of the Council.
    All Council members shall be legal residents of the State of Illinois and shall be selected, as far as practicable, on the basis of their knowledge of, or experience in, the education of children with disabilities.
    The initial members to be appointed to the Council by the Governor under the provisions of this amendatory Act of 1998 shall be appointed within 60 days after the effective date of that amendatory Act; provided that those persons who are serving as Council members on that effective date and who, as determined by the Governor after consultation with the State Board of Education, meet the requirements established by this amendatory Act for appointment to membership on the Council shall continue to serve as Council members until the completion of the remainder of their current terms. The initial members of the Council who are not Council members on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1998 and who are appointed by the Governor under this amendatory Act of 1998 shall by lot determine one-third of their number to serve for a term of 2 years (provided that person appointed as the student or former student member shall be included among those members who are to serve a term of 2 years), one-third of their number to serve for a term of 3 years, and one-third of their number to serve for a term of 4 years; provided, that if the total number of initial members so appointed by the Governor is not divisible into 3 whole numbers, all of the initial members so appointed shall by lot be assigned to 3 groups as follows: (i) the members assigned to the first group, who shall include the student or former student member and who shall be equal in number to the number of members who are assigned to the second group, shall serve for a term of 2 years; (ii) the members assigned to the second group, who shall be equal in number to the number of members who are assigned to the first group, shall serve for a term of 3 years; and (iii) the members assigned to the third group, who shall comprise the remainder of the initial members so appointed by the Governor and whose number shall be either one more or one less than the number of members assigned to either the first group or second group, shall serve for a term of 4 years. Upon expiration of the term of office of a member of the Council who is not an ex-officio member, his or her successor shall be appointed by the Governor to serve for a term of 4 years, except that a successor appointed as the student or former student member shall be appointed to serve for a term of 2 years. Each member of the Council who is not an ex-officio member and whose term of office expires shall nevertheless continue to serve as a Council member until his or her successor is appointed. Each of the 4 ex-officio members of the Council shall continue to serve as a Council member during the period in which he or she continues to hold the office by reason of which he or she became an ex-officio member of the Council. The initial members of the Council who are not ex-officio members shall not, upon completion of their respective initial terms, be appointed to serve more than one additional consecutive term of 4 years, nor shall any successor member of the Council be appointed to serve more than 2 full consecutive 4-year terms; provided, that a person appointed as the student or former student member shall serve only one two-year term and shall not be reappointed to serve for an additional term. Vacancies in Council memberships held by parents of children with disabilities or individuals with disabilities may be filled from the original list of such parents and individuals recommended to the Governor. The Governor shall reconvene the group of organizations that provided the original list of parents of children with disabilities and individuals with disabilities when additional recommendations for those Council memberships are needed, but at a minimum the group shall be convened every 2 years for the purpose of updating the list of recommended parents or individuals. A vacancy in an appointed membership on the Council shall be filled for the unexpired balance of the term of that membership in the same manner that the original appointment for that membership was made.
    The terms of all persons serving as Advisory Council members on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1998 who are not determined by the Governor, after consultation with the State Board of Education, to meet the requirements established by this amendatory Act for appointment to initial membership on the Council shall terminate on the date that the Governor completes his appointments of the initial members of the Council under this amendatory Act, and the members of the Council as constituted under this amendatory Act shall take office and assume their powers and duties on that date.
    The Council as constituted under this amendatory Act of 1998 shall organize with a chairperson selected by the Council members and shall meet at the call of the chairperson upon 10 days written notice but not less than 4 times a year. The Council shall establish such committees and procedures as it deems appropriate to carry out its responsibilities under this Act and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
    The State Board of Education shall designate an employee to act as executive secretary of the Council and shall furnish all professional and clerical assistance necessary for the performance of its duties.
    Members of the Council shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for the necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the State Board of Education's Travel Control Policy.
(Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95; 89-507, eff. 7-1-97; 90-644, eff. 7-24-98.)

105 ILCS 5/14-3.02

    (105 ILCS 5/14-3.02)
    Sec. 14-3.02. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/14-3.03

    (105 ILCS 5/14-3.03)
    Sec. 14-3.03. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/14-4.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-4.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-4.01)
    Sec. 14-4.01. Special educational facilities for children with disabilities.
    (a) School boards of any school districts that maintain a recognized school, whether operating under the general law or under a special charter, subject to any limitations hereinafter specified, shall establish and maintain such special educational facilities as may be needed for children with disabilities as defined in Section 14-1.02 of this Article who are residents of their school district, and such children, residents of other school districts as may be authorized by this Article.
    All such school boards shall place or by regulation may authorize the director of special education to place, pursuant to procedures required by this Act and rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education, eligible children into special education programs designed to benefit children with disabilities defined in Sections 14-1.02 through 14-1.07 of this Act.
    (b) All school districts, administrative districts or governing boards responsible for providing special education services shall submit to the appropriate regional superintendent comprehensive plans or modifications thereto for the provision of special education services in accordance with rules promulgated by the State Board of Education. Copies of comprehensive plans or modifications thereto shall be forwarded by the regional superintendent to the State Board of Education. Regional superintendents who provide special education services shall submit comprehensive plans or modifications thereto directly to the State Board of Education. Comprehensive plans or modifications thereto shall be made available by regional superintendents for public inspection during regular business hours.
    The State Board of Education shall provide for the submission of comprehensive plans not more frequently than once every 3 years but may require the submission of such modifications as it deems necessary to achieve the purposes of this Act and applicable federal law.
    (c) Special education cooperatives established by school districts are eligible for school maintenance project grants under Section 5-100 of the School Construction Law.
(Source: P.A. 98-710, eff. 7-16-14.)

105 ILCS 5/14-5.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-5.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-5.01)
    Sec. 14-5.01. Application of Article. This Article applies to school boards of all types and sizes of school districts, including but not limited to special charter districts, community consolidated school districts, community unit school districts, consolidated school districts, high school districts, non-high school districts, community high school districts, and districts exceeding 500,000 inhabitants.
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 1948.)

105 ILCS 5/14-6.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-6.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-6.01)
    Sec. 14-6.01. Powers and duties of school boards. School boards of one or more school districts establishing and maintaining any of the educational facilities described in this Article shall, in connection therewith, exercise similar powers and duties as are prescribed by law for the establishment, maintenance, and management of other recognized educational facilities. Such school boards shall include only eligible children in the program and shall comply with all the requirements of this Article and all rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education. Such school boards shall accept in part-time attendance children with disabilities of the types described in Sections 14-1.02 through 14-1.07 who are enrolled in nonpublic schools. A request for part-time attendance must be submitted by a parent or guardian of the child with a disability and may be made only to those public schools located in the district where the child attending the nonpublic school resides; however, nothing in this Section shall be construed as prohibiting an agreement between the district where the child resides and another public school district to provide special educational services if such an arrangement is deemed more convenient and economical. Special education and related services must be provided in accordance with the student's IEP no later than 10 school attendance days after notice is provided to the parents pursuant to Section 300.503 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations and implementing rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Transportation for students in part time attendance shall be provided only if required in the child's individualized educational program on the basis of the child's disabling condition or as the special education program location may require.
    Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, a school board shall post on its Internet website, if any, and incorporate into its student handbook or newsletter notice that students with disabilities who do not qualify for an individualized education program, as required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and implementing provisions of this Code, may qualify for services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if the child (i) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (ii) has a record of a physical or mental impairment, or (iii) is regarded as having a physical or mental impairment. Such notice shall identify the location and phone number of the office or agent of the school district to whom inquiries should be directed regarding the identification, assessment, and placement of such children. The notice shall also state that any parent who is deaf or does not typically communicate using spoken English and who participates in a Section 504 meeting with a representative of a local educational agency shall be entitled to the services of an interpreter.
    For a school district organized under Article 34 only, beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the school district shall, in collaboration with its primary office overseeing special education, publish on the school district's publicly available website any proposed changes to its special education policies, directives, guidelines, or procedures that impact the provision of educational or related services to students with disabilities or the procedural safeguards afforded to students with disabilities or their parents or guardians made by the school district or school board. Any policy, directive, guideline, or procedural change that impacts those provisions or safeguards that is authorized by the school district's primary office overseeing special education or any other administrative office of the school district must be published on the school district's publicly available website no later than 45 days before the adoption of that change. Any policy directive, guideline, or procedural change that impacts those provisions or safeguards that is authorized by the school board must be published on the school district's publicly available website no later than 30 days before the date of presentation to the school board for adoption. The school district's website must allow for virtual public comments on proposed special education policy, directive, guideline, or procedural changes that impact the provision of educational or related services to students with disabilities or the procedural safeguards afforded to students with disabilities or their parents or guardians from the date of the notification of the proposed change on the website until the date the change is adopted by the school district or until the date the change is presented to the school board for adoption. After the period for public comment is closed, the school district must maintain all public comments for a period of not less than 2 years from the date the special education change is adopted. The public comments are subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The school board shall, at a minimum, advertise the notice of the change and availability for public comment on its website. The State Board of Education may add additional reporting requirements for the district beyond policy, directive, guideline, or procedural changes that impact the provision of educational or related services to students with disabilities or the procedural safeguards afforded to students with disabilities or their parents or guardians if the State Board determines it is in the best interest of the students enrolled in the district receiving special education services.
    School boards shall immediately provide upon request by any person written materials and other information that indicates the specific policies, procedures, rules and regulations regarding the identification, evaluation or educational placement of children with disabilities under Section 14-8.02 of the School Code. Such information shall include information regarding all rights and entitlements of such children under this Code, and of the opportunity to present complaints with respect to any matter relating to educational placement of the student, or the provision of a free appropriate public education and to have an impartial due process hearing on the complaint. The notice shall inform the parents or guardian in the parents' or guardian's native language, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so, of their rights and all procedures available pursuant to this Act and federal Public Law 94-142; it shall be the responsibility of the State Superintendent to develop uniform notices setting forth the procedures available under this Act and federal Public Law 94-142, as amended, to be used by all school boards. The notice shall also inform the parents or guardian of the availability upon request of a list of free or low-cost legal and other relevant services available locally to assist parents or guardians in exercising rights or entitlements under this Code. For a school district organized under Article 34 only, the school district must make the entirety of its special education Procedural Manual and any other guidance documents pertaining to special education publicly available, in print and on the school district's website, in both English and Spanish. Upon request, the school district must make the Procedural Manual and other guidance documents available in print in any other language and accessible for individuals with disabilities.
    Any parent or guardian who is deaf, or does not normally communicate using spoken English, who participates in a meeting with a representative of a local educational agency for the purposes of developing an individualized educational program shall be entitled to the services of an interpreter.
    No student with a disability or, in a school district organized under Article 34 of this Code, child with a learning disability may be denied promotion, graduation or a general diploma on the basis of failing a minimal competency test when such failure can be directly related to the disabling condition of the student. For the purpose of this Act, "minimal competency testing" is defined as tests which are constructed to measure the acquisition of skills to or beyond a certain defined standard.
    Effective July 1, 1966, high school districts are financially responsible for the education of pupils with disabilities who are residents in their districts when such pupils have reached age 15 but may admit children with disabilities into special educational facilities without regard to graduation from the eighth grade after such pupils have reached the age of 14 1/2 years. Upon a pupil with a disability attaining the age of 14 1/2 years, it shall be the duty of the elementary school district in which the pupil resides to notify the high school district in which the pupil resides of the pupil's current eligibility for special education services, of the pupil's current program, and of all evaluation data upon which the current program is based. After an examination of that information the high school district may accept the current placement and all subsequent timelines shall be governed by the current individualized educational program; or the high school district may elect to conduct its own evaluation and multidisciplinary staff conference and formulate its own individualized educational program, in which case the procedures and timelines contained in Section 14-8.02 shall apply.
(Source: P.A. 101-515, eff. 8-23-19; 102-1072, eff. 6-10-22.)

105 ILCS 5/14-6.02

    (105 ILCS 5/14-6.02) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-6.02)
    Sec. 14-6.02. Service animals. Service animals such as guide dogs, signal dogs or any other animal individually trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a student with a disability shall be permitted to accompany that student at all school functions, whether in or outside the classroom. For the purposes of this Section, "service animal" has the same meaning as in Section 48-8 of the Criminal Code of 2012.
(Source: P.A. 97-956, eff. 8-14-12; 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)

105 ILCS 5/14-6.03

    (105 ILCS 5/14-6.03)
    Sec. 14-6.03. Speech-language pathology assistants.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, on or after January 1, 2002, no person shall perform the duties of a speech-language pathology assistant without first applying for and receiving a license for that purpose from the Department of Professional Regulation. A person employed as a speech-language pathology assistant in any class, service, or program authorized by this Article may perform only those duties authorized by this Section under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist as provided in this Section. This Section does not apply to speech-language pathology paraprofessionals approved by the State Board of Education.
    (b) A speech-language pathology assistant may not be assigned his or her own student caseload. The student caseload limit of a speech-language pathologist who supervises any speech-language pathology assistants shall be determined by the severity of the needs of the students served by the speech-language pathologist. A full-time speech-language pathologist's caseload limit may not exceed 80 students (60 students on or after September 1, 2003) at any time. The caseload limit of a part-time speech-language pathologist shall be determined by multiplying the caseload limit of a full-time speech-language pathologist by a percentage that equals the number of hours worked by the part-time speech-language pathologist divided by the number of hours worked by a full-time speech-language pathologist in that school district. Employment of a speech-language pathology assistant may not increase or decrease the caseload of the supervising speech-language pathologist.
    (c) A school district that intends to utilize the services of a speech-language pathology assistant must provide written notification to the parent or guardian of each student who will be served by a speech-language pathology assistant.
    (d) The scope of responsibility of a speech-language pathology assistant shall be limited to supplementing the role of the speech-language pathologist in implementing the treatment program established by a speech-language pathologist. The functions and duties of a speech-language pathology assistant shall be limited to the following:
        (1) Conducting speech-language screening, without
    
interpretation, and using screening protocols selected by the supervising speech-language pathologist.
        (2) Providing direct treatment assistance to students
    
under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist.
        (3) Following and implementing documented treatment
    
plans or protocols developed by a supervising speech-language pathologist.
        (4) Documenting student progress toward meeting
    
established objectives, and reporting the information to a supervising speech-language pathologist.
        (5) Assisting a speech-language pathologist during
    
assessments, including, but not limited to, assisting with formal documentation, preparing materials, and performing clerical duties for a supervising speech-language pathologist.
        (6) Acting as an interpreter for non-English speaking
    
students and their family members when competent to do so.
        (7) Scheduling activities and preparing charts,
    
records, graphs, and data.
        (8) Performing checks and maintenance of equipment,
    
including, but not limited to, augmentative communication devices.
        (9) Assisting with speech-language pathology research
    
projects, in-service training, and family or community education.
    (e) A speech-language pathology assistant may not:
        (1) perform standardized or nonstandardized
    
diagnostic tests or formal or informal evaluations or interpret test results;
        (2) screen or diagnose students for feeding or
    
swallowing disorders;
        (3) participate in parent conferences, case
    
conferences, or any interdisciplinary team without the presence of the supervising speech-language pathologist;
        (4) provide student or family counseling;
        (5) write, develop, or modify a student's
    
individualized treatment plan;
        (6) assist with students without following the
    
individualized treatment plan prepared by the supervising speech-language pathologist;
        (7) sign any formal documents, such as treatment
    
plans, reimbursement forms, or reports;
        (8) select students for services;
        (9) discharge a student from services;
        (10) disclose clinical or confidential information,
    
either orally or in writing, to anyone other than the supervising speech-language pathologist;
        (11) make referrals for additional services;
        (12) counsel or consult with the student, family, or
    
others regarding the student's status or service;
        (13) represent himself or herself to be a
    
speech-language pathologist or a speech therapist;
        (14) use a checklist or tabulate results of feeding
    
or swallowing evaluations; or
        (15) demonstrate swallowing strategies or precautions
    
to students, family, or staff.
    (f) A speech-language pathology assistant shall practice only under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist who has at least 2 years experience in addition to the supervised professional experience required under subsection (f) of Section 8 of the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act. A speech-language pathologist who supervises a speech-language pathology assistant must have completed at least 10 clock hours of training in the supervision of speech-language pathology assistants. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules describing the supervision training requirements. The rules may allow a speech-language pathologist to apply to the State Board of Education for an exemption from this training requirement based upon prior supervisory experience.
    (g) A speech-language pathology assistant must be under the direct supervision of a speech-language pathologist at least 30% of the speech-language pathology assistant's actual student contact time per student for the first 90 days of initial employment as a speech-language pathology assistant. Thereafter, the speech-language pathology assistant must be under the direct supervision of a speech-language pathologist at least 20% of the speech-language pathology assistant's actual student contact time per student. Supervision of a speech-language pathology assistant beyond the minimum requirements of this subsection may be imposed at the discretion of the supervising speech-language pathologist. A supervising speech-language pathologist must be available to communicate with a speech-language pathology assistant whenever the assistant is in contact with a student.
    (h) A speech-language pathologist that supervises a speech-language pathology assistant must document direct supervision activities. At a minimum, supervision documentation must provide (i) information regarding the quality of the speech-language pathology assistant's performance of assigned duties and (ii) verification that clinical activity is limited to duties specified in this Section.
    (i) A full-time speech-language pathologist may supervise no more than 2 speech-language pathology assistants. A speech-language pathologist that does not work full-time may supervise no more than one speech-language pathology assistant.
(Source: P.A. 92-510, eff. 6-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/14-6.04

    (105 ILCS 5/14-6.04)
    Sec. 14-6.04. Contracting for speech-language pathology services.
    (a) For purposes of this Section:
    "Reasonable efforts" means performing all of the following:
        (1) placing at least 3 employment advertisements for
    
a speech-language pathologist published in the newspaper of widest distribution within the school district or cooperative;
        (2) placing one employment listing in the placement
    
bulletin of a college or university that has a speech-language pathology curriculum that is located in the geographic area of the school district or cooperative, if any; and
        (3) posting the position for speech-language
    
pathologist on the Illinois Association of School Administrators' job placement service for at least 30 days.
    "Speech-language pathologist" means a person who:
        (1) holds a master's or doctoral degree with a major
    
emphasis in speech-language pathology from an institution whose course of study was approved or program was accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or its predecessor; and
        (2) either (i) has completed a program of study that
    
meets the content-area standards for speech-language pathologists approved by the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, (ii) has completed a program in another state, territory, or possession of the United States that is comparable to an approved program of study described in item (i), or (iii) holds a certificate or license issued by another state, territory, or possession of the United States that is comparable to a Professional Educator License with a school support personnel endorsement in the area of speech-language pathologist. If the requirements described in items (i), (ii), or (iii) of this paragraph (2) have not been met, a person must provide evidence that he or she has completed at least 150 clock hours of supervised experience in speech-language pathology with students with disabilities in a school setting, including experience required by federal law or federal court order; however, a person who lacks such experience shall participate in school-based professional experience of at least 150 clock hours to meet this requirement.
    "Speech-language pathology services" means the application of methods and procedures for identifying, measuring, testing, appraising, predicting, and modifying communication development and disorders or disabilities of speech, language, voice, swallowing, and other speech, language, and voice-related disorders for the purpose of counseling, consulting, and rendering services or participating in the planning, directing, or conducting of programs that are designed to modify communicative disorders and conditions in individuals or groups of individuals involving speech, language, voice, and swallowing functions.
    (b) A school district or a cooperative must make reasonable efforts to employ a speech-language pathologist. While making those reasonable efforts or after unsuccessful reasonable efforts have been made, or both, a school district or cooperative may contract for speech-language pathology services with a speech-language pathologist or an entity that employs speech-language pathologists. A speech-language pathologist who provides speech-language pathology services pursuant to a contract must:
        (1) hold a speech-language pathology license under
    
the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act or hold or have applied for a temporary license issued under Section 8.1 of that Act; and
        (2) hold a Professional Educator License with a
    
special education endorsement in the area of speech-language pathologist or with a school support personnel endorsement in the area of school speech and language pathologist under this Code.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/14-6.10

    (105 ILCS 5/14-6.10)
    Sec. 14-6.10. Transfer of parental rights at the age of majority.
    (a) When a student who is eligible for special education under this Article reaches the majority age of 18 years, all rights accorded to the student's parents under this Article transfer to the student, except as provided in this Section. This transfer of rights also applies to students who are incarcerated in an adult or juvenile State or local correctional institution. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to deny a student with a disability who has reached majority age the right to have an adult of his or her choice, including, but not limited to, the student's parent, assist the student in making decisions regarding the student's individualized education program.
    (b) The school district must notify the student and the student's parents of the transfer of rights in writing at a meeting convened to review the student's individualized education program during the school year in which the student turns 17 years of age. At that time, the school district must provide the student with a copy of the Delegation of Rights form described in this Section. The school district must mail the notice and a copy of the Delegation of Rights form to the student and to the student's parents, addressed to their last known address, if they do not attend the meeting.
    (c) Rights shall not transfer from the parents to the student under this Section if either of the following apply:
        (1) The student with a disability who has reached
    
the age of majority has been adjudged incompetent under State law.
        (2) The student has not been adjudged incompetent
    
under State law, but the student has executed a Delegation of Rights to make educational decisions pursuant to this Section for the purpose of appointing the student's parent or other adult to represent the educational interests of the student.
    A student may terminate the Delegation of Rights at any time and assume the right to make decisions regarding his or her education. The Delegation of Rights shall meet all of the following requirements:
        (A) It shall remain in effect for one year after the
    
date of execution, but may be renewed annually with the written or other formal authorization of the student and the person the student delegates to represent the educational interests of the student.
        (B) It shall be signed by the student or verified by
    
other means, such as audio or video or other alternative format compatible with the student's disability showing that the student has agreed to the terms of the delegation.
        (C) It shall be signed or otherwise manifest
    
verification that the designee accepts the delegation.
        (D) It shall include declarations that the student
    
(i) is 18 years of age or older, (ii) intends to delegate his or her educational rights under federal and State law to a specified individual who is at least 18 years of age, (iii) has not been adjudged incompetent under State law, (iv) is entitled to be present during the development of the student's individualized education program and to raise issues or concerns about the student's individualized education program, (v) will be permitted to terminate the Delegation of Rights at any time, and (vi) will notify the school district immediately if the student terminates the Delegation of Rights.
        (E) It shall be identical or substantially the same
    
as the following form:

 
DELEGATION OF RIGHTS TO MAKE EDUCATIONAL DECISION

    I, (insert name), am 18 years of age or older and a student who has the right to make educational decisions for myself under State and federal law. I have not been adjudged incompetent and, as of the date of the execution of this document, I hereby delegate my right to give consent and make decisions concerning my education to (insert name), who will be considered my "parent" for purposes of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 and Article 14 of the School Code and will exercise all of the rights and responsibilities concerning my education that are conferred on a parent under those laws. I understand and give my consent for (insert name) to make all decisions relating to my education on my behalf. I understand that I have the right to be present at meetings held to develop my individualized education program and that I have the right to raise any issues or concerns I may have and that the school district must consider them.
    This delegation will be in effect for one year from the date of execution below and may be renewed by my written or other formal authorization. I also understand that I have the right to terminate this Delegation of Rights at any time and assume the right to make my own decisions regarding my education. I understand that I must notify the school district immediately if I revoke this Delegation of Rights prior to its expiration.
 
(insert name)
Student
 
DATE: (insert date)
 
Accepted by: (insert name)
             Designated Representative
(Source: P.A. 95-372, eff. 8-23-07.)

105 ILCS 5/14-7.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-7.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-7.01)
    Sec. 14-7.01. Children attending classes in another district.) If a child, resident of one school district, because of his disability, attends a class or school for any of such types of children in another school district, the school district in which he resides shall grant the proper permit, provide any necessary transportation, and pay to the school district maintaining the special educational facilities the per capita cost of educating such children.
    Such per capita cost shall be computed in the following manner. The cost of conducting and maintaining any special educational facility shall be first determined and shall include the following expenses applicable only to such educational facility under rules and regulations established by the State Board of Education as follows:
    (a) Salaries of teachers, professional workers, necessary non-certified workers, clerks, librarians, custodial employees, readers, and any district taxes specifically for their pension and retirement benefits.
    (b) Educational supplies and equipment including textbooks.
    (c) Administrative costs and communication.
    (d) Operation of physical plant including heat, light, water, repairs, and maintenance.
    (e) Auxiliary service, including up to 20% of transportation cost.
    (f) Depreciation of physical facilities at a rate of $200 per pupil, or the actual rental paid for the physical facilities calculated on a per pupil basis. From such total cost thus determined there shall be deducted the State reimbursement due on account of such educational program for the same year, not including any State reimbursement for special education transportation and offsetting federal revenue for the program, except federally funded health care reimbursement need not be deducted. Such net cost shall be divided by the average number of pupils in average daily enrollment in such special education facility for the school year in order to arrive at the net per capita tuition cost.
    If the child, resident of any school district, because of his disability, attends a class or school for any of such types of children maintained in a teacher training center supported by public funds or State institution of higher learning, the resident district shall provide any necessary transportation and shall be eligible to the transportation reimbursement provided in Section 14-13.01.
    A resident district may, upon request, provide transportation for residents of the district who meet the requirements, other than the specified age, of children with disabilities as defined in Section 14-1.02, who attend classes in another district, and shall make a charge for any such transportation in an amount equal to the cost thereof, including a reasonable allowance for depreciation of the vehicles used.
(Source: P.A. 89-397, eff. 8-20-95.)

105 ILCS 5/14-7.02

    (105 ILCS 5/14-7.02) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-7.02)
    Sec. 14-7.02. Children attending private special education schools, separate public special education day schools, public out-of-state schools, public school residential facilities, or private special education facilities.
    (a) The General Assembly recognizes that non-public schools or special education facilities provide an important service in the educational system in Illinois.
    (b) If a student's individualized education program (IEP) team determines that because of his or her disability the special education program of a district is unable to meet the needs of the child and the child attends a non-public school or special education facility, a public out-of-state school or a special education facility owned and operated by a county government unit that provides special educational services required by the child and is in compliance with the appropriate rules and regulations of the State Superintendent of Education, the school district in which the child is a resident shall pay the actual cost of tuition for special education and related services provided during the regular school term and during the summer school term if the child's educational needs so require, excluding room, board and transportation costs charged the child by that non-public school or special education facility, public out-of-state school or county special education facility, or $4,500 per year, whichever is less, and shall provide him any necessary transportation. "Nonpublic special education facility" shall include a residential facility, within or without the State of Illinois, which provides special education and related services to meet the needs of the child by utilizing private schools or public schools, whether located on the site or off the site of the residential facility. Resident district financial responsibility and reimbursement applies for both nonpublic special education facilities that are approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 401 or other applicable laws or rules and for emergency residential placements in nonpublic special education facilities that are not approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 401 or other applicable laws or rules, subject to the requirements of this Section.
    (c) Prior to the placement of a child in an out-of-state special education residential facility, the school district must refer to the child or the child's parent or guardian the option to place the child in a special education residential facility located within this State, if any, that provides treatment and services comparable to those provided by the out-of-state special education residential facility. The school district must review annually the placement of a child in an out-of-state special education residential facility. As a part of the review, the school district must refer to the child or the child's parent or guardian the option to place the child in a comparable special education residential facility located within this State, if any.
    (c-5) Before a provider that operates a nonpublic special education facility terminates a student's placement in that facility, the provider must request an IEP meeting from the contracting school district. If the provider elects to terminate the student's placement following the IEP meeting, the provider must give written notice to this effect to the parent or guardian, the contracting public school district, and the State Board of Education no later than 20 business days before the date of termination, unless the health and safety of any student are endangered. The notice must include the detailed reasons for the termination and any actions taken to address the reason for the termination.
    (d) Payments shall be made by the resident school district to the entity providing the educational services, whether the entity is the nonpublic special education facility or the school district wherein the facility is located, no less than once per quarter, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties.
    (e) A school district may residentially place a student in a nonpublic special education facility providing educational services, but not approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 401 or other applicable laws or rules, provided that the State Board of Education provides an emergency and student-specific approval for residential placement. The State Board of Education shall promptly, within 10 days after the request, approve a request for emergency and student-specific approval for residential placement if the following have been demonstrated to the State Board of Education:
        (1) the facility demonstrates appropriate licensure
    
of teachers for the student population;
        (2) the facility demonstrates age-appropriate
    
curriculum;
        (3) the facility provides enrollment and attendance
    
data;
        (4) the facility demonstrates the ability to
    
implement the child's IEP; and
        (5) the school district demonstrates that it made
    
good faith efforts to residentially place the student in an approved facility, but no approved facility has accepted the student or has availability for immediate residential placement of the student.
A resident school district may also submit such proof to the State Board of Education as may be required for its student. The State Board of Education may not unreasonably withhold approval once satisfactory proof is provided to the State Board.
    (f) If an impartial due process hearing officer who is contracted by the State Board of Education pursuant to this Article orders placement of a student with a disability in a residential facility that is not approved by the State Board of Education, then, for purposes of this Section, the facility shall be deemed approved for placement and school district payments and State reimbursements shall be made accordingly.
    (g) Emergency residential placement in a facility approved pursuant to subsection (e) or (f) may continue to be utilized so long as (i) the student's IEP team determines annually that such placement continues to be appropriate to meet the student's needs and (ii) at least every 3 years following the student's residential placement, the IEP team reviews appropriate placements approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 401 or other applicable laws or rules to determine whether there are any approved placements that can meet the student's needs, have accepted the student, and have availability for placement of the student.
    (h) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations for determining when placement in a private special education facility is appropriate. Such rules and regulations shall take into account the various types of services needed by a child and the availability of such services to the particular child in the public school. In developing these rules and regulations the State Board of Education shall consult with the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities and hold public hearings to secure recommendations from parents, school personnel, and others concerned about this matter.
    The State Board of Education shall also promulgate rules and regulations for transportation to and from a residential school. Transportation to and from home to a residential school more than once each school term shall be subject to prior approval by the State Superintendent in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Board.
    (i) A school district making tuition payments pursuant to this Section is eligible for reimbursement from the State for the amount of such payments actually made in excess of the district per capita tuition charge for students not receiving special education services. Such reimbursement shall be approved in accordance with Section 14-12.01 and each district shall file its claims, computed in accordance with rules prescribed by the State Board of Education, on forms prescribed by the State Superintendent of Education. Data used as a basis of reimbursement claims shall be for the preceding regular school term and summer school term. Each school district shall transmit its claims to the State Board of Education on or before August 15. The State Board of Education, before approving any such claims, shall determine their accuracy and whether they are based upon services and facilities provided under approved programs. Upon approval the State Board shall cause vouchers to be prepared showing the amount due for payment of reimbursement claims to school districts, for transmittal to the State Comptroller on the 30th day of September, December, and March, respectively, and the final voucher, no later than June 20. If the money appropriated by the General Assembly for such purpose for any year is insufficient, it shall be apportioned on the basis of the claims approved.
    (j) No child shall be placed in a special education program pursuant to this Section if the tuition cost for special education and related services increases more than 10 percent over the tuition cost for the previous school year or exceeds $4,500 per year unless such costs have been approved by the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board. The Illinois Purchased Care Review Board shall consist of the following persons, or their designees: the Directors of Children and Family Services, Public Health, Public Aid, and the Governor's Office of Management and Budget; the Secretary of Human Services; the State Superintendent of Education; and such other persons as the Governor may designate. The Review Board shall also consist of one non-voting member who is an administrator of a private, nonpublic, special education school, one non-voting member who is an administrator of a separate public special education day school, and one non-voting member from a State agency that administers and provides early childhood education and care programs and services to children and families. The Review Board shall establish rules and regulations for its determination of allowable costs and payments made by local school districts for special education, room and board, and other related services provided by non-public schools, separate public special education day schools, or special education facilities and shall establish uniform standards and criteria which it shall follow. The Review Board shall approve the usual and customary rate or rates of a special education program that (i) is offered by an out-of-state, non-public provider of integrated autism specific educational and autism specific residential services, (ii) offers 2 or more levels of residential care, including at least one locked facility, and (iii) serves 12 or fewer Illinois students.
    (k) In determining rates based on allowable costs, the Review Board shall consider any wage increases awarded by the General Assembly to front line personnel defined as direct support persons, aides, front-line supervisors, qualified intellectual disabilities professionals, nurses, and non-administrative support staff working in service settings in community-based settings within the State and adjust customary rates or rates of a special education program to be equitable to the wage increase awarded to similar staff positions in a community residential setting. Any wage increase awarded by the General Assembly to front line personnel defined as direct support persons, aides, front-line supervisors, qualified intellectual disabilities professionals, nurses, and non-administrative support staff working in community-based settings within the State, including the $0.75 per hour increase contained in Public Act 100-23 and the $0.50 per hour increase included in Public Act 100-23, shall also be a basis for any facility covered by this Section to appeal its rate before the Review Board under the process defined in Title 89, Part 900, Section 340 of the Illinois Administrative Code. Illinois Administrative Code Title 89, Part 900, Section 342 shall be updated to recognize wage increases awarded to community-based settings to be a basis for appeal. However, any wage increase that is captured upon appeal from a previous year shall not be counted by the Review Board as revenue for the purpose of calculating a facility's future rate.
    (l) Any definition used by the Review Board in administrative rule or policy to define "related organizations" shall include any and all exceptions contained in federal law or regulation as it pertains to the federal definition of "related organizations".
    (m) The Review Board shall establish uniform definitions and criteria for accounting separately by special education, room and board and other related services costs. The Board shall also establish guidelines for the coordination of services and financial assistance provided by all State agencies to assure that no otherwise qualified child with a disability receiving services under Article 14 shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity provided by any State agency.
    (n) The Review Board shall review the costs for special education and related services provided by non-public schools, separate public special education day schools, or special education facilities and shall approve or disapprove such facilities in accordance with the rules and regulations established by it with respect to allowable costs.
    (o) The State Board of Education shall provide administrative and staff support for the Review Board as deemed reasonable by the State Superintendent of Education. This support shall not include travel expenses or other compensation for any Review Board member other than the State Superintendent of Education.
    (p) The Review Board shall seek the advice of the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities on the rules and regulations to be promulgated by it relative to providing special education services.
    (q) If a child has been placed in a program in which the actual per pupil costs of tuition for special education and related services based on program enrollment, excluding room, board and transportation costs, exceed $4,500 and such costs have been approved by the Review Board, the district shall pay such total costs which exceed $4,500. A district making such tuition payments in excess of $4,500 pursuant to this Section shall be responsible for an amount in excess of $4,500 equal to the district per capita tuition charge and shall be eligible for reimbursement from the State for the amount of such payments actually made in excess of the district's per capita tuition charge for students not receiving special education services. If a child has been placed in a private special education school, separate public special education day school, or private special education facility, a district making tuition payments in excess of $4,500 pursuant to this Section shall be responsible for an amount in excess of $4,500 equal to 2 times the district's per capita tuition charge and shall be eligible for reimbursement from the State for the amount of such payments actually made in excess of 2 times the district's per capita tuition charge for students not receiving special education services.
    (r) If a child has been placed in an approved individual program and the tuition costs including room and board costs have been approved by the Review Board, then such room and board costs shall be paid by the appropriate State agency subject to the provisions of Section 14-8.01 of this Act. Room and board costs not provided by a State agency other than the State Board of Education shall be provided by the State Board of Education on a current basis. In no event, however, shall the State's liability for funding of these tuition costs begin until after the legal obligations of third party payors have been subtracted from such costs. If the money appropriated by the General Assembly for such purpose for any year is insufficient, it shall be apportioned on the basis of the claims approved. Each district shall submit estimated claims to the State Superintendent of Education. Upon approval of such claims, the State Superintendent of Education shall direct the State Comptroller to make payments on a monthly basis. The frequency for submitting estimated claims and the method of determining payment shall be prescribed in rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education. Such current state reimbursement shall be reduced by an amount equal to the proceeds which the child or child's parents are eligible to receive under any public or private insurance or assistance program. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as relieving an insurer or similar third party from an otherwise valid obligation to provide or to pay for services provided to a child with a disability.
    (s) If it otherwise qualifies, a school district is eligible for the transportation reimbursement under Section 14-13.01 and for the reimbursement of tuition payments under this Section whether the non-public school or special education facility, public out-of-state school or county special education facility, attended by a child who resides in that district and requires special educational services, is within or outside of the State of Illinois. However, a district is not eligible to claim transportation reimbursement under this Section unless the district certifies to the State Superintendent of Education that the district is unable to provide special educational services required by the child for the current school year.
    (t) Nothing in this Section authorizes the reimbursement of a school district for the amount paid for tuition of a child attending a non-public school or special education facility, a public special education facility, a public out-of-state school, or a county special education facility unless the school district certifies to the State Superintendent of Education that the special education program of that district is unable to meet the needs of that child because of the child's disability and the State Superintendent of Education finds that the school district is in substantial compliance with Section 14-4.01. However, if a child is unilaterally placed by a State agency or any court in a non-public school or special education facility, public out-of-state school, or county special education facility, a school district shall not be required to certify to the State Superintendent of Education, for the purpose of tuition reimbursement, that the special education program of that district is unable to meet the needs of a child because of his or her disability.
    (u) Any educational or related services provided, pursuant to this Section in a non-public school or special education facility or a special education facility owned and operated by a county government unit shall be at no cost to the parent or guardian of the child. However, current law and practices relative to contributions by parents or guardians for costs other than educational or related services are not affected by this amendatory Act of 1978.
    (v) Reimbursement for children attending public school residential facilities shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this Section.
    (w) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any school district receiving a payment under this Section or under Section 14-7.02b, 14-13.01, or 29-5 of this Code may classify all or a portion of the funds that it receives in a particular fiscal year or from general State aid pursuant to Section 18-8.05 of this Code as funds received in connection with any funding program for which it is entitled to receive funds from the State in that fiscal year (including, without limitation, any funding program referenced in this Section), regardless of the source or timing of the receipt. The district may not classify more funds as funds received in connection with the funding program than the district is entitled to receive in that fiscal year for that program. Any classification by a district must be made by a resolution of its board of education. The resolution must identify the amount of any payments or general State aid to be classified under this paragraph and must specify the funding program to which the funds are to be treated as received in connection therewith. This resolution is controlling as to the classification of funds referenced therein. A certified copy of the resolution must be sent to the State Superintendent of Education. The resolution shall still take effect even though a copy of the resolution has not been sent to the State Superintendent of Education in a timely manner. No classification under this paragraph by a district shall affect the total amount or timing of money the district is entitled to receive under this Code. No classification under this paragraph by a district shall in any way relieve the district from or affect any requirements that otherwise would apply with respect to that funding program, including any accounting of funds by source, reporting expenditures by original source and purpose, reporting requirements, or requirements of providing services.
    (x) The State Board of Education may adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-254, eff. 8-6-21; 102-703, eff. 4-22-22; 103-175, eff. 6-30-23; 103-546, eff. 8-11-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-644, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/14-7.02a

    (105 ILCS 5/14-7.02a) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-7.02a)
    Sec. 14-7.02a. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-568, eff. 6-26-02. Repealed by P.A. 93-1022, eff. 8-24-04.)

105 ILCS 5/14-7.02b

    (105 ILCS 5/14-7.02b)
    Sec. 14-7.02b. Funding for children requiring special education services. Payments to school districts for children requiring special education services documented in their individualized education program regardless of the program from which these services are received, excluding children claimed under Sections 14-7.02 and 14-7.03 of this Code, shall be made in accordance with this Section. Funds received under this Section may be used only for the provision of special educational facilities and services as defined in Section 14-1.08 of this Code.
    The appropriation for fiscal year 2005 through fiscal year 2017 shall be based upon the IDEA child count of all students in the State, excluding students claimed under Sections 14-7.02 and 14-7.03 of this Code, on December 1 of the fiscal year 2 years preceding, multiplied by 17.5% of the general State aid foundation level of support established for that fiscal year under Section 18-8.05 of this Code.
    Beginning with fiscal year 2005 and through fiscal year 2007, individual school districts shall not receive payments under this Section totaling less than they received under the funding authorized under Section 14-7.02a of this Code during fiscal year 2004, pursuant to the provisions of Section 14-7.02a as they were in effect before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. This base level funding shall be computed first.
    Beginning with fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2017, individual school districts must not receive payments under this Section totaling less than they received in fiscal year 2007. This funding shall be computed last and shall be a separate calculation from any other calculation set forth in this Section. This amount is exempt from the requirements of Section 1D-1 of this Code.
    Through fiscal year 2017, an amount equal to 85% of the funds remaining in the appropriation shall be allocated to school districts based upon the district's average daily attendance reported for purposes of Section 18-8.05 of this Code for the preceding school year. Fifteen percent of the funds remaining in the appropriation shall be allocated to school districts based upon the district's low income eligible pupil count used in the calculation of general State aid under Section 18-8.05 of this Code for the same fiscal year. One hundred percent of the funds computed and allocated to districts under this Section shall be distributed and paid to school districts.
    For individual students with disabilities whose program costs exceed 4 times the district's per capita tuition rate as calculated under Section 10-20.12a of this Code, the costs in excess of 4 times the district's per capita tuition rate shall be paid by the State Board of Education from unexpended IDEA discretionary funds originally designated for room and board reimbursement pursuant to Section 14-8.01 of this Code. The amount of tuition for these children shall be determined by the actual cost of maintaining classes for these children, using the per capita cost formula set forth in Section 14-7.01 of this Code, with the program and cost being pre-approved by the State Superintendent of Education. Reimbursement for individual students with disabilities whose program costs exceed 4 times the district's per capita tuition rate shall be claimed beginning with costs encumbered for the 2004-2005 school year and thereafter.
    The State Board of Education shall prepare vouchers equal to one-fourth the amount allocated to districts, for transmittal to the State Comptroller on the 30th day of September, December, and March, respectively, and the final voucher, no later than June 20. The Comptroller shall make payments pursuant to this Section to school districts as soon as possible after receipt of vouchers. If the money appropriated from the General Assembly for such purposes for any year is insufficient, it shall be apportioned on the basis of the payments due to school districts.
    Nothing in this Section shall be construed to decrease or increase the percentage of all special education funds that are allocated annually under Article 1D of this Code or to alter the requirement that a school district provide special education services.
    Nothing in this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly shall eliminate any reimbursement obligation owed as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly to a school district with in excess of 500,000 inhabitants.
    Except for reimbursement for individual students with disabilities whose program costs exceed 4 times the district's per capita tuition rate, no funding shall be provided to school districts under this Section after fiscal year 2017.
    In fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter, all funding received by a school district from the State pursuant to Section 18–8.15 of this Code that is attributable to students requiring special education services must be used for special education services authorized under this Code.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/14-7.02c

    (105 ILCS 5/14-7.02c)
    Sec. 14-7.02c. Private therapeutic day schools; student enrollment data. The Illinois Purchased Care Review Board must accept amended student enrollment data from special education private therapeutic day schools that have specialized contractual agreements with a school district having a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants in the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years. The amended student enrollment data must be based on actual monthly enrollment days where a student placed by the school district was formally enrolled and began to receive services through the last date he or she was formally exited from the therapeutic day school. All enrolled days must be confined to the official beginning and end dates of the therapeutic day school's official calendar on file with the State Board of Education. In no instance may the amended enrollment be further reduced to account for student absences. A school district having a population of 500,000 or less inhabitants must be billed at the per diem rate approved by the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board based on days enrolled as prescribed in Section 900.330 of Title 89 of the Illinois Administrative Code.
(Source: P.A. 101-10, eff. 6-5-19.)

105 ILCS 5/14-7.03

    (105 ILCS 5/14-7.03) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-7.03)
    Sec. 14-7.03. Special education classes for children from orphanages, foster family homes, children's homes, or State residential units. If a school district maintains special education classes on the site of orphanages and children's homes, or if children from the orphanages, children's homes, foster family homes, other State agencies, or State residential units for children attend classes for children with disabilities in which the school district is a participating member of a joint agreement, or if the children from the orphanages, children's homes, foster family homes, other State agencies, or State residential units attend classes for the children with disabilities maintained by the school district, then reimbursement shall be paid to eligible districts in accordance with the provisions of this Section by the Comptroller as directed by the State Superintendent of Education.
    The amount of tuition for such children shall be determined by the actual cost of maintaining such classes, using the per capita cost formula set forth in Section 14-7.01, such program and cost to be pre-approved by the State Superintendent of Education.
    If a school district makes a claim for reimbursement under Section 18-3 of this Code it shall not include in any claim filed under this Section a claim for such children. Payments authorized by law, including State or federal grants for education of children included in this Section, shall be deducted in determining the tuition amount.
    Nothing in this Code shall be construed so as to prohibit reimbursement for the tuition of children placed in for profit facilities. Private facilities shall provide adequate space at the facility for special education classes provided by a school district or joint agreement for children with disabilities who are residents of the facility at no cost to the school district or joint agreement upon request of the school district or joint agreement. If such a private facility provides space at no cost to the district or joint agreement for special education classes provided to children with disabilities who are residents of the facility, the district or joint agreement shall not include any costs for the use of those facilities in its claim for reimbursement.
    Reimbursement for tuition may include the cost of providing summer school programs for children with severe and profound disabilities served under this Section. Claims for that reimbursement shall be filed by November 1 and shall be paid on or before December 15 from appropriations made for the purposes of this Section.
    The State Board of Education shall establish such rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Section.
    Claims filed on behalf of programs operated under this Section housed in an orphanage, children's home, private facility, State residential unit, district or joint agreement site, jail, detention center, or county-owned shelter care facility shall be on an individual student basis only for eligible students with disabilities. These claims shall be in accordance with applicable rules.
    Each district claiming reimbursement for individual students shall have the eligibility of those students verified by the State Board of Education. On September 30, December 31, and March 31, the State Board of Education shall voucher payments for individual students based upon an estimated cost calculated from the prior year's claim. Final claims for individual students for the regular school term must be received at the State Board of Education by June 15. Claims for individual students received after June 15 shall not be honored. Claims received by June 15 may be amended until August 1. Final claims for individual students shall be vouchered by August 31. However, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section or this Code, if the amount appropriated for any fiscal year is less than the amount required for purposes of this Section, the amount required to eliminate any insufficient reimbursement for each district claim under this Section shall be reimbursed on August 31 of the next fiscal year. Payments required to eliminate any insufficiency for prior fiscal year claims shall be made before any claims are paid for the current fiscal year.
    Regional superintendents may operate special education classes for children from orphanages, foster family homes, children's homes, or State residential units located within the educational services region upon consent of the school board otherwise so obligated. In electing to assume the powers and duties of a school district in providing and maintaining such a special education program, the regional superintendent may enter into joint agreements with other districts and may contract with public or private schools or the orphanage, foster family home, children's home, or State residential unit for provision of the special education program. The regional superintendent exercising the powers granted under this Section shall be reimbursed for the actual cost of providing such programs by the resident district as defined in Section 14-1.11a.
    Any child who is not a resident of Illinois who is placed in a child welfare institution, private facility, foster family home, State operated program, orphanage, or children's home shall have the payment for his educational tuition and any related services assured by the placing agent.
    For each student with a disability who is placed in a residential facility by an Illinois public agency or by any court in this State, the costs for educating the student are eligible for reimbursement under this Section.
    The district of residence of the student with a disability as defined in Section 14-1.11a is responsible for the actual costs of the student's special education program and is eligible for reimbursement under this Section when placement is made by a State agency or the courts.
    When a dispute arises over the determination of the district of residence under this Section, the district or districts may appeal the decision in writing to the State Superintendent of Education, who, upon review of materials submitted and any other items or information he or she may request for submission, shall issue a written decision on the matter. The decision of the State Superintendent of Education shall be final.
    In the event a district does not make a tuition payment to another district that is providing the special education program and services, the State Board of Education shall immediately withhold 125% of the then remaining annual tuition cost from the State aid or categorical aid payment due to the school district that is determined to be the resident school district. All funds withheld by the State Board of Education shall immediately be forwarded to the school district where the student is being served.
    When a child eligible for services under this Section 14-7.03 must be placed in a nonpublic facility, that facility shall meet the programmatic requirements of Section 14-7.02 and its regulations, and the educational services shall be funded only in accordance with this Section 14-7.03.
(Source: P.A. 101-17, eff. 6-14-19.)

105 ILCS 5/14-7.03a

    (105 ILCS 5/14-7.03a) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-7.03a)
    Sec. 14-7.03a. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 80-1481. Repealed by P.A. 90-644, eff. 7-24-98.)

105 ILCS 5/14-7.04

    (105 ILCS 5/14-7.04) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-7.04)
    Sec. 14-7.04. Health care reimbursement.
    (a) Local educational agencies may utilize federally funded health care programs to share in the costs of services which are provided to children requiring special education and related services and which are either listed on an individualized education program established pursuant to the federal Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, Public Law No. 94-142 or are provided under an individualized family service plan established pursuant to the federal Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986, Public Law No. 99-457. Those federally funded health care programs shall also share in the cost of all screenings and diagnostic evaluations for children suspected of having or known to have a disability. However, all such services shall continue to be initially funded by the local educational agency and shall be provided regardless of subsequent cost sharing with other funding sources. Federally funded health care reimbursement funds are supplemental and shall not be used to reduce any other Federal payments, private payments or State Board of Education funds for special education as provided in Article 14 of the School Code for which the local education agency is eligible.
    Local educational agencies providing early periodic screening and diagnostic testing services on or after August 1, 1991, including screening and diagnostic services, health care and treatment, preventive health care, and any other measure to correct or improve health impairments of Medicaid-eligible children, may also access federally funded health care resources.
    The State Board of Education and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services may enter into an intergovernmental agreement whereby school districts or their agents may claim medicaid matching funds for medicaid eligible special education children as authorized by Section 1903 of the Social Security Act. Under that intergovernmental agreement, school districts or their agents may also claim federal funds for the services provided to special education students enrolled in the Children's Health Insurance Program.
    (b) No employee or officer of a school district, special education joint agreement, office of a regional superintendent of schools or the State Board of Education may have a direct or indirect financial interest in any agreement between the entity of which the person is an employee or officer and any corporation, organization or other entity that collects or participates in the collection of payments from private health care benefit plans or federally funded health care programs authorized under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

105 ILCS 5/14-7.05

    (105 ILCS 5/14-7.05)
    Sec. 14-7.05. Placement in residential facility; payment of educational costs. For any student with a disability in a residential facility placement made or paid for by an Illinois public State agency or made by any court in this State, the school district of residence as determined pursuant to this Article is responsible for the costs of educating the child and shall be reimbursed for those costs in accordance with this Code. Subject to this Section and relevant State appropriation, the resident district's financial responsibility and reimbursement must be calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 14-7.02 of this Code. In those instances in which a district receives a block grant pursuant to Article 1D of this Code, the district's financial responsibility is limited to the actual educational costs of the placement, which must be paid by the district from its block grant appropriation. Resident district financial responsibility and reimbursement applies for both residential facilities that are approved by the State Board of Education and non-approved facilities, subject to the requirements of this Section. The Illinois placing agency or court remains responsible for funding the residential portion of the placement and for notifying the resident district prior to the placement, except in emergency situations. The residential facility in which the student is placed shall notify the resident district of the student's enrollment as soon as practicable after the placement. Failure of the placing agency or court to notify the resident district prior to the placement does not absolve the resident district of financial responsibility for the educational costs of the placement; however, the resident district shall not become financially responsible unless and until it receives written notice of the placement by either the placing agency, court, or residential facility. The placing agency or parent shall request an individualized education program (IEP) meeting from the resident district if the placement would entail additional educational services beyond the student's current IEP. The district of residence shall retain control of the IEP process, and any changes to the IEP must be done in compliance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
    Prior to the placement of a child in an out-of-state special education residential facility, the placing agency or court must refer to the child or the child's parent or guardian the option to place the child in a special education residential facility located within this State, if any, that provides treatment and services comparable to those provided by the out-of-state special education residential facility. The placing agency or court must review annually the placement of a child in an out-of-state special education residential facility. As a part of the review, the placing agency or court must refer to the child or the child's parent or guardian the option to place the child in a comparable special education residential facility located within this State, if any.
    Payments shall be made by the resident district to the entity providing the educational services, whether the entity is the residential facility or the school district wherein the facility is located, no less than once per quarter unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties.
    A residential facility providing educational services within the facility, but not approved by the State Board of Education, is required to demonstrate proof to the State Board of (i) appropriate licensure of teachers for the student population, (ii) age-appropriate curriculum, (iii) enrollment and attendance data, and (iv) the ability to implement the child's IEP. A school district is under no obligation to pay such a residential facility unless and until such proof is provided to the State Board's satisfaction.
    When a dispute arises over the determination of the district of residence under this Section, any person or entity, including without limitation a school district or residential facility, may make a written request for a residency decision to the State Superintendent of Education, who, upon review of materials submitted and any other items of information he or she may request for submission, shall issue his or her decision in writing. The decision of the State Superintendent of Education is final.
(Source: P.A. 102-254, eff. 8-6-21; 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-8.01)
    Sec. 14-8.01. Supervision of special education buildings and facilities. All special educational facilities, building programs, housing, and all educational programs for the types of children with disabilities defined in Section 14-1.02 shall be under the supervision of and subject to the approval of the State Board of Education.
    All special education facilities, building programs, and housing shall comply with the building code authorized by Section 2-3.12.
    All educational programs for children with disabilities as defined in Section 14-1.02 administered by any State agency shall be under the general supervision of the State Board of Education. Such supervision shall be limited to insuring that such educational programs meet standards jointly developed and agreed to by both the State Board of Education and the operating State agency, including standards for educational personnel.
    Any State agency providing special educational programs for children with disabilities as defined in Section 14-1.02 shall promulgate rules and regulations, in consultation with the State Board of Education and pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act as now or hereafter amended, to insure that all such programs comply with this Section and Section 14-8.02.
    No otherwise qualified child with a disability receiving special education and related services under Article 14 shall solely by reason of his or her disability be excluded from the participation in or be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity provided by a State agency.
    State agencies providing special education and related services, including room and board, either directly or through grants or purchases of services shall continue to provide these services according to current law and practice. Room and board costs not provided by a State agency other than the State Board of Education shall be provided by the State Board of Education to the extent of available funds. An amount equal to one-half of the State education agency's share of IDEA PART B federal monies, or so much thereof as may actually be needed, shall annually be appropriated to pay for the additional costs of providing for room and board for those children placed pursuant to Section 14-7.02 of this Code and, after all such room and board costs are paid, for similar expenditures for children served pursuant to Section 14-7.02 or 14-7.02b of this Code. Any such excess room and board funds must first be directed to those school districts with students costing in excess of 4 times the district's per capita tuition charge and then to community based programs that serve as alternatives to residential placements.
    Beginning with Fiscal Year 1997 and continuing through Fiscal Year 2000, 100% of the former Chapter I, Section 89-313 federal funds shall be allocated by the State Board of Education in the same manner as IDEA, PART B "flow through" funding to local school districts, joint agreements, and special education cooperatives for the maintenance of instructional and related support services to students with disabilities. However, beginning with Fiscal Year 1998, the total IDEA Part B discretionary funds available to the State Board of Education shall not exceed the maximum permissible under federal law or 20% of the total federal funds available to the State, whichever is less. After all room and board payments and similar expenditures are made by the State Board of Education as required by this Section, the State Board of Education may use the remaining funds for administration and for providing discretionary activities. However, the State Board of Education may use no more than 25% of its available IDEA Part B discretionary funds for administrative services.
    Special education and related services included in the child's individualized educational program which are not provided by another State agency shall be included in the special education and related services provided by the State Board of Education and the local school district.
    The State Board of Education with the advice of the Advisory Council shall prescribe the standards and make the necessary rules and regulations for special education programs administered by local school boards, including but not limited to establishment of classes, training requirements of teachers and other professional personnel, eligibility and admission of pupils, the curriculum, class size limitation, building programs, housing, transportation, special equipment and instructional supplies, and the applications for claims for reimbursement. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations for annual evaluations of the effectiveness of all special education programs and annual evaluation by the local school district of the individualized educational program for each child for whom it provides special education services.
    A school district is responsible for the provision of educational services for all school age children residing within its boundaries excluding any student placed under the provisions of Section 14-7.02 or any student with a disability whose parent or guardian lives outside of the State of Illinois as described in Section 14-1.11.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.02

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-8.02)
    Sec. 14-8.02. Identification, evaluation, and placement of children.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall make rules under which local school boards shall determine the eligibility of children to receive special education. Such rules shall ensure that a free appropriate public education be available to all children with disabilities as defined in Section 14-1.02. The State Board of Education shall require local school districts to administer non-discriminatory procedures or tests to English learners coming from homes in which a language other than English is used to determine their eligibility to receive special education. The placement of low English proficiency students in special education programs and facilities shall be made in accordance with the test results reflecting the student's linguistic, cultural and special education needs. For purposes of determining the eligibility of children the State Board of Education shall include in the rules definitions of "case study", "staff conference", "individualized educational program", and "qualified specialist" appropriate to each category of children with disabilities as defined in this Article. For purposes of determining the eligibility of children from homes in which a language other than English is used, the State Board of Education shall include in the rules definitions for "qualified bilingual specialists" and "linguistically and culturally appropriate individualized educational programs". For purposes of this Section, as well as Sections 14-8.02a, 14-8.02b, and 14-8.02c of this Code, "parent" means a parent as defined in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401(23)).
    (b) No child shall be eligible for special education facilities except with a carefully completed case study fully reviewed by professional personnel in a multidisciplinary staff conference and only upon the recommendation of qualified specialists or a qualified bilingual specialist, if available. At the conclusion of the multidisciplinary staff conference, the parent of the child and, if the child is in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department's Office of Education and Transition Services shall be given a copy of the multidisciplinary conference summary report and recommendations, which includes options considered, and, in the case of the parent, be informed of his or her right to obtain an independent educational evaluation if he or she disagrees with the evaluation findings conducted or obtained by the school district. If the school district's evaluation is shown to be inappropriate, the school district shall reimburse the parent for the cost of the independent evaluation. The State Board of Education shall, with advice from the State Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities on the inclusion of specific independent educational evaluators, prepare a list of suggested independent educational evaluators. The State Board of Education shall include on the list clinical psychologists licensed pursuant to the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act. Such psychologists shall not be paid fees in excess of the amount that would be received by a school psychologist for performing the same services. The State Board of Education shall supply school districts with such list and make the list available to parents at their request. School districts shall make the list available to parents at the time they are informed of their right to obtain an independent educational evaluation. However, the school district may initiate an impartial due process hearing under this Section within 5 days of any written parent request for an independent educational evaluation to show that its evaluation is appropriate. If the final decision is that the evaluation is appropriate, the parent still has a right to an independent educational evaluation, but not at public expense. An independent educational evaluation at public expense must be completed within 30 days of a parent's written request unless the school district initiates an impartial due process hearing or the parent or school district offers reasonable grounds to show that such 30-day time period should be extended. If the due process hearing decision indicates that the parent is entitled to an independent educational evaluation, it must be completed within 30 days of the decision unless the parent or the school district offers reasonable grounds to show that such 30-day period should be extended. If a parent disagrees with the summary report or recommendations of the multidisciplinary conference or the findings of any educational evaluation which results therefrom, the school district shall not proceed with a placement based upon such evaluation and the child shall remain in his or her regular classroom setting. No child shall be eligible for admission to a special class for children with a mental disability who are educable or for children with a mental disability who are trainable except with a psychological evaluation and recommendation by a school psychologist. Consent shall be obtained from the parent of a child before any evaluation is conducted. If consent is not given by the parent or if the parent disagrees with the findings of the evaluation, then the school district may initiate an impartial due process hearing under this Section. The school district may evaluate the child if that is the decision resulting from the impartial due process hearing and the decision is not appealed or if the decision is affirmed on appeal. The determination of eligibility shall be made and the IEP meeting shall be completed within 60 school days from the date of written parental consent. In those instances when written parental consent is obtained with fewer than 60 pupil attendance days left in the school year, the eligibility determination shall be made and the IEP meeting shall be completed prior to the first day of the following school year. Special education and related services must be provided in accordance with the student's IEP no later than 10 school attendance days after notice is provided to the parents pursuant to Section 300.503 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations and implementing rules adopted by the State Board of Education. The appropriate program pursuant to the individualized educational program of students whose native tongue is a language other than English shall reflect the special education, cultural and linguistic needs. No later than September 1, 1993, the State Board of Education shall establish standards for the development, implementation and monitoring of appropriate bilingual special individualized educational programs. The State Board of Education shall further incorporate appropriate monitoring procedures to verify implementation of these standards. The district shall indicate to the parent, the State Board of Education, and, if applicable, the Department's Office of Education and Transition Services the nature of the services the child will receive for the regular school term while awaiting placement in the appropriate special education class. At the child's initial IEP meeting and at each annual review meeting, the child's IEP team shall provide the child's parent or guardian and, if applicable, the Department's Office of Education and Transition Services with a written notification that informs the parent or guardian or the Department's Office of Education and Transition Services that the IEP team is required to consider whether the child requires assistive technology in order to receive free, appropriate public education. The notification must also include a toll-free telephone number and internet address for the State's assistive technology program.
    If the child is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired or has an orthopedic impairment or physical disability and he or she might be eligible to receive services from the Illinois School for the Deaf, the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, or the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education-Roosevelt, the school district shall notify the parents, in writing, of the existence of these schools and the services they provide and shall make a reasonable effort to inform the parents of the existence of other, local schools that provide similar services and the services that these other schools provide. This notification shall include, without limitation, information on school services, school admissions criteria, and school contact information.
    In the development of the individualized education program for a student who has a disability on the autism spectrum (which includes autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, childhood disintegrative disorder, and Rett Syndrome, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV, 2000)), the IEP team shall consider all of the following factors:
        (1) The verbal and nonverbal communication needs of
    
the child.
        (2) The need to develop social interaction skills and
    
proficiencies.
        (3) The needs resulting from the child's unusual
    
responses to sensory experiences.
        (4) The needs resulting from resistance to
    
environmental change or change in daily routines.
        (5) The needs resulting from engagement in repetitive
    
activities and stereotyped movements.
        (6) The need for any positive behavioral
    
interventions, strategies, and supports to address any behavioral difficulties resulting from autism spectrum disorder.
        (7) Other needs resulting from the child's disability
    
that impact progress in the general curriculum, including social and emotional development.
Public Act 95-257 does not create any new entitlement to a service, program, or benefit, but must not affect any entitlement to a service, program, or benefit created by any other law.
    If the student may be eligible to participate in the Home-Based Support Services Program for Adults with Mental Disabilities authorized under the Developmental Disability and Mental Disability Services Act upon becoming an adult, the student's individualized education program shall include plans for (i) determining the student's eligibility for those home-based services, (ii) enrolling the student in the program of home-based services, and (iii) developing a plan for the student's most effective use of the home-based services after the student becomes an adult and no longer receives special educational services under this Article. The plans developed under this paragraph shall include specific actions to be taken by specified individuals, agencies, or officials.
    (c) In the development of the individualized education program for a student who is functionally blind, it shall be presumed that proficiency in Braille reading and writing is essential for the student's satisfactory educational progress. For purposes of this subsection, the State Board of Education shall determine the criteria for a student to be classified as functionally blind. Students who are not currently identified as functionally blind who are also entitled to Braille instruction include: (i) those whose vision loss is so severe that they are unable to read and write at a level comparable to their peers solely through the use of vision, and (ii) those who show evidence of progressive vision loss that may result in functional blindness. Each student who is functionally blind shall be entitled to Braille reading and writing instruction that is sufficient to enable the student to communicate with the same level of proficiency as other students of comparable ability. Instruction should be provided to the extent that the student is physically and cognitively able to use Braille. Braille instruction may be used in combination with other special education services appropriate to the student's educational needs. The assessment of each student who is functionally blind for the purpose of developing the student's individualized education program shall include documentation of the student's strengths and weaknesses in Braille skills. Each person assisting in the development of the individualized education program for a student who is functionally blind shall receive information describing the benefits of Braille instruction. The individualized education program for each student who is functionally blind shall specify the appropriate learning medium or media based on the assessment report.
    (d) To the maximum extent appropriate, the placement shall provide the child with the opportunity to be educated with children who do not have a disability; provided that children with disabilities who are recommended to be placed into regular education classrooms are provided with supplementary services to assist the children with disabilities to benefit from the regular classroom instruction and are included on the teacher's regular education class register. Subject to the limitation of the preceding sentence, placement in special classes, separate schools or other removal of the child with a disability from the regular educational environment shall occur only when the nature of the severity of the disability is such that education in the regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily. The placement of English learners with disabilities shall be in non-restrictive environments which provide for integration with peers who do not have disabilities in bilingual classrooms. Annually, each January, school districts shall report data on students from non-English speaking backgrounds receiving special education and related services in public and private facilities as prescribed in Section 2-3.30. If there is a disagreement between parties involved regarding the special education placement of any child, either in-state or out-of-state, the placement is subject to impartial due process procedures described in Article 10 of the Rules and Regulations to Govern the Administration and Operation of Special Education.
    (e) No child who comes from a home in which a language other than English is the principal language used may be assigned to any class or program under this Article until he has been given, in the principal language used by the child and used in his home, tests reasonably related to his cultural environment. All testing and evaluation materials and procedures utilized for evaluation and placement shall not be linguistically, racially or culturally discriminatory.
    (f) Nothing in this Article shall be construed to require any child to undergo any physical examination or medical treatment whose parents object thereto on the grounds that such examination or treatment conflicts with his religious beliefs.
    (g) School boards or their designee shall provide to the parents of a child or, if applicable, the Department of Children and Family Services' Office of Education and Transition Services prior written notice of any decision (a) proposing to initiate or change, or (b) refusing to initiate or change, the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child or the provision of a free appropriate public education to their child, and the reasons therefor. For a parent, such written notification shall also inform the parent of the opportunity to present complaints with respect to any matter relating to the educational placement of the student, or the provision of a free appropriate public education and to have an impartial due process hearing on the complaint. The notice shall inform the parents in the parents' native language, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so, of their rights and all procedures available pursuant to this Act and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-446); it shall be the responsibility of the State Superintendent to develop uniform notices setting forth the procedures available under this Act and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-446) to be used by all school boards. The notice shall also inform the parents of the availability upon request of a list of free or low-cost legal and other relevant services available locally to assist parents in initiating an impartial due process hearing. The State Superintendent shall revise the uniform notices required by this subsection (g) to reflect current law and procedures at least once every 2 years. Any parent who is deaf or does not normally communicate using spoken English and who participates in a meeting with a representative of a local educational agency for the purposes of developing an individualized educational program or attends a multidisciplinary conference shall be entitled to the services of an interpreter. The State Board of Education must adopt rules to establish the criteria, standards, and competencies for a bilingual language interpreter who attends an individualized education program meeting under this subsection to assist a parent who has limited English proficiency.
    (g-5) For purposes of this subsection (g-5), "qualified professional" means an individual who holds credentials to evaluate the child in the domain or domains for which an evaluation is sought or an intern working under the direct supervision of a qualified professional, including a master's or doctoral degree candidate.
    To ensure that a parent can participate fully and effectively with school personnel in the development of appropriate educational and related services for his or her child, the parent, an independent educational evaluator, or a qualified professional retained by or on behalf of a parent or child must be afforded reasonable access to educational facilities, personnel, classrooms, and buildings and to the child as provided in this subsection (g-5). The requirements of this subsection (g-5) apply to any public school facility, building, or program and to any facility, building, or program supported in whole or in part by public funds. Prior to visiting a school, school building, or school facility, the parent, independent educational evaluator, or qualified professional may be required by the school district to inform the building principal or supervisor in writing of the proposed visit, the purpose of the visit, and the approximate duration of the visit. The visitor and the school district shall arrange the visit or visits at times that are mutually agreeable. Visitors shall comply with school safety, security, and visitation policies at all times. School district visitation policies must not conflict with this subsection (g-5). Visitors shall be required to comply with the requirements of applicable privacy laws, including those laws protecting the confidentiality of education records such as the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Illinois School Student Records Act. The visitor shall not disrupt the educational process.
        (1) A parent must be afforded reasonable access of
    
sufficient duration and scope for the purpose of observing his or her child in the child's current educational placement, services, or program or for the purpose of visiting an educational placement or program proposed for the child.
        (2) An independent educational evaluator or a
    
qualified professional retained by or on behalf of a parent or child must be afforded reasonable access of sufficient duration and scope for the purpose of conducting an evaluation of the child, the child's performance, the child's current educational program, placement, services, or environment, or any educational program, placement, services, or environment proposed for the child, including interviews of educational personnel, child observations, assessments, tests or assessments of the child's educational program, services, or placement or of any proposed educational program, services, or placement. If one or more interviews of school personnel are part of the evaluation, the interviews must be conducted at a mutually agreed-upon time, date, and place that do not interfere with the school employee's school duties. The school district may limit interviews to personnel having information relevant to the child's current educational services, program, or placement or to a proposed educational service, program, or placement.
    (h) In the development of the individualized education program or federal Section 504 plan for a student, if the student needs extra accommodation during emergencies, including natural disasters or an active shooter situation, then that accommodation shall be taken into account when developing the student's individualized education program or federal Section 504 plan.
(Source: P.A. 102-199, eff. 7-1-22; 102-264, eff. 8-6-21; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1072, eff. 6-10-22; 103-197, eff. 1-1-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.02a

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02a)
    Sec. 14-8.02a. Impartial due process hearing; civil action.
    (a) This Section shall apply to all impartial due process hearings requested on or after July 1, 2005. Impartial due process hearings requested before July 1, 2005 shall be governed by the rules described in Public Act 89-652.
    (a-5) For purposes of this Section and Section 14-8.02b of this Code, days shall be computed in accordance with Section 1.11 of the Statute on Statutes.
    (b) The State Board of Education shall establish an impartial due process hearing system in accordance with this Section and may, with the advice and approval of the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities, promulgate rules and regulations consistent with this Section to establish the rules and procedures for due process hearings.
    (c) (Blank).
    (d) (Blank).
    (e) (Blank).
    (f) An impartial due process hearing shall be convened upon the request of a parent, student if at least 18 years of age or emancipated, or a school district. A school district shall make a request in writing to the State Board of Education and promptly mail a copy of the request to the parents or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated) at the parent's or student's last known address. A request made by the parent or student shall be made in writing to the superintendent of the school district where the student resides. The superintendent shall forward the request to the State Board of Education within 5 days after receipt of the request. The request shall be filed no more than 2 years following the date the person or school district knew or should have known of the event or events forming the basis for the request. The request shall, at a minimum, contain all of the following:
        (1) The name of the student, the address of the
    
student's residence, and the name of the school the student is attending.
        (2) In the case of homeless children (as defined
    
under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2))), available contact information for the student and the name of the school the student is attending.
        (3) A description of the nature of the problem
    
relating to the actual or proposed placement, identification, services, or evaluation of the student, including facts relating to the problem.
        (4) A proposed resolution of the problem to the
    
extent known and available to the party at the time.
    (f-5) Within 3 days after receipt of the hearing request, the State Board of Education shall appoint a due process hearing officer using a rotating appointment system and shall notify the hearing officer of his or her appointment.
    For a school district other than a school district located in a municipality having a population exceeding 500,000, a hearing officer who is a current resident of the school district, special education cooperative, or other public entity involved in the hearing shall recuse himself or herself. A hearing officer who is a former employee of the school district, special education cooperative, or other public entity involved in the hearing shall immediately disclose the former employment to the parties and shall recuse himself or herself, unless the parties otherwise agree in writing. A hearing officer having a personal or professional interest that may conflict with his or her objectivity in the hearing shall disclose the conflict to the parties and shall recuse himself or herself unless the parties otherwise agree in writing. For purposes of this subsection an assigned hearing officer shall be considered to have a conflict of interest if, at any time prior to the issuance of his or her written decision, he or she knows or should know that he or she may receive remuneration from a party to the hearing within 3 years following the conclusion of the due process hearing.
    A party to a due process hearing shall be permitted one substitution of hearing officer as a matter of right, in accordance with procedures established by the rules adopted by the State Board of Education under this Section. The State Board of Education shall randomly select and appoint another hearing officer within 3 days after receiving notice that the appointed hearing officer is ineligible to serve or upon receiving a proper request for substitution of hearing officer. If a party withdraws its request for a due process hearing after a hearing officer has been appointed, that hearing officer shall retain jurisdiction over a subsequent hearing that involves the same parties and is requested within one year from the date of withdrawal of the previous request, unless that hearing officer is unavailable.
    Any party may raise facts that constitute a conflict of interest for the hearing officer at any time before or during the hearing and may move for recusal.
    (g) Impartial due process hearings shall be conducted pursuant to this Section and any rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education consistent with this Section and other governing laws and regulations. The hearing shall address only those issues properly raised in the hearing request under subsection (f) of this Section or, if applicable, in the amended hearing request under subsection (g-15) of this Section. The hearing shall be closed to the public unless the parents request that the hearing be open to the public. The parents involved in the hearing shall have the right to have the student who is the subject of the hearing present. The hearing shall be held at a time and place which are reasonably convenient to the parties involved. Upon the request of a party, the hearing officer shall hold the hearing at a location neutral to the parties if the hearing officer determines that there is no cost for securing the use of the neutral location. Once appointed, the impartial due process hearing officer shall not communicate with the State Board of Education or its employees concerning the hearing, except that, where circumstances require, communications for administrative purposes that do not deal with substantive or procedural matters or issues on the merits are authorized, provided that the hearing officer promptly notifies all parties of the substance of the communication as a matter of record.
    (g-5) Unless the school district has previously provided prior written notice to the parent or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated) regarding the subject matter of the hearing request, the school district shall, within 10 days after receiving a hearing request initiated by a parent or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated), provide a written response to the request that shall include all of the following:
        (1) An explanation of why the school district
    
proposed or refused to take the action or actions described in the hearing request.
        (2) A description of other options the IEP team
    
considered and the reasons why those options were rejected.
        (3) A description of each evaluation procedure,
    
assessment, record, report, or other evidence the school district used as the basis for the proposed or refused action or actions.
        (4) A description of the factors that are or were
    
relevant to the school district's proposed or refused action or actions.
    (g-10) When the hearing request has been initiated by a school district, within 10 days after receiving the request, the parent or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated) shall provide the school district with a response that specifically addresses the issues raised in the school district's hearing request. The parent's or student's response shall be provided in writing, unless he or she is illiterate or has a disability that prevents him or her from providing a written response. The parent's or student's response may be provided in his or her native language, if other than English. In the event that illiteracy or another disabling condition prevents the parent or student from providing a written response, the school district shall assist the parent or student in providing the written response.
    (g-15) Within 15 days after receiving notice of the hearing request, the non-requesting party may challenge the sufficiency of the request by submitting its challenge in writing to the hearing officer. Within 5 days after receiving the challenge to the sufficiency of the request, the hearing officer shall issue a determination of the challenge in writing to the parties. In the event that the hearing officer upholds the challenge, the party who requested the hearing may, with the consent of the non-requesting party or hearing officer, file an amended request. Amendments are permissible for the purpose of raising issues beyond those in the initial hearing request. In addition, the party who requested the hearing may amend the request once as a matter of right by filing the amended request within 5 days after filing the initial request. An amended request, other than an amended request as a matter of right, shall be filed by the date determined by the hearing officer, but in no event any later than 5 days prior to the date of the hearing. If an amended request, other than an amended request as a matter of right, raises issues that were not part of the initial request, the applicable timeline for a hearing, including the timeline under subsection (g-20) of this Section, shall recommence.
    (g-20) Within 15 days after receiving a request for a hearing from a parent or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated) or, in the event that the school district requests a hearing, within 15 days after initiating the request, the school district shall convene a resolution meeting with the parent and relevant members of the IEP team who have specific knowledge of the facts contained in the request for the purpose of resolving the problem that resulted in the request. The resolution meeting shall include a representative of the school district who has decision-making authority on behalf of the school district. Unless the parent is accompanied by an attorney at the resolution meeting, the school district may not include an attorney representing the school district.
    The resolution meeting may not be waived unless agreed to in writing by the school district and the parent or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated) or the parent or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated) and the school district agree in writing to utilize mediation in place of the resolution meeting. If either party fails to cooperate in the scheduling or convening of the resolution meeting, the hearing officer may order an extension of the timeline for completion of the resolution meeting or, upon the motion of a party and at least 7 days after ordering the non-cooperating party to cooperate, order the dismissal of the hearing request or the granting of all relief set forth in the request, as appropriate.
    In the event that the school district and the parent or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated) agree to a resolution of the problem that resulted in the hearing request, the terms of the resolution shall be committed to writing and signed by the parent or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated) and the representative of the school district with decision-making authority. The agreement shall be legally binding and shall be enforceable in any State or federal court of competent jurisdiction. In the event that the parties utilize the resolution meeting process, the process shall continue until no later than the 30th day following the receipt of the hearing request by the non-requesting party (or as properly extended by order of the hearing officer) to resolve the issues underlying the request, at which time the timeline for completion of the impartial due process hearing shall commence. The State Board of Education may, by rule, establish additional procedures for the conduct of resolution meetings.
    (g-25) If mutually agreed to in writing, the parties to a hearing request may request State-sponsored mediation as a substitute for the resolution process described in subsection (g-20) of this Section or may utilize mediation at the close of the resolution process if all issues underlying the hearing request have not been resolved through the resolution process.
    (g-30) If mutually agreed to in writing, the parties to a hearing request may waive the resolution process described in subsection (g-20) of this Section. Upon signing a written agreement to waive the resolution process, the parties shall be required to forward the written waiver to the hearing officer appointed to the case within 2 business days following the signing of the waiver by the parties. The timeline for the impartial due process hearing shall commence on the date of the signing of the waiver by the parties.
    (g-35) The timeline for completing the impartial due process hearing, as set forth in subsection (h) of this Section, shall be initiated upon the occurrence of any one of the following events:
        (1) The unsuccessful completion of the resolution
    
process as described in subsection (g-20) of this Section.
        (2) The mutual agreement of the parties to waive the
    
resolution process as described in subsection (g-25) or (g-30) of this Section.
    (g-40) The hearing officer shall convene a prehearing conference no later than 14 days before the scheduled date for the due process hearing for the general purpose of aiding in the fair, orderly, and expeditious conduct of the hearing. The hearing officer shall provide the parties with written notice of the prehearing conference at least 7 days in advance of the conference. The written notice shall require the parties to notify the hearing officer by a date certain whether they intend to participate in the prehearing conference. The hearing officer may conduct the prehearing conference in person or by telephone. Each party shall at the prehearing conference (1) disclose whether it is represented by legal counsel or intends to retain legal counsel; (2) clarify matters it believes to be in dispute in the case and the specific relief being sought; (3) disclose whether there are any additional evaluations for the student that it intends to introduce into the hearing record that have not been previously disclosed to the other parties; (4) disclose a list of all documents it intends to introduce into the hearing record, including the date and a brief description of each document; and (5) disclose the names of all witnesses it intends to call to testify at the hearing. The hearing officer shall specify the order of presentation to be used at the hearing. If the prehearing conference is held by telephone, the parties shall transmit the information required in this paragraph in such a manner that it is available to all parties at the time of the prehearing conference. The State Board of Education may, by rule, establish additional procedures for the conduct of prehearing conferences.
    (g-45) The impartial due process hearing officer shall not initiate or participate in any ex parte communications with the parties, except to arrange the date, time, and location of the prehearing conference, due process hearing, or other status conferences convened at the discretion of the hearing officer and to receive confirmation of whether a party intends to participate in the prehearing conference.
    (g-50) The parties shall disclose and provide to each other any evidence which they intend to submit into the hearing record no later than 5 days before the hearing. Any party to a hearing has the right to prohibit the introduction of any evidence at the hearing that has not been disclosed to that party at least 5 days before the hearing. The party requesting a hearing shall not be permitted at the hearing to raise issues that were not raised in the party's initial or amended request, unless otherwise permitted in this Section.
    (g-55) All reasonable efforts must be made by the parties to present their respective cases at the hearing within a cumulative period of 7 days. When scheduling hearing dates, the hearing officer shall schedule the final day of the hearing no more than 30 calendar days after the first day of the hearing unless good cause is shown. This subsection (g-55) shall not be applied in a manner that (i) denies any party to the hearing a fair and reasonable allocation of time and opportunity to present its case in its entirety or (ii) deprives any party to the hearing of the safeguards accorded under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-446), regulations promulgated under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, or any other applicable law. The school district shall present evidence that the special education needs of the child have been appropriately identified and that the special education program and related services proposed to meet the needs of the child are adequate, appropriate, and available. Any party to the hearing shall have the right to (1) be represented by counsel and be accompanied and advised by individuals with special knowledge or training with respect to the problems of children with disabilities, at the party's own expense; (2) present evidence and confront and cross-examine witnesses; (3) move for the exclusion of witnesses from the hearing until they are called to testify, provided, however, that this provision may not be invoked to exclude the individual designated by a party to assist that party or its representative in the presentation of the case; (4) obtain a written or electronic verbatim record of the proceedings within 30 days of receipt of a written request from the parents by the school district; and (5) obtain a written decision, including findings of fact and conclusions of law, within 10 calendar days, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and any State holiday, after the conclusion of the hearing. If at issue, the school district shall present evidence that it has properly identified and evaluated the nature and severity of the student's suspected or identified disability and that, if the student has been or should have been determined eligible for special education and related services, that it is providing or has offered a free appropriate public education to the student in the least restrictive environment, consistent with procedural safeguards and in accordance with an individualized educational program. At any time prior to the conclusion of the hearing, the impartial due process hearing officer shall have the authority to require additional information and order independent evaluations for the student at the expense of the school district. The State Board of Education and the school district shall share equally the costs of providing a written or electronic verbatim record of the proceedings. Any party may request that the due process hearing officer issue a subpoena to compel the testimony of witnesses or the production of documents relevant to the resolution of the hearing. Whenever a person refuses to comply with any subpoena issued under this Section, the circuit court of the county in which that hearing is pending, on application of the impartial hearing officer or the party requesting the issuance of the subpoena, may compel compliance through the contempt powers of the court in the same manner as if the requirements of a subpoena issued by the court had been disobeyed.
    (h) The impartial hearing officer shall issue a written decision, including findings of fact and conclusions of law, within 10 calendar days, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and any State holiday, after the conclusion of the hearing and send by certified mail a copy of the decision to the parents or student (if the student requests the hearing), the school district, the director of special education, legal representatives of the parties, and the State Board of Education. Unless the hearing officer has granted specific extensions of time at the request of a party, a final decision, including the clarification of a decision requested under this subsection, shall be reached and mailed to the parties named above not later than 45 days after the initiation of the timeline for conducting the hearing, as described in subsection (g-35) of this Section. The decision shall specify the educational and related services that shall be provided to the student in accordance with the student's needs and the timeline for which the school district shall submit evidence to the State Board of Education to demonstrate compliance with the hearing officer's decision in the event that the decision orders the school district to undertake corrective action. The hearing officer shall retain jurisdiction for the sole purpose of considering a request for clarification of the final decision submitted in writing by a party to the impartial hearing officer within 5 days after receipt of the decision. A copy of the request for clarification shall specify the portions of the decision for which clarification is sought and shall be mailed to all parties of record and to the State Board of Education. The request shall operate to stay implementation of those portions of the decision for which clarification is sought, pending action on the request by the hearing officer, unless the parties otherwise agree. The hearing officer shall issue a clarification of the specified portion of the decision or issue a partial or full denial of the request in writing within 10 days of receipt of the request and mail copies to all parties to whom the decision was mailed. This subsection does not permit a party to request, or authorize a hearing officer to entertain, reconsideration of the decision itself. The statute of limitations for seeking review of the decision shall be tolled from the date the request is submitted until the date the hearing officer acts upon the request. The hearing officer's decision shall be binding upon the school district and the parents unless a civil action is commenced.
    (i) Any party to an impartial due process hearing aggrieved by the final written decision of the impartial due process hearing officer shall have the right to commence a civil action with respect to the issues presented in the impartial due process hearing. That civil action shall be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction within 120 days after a copy of the decision of the impartial due process hearing officer is mailed to the party as provided in subsection (h). The civil action authorized by this subsection shall not be exclusive of any rights or causes of action otherwise available. The commencement of a civil action under this subsection shall operate as a supersedeas. In any action brought under this subsection the Court shall receive the records of the impartial due process hearing, shall hear additional evidence at the request of a party, and, basing its decision on the preponderance of the evidence, shall grant such relief as the court determines is appropriate. In any instance where a school district willfully disregards applicable regulations or statutes regarding a child covered by this Article, and which disregard has been detrimental to the child, the school district shall be liable for any reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the parent in connection with proceedings under this Section.
    (j) During the pendency of any administrative or judicial proceeding conducted pursuant to this Section, including mediation (if the school district or other public entity voluntarily agrees to participate in mediation), unless the school district and the parents or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated) otherwise agree, the student shall remain in his or her present educational placement and continue in his or her present eligibility status and special education and related services, if any. If mediation fails to resolve the dispute between the parties, or if the parties do not agree to use mediation, the parent (or student if 18 years of age or older or emancipated) shall have 10 days after the mediation concludes, or after a party declines to use mediation, to file a request for a due process hearing in order to continue to invoke the "stay-put" provisions of this subsection (j). If applying for initial admission to the school district, the student shall, with the consent of the parents (if the student is not at least 18 years of age or emancipated), be placed in the school district program until all such proceedings have been completed. The costs for any special education and related services or placement incurred following 60 school days after the initial request for evaluation shall be borne by the school district if the services or placement is in accordance with the final determination as to the special education and related services or placement that must be provided to the child, provided that during that 60-day period there have been no delays caused by the child's parent. The requirements and procedures of this subsection (j) shall be included in the uniform notices developed by the State Superintendent under subsection (g) of Section 14-8.02 of this Code.
    (k) Whenever the parents of a child of the type described in Section 14-1.02 are not known or are unavailable or the child is a youth in care as defined in Section 4d of the Children and Family Services Act, a person shall be assigned to serve as surrogate parent for the child in matters relating to the identification, evaluation, and educational placement of the child and the provision of a free appropriate public education to the child. Persons shall be assigned as surrogate parents by the State Superintendent of Education. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing qualifications of those persons and their responsibilities and the procedures to be followed in making assignments of persons as surrogate parents. Surrogate parents shall not be employees of the school district, an agency created by joint agreement under Section 10-22.31, an agency involved in the education or care of the student, or the State Board of Education. Services of any person assigned as surrogate parent shall terminate if the parent becomes available unless otherwise requested by the parents. The assignment of a person as surrogate parent at no time supersedes, terminates, or suspends the parents' legal authority relative to the child. Any person participating in good faith as surrogate parent on behalf of the child before school officials or a hearing officer shall have immunity from civil or criminal liability that otherwise might result by reason of that participation, except in cases of willful and wanton misconduct.
    (l) At all stages of the hearing or mediation, the hearing officer or mediator shall require that interpreters licensed pursuant to the Interpreter for the Deaf Licensure Act of 2007 be made available by the school district for persons who are deaf or qualified interpreters be made available by the school district for persons whose normally spoken language is other than English.
    (m) If any provision of this Section or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity of that provision or application does not affect other provisions or applications of the Section that can be given effect without the invalid application or provision, and to this end the provisions of this Section are severable, unless otherwise provided by this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-1072, eff. 6-10-22.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.02b

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02b)
    Sec. 14-8.02b. Expedited Hearings.
    (a) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly shall apply to all expedited hearings requested on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.
    (b) Unless otherwise provided by this Section, the provisions of Section 14-8.02a are applicable to this Section. The State Board of Education shall provide for the conduct of expedited hearings in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Public Law 108-446, 20 USC Sections 1400 et seq. (hereafter IDEA).
    (c) An expedited hearing may be requested by:
        (i) a parent or student if the student is at least 18
    
years of age or emancipated, if there is a disagreement with regard to a determination that the student's behavior was not a manifestation of the student's disability, or if there is a disagreement regarding the district's decision to move the student to an interim alternative educational setting for behavior at school, on school premises, or at a school function involving a weapon or drug or for behavior at school, on school premises, or at a school function involving the infliction of serious bodily injury by the student, as defined by IDEA pursuant to Section 615(k)(1)(G); and
        (ii) a school district, if school personnel believe
    
that maintaining the current placement of the student is substantially likely to result in injury to the student or others pursuant to Section 615(k)(3)(A) of IDEA.
    (d) A school district shall make a request in writing to the State Board of Education and promptly mail a copy of the request to the parents or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated) at the parents' or student's last known address. A request made by the parent or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated) shall be made in writing to the superintendent of the school district in which the student resides, who shall forward the request to the State Board of Education within one business day of receipt of the request. Upon receipt of the request, the State Board of Education shall appoint a due process hearing officer using a rotating appointment system and shall notify the hearing officer of his or her appointment.
    (e) A request for an expedited hearing initiated by a district for the sole purpose of moving a student from his or her current placement to an interim alternative educational setting because of dangerous misconduct must be accompanied by all documentation that substantiates the district's position that maintaining the student in his or her current placement is substantially likely to result in injury to the student or to others. Also, the documentation shall include written statements of (1) whether the district is represented by legal counsel or intends to retain legal counsel; (2) the matters the district believes to be in dispute in the case and the specific relief being sought; and (3) the names of all witnesses the district intends to call to testify at the hearing.
    (f) An expedited hearing requested by the parent or student (if at least 18 years of age or emancipated) to challenge the removal of the student from his or her current placement to an interim alternative educational setting or a manifestation determination made by the district as described in IDEA shall include a written statement as to the reason the parent believes that the action taken by the district is not supported by substantial evidence and all relevant documentation in the parent's possession. Also, the documentation shall include written statements of (1) whether the parent is represented by legal counsel or intends to retain legal counsel; (2) the matters the parent believes to be in dispute in the case and the specific relief being sought; and (3) the names of all witnesses the parent intends to call to testify at the hearing.
    (g) Except as otherwise described in this subsection (g), the school district shall be required to convene the resolution meeting described in subsection (g-20) of Section 14-8.02a of this Code unless the parties choose to utilize mediation in place of the resolution meeting or waive the resolution meeting in accordance with procedures described in subsection (g-30) of Section 14-8.02a of this Code. The resolution meeting shall be convened within 7 days after the date that the expedited hearing request is received by the district.
    (h) The hearing officer shall not initiate or participate in any ex parte communications with the parties, except to arrange the date, time, and location of the expedited hearing. The hearing officer shall contact the parties within 5 days after appointment and set a hearing date which shall be no earlier than 15 calendar days following the school district's receipt of the expedited hearing request or upon completion of the resolution meeting, if earlier, and no later than 20 school days after receipt of the expedited hearing request. The hearing officer shall set a date no less than 2 business days prior to the date of the expedited hearing for the parties to exchange documentation and a list of witnesses. The non-requesting party shall not be required to submit a written response to the expedited hearing request. The parties may request mediation. The mediation shall not delay the timeline set by the hearing officer for conducting the expedited hearing. The length of the hearing shall not exceed 2 days unless good cause is shown. Good cause shall be determined by the hearing officer in his or her sole discretion and may include the unavailability of a party or witness to attend the scheduled hearing.
    (i) Any party to the hearing shall have the right to (1) be represented by counsel and be accompanied and advised by individuals with special knowledge or training with respect to the problems of children with disabilities, at the party's own expense; (2) present evidence and confront and cross-examine witnesses; (3) move for the exclusion of witnesses from the hearing until they are called to testify, provided, however, that this provision may not be invoked to exclude the individual designated by a party to assist that party or its representative in the presentation of the case; (4) in accord with the provisions of subsection (g-55) of Section 14-8.02a, obtain a written or electronic verbatim record of the proceedings; and (5) obtain a written decision, including findings of fact and conclusions of law, within 10 school days after the conclusion of the hearing.
    (j) The State Board of Education and the school district shall share equally the costs of providing a written or electronic verbatim record of the proceedings. Any party may request that the hearing officer issue a subpoena to compel the testimony of witnesses or the production of documents relevant to the resolution of the hearing. Whenever a person refuses to comply with any subpoena issued under this Section, the circuit court of the county in which that hearing is pending, on application of the impartial hearing officer or the party requesting the issuance of the subpoena, may compel compliance through the contempt powers of the court in the same manner as if the requirements of a subpoena issued by the court had been disobeyed.
    (k) The impartial hearing officer shall issue a final written decision, including findings of fact and conclusions of law, within 10 school days after the conclusion of the hearing and mail a copy of the decision to the parents or student (if the student requests the hearing), the school district, the director of special education, legal representatives of the parties, and the State Board of Education.
    (l) The hearing officer presiding over the expedited hearing shall hear only that issue or issues identified by IDEA as proper for expedited hearings, leaving all other issues to be heard under a separate request to be initiated and processed in accordance with the hearing procedures provided for in this Article and in accordance with the implementing regulations.
(Source: P.A. 94-1100, eff. 2-2-07.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.02c

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02c)
    Sec. 14-8.02c. Due process hearing officers.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall establish a corps of hearing officers in accordance with this Section and may, with the advice and approval of the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities, adopt rules consistent with this Section to establish the qualifications of and application process for hearing officers.
    (b) Hearing officers must, at a minimum, (i) possess a master's or doctor's degree in education or another field related to disability issues or a juris doctor degree; (ii) have knowledge of and the ability to understand the requirements of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Article 14 of this Code, the implementation of rules or regulations of these federal and State statutes, and the legal interpretation of the statutes, rules, and regulations by federal and State courts; (iii) have the knowledge and ability to conduct hearings in accordance with appropriate, standard, legal practice; and (iv) have the knowledge and ability to render and write decisions in accordance with appropriate, standard, legal practice. Current employees of the State Board of Education, school districts, special education cooperatives, regional service areas or centers, regional educational cooperatives, State-operated elementary and secondary schools, or private providers of special education facilities or programs may not serve as hearing officers.
    (c) If, at any time, the State Board of Education determines that additional hearing officers are needed, the State Board of Education shall recruit hearing officer candidates who meet the criteria set forth in subsection (b) of this Section.
    (d) Candidates shall be screened by a 7-member Screening Committee consisting of the following: the Attorney General or his or her designee; the State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee; 3 members appointed by the State Superintendent of Education, one of whom shall be a parent of an individual who is or at one time was eligible to receive special education and related services in an Illinois school district, another of whom shall be a director of special education for an Illinois school district or special education joint agreement, and the other of whom shall be an adult with a disability; and 2 members appointed by the Attorney General, one of whom shall be a parent of an individual who is or at one time was eligible to receive special education and related services in an Illinois school district and the other of whom shall be an experienced special education hearing officer who is not a candidate for appointment under this Section. The chairperson of the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities or his or her designee shall serve on the Screening Committee as an ex-officio, non-voting member. Appointments and reappointments to the Screening Committee shall be for terms of 3 years. In the event that a member vacates a seat on the Screening Committee prior to the expiration of his or her term, a new member shall be appointed, shall serve the balance of the vacating member's term, and shall be eligible for subsequent reappointment. The Screening Committee shall elect a chairperson from among its voting members. Members of the Screening Committee shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed by the State Board of Education for their reasonable expenses. The Screening Committee shall review hearing officer applications and supporting information, interview candidates, and recommend candidates to the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities based upon objective criteria the Screening Committee develops and makes available to the public. All discussions and deliberations of the Screening Committee and Advisory Council referenced anywhere in this Section pertaining to the review of applications of hearing officer candidates, the interviewing of hearing officer candidates, the recommendation of hearing officer candidates for appointment, and the recommendation of hearing officers for reappointment are excepted from the requirements of the Open Meetings Act, pursuant to item (15) of subsection (c) of Section 2 of the Open Meetings Act.
    (e) All hearing officer candidates recommended to the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities shall successfully complete initial training, as established by the contract between the State Board of Education and the training entity, as described in subsection (f), in order to be eligible to serve as an impartial due process hearing officer. The training shall include, at a minimum, instruction in federal and State law, rules, and regulations, federal regulatory interpretations and State and federal court decisions regarding special education and relevant general educational issues, diagnostic procedures, information about disabilities, instruction on conducting effective and impartial hearings in accordance with appropriate, standard, legal practice (including without limitation the handling of amended requests), and instruction in rendering and writing hearing decisions in accordance with appropriate, standard, legal practice. The training must be conducted in an unbiased manner by educational and legal experts, including qualified individuals from outside the public educational system. Upon the completion of the initial training, the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities, applying objective selection criteria it has developed and made available to the public, shall go into executive session and select the number of hearing officers deemed necessary by the State Board of Education from those candidates who have successfully completed the initial training. Upon selecting the candidates, the Advisory Council shall forward its recommendations to the State Superintendent of Education for final selection. The hearing officers appointed by the State Superintendent of Education shall serve an initial term of one year, subject to any earlier permissible termination by the State Board of Education.
    (f) The State Board of Education shall, through a competitive application process, enter into a contract with an outside entity to establish and conduct mandatory training programs for hearing officers. The State Board of Education shall also, through a competitive application process, enter into a contract with an outside entity, other than the entity providing mandatory training, to conduct an annual evaluation of each hearing officer and to investigate complaints against hearing officers, in accordance with procedures established by the State Board of Education in consultation with the Screening Committee. The invitation for applications shall set forth minimum qualifications for eligible applicants. Each contract under this subsection (f) may be renewed on an annual basis, subject to appropriation. The State Board of Education shall conduct a new competitive application process at least once every 3 years after the initial contract is granted. The Screening Committee shall review the training proposals and evaluation and investigation proposals and forward them, with recommendations in rank order, to the State Board of Education.
    (g) The evaluation and investigation entity described in subsection (f) of this Section shall conduct an annual written evaluation of each hearing officer and provide the evaluation to the Screening Committee for its consideration in the reappointment process. The evaluation shall include a review of written decisions and any communications regarding a hearing officer's conduct and performance by participants in impartial due process hearings and their representatives. Each hearing officer shall be provided with a copy of his or her written evaluation report and shall have an opportunity, within 30 days after receipt, to review the evaluation with the evaluation and investigation entity and submit written comments. The annual evaluation of each hearing officer, along with the hearing officer's written comments, if any, shall be submitted to the Screening Committee for consideration no later than April 1 of each calendar year. The Screening Committee, based on objective criteria and any evaluation reports prepared by the training entity, shall, on an annual basis, recommend whether the hearing officer should be reappointed for a one-year term and shall forward its recommendations to the Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities. The Advisory Council shall go into executive session and shall review the recommendations of the Screening Committee for the purpose of either ratifying or rejecting the recommendations of the Screening Committee. The Advisory Council shall then forward its list of ratified and rejected appointees to the State Superintendent of Education, who shall determine the final selection of hearing officers for reappointment. Each reappointed hearing officer shall serve a term of one year, subject to any earlier permissible termination by the State Board of Education.
    (h) Hearing officers shall receive a base annual stipend and per diem allowance for each hearing at a rate established by the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall provide hearing officers with access to relevant court decisions, impartial hearing officer decisions with child-specific identifying information deleted, statutory and regulatory changes, and federal regulatory interpretations. The State Board of Education shall index and maintain a reporting system of impartial due process hearing decisions and shall make these decisions available for review by the public after deleting child-specific identifying information.
    (i) A hearing officer may be terminated by the State Board of Education for just cause if, after written notice is provided to the hearing officer, appropriate timely corrective action is not taken. For purposes of this subsection (i), just cause shall be (1) the failure or refusal to accept assigned cases without good cause; (2) the failure or refusal to fulfill his or her duties as a hearing officer in a timely manner; (3) consistent disregard for applicable laws and rules in the conduct of hearings; (4) consistent failure to conduct himself or herself in a patient, dignified, and courteous manner to parties, witnesses, counsel, and other participants in hearings; (5) the failure to accord parties or their representatives a full and fair opportunity to be heard in matters coming before him or her; (6) violating applicable laws regarding privacy and confidentiality of records or information; (7) manifesting, by words or conduct, bias or prejudice based upon race, sex, religion, disability, or national origin; (8) failure to recuse himself or herself from a hearing in which he or she has a personal, professional, or financial conflict of interest that he or she knew or should have known existed at any time prior to or during the hearing; (9) conviction in any jurisdiction of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; or (10) falsification of a material fact on his or her application to serve as a hearing officer. In addition, a hearing officer who, as a result of events occurring after appointment, no longer meets the minimum requirements set forth in this Section, shall be disqualified to complete the balance of his or her term.
(Source: P.A. 94-1100, eff. 2-2-07.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.02d

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02d)
    Sec. 14-8.02d. Evaluation of due process hearing system. The State Board of Education shall monitor, review, and evaluate the impartial due process hearing system on a regular basis by a process that includes a review of written decisions and evaluations by participants in impartial due process hearings and their representatives. The State Board of Education shall annually post to its website by August 1 data on the performance of the due process hearing system, including data on timeliness of hearings and an analysis of the issues and disability categories underlying hearing requests.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.02e

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02e)
    Sec. 14-8.02e. State complaint procedures.
    (a) The State Board of Education shall adopt State complaint procedures, consistent with Sections 300.151, 300.152, and 300.153 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The State Board of Education, by rule, shall establish State complaint procedures consistent with this Section. A school district or other public entity shall be required to submit a written response to a complaint within the time prescribed by the State Board of Education following receipt of the complaint. A copy of the response and all documentation submitted by the respondent to the State Board of Education, including corrective action compliance documentation, must be simultaneously provided by the respondent to the complainant or to the attorney for the complainant. If the complaint was filed by an individual other than a parent of a child who is the subject of the complaint (or the child if the child has reached majority or is emancipated and has assumed responsibility for his or her own educational decisions) and the complaint is about a specific identifiable child or children, then appropriate written signed releases must be obtained prior to the release of any documentation or information to the complainant or the attorney representing the complainant.
    (b) For a complaint made under procedures authorized under this Section alleging a delay or denial of special education or related services in the 2016-2017 or 2017-2018 school year by a school district organized under Article 34 as a result of the adoption of policies and procedures identified by the State Board of Education as unlawful, the complaint must be filed on or before September 30, 2022. This filing deadline must be included in the written notification sent by the school district under subsection (b) of Section 14-8.02g.
(Source: P.A. 101-507, eff. 8-23-19; 102-429, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.02f

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02f)
    Sec. 14-8.02f. Individualized education program meeting protections.
    (a) (Blank).
    (b) This subsection (b) applies only to a school district organized under Article 34. No later than 10 calendar days prior to a child's individualized education program meeting or as soon as possible if a meeting is scheduled within 10 calendar days with written parental consent, the school board or school personnel must provide the child's parent or guardian with a written notification of the services that require a specific data collection procedure from the school district for services related to the child's individualized education program. The notification must indicate, with a checkbox, whether specific data has been collected for the child's individualized education program services. For purposes of this subsection (b), individualized education program services must include, but are not limited to, paraprofessional support, an extended school year, transportation, therapeutic day school, and services for specific learning disabilities.
    (c) Beginning on July 1, 2020, no later than 3 school days prior to a meeting to determine a child's eligibility for special education and related services or to review a child's individualized education program, or as soon as possible if an individualized education program meeting is scheduled within 3 school days with the written consent of the child's parent or guardian, the local education agency must provide the child's parent or guardian copies of all written material that will be considered by the individualized education program team at the meeting so that the parent or guardian may participate in the meeting as a fully-informed team member. The parent or guardian shall have the option of choosing from the available methods of delivery, which must include regular mail and picking up the materials at school. The notice provided to the parent or guardian prior to the meeting pursuant to subsection (g) of Section 14-8.02 shall inform the parent or guardian of the parent's or guardian's right to receive copies of all written material under this subsection (c) and shall provide the date when the written material will be delivered or made available to the parent or guardian.
    For a meeting to determine the child's eligibility for special education, the written material must include all evaluations and collected data that will be considered at the meeting. For a child who is already eligible for special education and related services, the written material must include a copy of all individualized education program components that will be discussed by the individualized education program team, other than the components related to the educational and related service minutes proposed for the child and the child's placement.
    Parents shall also be informed of their right to review and copy their child's school student records prior to any special education eligibility or individualized education program review meeting, subject to the requirements of applicable federal and State law.
    (d) Local education agencies must make logs that record the delivery of related services administered under the child's individualized education program and the minutes of each type of related service that has been administered available to the child's parent or guardian at any time upon request of the child's parent or guardian. For purposes of this subsection (d), related services for which a log must be made are: speech and language services, occupational therapy services, physical therapy services, school social work services, school counseling services, school psychology services, and school nursing services. The local education agency must inform the child's parent or guardian within 20 school days from the beginning of the school year or upon establishment of an individualized education program of his or her ability to request those related service logs.
    (d-5) If, at a meeting to develop or revise a child's individualized education program, the individualized education program team determines that a certain service is required in order for the child to receive a free, appropriate public education and that service is not implemented within 10 school days after the service was to be initiated as set forth by the child's individualized education program, then the local education agency shall provide the child's parent or guardian with written notification that the service has not yet been implemented. The notification must be provided to the child's parent or guardian within 3 school days of the local education agency's non-compliance with the child's individualized education program and must inform the parent or guardian about the school district's procedures for requesting compensatory services. In this subsection (d-5), "school days" does not include days where a child is absent from school for reasons unrelated to a lack of individualized education program services or when the service is available, but the child is unavailable.
    (e) The State Board of Education may create a telephone hotline to address complaints regarding the special education services or lack of special education services of a school district subject to this Section. If a hotline is created, it must be available to all students enrolled in the school district, parents or guardians of those students, and school personnel. If a hotline is created, any complaints received through the hotline must be registered and recorded with the State Board's monitor of special education policies. No student, parent or guardian, or member of school personnel may be retaliated against for submitting a complaint through a telephone hotline created by the State Board under this subsection (e).
    (f) A school district subject to this Section may not use any measure that would prevent or delay an individualized education program team from adding a service to the program or create a time restriction in which a service is prohibited from being added to the program. The school district may not build functions into its computer software that would remove any services from a student's individualized education program without the approval of the program team and may not prohibit the program team from adding a service to the program.
(Source: P.A. 103-652, eff. 7-19-24.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.02g

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02g)
    Sec. 14-8.02g. Written notification required for delays and denials of special education services.
    (a) This Section applies only to a school district organized under Article 34.
    (b) With respect to a student enrolled in the school district for or to whom appropriate special education or related services may have been delayed or denied in the 2016-2017 or 2017-2018 school year as a result of the adoption of policies and procedures identified by the State Board of Education as unlawful, the school district must provide a separate written notification no later than 30 days after the first school day of the 2019-2020 school year to (i) the parent or guardian of the student, (ii) a designated representative of the student, (iii) the student if he or she is an emancipated minor, or (iv) the student if he or she has reached the age of majority and does not have a designated representative that states that appropriate relief may be available through a State complaint procedure authorized under Section 14-8.02e, State-sponsored mediation, or an impartial due process hearing under Section 14-8.02a. The written notification must include contact information for the State Board of Education, a list of organizations that provide free or low-cost legal services, advocacy, and advice on special education matters, and the filing deadline under subsection (b) of Section 14-8.02e. The written notification must be posted on the home page of the school district's public website and must, at least once, be included with any written informational materials for parents sent home with the student.
(Source: P.A. 101-507, eff. 8-23-19.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.02h

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02h)
    Sec. 14-8.02h. Response to scientific, research-based intervention.
    (a) In this Section, "response to scientific, research-based intervention" or "multi-tiered system of support" means a tiered process of appropriate instruction and support that utilizes differentiated instructional strategies for students, provides students with an evidence-based curriculum and interventions aligned with State standards, continuously monitors student performance using scientific, research-based progress monitoring instruments, and makes data-driven educational decisions based on a student's response to the interventions. Response to scientific, research-based intervention or a multi-tiered system of support uses a problem-solving method to define the problem, analyzes the problem using data to determine why there is a discrepancy between what is expected and what is occurring, establishes one or more student performance goals, develops an intervention plan to address the performance goals, and delineates how the student's progress will be monitored and how implementation integrity will be ensured.
    (b) (Blank).
    (c) The response to scientific, research-based intervention or a multi-tiered system of support process should use a collaborative team approach and include the engagement of and regular communication with the child's parent or guardian. The parent or guardian of a child shall be provided with written notice of the school district's use of scientific, research-based intervention or a multi-tiered system of support for the child and may be part of the collaborative team approach at the discretion of the school district. The parent or guardian shall be provided all data collected and reviewed by the school district with regard to the child in the scientific, research-based intervention or multi-tiered system of support process. The State Board of Education may provide guidance to school districts and identify available resources related to facilitating parent or guardian engagement in the response to scientific, research-based intervention or a multi-tiered system of support process.
    (d) Nothing in this Section affects the responsibility of a school district to identify, locate, and evaluate children with disabilities who are in need of special education services in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, this Code, or any applicable federal or State rules.
(Source: P.A. 101-515, eff. 8-23-19; 101-598, eff. 12-6-19; 101-643, eff. 6-18-20.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.02i

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.02i)
    Sec. 14-8.02i. ABLE account program information. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, a school district shall provide informational material about the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account program established under Section 16.6 of the State Treasurer Act to the parent or guardian of a student at the student's annual individualized education program (IEP) review meeting, whether the annual review meeting is held in person, convened remotely, or convened in any other manner. The Office of the State Treasurer shall prepare and deliver the informational material to the State Board of Education, and the State Board of Education shall distribute the informational material to school districts.
    A school may transmit the informational material to a parent or guardian in the same manner as other documents and information related to an IEP meeting are provided to the parent or guardian.
(Source: P.A. 102-841, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.03

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.03) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-8.03)
    Sec. 14-8.03. Transition services.
    (a) For purposes of this Section:
    "Independent living skills" may include, without limitation, personal hygiene, health care, fitness, food preparation and nutrition, home management and safety, dressing and clothing care, financial management and wellness, self-esteem, self-advocacy, self-determination, community living, housing options, public safety, leisure and recreation, and transportation.
    "Transition services" means a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability that (i) is designed to be within a results-oriented process that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child's movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, which may include for-credit courses, career and technical education, and non-credit courses and instruction, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation; (ii) is based on the individual child's needs, taking into account the child's strengths, preferences, and interests; and (iii) includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and, if appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills, benefits counseling and planning, work incentives education, and the provision of a functional vocational evaluation. Transition services for a child with a disability may be special education, if provided as specially designed instruction, or a related service if required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education.
    (a-5) Beginning no later than the first individualized education plan (IEP) in effect when the student turns age 14 1/2 (or younger if determined appropriate by the IEP Team) and updated annually thereafter, the IEP must include (i) measurable post-secondary goals based upon age-appropriate transition assessments and other information available regarding the student that are related to training, education, employment, and independent living skills and (ii) the transition services needed to assist the student in reaching those goals, including courses of study.
    As a component of transition planning, the school district shall provide the student and the parent or guardian of the student with information about the school district's career and technical education (CTE) opportunities and postsecondary CTE opportunities. The CTE information shall include a list of programming options, the scope and sequence of study for pursuing those options, and the locations of those options. A student in high school with an IEP may enroll in the school district's CTE program at any time if participation in a CTE program is consistent with the student's transition goals.
    The student and the parent or guardian of the student shall be provided with information about dual credit courses offered by the school district. The information shall include courses offered by the school district for dual credit under Section 16 of the Dual Credit Quality Act and courses in which the student may enroll for high school credit only under Section 16.5 of the Dual Credit Quality Act. The information shall include the criteria for entry into any dual credit course in which the student or the parent or guardian of the student indicates interest. If the student is enrolled in a dual credit course for dual credit or for high school credit only, the student's participation in the course shall be included as part of the student's transition IEP activities.
    The student's transition plan shall include consideration of the student's assistive technology needs, such as assistive technology evaluations, devices, and services, related to the student's transition goals for employment, education or training, and independent living, both while the student is participating in transition-related activities and in post-school activities. The student's transition plan shall also include consideration of the availability and accessibility of appropriate assistive technology devices and services for the student once in the post-school environment.
    (b) Transition planning must be conducted as part of the IEP process and must be governed by the procedures applicable to the development, review, and revision of the IEP, including notices to the parents and student, parent and student participation, and annual review. To appropriately assess and develop IEP transition goals and transition services for a child with a disability, additional participants may be necessary and may be invited by the school district, parent, or student to participate in the transition planning process. Additional participants may include without limitation a representative from the Department of Human Services or another State agency, a case coordinator, or persons representing other public or community agencies or services, such as adult service providers, disability services coordinators of public community colleges, and a CTE coordinator. The IEP shall identify each person responsible for coordinating and delivering transition services. If the IEP team determines that the student requires transition services from a public or private entity outside of the school district, the IEP team shall identify potential outside resources, assign one or more IEP team members to contact the appropriate outside entities, make the necessary referrals, provide any information and documents necessary to complete the referral, follow up with the entity to ensure that the student has been successfully linked to the entity, and monitor the student's progress to determine if the student's IEP transition goals and benchmarks are being met. The student's IEP shall indicate one or more specific time periods during the school year when the IEP team shall review the services provided by the outside entity and the student's progress in such activities. The public school's responsibility for delivering educational services does not extend beyond the time the student leaves school or when the student's eligibility ends due to age under this Article.
    (c) A school district shall submit annually a summary of each eligible student's IEP transition goals and transition services resulting from the IEP Team meeting to the appropriate local Transition Planning Committee. If students with disabilities who are ineligible for special education services request transition services, local public school districts shall assist those students by identifying post-secondary school goals, delivering appropriate education services, and coordinating with other agencies and services for assistance.
(Source: P.A. 102-516, eff. 8-20-21; 103-181, eff. 6-30-23; 103-854, eff. 8-9-24.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.04

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.04) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-8.04)
    Sec. 14-8.04. Supported employment. The school board that is the governing body of any secondary school in this State that provides special education services and facilities for children with disabilities shall include, as part of preparing the transition planning for children with disabilities who are 16 years of age or more, consideration of a supported employment component with experiences in integrated community settings for those eligible children with disabilities who have been determined at an IEP meeting to be in need of participation in the supported employment services offered pursuant to this Section.
    Supported employment services made available as part of transition planning under this Section shall be designed and developed for school boards by the State Board of Education, in consultation with programs such as Project CHOICES (Children Have Opportunities In Integrated Community Environments), parents and advocates of children with disabilities, and the Departments of Central Management Services and Human Services.
(Source: P.A. 98-44, eff. 6-28-13; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

105 ILCS 5/14-8.05

    (105 ILCS 5/14-8.05) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-8.05)
    Sec. 14-8.05. Behavioral intervention.
    (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that principals and teachers of students with disabilities require training and guidance that provide ways for working successfully with children who have difficulties conforming to acceptable behavioral patterns in order to provide an environment in which learning can occur. It is the intent of the General Assembly:
        (1) That when behavioral interventions are used, they
    
be used in consideration of the pupil's physical freedom and social interaction, and be administered in a manner that respects human dignity and personal privacy and that ensures a pupil's right to placement in the least restrictive educational environment.
        (2) That behavioral management plans be developed and
    
used, to the extent possible, in a consistent manner when a local educational agency has placed the pupil in a day or residential setting for education purposes.
        (3) That a statewide study be conducted of the use of
    
behavioral interventions with students with disabilities receiving special education and related services.
        (4) That training programs be developed and
    
implemented in institutions of higher education that train teachers, and that in-service training programs be made available as necessary in school districts, in educational service centers, and by regional superintendents of schools to assure that adequately trained staff are available to work effectively with the behavioral intervention needs of students with disabilities.
    (b) On or before September 30, 1993, the State Superintendent of Education shall conduct a statewide study of the use of behavioral interventions with students with disabilities receiving special education and related services. The study shall include, but not necessarily be limited to identification of the frequency in the use of behavioral interventions; the number of districts with policies in place for working with children exhibiting continuous serious behavioral problems; how policies, rules, or regulations within districts differ between emergency and routine behavioral interventions commonly practiced; the nature and extent of costs for training provided to personnel for implementing a program of nonaversive behavioral interventions; and the nature and extent of costs for training provided to parents of students with disabilities who would be receiving behavioral interventions. The scope of the study shall be developed by the State Board of Education, in consultation with individuals and groups representing parents, teachers, administrators, and advocates. On or before June 30, 1994, the State Board of Education shall issue guidelines based on the study's findings. The guidelines shall address, but not be limited to, the following: (i) appropriate behavioral interventions, and (ii) how to properly document the need for and use of behavioral interventions in the process of developing individualized education plans for students with disabilities. The guidelines shall be used as a reference to assist school boards in developing local policies and procedures in accordance with this Section. The State Board of Education, with the advice of parents of students with disabilities and other parents, teachers, administrators, advocates for persons with disabilities, and individuals with knowledge or expertise in the development and implementation of behavioral interventions for persons with disabilities, shall review its behavioral intervention guidelines at least once every 3 years to determine their continuing appropriateness and effectiveness and shall make such modifications in the guidelines as it deems necessary.
    (c) Each school board must establish and maintain a committee to develop policies and procedures on the use of behavioral interventions for students with disabilities who require behavioral intervention. The policies and procedures shall be adopted and implemented by school boards by January 1, 1996, shall be amended as necessary to comply with the rules established by the State Board of Education under Section 2-3.130 of this Code not later than one month after commencement of the school year after the State Board of Education's rules are adopted, and shall: (i) be developed with the advice of parents with students with disabilities and other parents, teachers, administrators, advocates for persons with disabilities, and individuals with knowledge or expertise in the development and implementation of behavioral interventions for persons with disabilities; (ii) emphasize positive interventions that are designed to develop and strengthen desirable behaviors; (iii) incorporate procedures and methods consistent with generally accepted practice in the field of behavioral intervention; (iv) include criteria for determining when a student with disabilities may require a behavioral intervention plan; (v) reflect that the guidelines of the State Board of Education have been reviewed and considered and provide the address of the State Board of Education so that copies of the State Board of Education behavioral guidelines may be requested; and (vi) include procedures for monitoring the use of restrictive behavioral interventions. Each school board shall (i) furnish a copy of its local policies and procedures to parents and guardians of all students with individualized education plans within 15 days after the policies and procedures have been adopted by the school board, or within 15 days after the school board has amended its policies and procedures, or at the time an individualized education plan is first implemented for the student, and (ii) require that each school inform its students of the existence of the policies and procedures annually. Provided, at the annual individualized education plan review, the school board shall (1) explain the local policies and procedures, (2) furnish a copy of the local policies to parents and guardians, and (3) make available, upon request of any parents and guardians, a copy of local procedures.
    (d) The State Superintendent of Education shall consult with representatives of institutions of higher education and the State Teacher Certification Board in regard to the current training requirements for teachers to ensure that sufficient training is available in appropriate behavioral interventions consistent with professionally accepted practices and standards for people entering the field of education.
(Source: P.A. 91-600, eff. 8-14-99; 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)

105 ILCS 5/14-9.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-9.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-9.01)
    Sec. 14-9.01. Qualifications of teachers, other professional personnel and necessary workers. No person shall be employed to teach any class or program authorized by this Article who does not hold a valid teacher's license as provided by law and unless he has had such special training as the State Board of Education may require. No special license or endorsement to a special license issued under Section 21B-30 of this Code shall be valid for teaching students with visual disabilities unless the person to whom the license or endorsement is issued has attained satisfactory performance on an examination that is designed to assess competency in Braille reading and writing skills according to standards that the State Board of Education may adopt. Evidence of successfully completing the examination of Braille reading and writing skills must be submitted to the State Board of Education prior to an applicant's taking of the content area test required under Section 21B-30 of this Code. In addition to other requirements, a candidate for a teaching license in the area of the deaf and hard of hearing granted by the Illinois State Board of Education for teaching deaf and hard of hearing students in grades pre-school through grade 12 must demonstrate a minimum proficiency in sign language as determined by the Illinois State Board of Education. All other professional personnel employed in any class, service, or program authorized by this Article shall hold such licenses and shall have had such special training as the State Board of Education may require; provided that in a school district organized under Article 34, the school district may employ speech and language pathologists who are licensed under the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act but who do not hold a license issued under this Code if the district certifies that a chronic shortage of licensed personnel exists. Nothing contained in this Act prohibits the school board from employing necessary workers to assist the teacher with the special educational facilities, except that all such necessary workers must have had such training as the State Board of Education may require.
    The State Board of Education shall develop, in consultation with the Advisory Council on the Education of Children with Disabilities and the Advisory Council on Bilingual Education, rules governing the qualifications for licensure of teachers and school service personnel providing services to English learners receiving special education and related services.
    The employment of any teacher in a special education program provided for in Sections 14-1.01 to 14-14.01, inclusive, shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 24-11 to 24-16, inclusive. Any teacher employed in a special education program, prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1987, in which 2 or more districts participate shall enter upon contractual continued service in each of the participating districts subject to the provisions of Sections 24-11 to 24-16, inclusive.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/14-10.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-10.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-10.01)
    Sec. 14-10.01. (Repealed).
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 88-228, eff. 7-1-94.)

105 ILCS 5/14-11.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-11.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-11.01)
    Sec. 14-11.01. Educational materials coordinating unit. The State Board of Education shall maintain or contract for an educational materials coordinating unit for children with disabilities to provide:
        (1) Staff and resources for the coordination,
    
cataloging, standardizing, production, procurement, storage, and distribution of educational materials needed by children with visual disabilities and adults with disabilities.
        (2) Staff and resources of an instructional materials
    
center to include library, audio-visual, programmed, and other types of instructional materials peculiarly adapted to the instruction of pupils with disabilities.
    The educational materials coordinating unit shall have as its major purpose the improvement of instructional programs for children with disabilities and the in-service training of all professional personnel associated with programs of special education and to these ends is authorized to operate under rules and regulations of the State Board of Education with the advice of the Advisory Council.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

105 ILCS 5/14-11.02

    (105 ILCS 5/14-11.02) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-11.02)
    Sec. 14-11.02. The Philip J. Rock Center and School for the Deafblind.
    (a) For the purpose of this Section, persons who are deafblind are (i) individuals with concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness, (ii) individuals with solely a hearing impairment, or (iii) individuals with solely a visual impairment.
    (b) To be eligible for deafblind services under this Section, a person must have (i) a visual impairment, a hearing impairment, or both or (ii) a condition in which there is a progressive loss of hearing, vision, or both that adversely affects educational performance as determined by the multidisciplinary conference. For purposes of this Section:
        (1) A visual impairment shall have the same meaning
    
as in the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act and its implementing regulations.
        (2) A hearing impairment shall have the same meaning
    
as in the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act and its implementing regulations.
    (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of Article 14, the State Board of Education shall maintain and operate or contract for the operation of a permanent, statewide, residential education facility known as the Philip J. Rock Center and School that services eligible students between the ages of 3 and 21, unless a student's 22nd birthday occurs during the school year, in which case the student is eligible for such services through the end of the school year. Subject to appropriation, the Philip J. Rock Center and School may provide additional services to eligible deafblind persons of all ages. The State Board of Education shall include a line item in its budget to pay the costs of operating and maintaining the Philip J. Rock Center and School. If the Center and School receives appropriated funding to serve eligible deafblind persons of all ages, services provided by the Center and School shall include, but are not limited to:
        (1) identifying and providing case management of
    
individuals with combined vision and hearing loss;
        (2) providing families with appropriate information
    
and dissemination of information;
        (3) providing information to persons who are
    
deafblind about the appropriate agencies for medical and diagnostic services;
        (4) referring persons who are deafblind to
    
appropriate agencies for educational, rehabilitation, and support services;
        (5) developing and expanding services throughout the
    
State to persons who are deafblind. This shall include ancillary services, such as transportation, so that these persons can take advantage of the expanded services;
        (6) maintaining a residential-educational training
    
facility, with or without a day program, in the Chicago metropolitan area located near public transportation;
        (7) (blank);
        (8) coordinating services to persons who are
    
deafblind through all appropriate agencies, including the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Human Services;
        (9) entering into contracts with other agencies to
    
provide services to persons who are deafblind;
        (10) (blank);
        (11) serving as the information clearinghouse for all
    
persons who are deafblind; and
        (12) (blank).
    Priority of services shall be given to students referred to the Philip J. Rock Center and School who qualify as individuals with concomitant hearing and visual impairments under clause (i) of subsection (a) of this Section or who are eligible for special education services under the category of deafblind. Such a student may not be denied enrollment unless the student's placement in the Center and School would endanger the health or safety of any other student.
    (d) For the purposes of employment, the Philip J. Rock Center and School shall be considered its own employer. The State Board of Education shall appoint a chief administrator of the Philip J. Rock Center and School, who shall be employed by the Center and School and shall manage the daily operations of the Center and School. The chief administrator shall have the authority on behalf of the Center and School to:
        (1) hire, evaluate, discipline, and terminate staff
    
of the Center and School;
        (2) determine wages, benefits, and other conditions
    
of employment for all Center and School employees;
        (3) bargain with the exclusive bargaining
    
representative of the employees of the Center and School;
        (4) develop a budget to be submitted to the State
    
Board of Education for review and approval;
        (5) contract for any professional, legal, and
    
educational services necessary for the operation of the Center and School;
        (6) make all decisions regarding the daily operations
    
of the Center and School; and
        (7) perform any other duties as set forth in the
    
employment contract for the chief administrator.
    (e) If the State Board of Education contracts for the fiscal administration of the Philip J. Rock Center and School, then the contract shall be with a school district, special education cooperative, or regional office of education that can serve as the fiscal agent for the Center and School. To the extent possible, the fiscal agent shall be in close geographic proximity to the Center and School.
    (f) Through the individualized education program process with the student's resident school district, a student who resides at the Philip J. Rock Center and School may be placed in an alternate educational program by the student's individualized education program team. Educational placement and services shall be provided free of charge to the student's resident school district, unless there is tuition associated with the educational placement and services. If the Philip J. Rock Center and School must pay tuition or provide transportation for a student's educational placement and services, such tuition or transportation shall be billed to the student's resident school district.
    (g) The Advisory Board for Services for Persons who are deafblind shall provide advice to the State Superintendent of Education, the Governor, and the General Assembly on all matters pertaining to policy concerning persons who are deafblind, including the implementation of legislation enacted on their behalf.
    The Advisory Board shall also make recommendations pertaining to but not limited to the following matters:
        (1) existing and proposed programs of all State
    
agencies that provide services for persons who are deafblind;
        (2) the State program and financial plan for
    
deafblind services and the system of priorities to be developed by the State Board of Education;
        (3) standards for services in facilities serving
    
persons who are deafblind;
        (4) standards and rates for State payments for any
    
services purchased for persons who are deafblind;
        (5) services and research activities in the field of
    
deafblindness, including the evaluation of services; and
        (6) planning for personnel or preparation, both
    
preservice and inservice.
    The Advisory Board shall consist of 3 persons appointed by the Governor; 2 persons appointed by the State Superintendent of Education; 4 persons appointed by the Secretary of Human Services; and 2 persons appointed by the Director of Children and Family Services. One person designated by each agency other than the Department of Human Services may be an employee of that agency. Two persons appointed by the Secretary of Human Services may be employees of the Department of Human Services. The appointments of each appointing authority other than the Governor shall include at least one parent of an individual who is deafblind or a person who is deafblind.
    Vacancies in terms shall be filled by the original appointing authority. After the original terms, all terms shall be for 3 years.
    The Advisory Board shall meet at least 2 times per year.
    The State Board of Education shall provide support to the Advisory Board.
    The affirmative vote of a majority of all members of the Advisory Board shall be necessary for any action taken by the Advisory Board.
(Source: P.A. 103-1045, eff. 1-1-25.)

105 ILCS 5/14-11.03

    (105 ILCS 5/14-11.03) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-11.03)
    Sec. 14-11.03. Illinois Service Resource Center. The State Board of Education shall maintain, subject to appropriations for such purpose, the Service Resource Center for children and adolescents through the age of 21 who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and have an emotional or behavioral disorder. For the purpose of this Section, "children and adolescents who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and have an emotional or behavioral disorder" have an auditory impairment that is serious enough to warrant an array of special services and special education programs in order to assist both educationally and socially and the behavior is seriously disruptive and unacceptable to peers, educational staff, and persons in the community, or presents a danger to self or others.
    The State Board shall operate or contract for the operation of the Illinois Service Resource Center for children and adolescents through the age of 21 who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and have an emotional or behavioral disorder. The Illinois Service Resource Center shall function as the initial point of contact for students, parents, and professionals. All existing and future services shall be coordinated through the Center.
    The Illinois Service Resource Center shall:
    (a) Develop and maintain a directory of public and private resources, including crisis intervention.
    (b) Establish and maintain a Statewide identification and tracking system.
    (c) Develop, obtain, and assure the consistency of screening instruments.
    (d) Perform case coordination, referral, and consultation services.
    (e) Provide technical assistance and training for existing programs and providers.
    (f) Track the allocation and expenditure of State and federal funds.
    (g) Monitor, evaluate, and assess Statewide resources, identification of services gaps, and the development and delivery of services.
    (h) Identify by geographical areas the need for establishing evaluation and crisis intervention services and establish a pilot in downstate Illinois. The Service Resource Center shall provide for the coordination of services for children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and have an emotional or behavioral disorder throughout the State and shall pilot a service delivery model to identify the capacity and need for comprehensive evaluation, crisis management, stabilization, referral, transition, family intervention, and follow-up services.
    (i) Integrate the recommendations of the Interagency Board for Children who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and have an Emotional or Behavioral Disorder regarding policies affecting children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and have an emotional or behavioral disorder.
    (j) Provide limited direct services as required.
    The Center, if established, shall operate on a no-reject basis. Any child or adolescent diagnosed as deaf or hard-of-hearing and having an emotional or behavioral disorder under this Act who is referred to the Center for services shall qualify for services of the Center. The requirement of the no-reject basis shall be paramount in negotiating contracts and in supporting other agency services.
(Source: P.A. 88-663, eff. 9-16-94; 89-680, eff. 1-1-97.)

105 ILCS 5/14-12.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-12.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-12.01)
    Sec. 14-12.01. Account of expenditures - Cost report - Reimbursement. Each school board shall keep an accurate, detailed and separate account of all monies paid out by it for the maintenance of each of the types of facilities, classes and schools authorized by this Article for the instruction and care of pupils attending them and for the cost of their transportation, and shall annually report thereon indicating the cost of each such elementary or high school pupil for the school year ending June 30.
    Applications for preapproval for reimbursement for costs of special education must be first submitted through the office of the regional superintendent of schools to the State Superintendent of Education on or before 30 days after a special class or service is started. Applications shall set forth a plan for special education established and maintained in accordance with this Article. Such applications shall be limited to the cost of construction and maintenance of special education facilities designed and utilized to house instructional programs, diagnostic services, other special education services for children with disabilities and reimbursement as provided in Section 14-13.01. Such application shall not include the cost of construction or maintenance of any administrative facility separated from special education facilities designed and utilized to house instructional programs, diagnostic services, and other special education services for children with disabilities. Reimbursement claims for special education shall be made as follows:
    Each district shall file its claim computed in accordance with rules prescribed by the State Board of Education for approval on forms prescribed by the State Superintendent of Education. Data used as a basis of reimbursement claims shall be for the school year ended on June 30 preceding. Each school district shall transmit to the State Superintendent of Education its claims on or before August 15. The State Superintendent of Education before approving any such claims shall determine their accuracy and whether they are based upon services and facilities provided under approved programs. Upon approval, vouchers for the amounts due the respective districts shall be prepared and submitted during each fiscal year as follows: the first 3 vouchers shall be prepared by the State Superintendent of Education and transmitted to the Comptroller on the 30th day of September, December and March, respectively, and the final voucher, no later than June 20. If, after preparation and transmittal of the September 30 vouchers, any claim has been redetermined by the State Superintendent of Education, subsequent vouchers shall be adjusted in amount to compensate for any overpayment or underpayment previously made. If the money appropriated by the General Assembly for such purpose for any year is insufficient, it shall be apportioned on the basis of the claims approved.
    Claims received at the State Board of Education after August 15 shall not be honored.
(Source: P.A. 94-1100, eff. 2-2-07.)

105 ILCS 5/14-12.02

    (105 ILCS 5/14-12.02)
    Sec. 14-12.02. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 85-1150. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/14-13.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-13.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-13.01)
    Sec. 14-13.01. Reimbursement payable by State; amounts for personnel and transportation.
    (a) Through fiscal year 2017, for staff working on behalf of children who have not been identified as eligible for special education and for eligible children with physical disabilities, including all eligible children whose placement has been determined under Section 14-8.02 in hospital or home instruction, 1/2 of the teacher's salary but not more than $1,000 annually per child or $9,000 per teacher, whichever is less.
    (a-5) A child qualifies for home or hospital instruction if it is anticipated that, due to a medical condition, the child will be unable to attend school, and instead must be instructed at home or in the hospital, for a period of 2 or more consecutive weeks or on an ongoing intermittent basis. For purposes of this Section, "ongoing intermittent basis" means that the child's medical condition is of such a nature or severity that it is anticipated that the child will be absent from school due to the medical condition for periods of at least 2 days at a time multiple times during the school year totaling at least 10 days or more of absences. There shall be no requirement that a child be absent from school a minimum number of days before the child qualifies for home or hospital instruction. In order to establish eligibility for home or hospital services, a student's parent or guardian must submit to the child's school district of residence a written statement from a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse stating the existence of such medical condition, the impact on the child's ability to participate in education, and the anticipated duration or nature of the child's absence from school. Home or hospital instruction may commence upon receipt of a written physician's, physician assistant's, or advanced practice registered nurse's statement in accordance with this Section, but instruction shall commence not later than 5 school days after the school district receives the physician's, physician assistant's, or advanced practice registered nurse's statement. Special education and related services required by the child's IEP or services and accommodations required by the child's federal Section 504 plan must be implemented as part of the child's home or hospital instruction, unless the IEP team or federal Section 504 plan team determines that modifications are necessary during the home or hospital instruction due to the child's condition.
    (a-10) Through fiscal year 2017, eligible children to be included in any reimbursement under this paragraph must regularly receive a minimum of one hour of instruction each school day, or in lieu thereof of a minimum of 5 hours of instruction in each school week in order to qualify for full reimbursement under this Section. If the attending physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse for such a child has certified that the child should not receive as many as 5 hours of instruction in a school week, however, reimbursement under this paragraph on account of that child shall be computed proportionate to the actual hours of instruction per week for that child divided by 5.
    (a-15) The State Board of Education shall establish rules governing the required qualifications of staff providing home or hospital instruction.
    (b) For children described in Section 14-1.02, 80% of the cost of transportation approved as a related service in the Individualized Education Program for each student in order to take advantage of special educational facilities. Transportation costs shall be determined in the same fashion as provided in Section 29-5 of this Code. For purposes of this subsection (b), the dates for processing claims specified in Section 29-5 shall apply.
    (c) Through fiscal year 2017, for each qualified worker, the annual sum of $9,000.
    (d) Through fiscal year 2017, for one full-time qualified director of the special education program of each school district which maintains a fully approved program of special education, the annual sum of $9,000. Districts participating in a joint agreement special education program shall not receive such reimbursement if reimbursement is made for a director of the joint agreement program.
    (e) (Blank).
    (f) (Blank).
    (g) Through fiscal year 2017, for readers working with blind or partially seeing children, 1/2 of their salary but not more than $400 annually per child. Readers may be employed to assist such children and shall not be required to be certified but prior to employment shall meet standards set up by the State Board of Education.
    (h) Through fiscal year 2017, for non-certified employees, as defined by rules promulgated by the State Board of Education, who deliver services to students with IEPs, 1/2 of the salary paid or $3,500 per employee, whichever is less.
    (i) The State Board of Education shall set standards and prescribe rules for determining the allocation of reimbursement under this section on less than a full time basis and for less than a school year.
    When any school district eligible for reimbursement under this Section operates a school or program approved by the State Superintendent of Education for a number of days in excess of the adopted school calendar but not to exceed 235 school days, such reimbursement shall be increased by 1/180 of the amount or rate paid hereunder for each day such school is operated in excess of 180 days per calendar year.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any school district receiving a payment under this Section or under Section 14-7.02, 14-7.02b, or 29-5 of this Code may classify all or a portion of the funds that it receives in a particular fiscal year or from evidence-based funding pursuant to Section 18-8.15 of this Code as funds received in connection with any funding program for which it is entitled to receive funds from the State in that fiscal year (including, without limitation, any funding program referenced in this Section), regardless of the source or timing of the receipt. The district may not classify more funds as funds received in connection with the funding program than the district is entitled to receive in that fiscal year for that program. Any classification by a district must be made by a resolution of its board of education. The resolution must identify the amount of any payments or evidence-based funding to be classified under this paragraph and must specify the funding program to which the funds are to be treated as received in connection therewith. This resolution is controlling as to the classification of funds referenced therein. A certified copy of the resolution must be sent to the State Superintendent of Education. The resolution shall still take effect even though a copy of the resolution has not been sent to the State Superintendent of Education in a timely manner. No classification under this paragraph by a district shall affect the total amount or timing of money the district is entitled to receive under this Code. No classification under this paragraph by a district shall in any way relieve the district from or affect any requirements that otherwise would apply with respect to that funding program, including any accounting of funds by source, reporting expenditures by original source and purpose, reporting requirements, or requirements of providing services.
    No funding shall be provided to school districts under this Section after fiscal year 2017. In fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter, all funding received by a school district from the State pursuant to Section 18-8.15 of this Code that is attributable to personnel reimbursements for special education pupils must be used for special education services authorized under this Code.
(Source: P.A. 100-443, eff. 8-25-17; 100-465, eff. 8-31-17; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

105 ILCS 5/14-14.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-14.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-14.01)
    Sec. 14-14.01. Warrants for reimbursement. The State Comptroller shall draw his warrants on the State Treasurer on or before September 30 of each year for the respective sums for reimbursement for special education reported to him on presentation of vouchers approved by the State Superintendent of Education.
(Source: P.A. 83-729.)

105 ILCS 5/14-15.01

    (105 ILCS 5/14-15.01) (from Ch. 122, par. 14-15.01)
    Sec. 14-15.01. Community and Residential Services Authority.
    (a)(1) The Community and Residential Services Authority is hereby created and shall consist of the following members:
        A representative of the State Board of Education;
        Four representatives of the Department of Human
    
Services appointed by the Secretary of Human Services, with one member from the Division of Community Health and Prevention, one member from the Division of Developmental Disabilities, one member from the Division of Mental Health, and one member from the Division of Rehabilitation Services;
        A representative of the Department of Children and
    
Family Services;
        A representative of the Department of Juvenile
    
Justice;
        A representative of the Department of Healthcare and
    
Family Services;
        A representative of the Attorney General's Disability
    
Rights Advocacy Division;
        The Chairperson and Minority Spokesperson of the
    
House and Senate Committees on Elementary and Secondary Education or their designees; and
        Six persons appointed by the Governor. Five of such
    
appointees shall be experienced or knowledgeable relative to provision of services for individuals with a behavior disorder or a severe emotional disturbance and shall include representatives of both the private and public sectors, except that no more than 2 of those 5 appointees may be from the public sector and at least 2 must be or have been directly involved in provision of services to such individuals. The remaining member appointed by the Governor shall be or shall have been a parent of an individual with a behavior disorder or a severe emotional disturbance, and that appointee may be from either the private or the public sector.
    (2) Members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for terms of 4 years and shall continue to serve until their respective successors are appointed; provided that the terms of the original appointees shall expire on August 1, 1990. Any vacancy in the office of a member appointed by the Governor shall be filled by appointment of the Governor for the remainder of the term.
    A vacancy in the office of a member appointed by the Governor exists when one or more of the following events occur:
        (i) An appointee dies;
        (ii) An appointee files a written resignation with
    
the Governor;
        (iii) An appointee ceases to be a legal resident of
    
the State of Illinois; or
        (iv) An appointee fails to attend a majority of
    
regularly scheduled Authority meetings in a fiscal year.
    Members who are representatives of an agency shall serve at the will of the agency head. Membership on the Authority shall cease immediately upon cessation of their affiliation with the agency. If such a vacancy occurs, the appropriate agency head shall appoint another person to represent the agency.
    If a legislative member of the Authority ceases to be Chairperson or Minority Spokesperson of the designated Committees, they shall automatically be replaced on the Authority by the person who assumes the position of Chairperson or Minority Spokesperson.
    (b) The Community and Residential Services Authority shall have the following powers and duties:
        (1) Serve as a Parent/Guardian Navigator Assistance
    
Program, to work directly with parents/guardians of youth with behavioral health concerns to provide assistance coordinating efforts with public agencies, including but not limited to local school district, State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Department of Public Health, and Department of Juvenile Justice.
        (2) Work in conjunction with the new Care Portal and
    
Care Portal Team to utilize the centralized IT platform for communication and case management, including collaboration on the development of Portal training, communications to the public, business processes for case triage, assignment, and referral.
        (3) To develop and submit to the Governor, the
    
General Assembly, the Directors of the agencies represented on the Authority, and State Board of Education a master plan for operating the Parent/Guardian Navigator Assistance Program, including how referrals are made, plan for dispute relative to plans of service or funding for plans of service, plans to include parents with lived experience as peer supports.
        (4) (Blank).
        (5) (Blank).
        (6) (Blank).
        (7) (Blank).
        (8) (Blank).
    (c)(1) The members of the Authority shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred while performing their duties.
    (2) The Authority may appoint special study groups to operate under the direction of the Authority and persons appointed to such groups shall receive only reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
    (3) The Authority shall elect from its membership a chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary.
    (4) The Authority may employ and fix the compensation of such employees and technical assistants as it deems necessary to carry out its powers and duties under this Act. Staff assistance for the Authority shall be provided by the State Board of Education.
    (5) Funds for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Authority shall be appropriated to the State Board of Education in a separate line item.
    (d)(1) The Authority shall have power to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out its powers and duties under this Act.
    (2) The Authority may accept monetary gifts or grants from the federal government or any agency thereof, from any charitable foundation or professional association or from any other reputable source for implementation of any program necessary or desirable to the carrying out of the general purposes of the Authority. Such gifts and grants may be held in trust by the Authority and expended in the exercise of its powers and performance of its duties as prescribed by law.
    (3) The Authority shall submit an annual report of its activities and expenditures to the Governor, the General Assembly, the directors of agencies represented on the Authority, and the State Superintendent of Education, due January 1 of each year.
    (e) The Executive Director of the Authority or his or her designee shall be added as a participant on the Interagency Clinical Team established in the intergovernmental agreement among the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Human Services, the State Board of Education, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Public Health, with consent of the youth or the youth's guardian or family pursuant to the Custody Relinquishment Prevention Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-43, eff. 7-6-21; 103-546, eff. 8-11-23.)

105 ILCS 5/14-16

    (105 ILCS 5/14-16)
    Sec. 14-16. Participation in graduation ceremony.
    (a) This Section may be referred to as Brittany's Law. The General Assembly finds the following:
        (1) Each year, school districts across this State
    
celebrate their students' accomplishments through graduation ceremonies at which high school diplomas are bestowed upon students who have completed their high school requirements.
        (2) There are children with disabilities in this
    
State who have finished 4 years of high school, but whose individualized education programs prescribe the continuation of special education, transition planning, transition services, or related services beyond the completion of 4 years of high school.
        (3) It is well-established that the awarding of a
    
high school diploma to and the high school graduation of a child with a disability is tantamount to the termination of eligibility for special education and related services for the student under applicable federal law.
        (4) Many children with disabilities who will
    
continue their public education in accordance with their individualized education programs after finishing 4 years of high school wish to celebrate their accomplishments by participating in a graduation ceremony with their classmates.
        (5) The opportunity for classmates with disabilities
    
and those without disabilities to celebrate their accomplishments together only occurs once, and the opportunity to celebrate the receipt of a diploma several years after one's classmates have graduated diminishes the experience for students whose age peers have left high school several years earlier.
    (b) Beginning March 1, 2005, each school district that operates a high school must have a policy and procedures that allow a child with a disability who will have completed 4 years of high school at the end of a school year to participate in the graduation ceremony of the student's high school graduating class and receive a certificate of completion if the student's individualized education program prescribes special education, transition planning, transition services, or related services beyond the student's 4 years of high school. The policy and procedures must require timely and meaningful written notice to children with disabilities and their parents or guardians about the school district's policy and procedures adopted in accordance with this Section.
    (c) The State Board of Education shall monitor and enforce compliance with the provisions of this Section and is authorized to adopt rules for that purpose.
(Source: P.A. 93-1079, eff. 1-21-05.)

105 ILCS 5/14-17

    (105 ILCS 5/14-17)
    Sec. 14-17. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22. Repealed internally, eff. 12-31-22.)

105 ILCS 5/14-18

    (105 ILCS 5/14-18)
    Sec. 14-18. COVID-19 recovery post-secondary transition recovery eligibility.
    (a) If a student with an individualized education program (IEP) reaches the age of 22 during the time in which the student's in-person instruction, services, or activities are suspended for a period of 3 months or more during the school year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the student is eligible for such services up to the end of the regular 2021-2022 school year.
    (b) This Section does not apply to any student who is no longer a resident of the school district that was responsible for the student's IEP at the time the student reached the student's 22nd birthday.
    (c) The IEP goals in effect when the student reached the student's 22nd birthday shall be resumed unless there is an agreement that the goals should be revised to appropriately meet the student's current transition needs.
    (d) If a student was in a private therapeutic day or residential program when the student reached the student's 22nd birthday, the school district is not required to resume that program for the student if the student has aged out of the program or the funding for supporting the student's placement in the facility is no longer available.
    (e) Within 30 days after July 28, 2021 (the effective date of Public Act 102-173), each school district shall provide notification of the availability of services under this Section to each student covered by this Section by regular mail sent to the last known address of the student or the student's parent or guardian.
(Source: P.A. 102-173, eff. 7-28-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 14A

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 14A heading)
ARTICLE 14A. GIFTED AND TALENTED CHILDREN AND CHILDREN ELIGIBLE FOR ACCELERATED PLACEMENT
(Source: P.A. 100-421, eff. 7-1-18.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-5

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-5)
    Sec. 14A-5. Applicability. This Article applies beginning with the 2006-2007 school year.
(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-10

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-10)
    Sec. 14A-10. Legislative findings. The General Assembly finds the following:
        (1) that gifted and talented children (i) exhibit
    
high performance capabilities in intellectual, creative, and artistic areas, (ii) possess an exceptional leadership potential, (iii) excel in specific academic fields, and (iv) have the potential to be influential in business, government, health care, the arts, and other critical sectors of our economic and cultural environment;
        (2) that gifted and talented children require
    
services and activities that are not ordinarily provided by schools;
        (3) that outstanding talents are present in children
    
and youth from all cultural groups, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor; and
        (4) that inequitable access to advanced coursework
    
and enrollment in accelerated placement programs exists between children enrolled in different school districts and even within the same school district and more must be done to eliminate the barriers to access to advanced coursework and enrollment in accelerated placement programs for all children.
(Source: P.A. 101-654, eff. 3-8-21.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-15

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-15)
    Sec. 14A-15. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to provide encouragement, assistance, and guidance to school districts in the development and improvement of educational programs for gifted and talented children and children eligible for accelerated placement as defined in Sections 14A-20 and 14A-17 of this Code. School districts shall continue to have the authority and flexibility to design education programs for gifted and talented children in response to community needs, but these programs must comply with the requirements established in Section 14A-30 of this Code by no later than September 1, 2006 in order to merit approval by the State Board of Education in order to qualify for State funding for the education of gifted and talented children, should such funding become available.
(Source: P.A. 100-421, eff. 7-1-18.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-17

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-17)
    Sec. 14A-17. Accelerated placement; advanced academic program. For purposes of this Article, "accelerated placement" means the placement of a child in an educational setting with curriculum that is usually reserved for children who are older or in higher grades than the child. "Accelerated placement" under this Article or other school district-adopted policies shall include, but need not be limited to, the following types of acceleration: early entrance to kindergarten or first grade, accelerating a child in a single subject, and grade acceleration.
    "Advanced academic program" means a course of study, including, but not limited to, accelerated placement, advanced placement coursework, International Baccalaureate coursework, dual credit, or any course designated as enriched or honors, that a student is enrolled in based on the student's advanced cognitive ability or advanced academic achievement compared to local age peers and in which the curriculum is substantially differentiated from the general curriculum to provide appropriate challenge and pace.
(Source: P.A. 103-263, eff. 6-30-23.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-20

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-20)
    Sec. 14A-20. Gifted and talented children. For purposes of this Article, "gifted and talented children" means children and youth with outstanding talent who perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared with other children and youth of their age, experience, and environment. A child shall be considered gifted and talented in any area of aptitude, and, specifically, in language arts and mathematics, by scoring in the top 5% locally in that area of aptitude.
(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-25

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-25)
    Sec. 14A-25. Non-discrimination. Eligibility for participation in programs established pursuant to this Article shall be determined solely through identification of a child as gifted, talented, or eligible for accelerated placement. No program or placement shall condition participation upon race, religion, sex, disability, or any factor other than the identification of the child as gifted, talented, or eligible for placement.
(Source: P.A. 100-421, eff. 7-1-18.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-30

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-30)
    Sec. 14A-30. Funding of local gifted education programs. A local program for the education of gifted and talented children may be approved for funding by the State Board of Education, pursuant to a request for proposals process, if funds for that purpose are available and, beginning with the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year, if the local program submits an application for funds that includes a comprehensive plan (i) showing that the applicant is capable of meeting a portion of the following requirements, (ii) showing the program elements currently in place and a timeline for implementation of other elements, and (iii) demonstrating to the satisfaction of the State Board of Education that the applicant is capable of implementing a program of gifted education consistent with this Article:
        (1) The use of assessment instruments, such as
    
nonverbal ability tests and tests in students' native languages, and a selection process that is equitable to and inclusive of underrepresented groups, including low-income students, minority students, students with disabilities, twice-exceptional students, and English learners.
        (2) A priority emphasis on language arts and
    
mathematics.
        (3) The use of multiple valid assessments that assess
    
both demonstrated achievement and potential for achievement, including cognitive ability tests and general or subject specific achievement tests, applied universally to all students, and appropriate for the content focus of the gifted services that will be provided. School districts and schools may add other local, valid assessments, such as portfolios. Assessments and selection processes must ensure multiple pathways into the program.
        (4) The use of score ranges on assessments that are
    
appropriate for the school or district population, including the use of local norms for achievement to identify high potential students.
        (5) A process of identification of gifted and
    
talented children that is of equal rigor in each area of aptitude addressed by the program.
        (6) The use of identification procedures that
    
appropriately correspond with the planned programs, curricula, and services.
        (7) A fair and equitable decision-making process.
        (8) The availability of a fair and impartial appeal
    
process within the school, school district, or cooperative of school districts operating a program for parents or guardians whose children are aggrieved by a decision of the school, school district, or cooperative of school districts regarding eligibility for participation in a program.
        (9) Procedures for annually informing the community
    
at-large, including parents, about the program and the methods used for the identification of gifted and talented children.
        (10) Procedures for notifying parents or guardians of
    
a child of a decision affecting that child's participation in a program.
        (11) A description of how gifted and talented
    
children will be grouped and instructed in order to maximize the educational benefits the children derive from participation in the program, including curriculum modifications and options that accelerate and add depth and complexity to the curriculum content.
        (12) An explanation of how the program emphasizes
    
higher-level skills attainment, including problem-solving, critical thinking, creative thinking, and research skills, as embedded within relevant content areas.
        (13) A methodology for measuring academic growth for
    
gifted and talented children and a procedure for communicating a child's progress to his or her parents or guardian, including, but not limited to, a report card.
        (14) The collection of data on growth in learning for
    
children in a program for gifted and talented children and the reporting of the data to the State Board of Education.
        (15) The designation of a supervisor responsible for
    
overseeing the educational program for gifted and talented children.
        (16) A showing that the certified teachers who are
    
assigned to teach gifted and talented children understand the characteristics and educational needs of children and are able to differentiate the curriculum and apply instructional methods to meet the needs of the children.
        (17) Plans for the continuation of professional
    
development for staff assigned to the program serving gifted and talented children.
(Source: P.A. 99-706, eff. 7-29-16.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-32

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-32)
    Sec. 14A-32. Accelerated placement; school district responsibilities.
    (a) Each school district shall have a policy that allows for accelerated placement that includes or incorporates by reference the following components:
        (1) a provision that provides that participation in
    
accelerated placement is not limited to those children who have been identified as gifted and talented, but rather is open to all children who demonstrate high ability and who may benefit from accelerated placement;
        (2) a fair and equitable decision-making process that
    
involves multiple persons and includes a student's parents or guardians;
        (3) procedures for notifying parents or guardians of
    
a child of a decision affecting that child's participation in an accelerated placement program; and
        (4) an assessment process that includes multiple
    
valid, reliable indicators.
    (a-5) By no later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, a school district's accelerated placement policy shall allow for the automatic enrollment, in the following school term, of a student into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by the high school if the student meets or exceeds State standards in English language arts, mathematics, or science on a State assessment administered under Section 2-3.64a-5 as follows:
        (1) A student who exceeds State standards in English
    
language arts shall be automatically enrolled into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework in English, social studies, humanities, or related subjects.
        (2) A student who exceeds State standards in
    
mathematics shall be automatically enrolled into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework in mathematics.
        (3) A student who exceeds State standards in science
    
shall be automatically enrolled into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework in science.
    (a-10) By no later than the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year, a school district's accelerated placement policy shall allow for automatic eligibility, in the following school term, for a student to enroll in the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by the high school if the student meets State standards in English language arts, mathematics, or science on a State assessment administered under Section 2-3.64a-5 as follows:
        (1) A student who meets State standards in English
    
language arts shall be automatically eligible to enroll in the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework in English, social studies, humanities, or related subjects.
        (2) A student who meets State standards in
    
mathematics shall be automatically eligible to enroll in the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework in mathematics.
        (3) A student who meets State standards in science
    
shall be automatically eligible to enroll in the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework in science.
    (a-15) For a student entering grade 12, the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework in English language arts or mathematics shall be a dual credit course, as defined in the Dual Credit Quality Act, an Advanced Placement course, as defined in Section 10 of the College and Career Success for All Students Act, or an International Baccalaureate course; otherwise, the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework under this subsection (a-15) may include a dual credit course, as defined in the Dual Credit Quality Act, an Advanced Placement course, as defined in Section 10 of the College and Career Success for All Students Act, an International Baccalaureate course, an honors class, an enrichment opportunity, a gifted program, or another program offered by the district.
    A school district may use the student's most recent State assessment results to determine whether a student meets or exceeds State standards. For a student entering grade 9, results from the State assessment taken in grades 6 through 8 may be used. For other high school grades, the results from a locally selected, nationally normed assessment may be used instead of the State assessment if those results are the most recent.
    (a-20) A school district's accelerated placement policy may allow for the waiver of a course or unit of instruction completion requirement if (i) completion of the course or unit of instruction is required by this Code or rules adopted by the State Board of Education as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma and (ii) the school district has determined that the student has demonstrated mastery of or competency in the content of the course or unit of instruction. The school district shall maintain documentation of this determination of mastery or competency for each student, that shall include identification of the learning standards or competencies reviewed, the methods of measurement used, student performance, the date of the determination, and identification of the district personnel involved in the determination process.
    (a-25) A school district's accelerated placement policy must include a process through which the parent or guardian of each student who meets State standards is provided notification in writing of the student's eligibility for enrollment in accelerated courses. This notification must provide details on the procedures for the parent or guardian to enroll or not enroll the student in accelerated courses, in writing, on forms the school district makes available. If no course selection is made by the parent or guardian in accordance with procedures set forth by the school district, the student shall be automatically enrolled in the next most rigorous level of coursework. A school district must provide the parent or guardian of a student eligible for enrollment under subsection (a-5) or (a-10) with the option to instead have the student enroll in alternative coursework that better aligns with the student's postsecondary education or career goals. If applicable, a school district must provide notification to a student's parent or guardian that the student will receive a waiver of a course or unit of instruction completion requirement under subsections (a-5) or (a-10).
    Nothing in subsection (a-5) or (a-10) may be interpreted to preclude other students from enrolling in advanced coursework per the policy of a school district.
    (a-30) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the implementation of policies that allow for automatic enrollment of students who meet standards on State assessments into the next most rigorous level of advanced coursework offered by a high school.
    (b) Further, a school district's accelerated placement policy may include or incorporate by reference, but need not be limited to, the following components:
        (1) procedures for annually informing the community
    
at-large, including parents or guardians, community-based organizations, and providers of out-of-school programs, about the accelerated placement program and the methods used for the identification of children eligible for accelerated placement, including strategies to reach groups of students and families who have been historically underrepresented in accelerated placement programs and advanced coursework;
        (2) a process for referral that allows for multiple
    
referrers, including a child's parents or guardians; other referrers may include licensed education professionals, the child, with the written consent of a parent or guardian, a peer, through a licensed education professional who has knowledge of the referred child's abilities, or, in case of possible early entrance, a preschool educator, pediatrician, or psychologist who knows the child;
        (3) a provision that provides that children
    
participating in an accelerated placement program and their parents or guardians will be provided a written plan detailing the type of acceleration the child will receive and strategies to support the child;
        (4) procedures to provide support and promote success
    
for students who are newly enrolled in an accelerated placement program;
        (5) a process for the school district to review and
    
utilize disaggregated data on participation in an accelerated placement program to address gaps among demographic groups in accelerated placement opportunities; and
        (6) procedures to promote equity, which may
    
incorporate one or more of the following evidence-based practices:
            (A) the use of multiple tools to assess
        
exceptional potential and provide several pathways into advanced academic programs when assessing student need for advanced academic or accelerated programming;
            (B) providing enrichment opportunities starting
        
in the early grades to address achievement gaps that occur at school entry and provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their advanced potential;
            (C) the use of universal screening combined with
        
local school-based norms for placement in accelerated and advanced learning programs;
            (D) developing a continuum of services to
        
identify and develop talent in all learners ranging from enriched learning experiences, such as problem-based learning, performance tasks, critical thinking, and career exploration, to accelerated placement and advanced academic programming; and
            (E) providing professional learning in gifted
        
education for teachers and other appropriate school personnel to appropriately identify and challenge students from diverse cultures and backgrounds who may benefit from accelerated placement or advanced academic programming.
    (c) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to determine data to be collected and disaggregated by demographic group regarding accelerated placement, including the rates of students who participate in and successfully complete advanced coursework, and a method of making the information available to the public.
    (d) On or before November 1, 2022, following a review of disaggregated data on the participation and successful completion rates of students enrolled in an accelerated placement program, each school district shall develop a plan to expand access to its accelerated placement program and to ensure the teaching capacity necessary to meet the increased demand.
(Source: P.A. 102-209, eff. 11-30-21 (See Section 5 of P.A. 102-671 for effective date of P.A. 102-209); 103-263, eff. 6-30-23; 103-743, eff. 8-2-24.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-35

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-35)
    Sec. 14A-35. Administrative functions of the State Board of Education for gifted and talented children programs.
    (a) The State Board of Education must designate a staff person who shall be in charge of educational programs for gifted and talented children. This staff person shall, at a minimum, (i) be responsible for developing an approval process for educational programs for gifted and talented children by no later than September 1, 2006, (ii) receive and maintain the written descriptions of all programs for gifted and talented children in the State, (iii) collect and maintain the annual growth in learning data submitted by a school, school district, or cooperative of school districts, (iv) identify potential funding sources for the education of gifted and talented children, and (v) serve as the main contact person at the State Board of Education for program supervisors and other school officials, parents, and other stakeholders regarding the education of gifted and talented children.
    (b) Subject to the availability of funds for these purposes, the State Board of Education may perform a variety of additional administrative functions with respect to the education of gifted and talented children, including, but not limited to, supervision, quality assurance, compliance monitoring, and oversight of local programs, analysis of performance outcome data submitted by local educational agencies, the establishment of personnel standards, and a program of personnel development for teachers and administrative personnel in the education of gifted and talented children.
(Source: P.A. 100-421, eff. 7-1-18.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-40

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-40)
    Sec. 14A-40. Advisory Council. There is hereby created an Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children to consist of 7 members appointed by the State Superintendent of Education. Upon initial appointment, 4 members of the Advisory Council shall serve terms through January 1, 2007 and 3 members shall serve terms through January 1, 2009. Thereafter, members shall serve 4-year terms. Upon the expiration of the term of a member, that member shall continue to serve until a replacement is appointed. The Council shall meet at least 3 times each year. The Council shall organize with a chairperson selected by the State Superintendent of Education. Members of the Council shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their travel to and from meetings and other reasonable expenses in connection with meetings if approved by the State Board of Education.
    The State Board of Education shall consider recommendations for membership on the Council from organizations of educators and parents of gifted and talented children and other groups with an interest in the education of gifted and talented children. The members appointed shall be residents of the State and be selected on the basis of their knowledge of, or experience in, programs and problems of the education of gifted and talented children.
    The State Superintendent of Education shall seek the advice of the Council regarding all rules and policies to be adopted by the State Board relating to the education of gifted and talented children. The staff person designated pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 14A-35 of this Code shall serve as the State Board of Education's liaison to the Council. The State Board of Education shall provide necessary clerical support and assistance in order to facilitate meetings of the Council.
(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-45

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-45)
    Sec. 14A-45. Grants for services and materials. Subject to the availability of categorical grant funding or other funding appropriated for such purposes, the State Board of Education shall make grants available to fund educational programs for gifted and talented children. A request-for-proposal process shall be used in awarding grants for services and materials, with carry over to the next fiscal year, under this Section. A proposal may be submitted to the State Board of Education by a school district, 2 or more cooperating school districts, a county, 2 or more cooperating counties, an established professional organization in gifted education, or a regional office of education. The proposals shall include a statement of the qualifications and duties of the personnel required in the field of diagnostic, counseling, and consultative services and the educational materials necessary. Upon receipt, the State Board of Education shall evaluate the proposals in accordance with criteria developed by the State Board of Education that is consistent with this Article and shall award grants to the extent funding is available. Educational programs for gifted and talented children may be offered during the regular school term and may include optional summer programs. As a condition for State funding, a grantee must comply with the requirements of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 96-1152, eff. 7-21-10.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-50

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-50)
    Sec. 14A-50. Contracts for experimental projects and institutes. Subject to the availability of funds, the State Board of Education shall have the authority to enter into and monitor contracts with school districts, regional offices of education, colleges, universities, and professional organizations for the conduct of experimental projects and institutes, including summer institutes, in the field of education of gifted and talented children as defined in Section 14A-20 of this Code. These projects and institutes shall be established in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Prior to entering into a contract, the State Board of Education shall evaluate the proposal as to the soundness of the design of the project or institute, the probability of obtaining productive outcomes, the adequacy of resources to conduct the proposed project or institute, and the relationship of the project or institute to other projects and institutes already completed or in progress. The contents of these projects and institutes must be designed based on standards adopted by professional organizations for gifted and talented children.
(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05.)

105 ILCS 5/14A-55

    (105 ILCS 5/14A-55)
    Sec. 14A-55. Rulemaking. The State Board of Education shall have the authority to adopt all rules necessary to implement and regulate the provisions of this Article.
(Source: P.A. 94-151, eff. 7-8-05; 94-410, eff. 8-2-05; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 14B

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 14B heading)
ARTICLE 14B. EDUCATIONALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN
(Repealed)
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 96-734, eff. 8-25-09.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 14C

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 14C heading)
ARTICLE 14C. TRANSITIONAL BILINGUAL EDUCATION

105 ILCS 5/14C-1

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-1)
    Sec. 14C-1. The General Assembly finds that there are large numbers of children in this State who come from environments where the primary language is other than English. Experience has shown that public school classes in which instruction is given only in English are often inadequate for the education of children whose native tongue is another language. The General Assembly believes that a program of transitional bilingual education can meet the needs of these children and facilitate their integration into the regular public school curriculum. Therefore, pursuant to the policy of this State to ensure equal educational opportunity to every child, and in recognition of the educational needs of English learners, it is the purpose of this Act to provide for the establishment of transitional bilingual education programs in the public schools, to provide supplemental financial assistance through fiscal year 2017 to help local school districts meet the extra costs of such programs, and to allow this State through the State Board of Education to directly or indirectly provide technical assistance and professional development to support transitional bilingual education or a transitional program of instruction statewide through contractual services by a not-for-profit entity for technical assistance, professional development, and other support to school districts and educators for services for English learner pupils. In no case may aggregate funding for contractual services by a not-for-profit entity for support to school districts and educators for services for English learner pupils be less than the aggregate amount expended for such purposes in Fiscal Year 2017. Not-for-profit entities providing support to school districts and educators for services for English learner pupils must have experience providing those services in a school district having a population exceeding 500,000; one or more school districts in any of the counties of Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane, and Will; and one or more school districts elsewhere in this State. Funding for not-for-profit entities providing support to school districts and educators for services for English learner pupils may be increased subject to an agreement with the State Board of Education. Funding for not-for-profit entities providing support to school districts and educators for services for English learner pupils shall come from funds allocated pursuant to Section 18-8.15 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15; 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-2

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-2)
    Sec. 14C-2. Definitions. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms used in this Article have the following meanings:
    (a) "State Board" means the State Board of Education.
    (b) "Certification Board" means the State Teacher Certification Board.
    (c) "School District" means any school district established under this Code.
    (d) "English learners" means (1) all children in grades pre-K through 12 who were not born in the United States, whose native tongue is a language other than English, and who are incapable of performing ordinary classwork in English; and (2) all children in grades pre-K through 12 who were born in the United States of parents possessing no or limited English-speaking ability and who are incapable of performing ordinary classwork in English.
    (e) "Teacher of transitional bilingual education" means a teacher with a speaking and reading ability in a language other than English in which transitional bilingual education is offered and with communicative skills in English.
    (f) "Program in transitional bilingual education" means a full-time program of instruction (1) in all those courses or subjects which a child is required by law to receive and which are required by the child's school district, which shall be given in the native language of English learners who are enrolled in the program and also in English, (2) in the reading and writing of the native language of English learners who are enrolled in the program and in the oral language (listening and speaking), reading, and writing of English, and (3) in the history and culture of the country, territory, or geographic area which is the native land of the parents of English learners who are enrolled in the program and in the history and culture of the United States; or a part-time program of instruction based on the educational needs of those English learners who do not need a full-time program of instruction.
(Source: P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14; 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-2.1

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-2.1)
    Sec. 14C-2.1. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 78-727. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-3

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-3)
    Sec. 14C-3. Language classification of children; establishment of program; period of participation; examination. Each school district shall ascertain, not later than the first day of March, under regulations prescribed by the State Board, the number of English learners within the school district, and shall classify them according to the language of which they possess a primary speaking ability, and their grade level, age or achievement level.
    When, at the beginning of any school year, there is within an attendance center of a school district, not including children who are enrolled in existing private school systems, 20 or more English learners in any such language classification, the school district shall establish, for each classification, a program in transitional bilingual education for the children therein. A school district may establish a program in transitional bilingual education with respect to any classification with less than 20 children therein, but should a school district decide not to establish such a program, the school district shall provide a locally determined transitional program of instruction which, based upon an individual student language assessment, provides content area instruction in a language other than English to the extent necessary to ensure that each student can benefit from educational instruction and achieve an early and effective transition into the regular school curriculum.
    Every school-age English learner not enrolled in existing private school systems shall be enrolled and participate in the program in transitional bilingual education established for the classification to which he belongs by the school district in which he resides for a period of 3 years or until such time as he achieves a level of English language skills which will enable him to perform successfully in classes in which instruction is given only in English, whichever shall first occur.
    An English learner enrolled in a program in transitional bilingual education may, in the discretion of the school district and subject to the approval of the child's parent or legal guardian, continue in that program for a period longer than 3 years.
    An examination in the oral language (listening and speaking), reading, and writing of English, as prescribed by the State Board, shall be administered annually to all English learners enrolled and participating in a program in transitional bilingual education. No school district shall transfer an English learner out of a program in transitional bilingual education prior to his third year of enrollment therein unless the parents of the child approve the transfer in writing, and unless the child has received a score on said examination which, in the determination of the State Board, reflects a level of English language skills appropriate to his or her grade level.
    If later evidence suggests that a child so transferred is still disabled by an inadequate command of English, he may be re-enrolled in the program for a length of time equal to that which remained at the time he was transferred.
(Source: P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14; 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-4

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-4)
    Sec. 14C-4. Notice of enrollment; content; rights of parents.
    No later than 30 days after the beginning of the school year or 14 days after the enrollment of any child in a program in transitional bilingual education during the middle of a school year, the school district in which the child resides shall notify by mail the parents or legal guardian of the child of the fact that their child has been enrolled in a program in transitional bilingual education. The notice shall contain all of the following information in simple, nontechnical language:
        (1) The reasons why the child has been placed in and
    
needs the services of the program.
        (2) The child's level of English proficiency, how
    
this level was assessed, and the child's current level of academic achievement.
        (3) The method of instruction used in the program and
    
in other available offerings of the district, including how the program differs from those other offerings in content, instructional goals, and the use of English and native language instruction.
        (4) How the program will meet the educational
    
strengths and needs of the child.
        (5) How the program will specifically help the child
    
to learn English and to meet academic achievement standards for grade promotion and graduation.
        (6) The specific exit requirements for the program,
    
the expected rate of transition from the program into the regular curriculum, and the expected graduation rate for children in the program if the program is offered at the secondary level.
        (7) How the program meets the objectives of the
    
child's individual educational program (IEP), if applicable.
        (8) The right of the parents to decline to enroll the
    
child in the program or to choose another program or method of instruction, if available.
        (9) The right of the parents to have the child
    
immediately removed from the program upon request.
        (10) The right of the parents to visit transitional
    
bilingual education classes in which their child is enrolled and to come to the school for a conference to explain the nature of transitional bilingual education.
    The notice shall be in writing in English and in the language of which the child of the parents so notified possesses a primary speaking ability.
    Any parent whose child has been enrolled in a program in transitional bilingual education shall have the absolute right to immediately withdraw his child from said program by providing written notice of such desire to the school authorities of the school in which his child is enrolled or to the school district in which his child resides.
(Source: P.A. 92-604, eff. 7-1-02.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-5

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-5)
    Sec. 14C-5. Nonresident children; enrollment and tuition; joint programs. A school district may allow a nonresident English learner to enroll in or attend its program in transitional bilingual education, and the tuition for such a child shall be paid by the district in which he resides.
    Any school district may join with any other school district or districts to provide the programs in transitional bilingual education required or permitted by this Article.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-6

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-6)
    Sec. 14C-6. Placement of children. Children enrolled in a program of transitional bilingual education whenever possible shall be placed in classes with children of approximately the same age and level of educational attainment. If children of different age groups or educational levels are combined, the school district so combining shall ensure that the instruction given each child is appropriate to his or her level of educational attainment and the school districts shall keep adequate records of the educational level and progress of each child enrolled in a program. The maximum student-teacher ratio shall be set by the State Board and shall reflect the special educational needs of children enrolled in programs in transitional bilingual education. Programs in transitional bilingual education shall, whenever feasible, be located in the regular public schools of the district rather than separate facilities.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-7

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-7)
    Sec. 14C-7. Participation in extracurricular activities of public schools. Instruction in courses of subjects included in a program of transitional bilingual education which are not mandatory may be given in a language other than English. In those courses or subjects in which verbalization is not essential to an understanding of the subject matter, including but not necessarily limited to art, music and physical education, English learners shall participate fully with their English-speaking contemporaries in the regular public school classes provided for said subjects. Each school district shall ensure to children enrolled in a program in transitional bilingual education practical and meaningful opportunity to participate fully in the extracurricular activities of the regular public schools in the district.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-8

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-8)
    Sec. 14C-8. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11. Repealed internally, eff. 6-30-13.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-9

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-9)
    Sec. 14C-9. Tenure; minimum salaries. Any person employed as a teacher of transitional bilingual education whose teaching certificate was issued pursuant to Section 14C-8 (now repealed) of this Code shall have such employment credited to him or her for the purposes of determining under the provisions of this Code eligibility to enter upon contractual continued service; provided that such employment immediately precedes and is consecutive with the year in which such person becomes certified under Article 21 of this Code or licensed under Article 21B of this Code.
    For the purposes of determining the minimum salaries payable to persons certified under Section 14C-8 (now repealed) of this Code, such persons shall be deemed to have been trained at a recognized institution of higher learning.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-10

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-10)
    Sec. 14C-10. Parent and community participation. School districts shall provide for the maximum practical involvement of parents of children in transitional bilingual education programs. Each school district shall, accordingly, establish a parent advisory committee which affords parents the opportunity effectively to express their views and which ensures that such programs are planned, operated, and evaluated with the involvement of, and in consultation with, parents of children served by the programs. Such committees shall be composed of parents of children enrolled in transitional bilingual education programs, transitional bilingual education teachers, counselors, and representatives from community groups; provided, however, that a majority of each committee shall be parents of children enrolled in the transitional bilingual education program. Once established, these committees shall autonomously carry out their affairs, including the election of officers and the establishment of internal rules, guidelines, and procedures.
(Source: P.A. 97-915, eff. 1-1-13.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-11

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-11)
    Sec. 14C-11. Preschool or summer school programs. A school district may establish, on a full or part-time basis, preschool or summer school programs in transitional bilingual education for English learners or join with the other school districts in establishing such preschool or summer programs. Preschool or summer programs in transitional bilingual education shall not substitute for programs in transitional bilingual education required to be provided during the regular school year.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-12

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-12)
    Sec. 14C-12. Account of expenditures; Cost report; Reimbursement. Each school district with at least one English learner shall keep an accurate, detailed and separate account of all monies paid out by it for the programs in transitional bilingual education required or permitted by this Article, including transportation costs, and shall annually report thereon for the school year ending June 30 indicating the average per pupil expenditure. Through fiscal year 2017, each school district shall be reimbursed for the amount by which such costs exceed the average per pupil expenditure by such school district for the education of children of comparable age who are not in any special education program. No funding shall be provided to school districts under this Section after fiscal year 2017. In fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter, all funding received by a school district from the State pursuant to Section 18-8.15 of this Code that is attributable to instructions, supports, and interventions for English learner pupils must be used for programs and services authorized under this Article. At least 60% of transitional bilingual education funding received from the State must be used for the instructional costs of programs and services authorized under this Article.
    Applications for preapproval for costs of transitional bilingual education programs must be submitted to the State Superintendent of Education at least 60 days before a transitional bilingual education program is started, unless a justifiable exception is granted by the State Superintendent of Education. Applications shall set forth a plan for transitional bilingual education established and maintained in accordance with this Article.
    Through fiscal year 2017, reimbursement claims for transitional bilingual education programs shall be made as follows:
    Each school district shall claim reimbursement on a current basis for the first 3 quarters of the fiscal year and file a final adjusted claim for the school year ended June 30 preceding computed in accordance with rules prescribed by the State Superintendent's Office. The State Superintendent of Education before approving any such claims shall determine their accuracy and whether they are based upon services and facilities provided under approved programs. Upon approval he shall transmit to the Comptroller the vouchers showing the amounts due for school district reimbursement claims. Upon receipt of the final adjusted claims the State Superintendent of Education shall make a final determination of the accuracy of such claims. If the money appropriated by the General Assembly for such purpose for any year is insufficient, it shall be apportioned on the basis of the claims approved.
    Failure on the part of the school district to prepare and certify the final adjusted claims due under this Section may constitute a forfeiture by the school district of its right to be reimbursed by the State under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/14C-13

    (105 ILCS 5/14C-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 14C-13)
    Sec. 14C-13. Advisory Council.
    (a) There is created an Advisory Council on Bilingual Education, consisting of 17 members appointed by the State Superintendent of Education and selected, as nearly as possible, on the basis of experience in or knowledge of the various programs of bilingual education. The Council shall advise the State Superintendent on policy and rules pertaining to bilingual education. The Council shall establish such sub-committees as it deems appropriate to review bilingual education issues including but not limited to certification, finance and special education.
    Initial appointees shall serve terms determined by lot as follows: 6 for one year, 6 for 2 years and 5 for 3 years. Successors shall serve 3-year terms. Members annually shall select a chairman from among their number. Members shall receive no compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
    By no later than December 1, 2011, the Council shall submit a report to the State Superintendent of Education, the Governor, and the General Assembly addressing, at a minimum, the following questions:
        (1) whether and how the 20 child per attendance
    
center minimum in Section 14C-3 of this Code should be modified;
        (2) whether and how educator certification
    
requirements in this Article 14C and applicable State Board of Education rules should be modified;
        (3) whether and how bilingual education requirements
    
in this Article 14C and applicable State Board of Education rules should be modified to address differences between elementary and secondary schools; and
        (4) whether and how to allow school districts to
    
administer alternative bilingual education programs instead of transitional bilingual education programs.
    By no later than January 1, 2013, the Council shall submit a report to the State Superintendent of Education, the Governor, and the General Assembly addressing, at a minimum, the following questions:
        (i) whether and how bilingual education programs
    
should be modified to be more flexible and achieve a higher success rate among Hispanic students in the classroom and on State assessments;
        (ii) whether and how bilingual education programs
    
should be modified to increase parental involvement including the use of parent academies;
        (iii) whether and how bilingual education programs
    
should be modified to increase cultural competency through a cultural competency program among bilingual teaching staff; and
        (iv) whether and how the bilingual parent advisory
    
committees within school districts can be supported in order to increase the opportunities for parents to effectively express their views concerning the planning, operation, and evaluation of bilingual education programs.
    Within one year of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the Council shall deliver a report to the General Assembly on how to incentivize dual language instruction in schools. The report shall include: (i) expanding dual language programs and instruction, (ii) developing a strategic plan for scaling dual language programs, (iii) possible public-private partnerships to expand dual language programs, (iv) potential funding mechanisms and models, including how to leverage the use of existing State and federal resources and how to sustain funding for dual language programs, (v) how to build the supply of qualified teachers for dual language programs, including potential partnerships with private or nonprofit teacher preparation or development programs and college teacher preparation programs, potential alternative certification routes, exchange programs with other countries, and financial incentives, and (vi) standards for measuring student progress in dual language programs.
    (b) For the purpose of this Section:
    "Parent academies" means a series of parent development opportunities delivered throughout the school year to increase parents' ability to successfully navigate the education system and monitor their children's education. Parent academies are specifically designed for parents of students who are enrolled in any of the English Language Learner programs and are to be provided after work hours in the parents' native language. At a minimum, parent academies shall allow participants to do the following:
        (1) understand and use their children's standardized
    
tests to effectively advocate for their children's academic success;
        (2) learn home strategies to increase their
    
children's reading proficiency;
        (3) promote homework completion as a successful daily
    
routine;
        (4) establish a positive and productive connection
    
with their children's schools and teachers; and
        (5) build the character traits that lead to academic
    
success, such as responsibility, persistence, a hard-work ethic, and the ability to delay gratification.
    "Cultural competency program" means a staff development opportunity to increase the school staffs' ability to meet the social, emotional, and academic needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students and, at a minimum, allows participants to do the following:
        (i) discuss the impact that our constantly changing,
    
highly technological and globalist society is having on Illinois' public education system;
        (ii) analyze international, national, State, county,
    
district, and local students' performance data and the achievement gaps that persistently exist between groups;
        (iii) realize the benefits and challenges of reaching
    
proficiency in cultural competency;
        (iv) engage in conversations that lead to
    
self-awareness and greater insight regarding diversity; and
        (v) learn strategies for building student-teacher
    
relationships and making instruction more comprehensible and relevant for all students.
(Source: P.A. 103-362, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 15

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 15 heading)
ARTICLE 15. COMMON SCHOOL LANDS

105 ILCS 5/15-1

    (105 ILCS 5/15-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-1)
    Sec. 15-1. Lands constituting.
    Section 16 in every township, the sections and parts of sections granted in lieu of all or part of such section, shall be held as common school lands.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-2

    (105 ILCS 5/15-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-2)
    Sec. 15-2. Place of transacting business. All the business of a township relating to common school lands shall be transacted in the county which contains all or the greater portion of such lands.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-3

    (105 ILCS 5/15-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-3)
    Sec. 15-3. Leases-Pooling agreements-Railroad rights of way and depot grounds.
    The township land commissioners or trustees of schools in townships in which Section 16, or lands granted in lieu thereof, remain unsold, or which have title to any other school lands or real estate, may lease them for an annual cash rent or for an annual grain rent or a combination of cash and grain rent, or may lease them for drilling for oil and gas upon a royalty basis. The lease shall be made by the president and the clerk, under the direction of the township land commissioners or trustees of schools, with the lessee or lessees, shall be in writing, shall be filed with the records of the board, and a copy shall be transmitted to the county superintendent. In case of default in the payment of rent the township land commissioners or trustees shall at once proceed to collect it as may be provided by law for the collection of rents by landlords. No lease under the provisions of this Act shall be for a longer period than 5 years except when lands are leased for the purpose of having permanent improvements made thereon, as in cities and villages, and except when leased for oil and gas development and drilling. The township land commissioners or trustees of schools which have title to any school real estate or lands, whether the lands or real estate are being used by any school district for school purposes or not, may lease such real estate or lands, or any part thereof, for drilling for oil and gas upon such terms as may be agreed upon. Where such a lease is made for drilling for oil and gas, the township land commissioners or trustees of schools may also enter into pooling agreements with the owners of adjacent lands so that the township land commissioners or trustees of schools will participate in royalties in proportion to their acreage ownership as to all oil produced from any of the lands in the pooling agreements. This section does not apply to cities having a population of over one hundred thousand inhabitants.
    The township land commissioners or trustees of schools of any township may sell and convey to any railroad company a right of way across any school lands of the township, and necessary depot grounds.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-4

    (105 ILCS 5/15-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-4)
    Sec. 15-4. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1965, p. 3739. Repealed by P.A. 89-159, eff. 1-1-96.)

105 ILCS 5/15-5

    (105 ILCS 5/15-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-5)
    Sec. 15-5. Penalty for trespass.
    Every trespasser upon common school lands is guilty of a petty offense and shall be fined 3 times the amount of the injury occasioned by the trespass.
(Source: P.A. 77-2267.)

105 ILCS 5/15-6

    (105 ILCS 5/15-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-6)
    Sec. 15-6. Disposition of penalties and fines. All penalties and fines collected under the provisions of Sections 15-4 and 15-5 shall be paid to the school treasurer and added to the principal of the township fund.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-7

    (105 ILCS 5/15-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-7)
    Sec. 15-7. Sale of common school lands - Petition - Referendum. When the inhabitants of any township desire the sale of the common school lands thereof they shall present to the county superintendent of the county in which the school lands of the township, or the greater part thereof lie, a petition for their sale. The petition shall be signed by at least two-thirds of the voters of the township in the presence of at least 2 adult citizens of the township, after the meaning and purpose thereof have been explained, and an affidavit must be affixed thereto by the citizens witnessing the signing, which affidavit shall state the number of inhabitants of the township 18 years of age and over, and the petition so verified shall be delivered to the regional superintendent for his action thereon. In townships having a population of more than 10,000 inhabitants, the petition shall be signed by at least 1/10 of the voters thereof and be delivered to the regional superintendent. Upon the filing of any such petition with the regional superintendent he shall treat the petition in the manner provided by the general election law, and shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities for submission to the voters of the township at a regular scheduled election the proposition to sell common school lands of the township. In addition to the requirements of the general election law the notice may be in the following form:
REFERENDUM FOR SALE OF COMMON
SCHOOL LANDS
    Notice is hereby given that on.... the.... day of...., 1...., a referendum will be held at.... for the purpose of voting "for" or "against" the proposition to sell common school lands of the township, to-wit: (here insert description of the lands). The polls will be opened at.... and closed at.... o'clock,.... M.
Regional Superintendent
    If two-thirds of the votes upon the proposition are in favor of the sale, the county superintendent shall act thereon. No section shall be sold in any township containing fewer than 200 inhabitants. Common school lands in fractional townships may be sold when the number of acres are in, or above, a ratio of 200 to 640 but not before, provided, that where the lands sought to be sold are swamp or overflow lands, and are located in a township containing less than 200 inhabitants, a petition signed by at least two-thirds of the voters in the township shall be sufficient to cause the regional superintendent to act thereon. All other proceedings shall be the same as provided in this section. This section does not prohibit the transfer of school land belonging to a city in trust for the use of schools under the provisions of "An Act in relation to the transfer of real estate owned by municipalities", approved July 2, 1925, as amended, when the board of education of a city having a population exceeding 100,000 inhabitants desires to convey such land to the city comprising the school district of such board of education; and in case of such transfer the limitations as to the size of the lot or tract of land that may be conveyed contained in Sections 15-9 through 15-12, shall not apply.
(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

105 ILCS 5/15-8

    (105 ILCS 5/15-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-8)
    Sec. 15-8. Fractional townships united to adjacent township.
    Any fractional township not having the requisite number of inhabitants to petition for the sale of school lands, which has not heretofore been united with any township for school purposes, and which does not contain a sufficient number of inhabitants to maintain a free school, is hereby attached for school purposes to the adjacent congressional township having the longest territorial line bordering on such fractional township, and all the provisions of this Article shall apply to such united townships the same as though they were 1 township.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-9

    (105 ILCS 5/15-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-9)
    Sec. 15-9. Notice to trustees-Subdivision of land-Plat, roads, streets and alleys.
    When the petition and affidavits are delivered to the county superintendent, and the requisite number of votes are in favor of a sale, he shall notify the trustees of the township or township land commissioners, who shall immediately divide the land into tracts or lots of such form and quantity as will produce the largest sum of money, and cause a plat thereof to be made with each lot numbered and defined so that its boundaries may be forever ascertained.
    In subdividing common school lands, no lot shall contain more than 80 acres and the division may be into town or village lots, with roads, streets or alleys between and through them. All such divisions are hereby declared legal and all such roads, streets and alleys are declared to be public highways.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-10

    (105 ILCS 5/15-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-10)
    Sec. 15-10. Value fixed-Certification of plat-Plat and certificate to govern.
    After the school lands have been subdivided and platted, the trustees of schools or township land commissioners shall fix the value of each lot and certify to the correctness of the plat, stating in the certificate the value of each lot and describing it so that it may be identified. The plat and certificate shall be delivered to the county superintendent and shall govern him in advertising and selling such lands.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-11

    (105 ILCS 5/15-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-11)
    Sec. 15-11. Notice of sale.
    Upon receipt of the plat and certificate of valuation the county superintendent shall advertise the sale of such land in lots, as divided and platted, by publishing notice thereof once each week for 3 successive weeks prior to the date of the sale in a newspaper published in the county describing the land and stating the time, place and terms of the sale, and shall be in the following form:
NOTICE OF SALE
    Notice is hereby given that on the .... day of .... 1 ...., between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M., the undersigned superintendent of schools of .... county, will sell at public sale to the highest bidder, at the .... door of the court house in ....(or on the premises), the following described real estate, the same being school lands of township No. .... range No. ...., as divided, and platted by the (township land commissioners) (trustees of schools of said township), to-wit: (here insert full and complete description of said premises). Said lands will be sold for cash in hand, with the privilege to any purchaser of borrowing from the undersigned the whole or part of the payment of his bid, for not less than 1 nor more than 5 years, upon his paying interest and giving security as required in case of a loan obtained from the township fund.
    Dated this .... day of .... 1 .....
A .... B ....
County Superintendent
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-12

    (105 ILCS 5/15-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-12)
    Sec. 15-12. Conduct of sale.
    Upon the day of sale, the county superintendent shall make sales by beginning at the lowest numbered lot and proceeding regularly to the highest numbered until they are all sold or offered. No lot shall be sold for less than its valuation. The sale may continue from day to day. Each lot shall be sold separately and offered long enough to enable any person present to bid who so desires.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-13

    (105 ILCS 5/15-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-13)
    Sec. 15-13. Payment of purchase price.
    At the close of each day's sale the purchasers shall pay or secure the payment of the purchase money. In case of a failure to do so by 10 a. m. the succeeding day, the lot purchased shall again be offered at public sale, on the terms as before. Regardless of whether or not the sale is made the former purchaser shall be required to pay the difference between his bid and the valuation of the lot, and if he fails to make such payment, the county superintendent may forthwith institute a civil action in his name, as superintendent, for the use of the inhabitants of the township where the land lies, for the required sum; and upon making proof, shall be entitled to judgment, with costs of suit which, when collected, shall be added to the principal of the township fund.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-14

    (105 ILCS 5/15-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-14)
    Sec. 15-14. Unsold lands subject to sale thereafter. All lands not sold at public sale, as herein provided for, shall be subject to sale at any time hereafter, at the valuation as provided in Section 15-10, and the county superintendents shall, if possible, sell all such lands at private sale, upon the terms at which they were offered at public sale.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-15

    (105 ILCS 5/15-15) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-15)
    Sec. 15-15. Valuation of unsold land. Where common school lands have been valued under Section 15-10 and have remained unsold for 2 years after having been offered for sale in conformity to this Article, the trustees of schools or township land commissioners where the lands are situated may, without any petition having been filed, vacate the valuation thereof by an order entered in Book A of the county superintendent, and make a new valuation. They shall make a new valuation in the same manner as the former, and shall deliver to the county superintendent a plat of the land at such new valuation with the order of vacation, whereupon the county superintendent shall offer the land for sale as if no former valuation has been made.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-16

    (105 ILCS 5/15-16) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-16)
    Sec. 15-16. Certificate of purchase.
    Upon the completion of every sale the county superintendent shall deliver to the purchaser a certificate of purchase including the name and residence of the purchaser and the price and description of the land.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-17

    (105 ILCS 5/15-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-17)
    Sec. 15-17. Patents.
    Every purchaser of common school lands shall be entitled to a patent from the State, conveying and assuring the title. Patents shall be issued by the Secretary of State from returns made to him by the county superintendent, township land commissioners or county board of school trustees as the case may be. They shall contain a description of the land granted and shall be in the name of and signed by the Governor, with the great seal of State affixed thereto by the Secretary of State, and shall operate to vest in the purchaser a title in fee simple. When patents are so executed the Secretary of State shall note on the list of sales the date of each patent in such manner as to perpetuate the evidence of its date and delivery and thereupon transmit it to the county superintendent of the proper county, to be by him delivered to the patentee, his heirs, or assigns, upon the return of the original certificate of purchase, which certificate, when returned, shall be filed and preserved by the county superintendent. All such patents for school lands, or certified copies thereof from any record legally made, shall, after 10 years from the date of the patent, and such sale having been acquiesced in for 10 years by the inhabitants of the township in which the land so conveyed is situated, be conclusive evidence as to the legality of the sale, and that the title to such land was, at the date of patent, legally vested in the patentee.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-18

    (105 ILCS 5/15-18) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-18)
    Sec. 15-18. Copies of lost certificates or patents.
    Purchasers of common school lands, and their heirs or assigns, may obtain certified copies or certificates of purchase and patents upon filing an affidavit with the county superintendent in respect to certificates and with the Secretary of State in respect to patents, proving the loss or destruction of the originals, which copies shall have the effect of originals.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-19

    (105 ILCS 5/15-19) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-19)
    Sec. 15-19. Dedication of streets and highways.
    The trustees of schools or township land commissioners may dedicate to public use for street and highway purposes as much of the unimproved common school lands as may be necessary to open or extend any street or highway which may be ordered by the municipal authorities to be opened or extended, if they are of the opinion that the benefit to accrue from the opening or extending of such street or highway will compensate for the strip so dedicated. It is unlawful for any street or other railroad company to lay tracks on any strip of the common school lands so dedicated, or use them or any part thereof for railroad or street railroad purposes, except upon the purchase or lease thereof from the proper authorities or upon payment to the school fund of the township of the value of such use or land the same as if no street or highway had been laid out thereon, to be determined by condemnation proceedings. This section does not affect existing leases or contracts for the lease or purchase of common school lands.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-20

    (105 ILCS 5/15-20) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-20)
    Sec. 15-20. Books to be kept.
    The county superintendent shall keep 3 books, to be known and designated by the letters A, B, and C. In book A he shall record at length all petitions presented to him for the sale of common school lands, the plats and certificates of valuation made by or under the direction of the trustees of schools, or the township land commissioners, and the affidavits in relation to the same. In book B he shall keep an account of all sales of common school lands, including the date of sale, name of purchaser, description of land sold and the selling price. In book C he shall keep a regular account of all moneys received or paid out; from whom received, on what account, showing whether it is principal or interest, the rate of interest, and a description of the real estate taken as security; if paid out, to whom, when, and on what account, the amount of the sales and the account of each township fund to be kept separate.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-21

    (105 ILCS 5/15-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-21)
    Sec. 15-21. Statements to be presented.
    At the regular meeting of the county board in each year the county superintendent shall present, first, a statement showing the sales of school lands made subsequent to the first regular term of the previous year, which shall be a copy of the sale book (book B); second, a statement of the amount of money received, paid, and in hand, belonging to each township or fund under his control, the statement of each fund to be separate; third, a statement copied from his loan book (book C), showing all the facts in regard to loans which are required to be stated in the loan book.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-22

    (105 ILCS 5/15-22) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-22)
    Sec. 15-22. Record of report and statement.
    The county clerk shall record and preserve the report of the county superintendent made to the county board at its first regular meeting in each year relating to the sale of school lands, the amount of money received, paid, loaned out and on hand, belonging to each township fund in his control, and the statement copied from the loan book of such county superintendent, showing all the facts in regard to loans which are required to be stated in the loan book.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-23

    (105 ILCS 5/15-23) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-23)
    Sec. 15-23. Common school lands. The provisions of Sections 15-1 through 15-19, of this Article shall have no application to the sale of any of the common school lands of any township to a school district located within the township for use as a schoolhouse site, and the trustees of schools or township land commissioners in any township in which Section 16 or land granted in lieu thereof remains unsold may sell to the governing body of any such school district any tract of said common school lands where such tract has been legally selected as a schoolhouse site for said district.
    Where any tract of the common school lands of the township has been legally selected as a schoolhouse site by the voters of any school district within the township, the governing body of such school district may adopt a resolution reciting the fact that the voters have legally selected such tract as a schoolhouse site, describing it, setting forth the date of the election and the fact that a majority of the voters voting at the election selected the said tract as a schoolhouse site, and requesting the trustees of schools, or township land commissioners upon payment to them of not to exceed the sum authorized by the voters to be paid for any such tract, to execute an instrument indicating that said trustees of schools or township land commissioners of the township hold title to said tract for the use and benefit of such school district. A certified copy of such resolution shall be filed with the Clerk of the trustees of schools or township land commissioners, and it shall be the duty of said trustees of schools or township land commissioners of such township upon the filing of a certified copy of such resolution with the Clerk of the trustees of schools, or township land commissioners to execute an instrument of conveyance or an instrument of declaration, indicating that they hold title to such property for the use and benefit of said school district, which shall be filed of record in the office of the recorder. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if the school district is a school district located in a Class I county school unit, or if the school district is a school district that has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of a township and the township treasurer under subsection (b) of Section 5-1, the resolution of the school board shall request the trustees of schools, township land commissioners, regional board of school trustees, or other school officials having title to the property, upon payment to them of not to exceed the sum authorized by the voters, to deliver to the school board a deed, executed by their president and their clerk or secretary, conveying good legal title to the property selected as a schoolhouse site to the school board of the school district.
(Source: P.A. 88-155.)

105 ILCS 5/15-24

    (105 ILCS 5/15-24) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-24)
    Sec. 15-24. Management of permanent funds. The common school lands and township loanable funds in Class I counties shall be managed and operated by township land commissioners who shall receive no salary. In counties of fewer than 220,000 inhabitants, there shall be 3 land commissioners, who shall be elected in the same manner as provided for the election of school directors, who shall serve the same terms as school directors and shall be organized in the same manner as school directors. In counties having 220,000 inhabitants or more but fewer than 2,000,000 inhabitants, the members of the regional board of school trustees shall be the township land commissioners, except that township land commissioners elected in any such county prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1963 shall continue to serve until the end of the term for which they were elected. The township land commissioners shall hold title to, manage and operate all common school lands and township loanable funds of such township and receive the rents, issues and profits therefrom. Elections shall be conducted in accordance with the general election law. The land commissioners shall appoint a treasurer for a term of 2 years and fix his salary which shall not be changed during such term. The proceeds of the rents, issues and profits from such land and fund shall be promptly deposited with him upon its receipt by the land commissioners. After the payment of the necessary expenses incidental to the operation of such land and fund by orders drawn on the treasurer and signed by the president and secretary of the land commissioners, including actual expenses of the land commissioners, the net income from such land and fund including accumulated income undistributed at the effective date of this Act shall, upon an order drawn by such treasurer and signed by the president and secretary of such township land commissioners be distributed annually on or before February 1 as provided in this Act.
(Source: P.A. 86-225.)

105 ILCS 5/15-25

    (105 ILCS 5/15-25) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-25)
    Sec. 15-25. Reports of treasurer.
    The treasurer of the township land commissioners shall with respect to the common school lands and township loanable fund held by them make the reports to them required to be made by township treasurers to township school trustees, give bond as required of township treasurers, and perform the duties and exercise the powers of township treasurers.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-26

    (105 ILCS 5/15-26) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-26)
    Sec. 15-26. Liquidation of permanent fund. Upon a petition signed by at least one hundred voters of any school township filed with the regional superintendent of schools asking that the permanent funds of such township be liquidated and distributed to the schools of said township, said regional superintendent of schools shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities for submission to the electorate at a regular scheduled election in said township the proposition to liquidate such permanent funds and distribute the proceeds thereof to the schools of the said school township. Such funds may be deposited by the district either in the educational or operations and maintenance fund, or in both in such proportion as the school board shall determine. If the said proposition receives a majority of the votes cast upon such proposition the township land commissioners shall proceed to sell the lands included in the assets of the permanent fund and liquidate the permanent funds of said school township and distribute same in the manner provided in this Article; if the average income from the permanent funds of any school township for a period of three years amounts to less than $2500 the regional board of school trustees or the township land commissioners shall proceed forthwith to liquidate such funds and sell the lands included in the assets of the permanent fund without any petition or election.
    The expenses of liquidation shall be paid out of the moneys obtained from the liquidation. Upon completion of every sale of lands the township land commissioners or the regional board of school trustees, as the case may be, shall deliver to the purchaser a certificate of purchase including the name and residence of the purchaser and the price and description of the land.
(Source: P.A. 86-970.)

105 ILCS 5/15-27

    (105 ILCS 5/15-27) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-27)
    Sec. 15-27. Audit. In the month of July of each year and at such other times as they may think necessary the township land commissioners shall cause an audit to be made by a public accountant of all funds under their jurisdiction. A certified copy of such annual audit shall be filed with the regional superintendent of schools and the State Board of Education by October 15 each year.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/15-28

    (105 ILCS 5/15-28) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-28)
    Sec. 15-28. Township land commissioners successors to trustees of schools. The township land commissioners elected under the provisions of this Article shall be the successors to the trustees of schools elected under "An Act in relation to the establishment, operation and maintenance of public schools, providing for the transportation of and scholarships in institutions of higher learning for students of all schools, and to repeal certain acts herein named", approved March 18, 1961, as amended with respect to the common school lands and township loanable fund of the township. All rights of property of the common school lands and causes of action existing or vested in the trustees of schools elected under such Act as amended shall vest in the township land commissioners as successors in as complete a manner as they were vested in the trustees of schools elected under such Act as amended. All records, moneys, securities and other assets of the common school lands of the several school townships in the county and any obligations owing to such school townships shall be transferred by the several boards of township trustees to the township land commissioners. Such township land commissioners are empowered to receive such records and assets. All assets so received shall be credited to the respective school township from which they were received.
    The township land commissioners shall designate a depositary for their treasurer in the manner provided in Section 8-7 of this Act insofar as applicable.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 509.)

105 ILCS 5/15-29

    (105 ILCS 5/15-29) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-29)
    Sec. 15-29. Bond.
    It shall be the duty of the township land commissioners to examine the bond of its treasurer and if found to be in proper form in the proper amount with good and sufficient securities to approve same. If at any time the said township land commissioners deem it necessary it shall require its treasurer to execute a new bond but the execution of such new bond shall not affect the old bond or the liabilities of the sureties thereon.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-30

    (105 ILCS 5/15-30) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-30)
    Sec. 15-30. Liability of township land commissioners.
    If the township land commissioners fail to observe the provisions of this Act in reference to the distribution of funds and property, they shall be individually and jointly liable to the district interested in a civil action to the full amount of the damages sustained by the district aggrieved.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/15-31

    (105 ILCS 5/15-31) (from Ch. 122, par. 15-31)
    Sec. 15-31. Disposition of funds upon liquidation of permanent funds. Any funds received as the result of the liquidation of the permanent funds belonging to any school township shall after the payment of the necessary expenses connected therewith be apportioned and distributed to the school districts or parts of districts of such township -- including, in the case of the liquidation of the permanent funds belonging to any school township in a Class II county school unit, any school district located in such township which theretofore withdrew from the jurisdiction and authority of the trustees of schools of that township and from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer as provided in subsection (b) of Section 5-1 -- in which schools have been kept as required by law during the preceding year ending June 30 according to the number of pupils in average daily attendance in grades one to eight, each inclusive, and upon the completion of such liquidation and distribution and the submission of all reports required by law the office of township land commissioners and their treasurer in such township shall terminate.
(Source: P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 15A

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 15A heading)
ARTICLE 15A. SCHOOL DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACTS
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/15A-1

    (105 ILCS 5/15A-1)
    Sec. 15A-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the School Design-Build Authorization Law.
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/15A-5

    (105 ILCS 5/15A-5)
    Sec. 15A-5. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to authorize school districts to use design-build processes to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of delivering public projects.
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/15A-10

    (105 ILCS 5/15A-10)
    Sec. 15A-10. Definitions. As used in this Article:
    "Delivery system" means the design and construction approach used to develop and construct a project.
    "Design-build" means a delivery system that provides responsibility within a single contract for the furnishing of architecture, engineering, land surveying, and related services, as required, and the labor, materials, equipment, and other construction services for the project.
    "Design-build contract" means a contract for a public project under this Article between a school district and a design-build entity to furnish: architecture, engineering, land surveying, public art or interpretive exhibits, and related services, as required, and the labor, materials, equipment, and other construction services for the project.
    "Design-build entity" means an individual, sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, corporation, professional corporation, or other entity that proposes to design and construct any public project under this Article.
    "Design professional" means an individual, sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, corporation, professional corporation, or other entity that offers services under the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989, the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989, or the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of 1989.
    "Evaluation criteria" means the requirements for the separate phases of the selection process as set forth in this Article and may include the specialized experience, technical qualifications and competence, capacity to perform, past performance, experience with similar projects, assignment of personnel to the project, and other appropriate factors.
    "Proposal" means the offer to enter into a design-build contract as submitted by a design-build entity in accordance with this Article.
    "Public art designer" means an individual, sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, corporation, professional corporation, or other entity that has demonstrated experience with the design and fabrication of public art, including any media that has been planned and executed with the intention of being staged in the physical public domain outside and accessible to all or any art that is exhibited in a public space, including publicly accessible buildings, or interpretive exhibits, including communication media that is designed to engage, excite, inform, relate, or reveal the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of a topic or story being presented.
    "Request for proposal" means the document used by the school district to solicit proposals for a design-build contract.
    "Scope and performance criteria" means the requirements for the public project, such as the intended usage, capacity, size, scope, quality and performance standards, life-cycle costs, and other programmatic criteria that are expressed in performance-oriented and quantifiable specifications and drawings that can be reasonably inferred and are suited to allow a design-build entity to develop a proposal.
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/15A-15

    (105 ILCS 5/15A-15)
    Sec. 15A-15. Solicitation of proposals.
    (a) A school district may enter into design-build contracts. In addition to the requirements set forth by the school board, if the school district elects to use the design-build delivery method, it must issue a notice of intent to receive proposals for the project at least 14 days before issuing the request for the proposal. The school district must publish the advance notice in the manner prescribed by the school board, which must include posting the advance notice online on its website. The school district may publish the notice in construction industry publications or post the notice on construction industry websites. A brief description of the proposed procurement must be included in the notice. The school district must provide a copy of the request for proposal to any party requesting a copy.
    (b) The request for proposal must be prepared for each project and must contain, without limitation, the following information:
        (1) The name of the school district.
        (2) A preliminary schedule for the completion of the
    
contract.
        (3) The proposed budget for the project, the source
    
of funds, and the currently available funds at the time the request for proposal is submitted.
        (4) Prequalification criteria for design-build
    
entities wishing to submit proposals. The school district must include, at a minimum, its normal qualifications, licensing, registration, and other requirements; however, nothing precludes the use of additional prequalification criteria by the school district.
        (5) Material requirements of the contract, such as
    
the proposed terms and conditions, required performance and payment bonds, insurance, and the entity's plan to comply with the utilization goals for business enterprises established in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act and with Section 2-105 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
        (6) The performance criteria.
        (7) The evaluation criteria for each phase of the
    
solicitation. Price may not be used as a factor in the evaluation of Phase I proposals.
        (8) The number of entities that will be considered
    
for the technical and cost evaluation phase.
    (c) The school district may include any other relevant information that it chooses to supply. The design-build entity may rely upon the accuracy of this documentation in the development of its proposal.
    (d) The date that proposals are due must be at least 21 calendar days after the date of the issuance of the request for proposal. If the cost of the project is estimated to exceed $12,000,000, then the proposal due date must be at least 28 calendar days after the date of the issuance of the request for proposal. The school district must include in the request for proposal a minimum of 30 days to develop the Phase II submissions after the selection of entities from the Phase I evaluation is completed.
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/15A-20

    (105 ILCS 5/15A-20)
    Sec. 15A-20. Development of scope and performance criteria.
    (a) The school district must develop, with the assistance of a licensed design professional or public art designer, a request for proposal, which must include scope and performance criteria. The scope and performance criteria must be in sufficient detail and contain adequate information to reasonably apprise the qualified design-build entities of the school district's overall programmatic needs and goals, including criteria, general budget parameters, schedule, and delivery requirements.
    (b) Each request for proposal must also include a description of the level of design to be provided in the proposals. This description must include the scope and type of renderings, drawings, and specifications that, at a minimum, will be required by the school district to be produced by the design-build entities.
    (c) The scope and performance criteria must be prepared by a design professional or public art designer who is an employee of the school district, or the school district may contract with an independent design professional or public art designer selected under the Local Government Professional Services Selection Act to provide these services.
    (d) The design professional or public art designer that prepares the scope and performance criteria is prohibited from participating in any design-build entity proposal for the project.
    (e) The design-build contract may be conditioned upon subsequent refinements in scope and price and may allow the school district to make modifications in the project scope without invalidating the design-build contract.
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/15A-25

    (105 ILCS 5/15A-25)
    Sec. 15A-25. Procedures for selection.
    (a) The school district must use a 2-phase procedure for the selection of the successful design-build entity. Phase I of the procedure must evaluate and shortlist the design-build entities based on qualifications, and Phase II must evaluate the technical and cost proposals.
    (b) The school district must include in the request for proposal the evaluating factors to be used in Phase I. These factors are in addition to any prequalification requirements of design-build entities that the school district has set forth. Each request for proposal must establish the relative importance assigned to each evaluation factor and subfactor, including any weighting of criteria to be employed by the school district. The school district must maintain a record of the evaluation scoring to be disclosed in event of a protest regarding the solicitation.
    The school district must include the following criteria in every Phase I evaluation of design-build entities:
        (1) experience of personnel;
        (2) successful experience with similar project types;
        (3) financial capability;
        (4) timeliness of past performance;
        (5) experience with similarly sized projects;
        (6) successful reference checks of the firm;
        (7) commitment to assign personnel for the duration
    
of the project and qualifications of the entity's consultants; and
        (8) ability or past performance in meeting or
    
exhausting good faith efforts to meet the utilization goals for business enterprises established in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act and with Section 2-105 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
    The school district may include any additional, relevant criteria in Phase I that it deems necessary for a proper qualification review.
    The school district may not consider a design-build entity for evaluation or an award if the entity has any pecuniary interest in the project or has other relationships or circumstances, such as long-term leasehold, mutual performance, or development contracts with the school district, that may give the design-build entity a financial or tangible advantage over other design-build entities in the preparation, evaluation, or performance of the design-build contract or that create the appearance of impropriety. A design-build entity shall not be disqualified under this Section solely due to having previously been awarded a project or projects under any applicable public procurement law of the State. No proposal may be considered that does not include an entity's plan to comply with the requirements established in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act, for both the design and construction areas of performance, and with Section 2-105 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
    Upon completion of the qualification evaluation, the school district must create a shortlist of the most highly qualified design-build entities. The school district, in its discretion, is not required to shortlist the maximum number of entities as identified for Phase II evaluation if no less than 2 design-build entities nor more than 6 are selected to submit Phase II proposals. If a school district receives one response to Phase I, nothing herein shall prohibit the school district from proceeding with a Phase II evaluation of the single respondent, if the school district, in its discretion, finds proceeding to be in its best interest.
    The school district must notify the entities selected for the shortlist in writing. This notification must commence the period for the preparation of the Phase II technical and cost evaluations. The school district must allow sufficient time for the shortlist entities to prepare their Phase II submittals considering the scope and detail requested by the school district.
    (c) The school district must include in the request for proposal the evaluating factors to be used in the technical and cost submission components of Phase II. Each request for proposal must establish, for both the technical and cost submission components of Phase II, the relative importance assigned to each evaluation factor and subfactor, including any weighting of criteria to be employed by the school district. The school district must maintain a record of the evaluation scoring to be disclosed in event of a protest regarding the solicitation.
    The school district must include the following criteria in every Phase II technical evaluation of design-build entities:
        (1) compliance with objectives of the project;
        (2) compliance of proposed services to the request
    
for proposal requirements;
        (3) quality of products or materials proposed;
        (4) quality of design parameters;
        (5) design concepts;
        (6) innovation in meeting the scope and performance
    
criteria; and
        (7) constructability of the proposed project.
    The school district may include any additional relevant technical evaluation factors it deems necessary for proper selection.
    The school district must include the following criteria in every Phase II cost evaluation: the total project cost, the construction costs, and the time of completion. The school district may include any additional relevant technical evaluation factors it deems necessary for proper selection. The total project cost criteria weighting factor may not exceed 30%.
    The school district must directly employ or retain a licensed design professional or a public art designer to evaluate the technical and cost submissions to determine if the technical submissions are in accordance with generally accepted industry standards. Upon completion of the technical submissions and cost submissions evaluation, the school district may award the design-build contract to the highest overall ranked entity.
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/15A-30

    (105 ILCS 5/15A-30)
    Sec. 15A-30. Small projects. In any case in which the total overall cost of the project is estimated to be $12,000,000 or less, the school district may combine the 2-phase procedure for selection described in Section 15A-25 into one combined step if all the requirements of evaluation are performed in accordance with Section 15A-25.
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/15A-35

    (105 ILCS 5/15A-35)
    Sec. 15A-35. Submission of proposals. Proposals must be properly identified and sealed. Proposals may not be reviewed until after the deadline for submission has passed as set forth in the request for proposal.
    Proposals must include a bid bond in the form and security as designated in the request for proposal. Proposals must also contain a separate sealed envelope with the cost information within the overall proposal submission. Proposals must include a list of all design professionals, public art designers, and other entities to which any work may be subcontracted during the performance of the contract.
    Proposals must meet all material requirements of the request for proposal, or they may be rejected as nonresponsive. The school district may reject any and all proposals.
    The drawings and specifications of the proposal may remain the property of the design-build entity.
    The school district must review the proposals for compliance with the performance criteria and evaluation factors.
    Proposals may be withdrawn prior to evaluation for any cause. After evaluation begins by the school district, clear and convincing evidence of error is required for withdrawal.
    After a response to a request for qualifications or a request for proposal has been submitted under this Section, a design-build entity may not replace, remove, or otherwise modify any firm identified as a member of the proposer's team unless authorized to do so by the school district.
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/15A-40

    (105 ILCS 5/15A-40)
    Sec. 15A-40. Award; performance. The school district may award the contract to the highest overall ranked design-build entity. Notice of award must be made in writing. Unsuccessful design-build entities must also be notified in writing. The school district may not request a best and final offer after the receipt of proposals of all qualified design-build entities. The school district may negotiate with the selected design-build entity after the award, but prior to contract execution, for the purpose of securing better terms than originally proposed if the salient features of the request for proposal are not diminished.
    A design-build entity and associated design professionals must conduct themselves in accordance with the relevant laws of this State and the related provisions of the Illinois Administrative Code.
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/15A-45

    (105 ILCS 5/15A-45)
    Sec. 15A-45. Evaluation and report. At the end of every 6-month period following the contract award, and again prior to final contract payout and closure, a selected design-build entity must detail, in a written report submitted to the school district, its efforts and success in implementing the entity's plan to comply with the utilization goals for business enterprises established in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act and the provisions of Section 2-105 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/15A-50

    (105 ILCS 5/15A-50)
    Sec. 15A-50. Exception. Nothing in this Article prevents a school district from using a qualification-based selection process for design professionals or construction managers for design-build projects.
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/15A-90

    (105 ILCS 5/15A-90)
    Sec. 15A-90. Severability. The provisions of this Article are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
(Source: P.A. 103-491, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 16

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 16 heading)
ARTICLE 16. GIFTS--USE OF SITES--PLAYGROUNDS

105 ILCS 5/16-1

    (105 ILCS 5/16-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 16-1)
    Sec. 16-1. Gifts - Vested in school board. Whenever any grant, gift, donation or legacy of real or personal property has been or shall be, directly or indirectly, made to or for the use of any public school district or attendance center and the deed, will or other instrument by which such grant, gift, donation, or legacy is made declares in terms or in substance that such property shall be held, managed, improved and invested or otherwise disposed of for the use and benefit of the public schools in such district or an individual attendance center, the title to such property shall be vested in the school board of such district for use in whatever manner the board shall choose and shall be held, managed, improved, invested or disposed of by such board in such manner as the board, in its discretion, sees fit; provided, however, when the person making such a grant, gift, donation, or legacy expresses in the instrument by which it was made an intention that it shall be used for a certain purpose, the school board shall promote and carry into effect such intention until the board determines in its discretion that it is no longer possible, practical or prudent to do so.
    This Section does not apply in any case where the deed, will or other instrument effectively vests the title and control of such property in a trustee or grantee named in such instrument unless the trustee or grantee is incapable of taking or administering the trust, or refuses or fails to accept the trust, in which case the title and control thereof shall vest as provided in the preceding paragraph.
    This Section does not validate any legacy which but for this enactment would have been invalid.
(Source: P.A. 86-171.)

105 ILCS 5/16-2

    (105 ILCS 5/16-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 16-2)
    Sec. 16-2. Joint use of site and building. Whenever the school boards of two or more school districts have agreed upon the joint use of any school site and compensation to be paid therefor, and any such site has been selected in the manner required by law, it is lawful for such districts to use the same school site and after payment of the compensation, the trustees of schools of the township or regional board of school trustees, as the case may be, by proper instrument in writing shall declare that title to such site is held for the joint use of such districts according to the terms of such agreement, and such districts shall be further authorized to construct, maintain and use a building jointly for the benefit of the inhabitants thereof. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section:
    (1) If legal title to the selected site is held in the name of the school board of a school district that has agreed to the joint use of the site with any other school districts, and if those other school districts are also districts whose school boards, under subsection (a) of Section 10-22.35B of this Code, are to hold legal title to school buildings and school sites of the district, then upon the execution of the agreement and payment of the compensation in accordance with the terms of the agreement the school boards of the districts shall be deemed to hold legal title to the site as tenants in common, and the required deed or deeds of conveyance shall be executed and delivered by the president and secretary or clerk of the school boards to reflect that legal title to the selected site is held in that manner.
    (2) If one more but not all of the school boards that are party to the agreement are school boards that, under subsection (a) of Section 10-22.35B of this Code, are to hold legal title to the school buildings and school sites of the district, the interest in the selected site of each school board that is to hold legal title to the school buildings and school sites of the district shall be that of a tenant in common; and the required deed or deeds of conveyance shall be executed and delivered by the president and secretary or clerk of the trustees of schools of the township, regional board of school trustees, township land commissioners, or school boards, as the case may be, to reflect that tenancy in common interest of the appropriate school board or school boards with the trustees of schools of the township, regional board of school trustees or township land commissioners, as the case may be, in the legal title to the selected site.
(Source: P.A. 100-374, eff. 8-25-17.)

105 ILCS 5/16-3

    (105 ILCS 5/16-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 16-3)
    Sec. 16-3. Transfer of site to purchasing district. Whenever the school board of any school district determines that any schoolhouse site with or without a building thereon is of no further use to the district and agrees with the school board of any other school district, within or adjacent to the boundaries of which the site is situated, upon the sale thereof to such district and the price to be paid therefor, and such sites are selected by the purchasing district in the manner prescribed by law, after the payment of the compensation the trustees of schools of the township, regional board of school trustees, township land commissioners, or school board having legal title to the site shall, by proper deed of conveyance or instrument in writing, convey legal title to, or transfer the use of the site to, the purchasing district in accordance with applicable provisions of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 88-155.)

105 ILCS 5/16-4

    (105 ILCS 5/16-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 16-4)
    Sec. 16-4. Building jointly used - Sale of interest - Additions and enlargements. Whenever two school districts situated adjacent to one another or comprising the same or partly the same territory have a school site with buildings thereon, owned by one of the districts but used under agreement by both, the district owning the site and buildings may sell to the other, and the other district has the right to purchase, an equal or any other interest in the site and buildings under an agreement between the two; and upon the execution of the agreement and the acquiring the title to the interest by the purchasing district, the two districts shall be deemed to hold title to the premises as tenants in common; and thereafter the school districts, or either of them, may, under appropriate terms in the first agreement, or under a new agreement entered into by them, add to and enlarge any parts of the buildings, if deemed necessary for the uses of the districts or either of them, and by such sole or mutual expenditure of funds as may be nominated by the terms of the agreement between the districts, and the expenditures shall in no way change the individual interests of the districts in the premises unless otherwise expressly so provided by the terms of the agreement.
(Source: P.A. 81-1541.)

105 ILCS 5/16-5

    (105 ILCS 5/16-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 16-5)
    Sec. 16-5. Agreement for joint use of property.
    Prior to the third Saturday of August of any year the school board of any district which does not by itself maintain a high school may enter into an agreement with any township high school board of education or the school board of any other high school district, by which agreement grade school or high school property, real or personal, owned by or held for the use of either district within territory included in both districts may be used jointly for school purposes by both such districts in the manner provided in the agreement. If such school district has a population of 1000 or more, and if legal title to any real property affected by the agreement is not held by the school board of a school district that is party to the agreement, the agreement shall be invalid unless prior to such third Saturday of August the written consent of the trustees of schools of the township or townships, regional board of school trustees, or township land commissioners holding legal title to the property affected by the agreement is first obtained.
(Source: P.A. 88-155.)

105 ILCS 5/16-6

    (105 ILCS 5/16-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 16-6)
    Sec. 16-6. Compensation determined under eminent domain.
    Whenever any lot or parcel of land is needed by any university, college, township high school or other educational institution established and supported by this State or by a township therein, or by a school district, as a site for a building or for any educational purpose, including sites purchased under authority of Section 10-22.31b, and compensation for the lot or parcel of land cannot be agreed upon between the owners thereof and the trustees, board of education, or other corporate authority of the educational institution, or school district, the corporate authority of the educational institution or school district may have the compensation determined in the manner provided by law for the exercise of the right of eminent domain. In Class I counties and in any school district which is situated in a Class II county school unit but which no longer is subject to the jurisdiction and authority of a township treasurer or trustees of schools of a township because the district has withdrawn from the jurisdiction and authority of the township treasurer and trustees of schools of the township or because those offices have been abolished as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of Section 5-1, the school board shall engage counsel, pay all expenses and institute suit without any authorization by the regional board of school trustees; and the proceedings shall be in the name of the school board for the use of the school district. But no tract of land outside the limits of any incorporated city or village and within 40 rods of the dwelling of the owner of the land shall be taken by the board of directors created in Section 10-1 of this Act without the owner's consent: provided, however, that a tract of land outside the limits of any incorporated city or village lying not less than 200 feet from the dwelling of the owner of the land which adjoins and is adjacent to a school site being used for school purposes may be taken by the board in the manner provided by law for the exercise of the right of eminent domain for the purpose of enlarging such school site for educational and recreational purposes.
(Source: P.A. 87-473; 88-155.)

105 ILCS 5/16-7

    (105 ILCS 5/16-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 16-7)
    Sec. 16-7. Playgrounds, recreation grounds and athletic fields. Any school district organized and existing under the general law or by special charter having a population of not more than 500,000 inhabitants may acquire real estate by gift, donation, legacy, purchase or otherwise and hold it for the purpose of establishing playgrounds, recreation grounds and athletic fields, and may equip, operate and maintain such playgrounds, recreation grounds and athletic fields, the cost of such acquiring and equipping to be paid either from the proceeds of bonds issued for that purpose or out of the operations and maintenance fund, and the cost of such maintaining and operating to be paid from the educational fund, of the district. Such real estate need not be contiguous to any other school property or real estate owned by the school district.
(Source: P.A. 86-970.)

105 ILCS 5/16-8

    (105 ILCS 5/16-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 16-8)
    Sec. 16-8. Supervision - Personnel - Police control. The school board of any such school district acquiring real estate and equipping, operating and maintaining it for the purposes provided in Section 16-7 shall have supervision over such playgrounds, recreation grounds or athletic fields, may employ play leaders, playground directors, supervisors, recreation superintendents or athletic directors therefor, and may take such steps to provide for the protection, sanitation, care and management thereof as it deems appropriate.
    If real estate and improvements thereon, including buildings, parking lots, other improvements and equipment so acquired lies partly or wholly outside and within 1 mile of the corporate limits of any city, village or incorporated town situated in such district, such city, village or incorporated town may exercise police control and protection over such real estate and improvements thereon, including buildings, parking lots, other improvements and equipment in the same manner and to the same extent that such city, village or incorporated town would exercise police control and protection thereover if such real estate and improvements thereon, including buildings, parking lots, other improvements and equipment were situated within the corporate limits thereof.
(Source: P.A. 86-1304.)

105 ILCS 5/16-9

    (105 ILCS 5/16-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 16-9)
    Sec. 16-9. Transfers to municipal corporations.
    School districts and boards of education may also transfer real estate in accordance with the provisions of "An Act in relation to the transfer of real estate owned by municipalities", approved July 2, 1925, as amended, title approved May 8, 1947.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 506.)

105 ILCS 5/16-10

    (105 ILCS 5/16-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 16-10)
    Sec. 16-10. Fire protection.
    If the location of any public school building is not within any municipality or fire protection district, fire protection service for such building shall be provided by that municipality or fire protection district which maintains the facility for fire fighting equipment which lies closest to such building. The school district shall pay to the municipality or fire protection district, as the case may be, the reasonable cost of such service. If the respective corporate authorities of the school district and of the municipality or fire protection district are unable to agree on the cost of such service, the cost shall be determined by a civil action in the circuit court of the circuit in which the school building is located.
(Source: P.A. 76-1790.)

105 ILCS 5/Art. 17

 
    (105 ILCS 5/Art. 17 heading)
ARTICLE 17. BUDGETS--TAX RATES--TAX WARRANTS

105 ILCS 5/17-1

    (105 ILCS 5/17-1) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-1)
    Sec. 17-1. Annual budget. The board of education of each school district under 500,000 inhabitants shall, within or before the first quarter of each fiscal year, adopt and file with the State Board of Education an annual balanced budget which it deems necessary to defray all necessary expenses and liabilities of the district, and in such annual budget shall specify the objects and purposes of each item and amount needed for each object or purpose.
    The budget shall be entered upon a School District Budget form prepared and provided by the State Board of Education and therein shall contain a statement of the cash on hand at the beginning of the fiscal year, an estimate of the cash expected to be received during such fiscal year from all sources, an estimate of the expenditures contemplated for such fiscal year, and a statement of the estimated cash expected to be on hand at the end of such year. The estimate of taxes to be received may be based upon the amount of actual cash receipts that may reasonably be expected by the district during such fiscal year, estimated from the experience of the district in prior years and with due regard for other circumstances that may substantially affect such receipts. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as requiring any district to change or preventing any district from changing from a cash basis of financing to a surplus or deficit basis of financing; or as requiring any district to change or preventing any district from changing its system of accounting. The budget shall conform to the requirements adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 2-3.28 of this Code.
    To the extent that a school district's budget is not balanced, the district shall also adopt and file with the State Board of Education a deficit reduction plan to balance the district's budget within 3 years. The deficit reduction plan must be filed at the same time as the budget, but the State Superintendent of Education may extend this deadline if the situation warrants.
    If, as the result of an audit performed in compliance with Section 3-7 of this Code, the resulting Annual Financial Report required to be submitted pursuant to Section 3-15.1 of this Code reflects a deficit as defined for purposes of the preceding paragraph, then the district shall, within 30 days after acceptance of such audit report, submit a deficit reduction plan.
    The board of education of each district shall fix a fiscal year therefor. If the beginning of the fiscal year of a district is subsequent to the time that the tax levy due to be made in such fiscal year shall be made, then such annual budget shall be adopted prior to the time such tax levy shall be made. The failure by a board of education of any district to adopt an annual budget, or to comply in any respect with the provisions of this Section, shall not affect the validity of any tax levy of the district otherwise in conformity with the law. With respect to taxes levied either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 91st General Assembly, (i) a tax levy is made for the fiscal year in which the levy is due to be made regardless of which fiscal year the proceeds of the levy are expended or are intended to be expended, and (ii) except as otherwise provided by law, a board of education's adoption of an annual budget in conformity with this Section is not a prerequisite to the adoption of a valid tax levy and is not a limit on the amount of the levy.
    Such budget shall be prepared in tentative form by some person or persons designated by the board, and in such tentative form shall be made conveniently available to public inspection for at least 30 days prior to final action thereon. At least 1 public hearing shall be held as to such budget prior to final action thereon. Notice of availability for public inspection and of such public hearing shall be given by publication in a newspaper published in such district, at least 30 days prior to the time of such hearing. If there is no newspaper published in such district, notice of such public hearing shall be given by posting notices thereof in 5 of the most public places in such district. It shall be the duty of the secretary of such board to make such tentative budget available to public inspection, and to arrange for such public hearing. The board may from time to time make transfers between the various items in any fund not exceeding in the aggregate 10% of the total of such fund as set forth in the budget. The board may from time to time amend such budget by the same procedure as is herein provided for its original adoption.
    Beginning July 1, 1976, the board of education, or regional superintendent, or governing board responsible for the administration of a joint agreement shall, by September 1 of each fiscal year thereafter, adopt an annual budget for the joint agreement in the same manner and subject to the same requirements as are provided in this Section.
    The State Board of Education shall exercise powers and duties relating to budgets as provided in Section 2-3.27 of this Code and shall require school districts to submit their annual budgets, deficit reduction plans, and other financial information, including revenue and expenditure reports and borrowing and interfund transfer plans, in such form and within the timelines designated by the State Board of Education.
    By fiscal year 1982 all school districts shall use the Program Budget Accounting System.
    In the case of a school district receiving emergency State financial assistance under Article 1B, the school board shall also be subject to the requirements established under Article 1B with respect to the annual budget.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/17-1.1

    (105 ILCS 5/17-1.1)
    Sec. 17-1.1. Shared service reporting and fiscal efficiency.
    (a) Annually, each school district shall complete a report developed by the State Board of Education, to accompany the annual financial report and to be published on the State Board of Education's Internet website, that summarizes district attempts to improve fiscal efficiency through shared services or outsourcing in the prior fiscal year. The report must be primarily in checklist form and approximately one page in length. It shall include, but shall not be limited to, the incidence of the following shared service options: insurance; employee benefits; transportation; personnel recruitment; shared personnel; technology services; energy purchasing; supply and equipment purchasing; food services; legal services; investment pools; special education cooperatives, vocational cooperatives, and other shared educational programs; curriculum planning; professional development; custodial services; maintenance services; grounds maintenance services; food services; grant writing; and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program offerings. The report shall also include a list of potential shared services or outsourcing the district may consider or investigate for the next fiscal year and any anticipated barriers to implementation. This report must be approved by the school board at an open meeting that allows for public comment, and it shall be published on the Internet website of the school district, if any.
    (b) Based on data supplied by school districts through the annual financial report, regional superintendents of schools shall publish annually a regional report summarizing district attempts to improve fiscal efficiency through shared services or outsourcing within the educational service region. This report shall include a list of all joint purchasing initiatives, joint agreements between districts, attempts to reduce or eliminate duplication of services and duplicative expenditures, and identification of any overlapping regional service delivery systems.
    (c) For school districts required to develop and submit to the State Board of Education a deficit reduction plan under Section 17-1 of this Code, the regional superintendent of schools and the school district shall jointly prepare a shared services and outsourcing plan that considers actions that may improve the district's fiscal efficiency and how future savings associated with shared services or outsourcing are to be utilized.
(Source: P.A. 102-1088, eff. 6-10-22.)

105 ILCS 5/17-1.2

    (105 ILCS 5/17-1.2)
    Sec. 17-1.2. Post annual budget on web site. If a school district has an Internet web site, the school district shall post its current annual budget, itemized by receipts and expenditures, on the district's Internet web site. The budget shall include information conforming to the rules adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 2-3.28 of this Code. The school district shall notify the parents or guardians of its students that the budget has been posted on the district's web site and what the web site's address is.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/17-1.3

    (105 ILCS 5/17-1.3)
    Sec. 17-1.3. Disclosure of cash balance. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each school district shall disclose to the public, at the public hearing at which the district certifies its budget and levy for the taxable year, the cash reserve balance of all funds held by the district related to its operational levy and, if applicable, any obligations secured by those funds.
(Source: P.A. 102-895, eff. 5-23-22.)

105 ILCS 5/17-1.5

    (105 ILCS 5/17-1.5)
    Sec. 17-1.5. Limitation of administrative costs.
    (a) It is the purpose of this Section to establish limitations on the growth of administrative expenditures in order to maximize the proportion of school district resources available for the instructional program, building maintenance, and safety services for the students of each district.
    (b) Definitions. For the purposes of this Section:
    "Administrative expenditures" mean the annual expenditures of school districts properly attributable to expenditure functions defined by the rules of the State Board of Education as: 2320 (Executive Administration Services); 2330 (Special Area Administration Services); 2490 (Other Support Services - School Administration); 2510 (Direction of Business Support Services); 2570 (Internal Services); and 2610 (Direction of Central Support Services); provided, however, that "administrative expenditures" shall not include early retirement or other pension system obligations required by State law.
    "School district" means all school districts having a population of less than 500,000.
    (c) For the 1998-99 school year and each school year thereafter, each school district shall undertake budgetary and expenditure control actions so that the increase in administrative expenditures for that school year over the prior school year does not exceed 5%. School districts with administrative expenditures per pupil in the 25th percentile and below for all districts of the same type, as defined by the State Board of Education, may waive the limitation imposed under this Section for any year following a public hearing and with the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the school board of the district. Any district waiving the limitation shall notify the State Board within 45 days of such action.
    (d) School districts shall file with the State Board of Education by November 15, 1998 and by each November 15th thereafter a one-page report that lists (i) the actual administrative expenditures for the prior year from the district's audited Annual Financial Report, and (ii) the projected administrative expenditures for the current year from the budget adopted by the school board pursuant to Section 17-1 of this Code.
    If a school district that is ineligible to waive the limitation imposed by subsection (c) of this Section by board action exceeds the limitation solely because of circumstances beyond the control of the district and the district has exhausted all available and reasonable remedies to comply with the limitation, the district may request a waiver pursuant to Section 2-3.25g. The waiver application shall specify the amount, nature, and reason for the relief requested, as well as all remedies the district has exhausted to comply with the limitation. Any emergency relief so requested shall apply only to the specific school year for which the request is made. The State Board of Education shall analyze all such waivers submitted and shall recommend that the General Assembly disapprove any such waiver requested that is not due solely to circumstances beyond the control of the district and for which the district has not exhausted all available and reasonable remedies to comply with the limitation. The State Superintendent shall have no authority to impose any sanctions pursuant to this Section for any expenditures for which a waiver has been requested until such waiver has been reviewed by the General Assembly.
    If the report and information required under this subsection (d) are not provided by the school district in a timely manner, or are subsequently determined by the State Superintendent of Education to be incomplete or inaccurate, the State Superintendent shall notify the district in writing of reporting deficiencies. The school district shall, within 60 days of the notice, address the reporting deficiencies identified.
    (e) If the State Superintendent determines that a school district has failed to comply with the administrative expenditure limitation imposed in subsection (c) of this Section, the State Superintendent shall notify the district of the violation and direct the district to undertake corrective action to bring the district's budget into compliance with the administrative expenditure limitation. The district shall, within 60 days of the notice, provide adequate assurance to the State Superintendent that appropriate corrective actions have been or will be taken. If the district fails to provide adequate assurance or fails to undertake the necessary corrective actions, the State Superintendent may impose progressive sanctions against the district that may culminate in withholding all subsequent payments of general State aid due the district under Section 18-8.05 of this Code or evidence-based funding due the district under Section 18-8.15 of this Code until the assurance is provided or the corrective actions taken.
    (f) The State Superintendent shall publish a list each year of the school districts that violate the limitation imposed by subsection (c) of this Section and a list of the districts that waive the limitation by board action as provided in subsection (c) of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/17-1.10

    (105 ILCS 5/17-1.10)
    Sec. 17-1.10. Operational funds expenditure report and reserve reduction plan.
    (a) In the 2024-2025 school year and in each subsequent school year, the school board of any school district that does not receive federal impact aid funding shall calculate the combined, annual average expenditures of its operational funds for the previous 3 fiscal years, as reported in the school district's most recently audited annual financial reports. Operational funds shall include the district's educational, transportation, and operations and maintenance funds. The school board shall annually present a written report covering the annual average expenditures of its operational funds for the previous 3 fiscal years at a board meeting.
    (b) With respect to a school district to which subsection (a) applies, if the school district's combined cash reserve balance of its operational funds, as most recently reported by the district pursuant to Section 17-1.3 of this Code, exceeds 2.5 times the annual average expenditures of its operational funds for the previous 3 fiscal years, the school board shall adopt and file with the State Board of Education by December 31 a written operational funds reserve reduction plan to reduce, within 3 years, the district's combined cash reserve balance of its operational funds to an amount at or below 2.5 times the annual average expenditures of its operational funds for the previous 3 fiscal years. The State Board shall post any operational funds reserve reduction plans received on the State Board's Internet website.
(Source: P.A. 103-394, eff. 7-28-23.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-2)
    Sec. 17-2. Tax levies; purposes; rates. Except as otherwise provided in Articles 12 and 13 of this Act, and except as provided in Section 17-2.2e of this Act, the following maximum rates shall apply to all taxes levied after August 10, 1965, in districts having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants, including those districts organized under Article 11 of the School Code. The school board of any district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants may levy a tax annually, at not to exceed the maximum rates and for the specified purposes, upon all the taxable property of the district at the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue as follows:
        (1) districts maintaining only grades 1 through 8,
    
.92% for educational purposes and .25% for operations and maintenance purposes;
        (2) districts maintaining only grades 9 through 12,
    
.92% for educational purposes and .25% for operations and maintenance purposes;
        (3) districts maintaining grades 1 through 12, 1.63%
    
for the 1985-86 school year, 1.68% for the 1986-87 school year, 1.75% for the 1987-88 school year and 1.84% for the 1988-89 school year and thereafter for educational purposes and .405% for the 1989-90 school year, .435% for the 1990-91 school year, .465% for the 1991-92 school year, and .50% for the 1992-93 school year and thereafter for operations and maintenance purposes;
        (4) all districts, 0.75% for capital improvement
    
purposes (which is in addition to the levy for operations and maintenance purposes), which tax is to be levied, accumulated for not more than 6 years, and spent for capital improvement purposes (including but not limited to the construction of a new school building or buildings or the purchase of school grounds on which any new school building is to be constructed or located, or both) only in accordance with Section 17-2.3 of this Act;
        (5) districts maintaining only grades 1 through 8,
    
.12% for transportation purposes, provided that districts maintaining only grades kindergarten through 8 which have an enrollment of at least 2600 students may levy, subject to Section 17-2.2, at not to exceed a maximum rate of .20% for transportation purposes for any school year in which the number of students requiring transportation in the district exceeds by at least 2% the number of students requiring transportation in the district during the preceding school year, as verified in the district's claim for pupil transportation and reimbursement and as certified by the State Board of Education to the county clerk of the county in which such district is located not later than November 15 following the submission of such claim; districts maintaining only grades 9 through 12, .12% for transportation purposes; and districts maintaining grades 1 through 12, .14% for the 1985-86 school year, .16% for the 1986-87 school year, .18% for the 1987-88 school year and .20% for the 1988-89 school year and thereafter, for transportation purposes;
        (6) districts providing summer classes, .15% for
    
educational purposes, subject to Section 17-2.1 of this Act.
    Whenever any special charter school district operating grades 1 through 12, has organized or shall organize under the general school law, the district so organized may continue to levy taxes at not to exceed the rate at which taxes were last actually extended by the special charter district, except that if such rate at which taxes were last actually extended by such special charter district was less than the maximum rate for districts maintaining grades 1 through 12 authorized under this Section, such special charter district nevertheless may levy taxes at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate for districts maintaining grades 1 through 12 authorized under this Section, and except that if any such district maintains only grades 1 through 8, the board may levy, for educational purposes, at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate for elementary districts authorized under this Section.
    Maximum rates before or after established in excess of those prescribed shall not be affected by the amendatory Act of 1965.
(Source: P.A. 99-908, eff. 12-16-16.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.1

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-2.1)
    Sec. 17-2.1. Tax for summer school purposes. The school board in any district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants may, by proper resolution, cause a proposition to authorize an annual tax, as prescribed in Section 17-2, for summer school educational purposes to be submitted to the voters of such district at a regular scheduled election.
    If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition is in favor thereof, the school board may thereafter levy the tax as authorized.
(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.2

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-2.2)
    Sec. 17-2.2. Back door referendum. Whenever any school district first levies a tax at a rate within the limit prescribed by paragraph (3) of Section 17-2 but in excess of the maximum permissible on July 9, 1957, or within the limit prescribed by paragraph (1) or (2) of Section 17-2 but in excess of the maximum permissible on June 30, 1965, or whenever after August 3, 1989 any school district maintaining only grades kindergarten through 8 first levies a tax for transportation purposes for any school year which is within the limit prescribed for that school year by paragraph (5) of Section 17-2 but in excess of the maximum authorized to be levied for such purposes for the 1988-89 school year, or whenever after August 3, 1989 any school district first levies a tax for operations and maintenance purposes for any school year which is within the limit prescribed for that school year by paragraph (3) of Section 17-2 but in excess of the maximum authorized to be levied for such purposes for the immediately preceding school year, the district shall cause to be published such resolution in at least one or more newspapers published in the district, within 10 days after such levy is made. The publication of the resolution shall include a notice of (1) the specific number of voters required to sign a petition requesting that the question of the adoption of the tax levy be submitted to the voters of the district; (2) the time in which the petition must be filed; and (3) the date of the prospective referendum. The district Secretary shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one. Any taxpayer in such district may, within 30 days after such levy is made, file with the Secretary of the board of education a petition signed by the voters of the district equal to 10% or more of the registered voters of the district requesting the submission to a referendum of the following proposition:
    "Shall school district No..... be authorized to levy a tax for (state purposes) in excess of.... but not to exceed.... as authorized in Section 17-2 of the School Code?" The secretary of the board of education shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities for submission to the electorate at a regular scheduled election in accordance with the general election law.
    If a majority of the voters voting on the proposition vote in favor thereof, such increased tax shall thereafter be authorized; if a majority of the vote is against such proposition, the previous maximum rate authorized shall remain in effect until changed by law.
(Source: P.A. 86-128; 86-134; 86-1028; 86-1334; 87-767.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.2a

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.2a) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-2.2a)
    Sec. 17-2.2a. Tax for special education programs.
    (a) The school board of any district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants may, by proper resolution, levy an annual tax upon the value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, for special education purposes, including the purposes authorized by Section 10-22.31b as follows:
        (1) districts maintaining only grades kindergarten
    
through 8, and prior to July 1, 1970, districts maintaining only grades 1 through 8, .02%;
        (2) districts maintaining only grades 9 through 12,
    
.02%;
        (3) districts maintaining only grades kindergarten
    
through 12, and prior to July 1, 1970, districts maintaining only grades 1 through 12, .04%.
    The revenue raised by such tax shall be used only for special education purposes, including the construction and maintenance of special education facilities.
    Upon proper resolution of the school board, the school district may accumulate such funds for special education building purposes for a period of 8 years.
    Buildings constructed under the provisions of this Section shall comply with the building code authorized under Section 2-3.12.
    If it is no longer feasible or economical to utilize classroom facilities constructed with revenues raised and accumulated by the tax for special education building purposes, the district, or cooperative district by unanimous consent, may with the approval of the regional superintendent of schools and the State Superintendent of Education use such facilities for regular school purposes. The district or cooperative of districts shall make comparable facilities available for special education purposes at another attendance center which is in a more practical location due to the proximity of the students served.
    (b) If the school board of any district that has levied the tax authorized by this Section determines that the accumulated funds from such tax and from the $1,000 State reimbursement per professional worker received under Section 14-13.02 are no longer required for special education building purposes, the board may by proper resolution transfer such funds to any other fund to be used for any special education purposes authorized by Article 14. Such transfer shall not be made until after the regional superintendent has certified to the State Superintendent of Education that adequate housing provisions have been made for all children with disabilities residing in the school district.
    (c) The tax rate limits specified in this Section may be increased to .40% by districts maintaining only grades kindergarten through 8 or only grades 9 through 12, and to .80% by districts maintaining grades kindergarten through 12, upon the approval of a proposition to effect such increase by a majority of the electors voting on such proposition at a regular scheduled election. The proposition may be initiated by resolution of the school board and shall be certified by the secretary to the proper election authorities for submission in accordance with the general election law. If at such election a majority of the votes cast on the proposition is in favor thereof, the school board may thereafter until such authority is revoked in like manner levy annually the tax so authorized.
    (d) The tax rate limits specified in this Section may also be increased as provided in Section 17-2.2e.
(Source: P.A. 99-908, eff. 12-16-16.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.2b

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.2b)
    Sec. 17-2.2b. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 87-767. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.2c

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.2c) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-2.2c)
    Sec. 17-2.2c. Tax for leasing educational facilities or computer technology or both, and for temporary relocation expense purposes. The school board of any district, by proper resolution, may levy an annual tax, in addition to any other taxes and not subject to the limitations specified elsewhere in this Article, not to exceed .05% upon the value of the taxable property as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, for the purpose of leasing educational facilities or computer technology or both, and, in order to repay the State all moneys distributed to it for temporary relocation expenses of the district, may levy an annual tax not to exceed .05% upon the value of the taxable property as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue for a period not to exceed 7 years for the purpose of providing for the repayment of moneys distributed for temporary relocation expenses of the school district pursuant to Section 2-3.77.
    The tax rate limit specified by this Section with respect to an annual tax levied for the purpose of leasing educational facilities or computer technology or both may be increased to .10% upon the approval of a proposition to effect such increase by a majority of the electors voting on that proposition at a regular scheduled election. Such proposition may be initiated by resolution of the school board and shall be certified by the secretary to the proper election authorities for submission in accordance with the general election law.
    The tax rate limit specified in this Section may also be increased as provided in Section 17-2.2e.
    The district is authorized to pledge any tax levied pursuant to this Section for the purpose of leasing educational facilities or computer technology or both to secure the payment of any lease, lease-purchase agreement, or installment purchase agreement entered into by the district for such purpose.
    For the purposes of this Section, "leasing of educational facilities or computer technology or both" includes any payment with respect to a lease, lease-purchase agreement, or installment purchase agreement to acquire or use buildings, rooms, grounds, and appurtenances to be used by the district for the use of schools or for school administration purposes and all equipment, fixtures, renovations, and improvements to existing facilities of the district necessary to accommodate computers, as well as computer hardware and software.
    Any school district may abolish or abate its fund for leasing educational facilities or computer technology or both and for temporary relocation expense purposes upon the adoption of a resolution so providing and upon a determination by the school board that the moneys in the fund are no longer needed for leasing educational facilities or computer technology or both or for temporary relocation expense purposes. The resolution shall direct the transfer of any balance in the fund to another school district fund or funds immediately upon the resolution taking effect. Thereafter, any outstanding taxes of the school district levied pursuant to this Section shall be collected and paid into the fund or funds as directed by the school board. Nothing in this Section shall prevent a school district that has abolished or abated the fund from again creating a fund for leasing educational facilities and for temporary relocation expense purposes in the manner provided in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 99-908, eff. 12-16-16.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.2d

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.2d)
    Sec. 17-2.2d. Special taxing and bonding for temporary relocation expense and emergency replacement purposes.
    (a) In addition to any other taxes and notwithstanding any limitation imposed by the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law or any other limitations specified in this Code or any other law, the school board of any district subject to this Code that meets the criteria specified in subsection (c) of this Section, may, by proper resolution, levy an annual tax not to exceed 0.05% upon the value of the taxable property as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue for a period not to exceed 7 years for the purpose of providing for the repayment of moneys paid to the district for temporary relocation expenses of the district pursuant to Section 2-3.77 of this Code.
    (b) The school board of any district that meets the criteria specified in subsection (c) of this Section may repair, reconstruct, or replace a condemned building without seeking referendum approval for the repair, reconstruction, or replacement.
    (c) In order for this Section to apply, the school district must (i) be located in a county subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law and (ii) have had a school building condemned within 10 years after the building's initial occupancy.
    (d) Notwithstanding any limitation imposed by the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law or any other limitations specified in this Code or any other law, the school board of any district that meets the criteria specified in subsection (c) of this Section, may, by proper resolution, issue bonds, without referendum, in an amount sufficient to finance the total cost of repair, reconstruction, or replacement of the condemned building, including the costs of providing for the payment of any obligations heretofore or hereafter entered into for such purposes. Any premium and all interest earnings on the proceeds of the bonds so issued shall be used for the purposes for which the bonds were issued. The proceeds of any bonds issued under this Section shall be deposited and accounted for separately within the district's site and construction/capital improvements fund. The recording officer of the board shall file in the office of the county clerk of each county in which a portion of the district is situated a certified copy of the resolution providing for the issuance of the bonds and levy of a tax without limit as to rate or amount to pay the bonds. Bonds issued under this Section and any bonds issued to refund those bonds are not subject to any debt limitation imposed by this Code or any other law.
    (e) The school board, as an express condition to receiving a temporary relocation loan under Section 2-3.77 of this Code, must agree to levy the tax provided in this Section at the maximum rate permitted and to pay to the State of Illinois for deposit into the Temporary Relocation Expenses Revolving Grant Fund (i) all proceeds of the tax attributable to the first year and succeeding years for which the tax is levied after moneys appropriated for purposes of Section 2-3.77 have been distributed to the school district and (ii) all insurance proceeds that become payable to the district under those provisions of any contract or policy of insurance that provide reimbursement for or other coverage against loss with respect to any temporary relocation expenses of the district or proceeds of any legal judgment or settlement regarding the temporary relocation expenses incurred by the district, provided that the aggregate of any tax and insurance or other proceeds paid by the district to the State pursuant to this subsection (e) shall not exceed in amount the moneys distributed to the district pursuant to Section 2-3.77 as a loan or grant.
    (f) If bonds under this Section have been issued by the school district and the purposes for which the bonds have been issued are accomplished and paid for in full and there remain funds on hand from the proceeds of the bonds or interest earnings or premiums, then the school board, by resolution, shall transfer those excess funds to the district's bond and interest fund for the purpose of abating taxes to pay debt service on the bonds or for defeasance of the debt or both.
    (g) If the school district receives a construction grant under the School Construction Law or any other law and the purposes for which the grant was issued are accomplished and paid for in full and there remains funds on hand from the grant or interest earnings thereon, then the excess funds shall be paid to the State of Illinois for deposit into the School Construction Fund or other State fund from which the construction grant was paid.
    (h) All insurance proceeds that become payable to the school district under those provisions of a contract or policy of insurance that provide reimbursement for or other coverage against losses other than with respect to any temporary relocation expenses of the district or proceeds of any legal judgment or settlement regarding the repair, reconstruction, or replacement of the condemned building shall be applied to the repair, reconstruction, or replacement. If the project is completed and, therefore, all costs have been paid for in full and there remain funds on hand, including any interest earnings thereon, from the insurance coverage, legal judgment, or settlement, then a portion of those excess funds equal to the State's share of the construction cost of the project shall be paid to the State of Illinois for deposit into the School Construction Fund or other State fund from which the construction grant was paid, and the remainder of the excess funds shall be transferred to the district's bond and interest fund for the purpose of abating taxes to pay debt service on the bonds or for defeasance of the debt or both. If no debt service remains to be paid, then the excess may be transferred to whichever fund that, as determined by the school board, is most in need of the funds.
(Source: P.A. 93-690, eff. 7-1-04; 94-690, eff. 11-2-05.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.2e

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.2e)
    Sec. 17-2.2e. Maximum tax rates. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in levy year 2016, a school district that contains a federal military installation and is eligible to receive impact aid under Section 8003(b) of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act or any successor program may, subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section, levy taxes for any of the following purposes at a rate that exceeds the maximum rate set forth in Section 17-2, Section 17-2.2a, or Section 17-2.2c, as applicable:
        (1) for educational purposes;
        (2) for operations and maintenance purposes;
        (3) for special education programs;
        (4) for leasing educational facilities or computer
    
technology or both; or
        (5) for transportation purposes.
    If the school district levies a tax for any of the purposes set forth in items (1) through (5) that exceeds the maximum rate set forth for that purpose, it shall first adopt an ordinance setting forth the preliminary tax rates for all purposes for the taxable year and submit those extensions and rates to the county clerk. The tax rates for items (1) through (5), as provided in that ordinance, may not exceed the maximum rates for those purposes set forth in Section 17-2, Section 17-2.2a, or Section 17-2.2c. Upon receiving the tax levy confirmation with the extensions and rates from the county clerk, the district may, at a public hearing, adopt an ordinance adjusting those preliminary tax rates. Notice of the public hearing shall be provided in the form and manner set forth in Sections 18-75 and 18-80 of the Property Tax Code not more than 14 days nor less than 7 days prior to the date of the public hearing. The adjusted tax rates for items (1) through (5) may exceed the maximum rates, provided that the adjusted aggregate tax rate for all purposes may not exceed the aggregate tax rate for all purposes set forth in the ordinance setting forth the preliminary tax rates.
(Source: P.A. 99-908, eff. 12-16-16.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.3

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-2.3)
    Sec. 17-2.3. Capital improvement purposes; referendum. The school board of any district desiring to levy and accumulate for not more than 6 years the capital improvements purposes tax provided for in paragraph (4) of Section 17-2 of this Act shall pass a resolution for the levy of said tax, and in such resolution shall describe the capital improvements for which the tax is to be levied and the funds derived therefrom are to be spent. As used in this Section and in paragraph (4) of Section 17-2, capital improvements include but are not limited to the construction of a new school building or buildings or the purchase of school grounds on which any new school building is to be constructed or located, or both. The resolution shall cause the proposition for the levy of the tax provided for in paragraph (4) of Section 17-2 of this Act to be certified to the proper election authorities for submission to the electors of the district at a regular scheduled election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall generally describe the capital improvements for which the tax is to be levied and the funds derived therefrom are to be spent.
    If the proposition is approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon, the school district may thereafter levy such capital improvement purposes tax and accumulate funds for not more than 6 years for the capital improvements described in the resolution and on the ballot. Such school district shall also invest such accumulated funds until spent for the capital improvements described in the resolution and on the ballot in accordance with the provisions of the Public Funds Investment Act.
    Any proceeds derived from a capital improvements tax or the accumulation of monies for capital improvements described in the resolution and on the ballot shall be accounted for separately within the Site and Construction/Capital Improvement Fund.
(Source: P.A. 87-984; 87-1023; 88-45.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.4

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-2.4)
    Sec. 17-2.4. Tax for area vocational education building programs. The school board of any district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants may, by proper resolution, levy an annual tax of not more than .05% upon the value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue for such purpose, and may accumulate such tax for not more than 5 years, for area vocational education building purposes, including the purposes authorized by Section 10-22.31b of this Act, upon condition that there are not sufficient funds available in the operations and maintenance fund of the district to pay the cost thereof. Such tax shall not be levied without prior approval of the State Superintendent of Education and prior approval by a majority of the electors voting upon the proposition at an election, the proposition having been certified by the secretary of the school board to the proper election authorities for submission to the electorate in accordance with the general election law.
    When the school boards of two or more districts enter into a joint agreement for an area vocational education building program under Section 10-22.31b their agreement may provide, or may be amended to provide, that the question of the levy of the tax authorized by this Section shall be certified to the proper election authorities, for submission to the voters of all of the participating districts in accordance with the general election law, in the same election and that the approval of that levy by a majority of the electors voting upon the proposition in the area comprised of the participating districts, considered as a whole, shall be deemed to authorize that levy in each participating district without regard to the passage or failure of the proposition in any district considered separately. However, the school board of any district may withdraw from the joint agreement by reason of the failure of the electors of that district to approve the proposed levy.
(Source: P.A. 86-970.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.5

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-2.5)
    Sec. 17-2.5. Tax for tort immunity. The school board of any district may by proper resolution levy an annual tax upon the value of the taxable property within its territory as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue at a rate that will produce a sum sufficient (i) to pay the cost of settlements or judgments under Section 9-102 of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, (ii) to pay the cost of settlements or judgments under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 and the Environmental Protection Act, but only until December 31, 2010, (iii) to pay the costs of protecting itself or its employees against liability, property damage or loss, including all costs and reserves of being a member of an insurance pool, under Section 9-103 of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, (iv) to pay the costs of and principal and interest on bonds issued under Section 9-105 of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, (v) to pay tort judgments or settlements under Section 9-104 of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act to the extent necessary to discharge such obligations, and (vi) to pay the cost of risk care management programs in accordance with Section 9-107 of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act.
(Source: P.A. 95-244, eff. 8-17-07.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.6

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.6)
    Sec. 17-2.6. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 86-668. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.11

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.11) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-2.11)
    Sec. 17-2.11. School board power to levy a tax or to borrow money and issue bonds for fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, accessibility, school security, and specified repair purposes.
    (a) Whenever, as a result of any lawful order of any agency, other than a school board, having authority to enforce any school building code applicable to any facility that houses students, or any law or regulation for the protection and safety of the environment, pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act, any school district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants is required to alter or reconstruct any school building or permanent, fixed equipment; the district may, by proper resolution, levy a tax for the purpose of making such alteration or reconstruction, based on a survey report by an architect or engineer licensed in this State, upon all of the taxable property of the district at the value as assessed by the Department of Revenue and at a rate not to exceed 0.05% per year for a period sufficient to finance such alteration or reconstruction, upon the following conditions:
        (1) When there are not sufficient funds available in
    
the operations and maintenance fund of the school district, the school facility occupation tax fund of the district, or the fire prevention and safety fund of the district, as determined by the district on the basis of rules adopted by the State Board of Education, to make such alteration or reconstruction or to purchase and install such permanent, fixed equipment so ordered or determined as necessary. Appropriate school district records must be made available to the State Superintendent of Education, upon request, to confirm this insufficiency.
        (2) When a certified estimate of an architect or
    
engineer licensed in this State stating the estimated amount necessary to make the alteration or reconstruction or to purchase and install the equipment so ordered has been secured by the school district, and the estimate has been approved by the regional superintendent of schools having jurisdiction over the district and the State Superintendent of Education. Approval must not be granted for any work that has already started without the prior express authorization of the State Superintendent of Education. If the estimate is not approved or is denied approval by the regional superintendent of schools within 3 months after the date on which it is submitted to him or her, the school board of the district may submit the estimate directly to the State Superintendent of Education for approval or denial.
    In the case of an emergency situation, where the estimated cost to effectuate emergency repairs is less than the amount specified in Section 10-20.21 of this Code, the school district may proceed with such repairs prior to approval by the State Superintendent of Education, but shall comply with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection (a) as soon thereafter as may be as well as Section 10-20.21 of this Code. If the estimated cost to effectuate emergency repairs is greater than the amount specified in Section 10-20.21 of this Code, then the school district shall proceed in conformity with Section 10-20.21 of this Code and with rules established by the State Board of Education to address such situations. The rules adopted by the State Board of Education to deal with these situations shall stipulate that emergency situations must be expedited and given priority consideration. For purposes of this paragraph, an emergency is a situation that presents an imminent and continuing threat to the health and safety of students or other occupants of a facility, requires complete or partial evacuation of a building or part of a building, or consumes one or more of the 5 emergency days built into the adopted calendar of the school or schools or would otherwise be expected to cause such school or schools to fall short of the minimum school calendar requirements.
    (b) Whenever any such district determines that it is necessary for energy conservation purposes that any school building or permanent, fixed equipment should be altered or reconstructed and that such alterations or reconstruction will be made with funds not necessary for the completion of approved and recommended projects contained in any safety survey report or amendments thereto authorized by Section 2-3.12 of this Act; the district may levy a tax or issue bonds as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.
    (c) Whenever any such district determines that it is necessary for accessibility purposes and to comply with the school building code that any school building or equipment should be altered or reconstructed and that such alterations or reconstruction will be made with funds not necessary for the completion of approved and recommended projects contained in any safety survey report or amendments thereto authorized under Section 2-3.12 of this Act, the district may levy a tax or issue bonds as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.
    (d) Whenever any such district determines that it is necessary for school security purposes and the related protection and safety of pupils and school personnel that any school building or property should be altered or reconstructed or that security systems and equipment (including but not limited to intercom, early detection and warning, access control and television monitoring systems) should be purchased and installed, and that such alterations, reconstruction or purchase and installation of equipment will be made with funds not necessary for the completion of approved and recommended projects contained in any safety survey report or amendment thereto authorized by Section 2-3.12 of this Act and will deter and prevent unauthorized entry or activities upon school property by unknown or dangerous persons, assure early detection and advance warning of any such actual or attempted unauthorized entry or activities and help assure the continued safety of pupils and school staff if any such unauthorized entry or activity is attempted or occurs; the district may levy a tax or issue bonds as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.
    If such a school district determines that it is necessary for school security purposes and the related protection and safety of pupils and school staff to hire a school resource officer or that personnel costs for school counselors, mental health experts, or school resource officers are necessary and the district determines that it does not need funds for any of the other purposes set forth in this Section, then the district may levy a tax or issue bonds as provided in subsection (a).
    (e) If a school district does not need funds for other fire prevention and safety projects, including the completion of approved and recommended projects contained in any safety survey report or amendments thereto authorized by Section 2-3.12 of this Act, and it is determined after a public hearing (which is preceded by at least one published notice (i) occurring at least 7 days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district and (ii) setting forth the time, date, place, and general subject matter of the hearing) that there is a substantial, immediate, and otherwise unavoidable threat to the health, safety, or welfare of pupils due to disrepair of school sidewalks, playgrounds, parking lots, or school bus turnarounds and repairs must be made; then the district may levy a tax or issue bonds as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.
    (f) For purposes of this Section a school district may replace a school building or build additions to replace portions of a building when it is determined that the effectuation of the recommendations for the existing building will cost more than the replacement costs. Such determination shall be based on a comparison of estimated costs made by an architect or engineer licensed in the State of Illinois. The new building or addition shall be equivalent in area (square feet) and comparable in purpose and grades served and may be on the same site or another site. Such replacement may only be done upon order of the regional superintendent of schools and the approval of the State Superintendent of Education.
    (g) The filing of a certified copy of the resolution levying the tax when accompanied by the certificates of the regional superintendent of schools and State Superintendent of Education shall be the authority of the county clerk to extend such tax.
    (h) The county clerk of the county in which any school district levying a tax under the authority of this Section is located, in reducing raised levies, shall not consider any such tax as a part of the general levy for school purposes and shall not include the same in the limitation of any other tax rate which may be extended.
    Such tax shall be levied and collected in like manner as all other taxes of school districts, subject to the provisions contained in this Section.
    (i) The tax rate limit specified in this Section may be increased to .10% upon the approval of a proposition to effect such increase by a majority of the electors voting on that proposition at a regular scheduled election. Such proposition may be initiated by resolution of the school board and shall be certified by the secretary to the proper election authorities for submission in accordance with the general election law.
    (j) When taxes are levied by any school district for fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, and school security purposes as specified in this Section, and the purposes for which the taxes have been levied are accomplished and paid in full, and there remain funds on hand in the Fire Prevention and Safety Fund from the proceeds of the taxes levied, including interest earnings thereon, the school board by resolution shall use such excess and other board restricted funds, excluding bond proceeds and earnings from such proceeds, as follows:
        (1) for other authorized fire prevention, safety,
    
energy conservation, required safety inspections, school security purposes, sampling for lead in drinking water in schools, and for repair and mitigation due to lead levels in the drinking water supply; or
        (2) for transfer to the Operations and Maintenance
    
Fund for the purpose of abating an equal amount of operations and maintenance purposes taxes.
Notwithstanding subdivision (2) of this subsection (j) and subsection (k) of this Section, through June 30, 2021, the school board may, by proper resolution following a public hearing set by the school board or the president of the school board (that is preceded (i) by at least one published notice over the name of the clerk or secretary of the board, occurring at least 7 days and not more than 30 days prior to the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district and (ii) by posted notice over the name of the clerk or secretary of the board, at least 48 hours before the hearing, at the principal office of the school board or at the building where the hearing is to be held if a principal office does not exist, with both notices setting forth the time, date, place, and subject matter of the hearing), transfer surplus life safety taxes and interest earnings thereon to the Operations and Maintenance Fund for building repair work.
    (k) If any transfer is made to the Operation and Maintenance Fund, the secretary of the school board shall within 30 days notify the county clerk of the amount of that transfer and direct the clerk to abate the taxes to be extended for the purposes of operations and maintenance authorized under Section 17-2 of this Act by an amount equal to such transfer.
    (l) If the proceeds from the tax levy authorized by this Section are insufficient to complete the work approved under this Section, the school board is authorized to sell bonds without referendum under the provisions of this Section in an amount that, when added to the proceeds of the tax levy authorized by this Section, will allow completion of the approved work.
    (m) Any bonds issued pursuant to this Section shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate authorized by law at the time of the making of the contract, shall mature within 20 years from date, and shall be signed by the president of the school board and the treasurer of the school district. The authorized amount of bonds issued pursuant to this Section may be increased by an amount not to exceed 3% of that authorized amount to provide for expenses of issuing the bonds, including underwriter's compensation and costs of bond insurance or other credit enhancement, and also an amount to pay capitalized interest as otherwise permitted by law.
    (n) In order to authorize and issue such bonds, the school board shall adopt a resolution fixing the amount of bonds, the date thereof, the maturities thereof, rates of interest thereof, place of payment and denomination, which shall be in denominations of not less than $100 and not more than $5,000, and provide for the levy and collection of a direct annual tax upon all the taxable property in the school district sufficient to pay the principal and interest on such bonds to maturity. Upon the filing in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the school district is located of a certified copy of the resolution, it is the duty of the county clerk to extend the tax therefor in addition to and in excess of all other taxes heretofore or hereafter authorized to be levied by such school district.
    (o) After the time such bonds are issued as provided for by this Section, if additional alterations or reconstructions are required to be made because of surveys conducted by an architect or engineer licensed in the State of Illinois, the district may levy a tax at a rate not to exceed .05% per year upon all the taxable property of the district or issue additional bonds, whichever action shall be the most feasible.
    (p) This Section is cumulative and constitutes complete authority for the issuance of bonds as provided in this Section notwithstanding any other statute or law to the contrary.
    (q) With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of Public Act 86-004 (June 6, 1989), it is, and always has been, the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are, and always have been, supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts.
    (r) When the purposes for which the bonds are issued have been accomplished and paid for in full and there remain funds on hand from the proceeds of the bond sale and interest earnings therefrom, the board shall, by resolution, use such excess funds in accordance with the provisions of Section 10-22.14 of this Act.
    (s) Whenever any tax is levied or bonds issued for fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, and school security purposes, such proceeds shall be deposited and accounted for separately within the Fire Prevention and Safety Fund.
(Source: P.A. 103-591, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.11b

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.11b)
    Sec. 17-2.11b. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 90-566, eff. 1-2-98. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2.11c

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2.11c)
    Sec. 17-2.11c. Validation; St. Joseph Ogden Community High School District 305. If, prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, St. Joseph Ogden Community High School District 305 has levied and the county clerk has extended taxes for the purposes described in Section 17-2.11 of this Code without the certificates of the regional superintendent of schools and the State Superintendent of Education required by Section 17-2.11, then the tax levies and extensions and the expenditures by the school district of the extended amounts are hereby validated for all purposes to the same extent as if the district had received and filed the necessary certifications prior to the tax levies and extensions and had expended the funds in full compliance with Section 17-2.11.
(Source: P.A. 96-258, eff. 8-11-09.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2A

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2A) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-2A)
    Sec. 17-2A. Interfund transfers.
    (a) The school board of any district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants may, by proper resolution following a public hearing set by the school board or the president of the school board (that is preceded (i) by at least one published notice over the name of the clerk or secretary of the board, occurring at least 7 days and not more than 30 days prior to the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation within the school district and (ii) by posted notice over the name of the clerk or secretary of the board, at least 48 hours before the hearing, at the principal office of the school board or at the building where the hearing is to be held if a principal office does not exist, with both notices setting forth the time, date, place, and subject matter of the hearing), transfer money from (1) the Educational Fund to the Operations and Maintenance Fund or the Transportation Fund, (2) the Operations and Maintenance Fund to the Educational Fund or the Transportation Fund, (3) the Transportation Fund to the Educational Fund or the Operations and Maintenance Fund, or (4) the Tort Immunity Fund to the Operations and Maintenance Fund of said district, provided that, except during the period from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2026, such transfer is made solely for the purpose of meeting one-time, non-recurring expenses. Except during the period from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2026 and except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this Section, any other permanent interfund transfers authorized by any provision or judicial interpretation of this Code for which the transferee fund is not precisely and specifically set forth in the provision of this Code authorizing such transfer shall be made to the fund of the school district most in need of the funds being transferred, as determined by resolution of the school board.
    (b) (Blank).
    (c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section or any other provision of this Code to the contrary, the school board of any school district (i) that is subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, (ii) that is an elementary district servicing students in grades K through 8, (iii) whose territory is in one county, (iv) that is eligible for Section 7002 Federal Impact Aid, and (v) that has no more than $81,000 in funds remaining from refinancing bonds that were refinanced a minimum of 5 years prior to January 20, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-926) may make a one-time transfer of the funds remaining from the refinancing bonds to the Operations and Maintenance Fund of the district by proper resolution following a public hearing set by the school board or the president of the school board, with notice as provided in subsection (a) of this Section, so long as the district meets the qualifications set forth in this subsection (c) on January 20, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-926).
    (d) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section or any other provision of this Code to the contrary, the school board of any school district (i) that is subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, (ii) that is a community unit school district servicing students in grades K through 12, (iii) whose territory is in one county, (iv) that owns property designated by the United States as a Superfund site pursuant to the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), and (v) that has an excess accumulation of funds in its bond fund, including funds accumulated prior to July 1, 2000, may make a one-time transfer of those excess funds accumulated prior to July 1, 2000 to the Operations and Maintenance Fund of the district by proper resolution following a public hearing set by the school board or the president of the school board, with notice as provided in subsection (a) of this Section, so long as the district meets the qualifications set forth in this subsection (d) on August 4, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 100-32).
(Source: P.A. 102-671, eff. 11-30-21; 102-895, eff. 5-23-22; 103-601, eff. 7-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2B

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2B) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-2B)
    Sec. 17-2B. Transfer from operations and maintenance fund to educational fund. In counties having a population in excess of 600,000 and less than 2,000,000 inhabitants, the school board of an elementary school district maintaining only grades kindergarten through 8 and having an enrollment of less than 800 students may, by proper resolution, cause a proposition to transfer moneys accumulated in its operations and maintenance fund to its educational fund to be submitted to the voters of the school district at a regular scheduled election held in accordance with Article 9 and the general election law of the State; provided, however, that no such resolution, referendum or transfer shall be adopted, held or approved pursuant to this Section unless at the time such resolution is adopted by the school board: (i) the school district has no bonded indebtedness outstanding, has in excess of $1,000,000 accumulated in its operations and maintenance fund and has in each of the 16 years preceding adoption of the resolution levied taxes for both educational purposes and for operations and maintenance purposes at the maximum rates from time to time permitted by law to be levied by such district; and (ii) the voters of the district have not at any time previously by referendum approved or refused to approve the transfer of any moneys from the operations and maintenance fund to the educational purposes fund.
    If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition at a referendum authorized by this Section is in favor of the proposition, the school board may thereafter transfer the moneys from the operations and maintenance fund to the educational fund as approved by the voters of the school district.
(Source: P.A. 86-225; 86-970; 86-1028; 86-1334.)

105 ILCS 5/17-2C

    (105 ILCS 5/17-2C)
    Sec. 17-2C. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99. Repealed by P.A. 94-234, eff. 7-1-06.)

105 ILCS 5/17-3

    (105 ILCS 5/17-3) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-3)
    Sec. 17-3. Additional levies-Submission to voters.
    (a) The school board in any district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants may, by proper resolution, cause a proposition to increase, for a limited period of not less than 3 nor more than 10 years or for an unlimited period, the annual tax rate for educational purposes to be submitted to the voters of such district at a regular scheduled election as follows:
        (1) in districts maintaining grades 1 through 8, or
    
grades 9 through 12, the maximum rate for educational purposes shall not exceed 3.5% of the value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue;
        (2) in districts maintaining grades 1 through 12 the
    
maximum rate for educational purposes shall not exceed 4.00% of the value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue except that if a single elementary district and a secondary district having boundaries that are coterminous form a community unit district on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly and the actual combined rate of the elementary district and secondary district prior to the formation of the community unit district is greater than 4.00%, then the maximum rate for educational purposes for such district shall be the following:
            (A) For 2 years following the formation of the
        
community unit district, the maximum rate shall equal the actual combined rate of the previous elementary district and secondary district.
            (B) In each subsequent year, the maximum rate
        
shall be reduced by 0.10% or reduced to 4.00%, whichever reduction is less. The school board may, by proper resolution, cause a proposition to increase the reduced rate, not to exceed the maximum rate in clause (A), to be submitted to the voters of the district at a regular scheduled election as provided under this Section. Nothing in this Section shall require that the maximum rate for educational purpose for a district maintaining grades one through 12 be reduced below 4.00%.
    If the resolution of the school board seeks to increase the annual tax rate for educational purposes for a limited period of not less than 3 nor more than 10 years, the proposition shall so state and shall identify the years for which the tax increase is sought.
    If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition is in favor thereof at an election for which the election authorities have given notice either (i) in accordance with Section 12-5 of the Election Code or (ii) by publication of a true and legible copy of the specimen ballot label containing the proposition in the form in which it appeared or will appear on the official ballot label on the day of the election at least 5 days before the day of the election in at least one newspaper published in and having a general circulation in the district, the school board may thereafter, until such authority is revoked in like manner, levy annually the tax so authorized; provided that if the proposition as approved limits the increase in the annual tax rate of the district for educational purposes to a period of not less than 3 nor more than 10 years, the district may, unless such authority is sooner revoked in like manner, levy annually the tax so authorized for the limited number of years approved by a majority of the votes cast on the proposition. Upon expiration of that limited period, the rate at which the district may annually levy its tax for educational purposes shall be the rate provided under Section 17-2, or the rate at which the district last levied its tax for educational purposes prior to approval of the proposition authorizing the levy of that tax at an increased rate, whichever is greater.
    The school board shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities in accordance with the general election law.
    The provisions of this Section concerning notice of the tax rate increase referendum apply only to consolidated primary elections held prior to January 1, 2002 at which not less than 55% of the voters voting on the tax rate increase proposition voted in favor of the tax rate increase proposition.
    (b) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, if a unit district is being established from an elementary district or districts and a high school district, pursuant to Article 11E of this Code, and the combined rate of the elementary district or districts and the high school district prior to the formation of the unit district is greater than 4.00% for educational purposes, then the maximum rate for educational purposes for the unit district shall be the following:
        (1) For the first year following the formation of the
    
new unit district, the maximum rate shall equal the lesser of the actual combined rate of the previous highest elementary district rate and the high school district rate or 6.40%.
        (2) For the second year after the formation of the
    
new unit district, the maximum rate shall equal the lesser of the actual combined rate of the previous highest elementary district rate and the high school district rate or 5.80%.
        (3) For the third year after the formation of the new
    
unit district, the maximum rate shall equal the lesser of the actual combined rate of the previous highest elementary district rate and the high school district rate or 5.20%.
        (4) For the fourth year after the formation of the
    
new unit district, the maximum rate shall equal the lesser of the actual combined rate of the previous highest elementary district rate and the high school district rate or 4.60%.
        (5) For the fifth year after the formation of the new
    
unit district and thereafter, the maximum rate shall be no greater than 4.00%.
(Source: P.A. 97-1022, eff. 1-1-13.)

105 ILCS 5/17-3.1

    (105 ILCS 5/17-3.1)
    Sec. 17-3.1. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 81-1489. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/17-3.2

    (105 ILCS 5/17-3.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-3.2)
    Sec. 17-3.2. Additional or supplemental budget.
    (a) Whenever the voters of a school district have voted in favor of an increase in the annual tax rate for educational or operations and maintenance purposes or both at an election held after the adoption of the annual school budget for any fiscal year, the board may adopt or pass during that fiscal year an additional or supplemental budget under the sole authority of this Section by a vote of a majority of the full membership of the board, any other provision of this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, in and by which such additional or supplemental budget the board shall appropriate such additional sums of money as it may find necessary to defray expenses and liabilities of that district to be incurred for educational or operations and maintenance purposes or both of the district during that fiscal year, but not in excess of the additional funds estimated to be available by virtue of such voted increase in the annual tax rate for educational or operations and maintenance purposes or both. Such additional or supplemental budget shall be regarded as an amendment of the annual school budget for the fiscal year in which it is adopted, and the board may levy the additional tax for educational or operations and maintenance purposes or both to equal the amount of the additional sums of money appropriated in that additional or supplemental budget, immediately.
    (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, LaMoille Community Unit School District #303 may adopt an additional or supplemental budget in connection with an amended or supplemental levy adopted under Section 18-17 of the Property Tax Code without receiving the approval of the voters as provided in subsection (a). This subsection (b) is inoperative on and after January 1, 2025.
(Source: P.A. 103-592, eff. 6-7-24.)

105 ILCS 5/17-3.3

    (105 ILCS 5/17-3.3)
    Sec. 17-3.3. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 77-504. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/17-3.4

    (105 ILCS 5/17-3.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-3.4)
    Sec. 17-3.4. Form of ballot and notice. Except as otherwise provided under subsection (d) of Section 17-6.1, whenever any proposition to authorize or to levy an annual tax, or to increase the annual rate of tax levied by any school district, for any school purpose is submitted to the voters of such district at any election, each required notice or other publication of the election or referendum and the form of ballot shall contain, in addition to any other matters required by law:
    (a) the geographic or other common name of the school district by which that district is commonly known and referred to, as well as the number of the district;
    (b) the maximum rate at which such tax may be levied if the proposition is approved;
    (c) the total dollar amount of the most recently approved annual budget of the school district, what the total dollar amount of that annual budget would be if increased by the amount of additional tax which may be levied if the proposition is approved, and what would be the percentage of increase in the total dollar amount of the most recently approved annual budget of the school district if such total dollar amount were increased by the amount of additional tax which may be levied if the proposition is approved; and
    (d) if the proposition is to increase the annual rate of an existing tax levied by the school district, then in addition to the matters set forth in (a), (b) and (c) above, the annual rate at which such existing tax currently is levied and the percentage of increase between the maximum rate at which such tax may be levied if the proposition is approved and the annual rate at which such tax currently is levied.
(Source: P.A. 86-579; 86-1318.)

105 ILCS 5/17-3.5

    (105 ILCS 5/17-3.5)
    Sec. 17-3.5. Maximum-authorized district educational purposes tax rate. If, at any election held prior to March 19, 2004, the voters of a school district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants approved the proposition to increase the educational purposes tax rate of the district and the proposition to increase the rate set forth as the existing maximum-authorized educational purposes tax rate of the district the tax rate most recently extended for educational purposes, then, for the purposes of this Code and the Property Tax Code, the maximum-authorized educational purposes tax rate of the district shall be calculated as follows:
        (1) for the first tax year affected by the results of
    
the referendum, the district's tax rates shall be calculated based upon the rates set forth in the proposition; and
        (2) for each tax year thereafter, the district's
    
maximum-authorized educational purposes tax rate approved at the referendum shall be equal to the sum of the district's maximum-authorized educational purposes tax rate immediately preceding the referendum plus the difference between the rates set forth in the proposition submitted to the voters of the district at the referendum.
    Within 10 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, the school board of any school district affected by this subsection (a) may, notwithstanding the requirements of any other law to the contrary, amend its certificate of tax levy for any year for which its equalized assessed valuation has not yet been certified by the county clerk. The amended certificate of tax levy shall be filed with the county clerk within the 10-day period after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 93-1059, eff. 12-8-04.)

105 ILCS 5/17-3.6

    (105 ILCS 5/17-3.6)
    Sec. 17-3.6. Educational purposes tax rate for school districts subject to Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. Notwithstanding the provisions, requirements, or limitations of this Code or any other law, any tax levied for educational purposes by a school district subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the 2016 levy year or any subsequent levy year may be extended at a rate exceeding the rate established for educational purposes by referendum or this Code, provided that the rate does not cause the school district to exceed the limiting rate applicable to the school district under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for that levy year.
(Source: P.A. 100-465, eff. 8-31-17.)

105 ILCS 5/17-3A

    (105 ILCS 5/17-3A)
    Sec. 17-3A. Apportionment; tax objections; court decisions; adjustments of levies and refunds to tax objectors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, if a court, in any tax objection based on the apportionment of an overlapping taxing district under Section 18-155 of the Property Tax Code, for any year prior to the year of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, enters a final judgment that there was an over extension or under extension of taxes for an overlapping taxing district based on the apportionment under Section 18-155 of the Property Tax Code for the year for which the objection was filed, the county clerks of each county in which there was an under extension of a levy of a school district shall proportionately increase the levy of that school district by an amount specified in the court order in that county in the subsequent year or in any subsequent year following the final judgment of the court. The increase in the levy of the school district, when extended, shall be set forth as a separate item on the tax bills of affected taxpayers. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the increase in the levy and the extension thereof shall not be subject to any limitations on levies or extensions imposed by this Code or the Property Tax Code. The funds collected pursuant to a levy increase authorized by this Section and Section 18-155 of the Property Tax Code shall be delivered to the county collector of each county in which there was an over extension for distribution to the tax objectors in accordance with the court order.
(Source: P.A. 92-377, eff. 8-16-01.)

105 ILCS 5/17-4

    (105 ILCS 5/17-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-4)
    Sec. 17-4. Increase tax rate for transportation. The school board of any district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants may, by proper resolution, cause a proposition to increase the annual tax rate for transportation purposes to be submitted to the voters of such district at a regular scheduled election. The board shall certify the proposition to the proper election authority for submission in accordance with the general election law. If at such election a majority of the votes cast on the proposition is in favor thereof the school board may thereafter until such authority is revoked in like manner levy annually the tax so authorized.
(Source: P.A. 82-461.)

105 ILCS 5/17-5

    (105 ILCS 5/17-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-5)
    Sec. 17-5. Increase tax rates for operations and maintenance purposes-Maximum.
    (a) The school board in any district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants may, by proper resolution, cause a proposition to increase the annual tax rate for operations and maintenance purposes to be submitted to the voters of the district at a regular scheduled election. The board shall certify the proposition to the proper election authority for submission to the elector in accordance with the general election law. In districts maintaining grades 1 through 8, or grades 9 through 12, the maximum rate for operations and maintenance purposes shall not exceed .55%; and in districts maintaining grades 1 through 12, the maximum rates for operations and maintenance purposes shall not exceed .75%, except that if a single elementary district and a secondary district having boundaries that are coterminous on the effective date of this amendatory Act form a community unit district as authorized under Section 11-6, the maximum rate for operation and maintenance purposes for such district shall not exceed 1.10% of the value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue; and in such district maintaining grades 1 through 12, funds may, subject to the provisions of Section 17-5.1 accumulate to not more than 5% of the equalized assessed valuation of the district. No such accumulation shall ever be transferred or used for any other purpose. If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition is in favor thereof, the school board may thereafter, until such authority is revoked in like manner, levy annually a tax as authorized.
    (b) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, if a unit district is being established from an elementary district or districts and a high school district, pursuant to Article 11E of this Code, and the combined rate of the elementary district or districts and the high school district prior to the formation of the unit district is greater than 0.75% for operations and maintenance purposes, then the maximum rate for operations and maintenance purposes for the unit district shall be the following:
        (1) For the first year following formation of the new
    
unit district, the maximum rate shall equal the lesser of the actual combined rate of the previous highest elementary district rate and the high school district rate or 1.03%.
        (2) For the second year after formation of the new
    
unit district, the maximum rate shall equal the lesser of the actual combined rate of the previous highest elementary district rate and the high school district rate or 0.96%.
        (3) For the third year after the formation of the new
    
unit district, the maximum rate shall equal the lesser of the actual combined rate of the previous highest elementary district rate and the high school district rate or 0.89%.
        (4) For the fourth year after the formation of the
    
new unit district, the maximum rate shall equal the lesser of the actual combined rate of the previous highest elementary district rate and the high school district rate or 0.82%.
        (5) For the fifth year after the formation of the new
    
unit district and thereafter, the maximum rate shall be no greater than 0.75%.
(Source: P.A. 97-1022, eff. 1-1-13.)

105 ILCS 5/17-5.1

    (105 ILCS 5/17-5.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-5.1)
    Sec. 17-5.1. Referendum for accumulation of operations and maintenance funds. No tax for operations and maintenance purposes and the purchase of school grounds as provided in Section 11-9 and no tax for operations and maintenance purposes as provided in Section 17-5 shall be levied at a rate sufficient to accumulate funds nor shall funds for such purposes be accumulated as authorized in said sections until the board of education or school board has by resolution ordered the submission of the proposition of accumulating funds for such purpose to the electors of the district at a regular scheduled election and the proposition has been approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon. The board shall certify the proposition to the proper election authorities for submission in accordance with the general election law.
    If a majority of the electors voting upon the proposition vote in favor thereof, the board of education or school board may accumulate funds for operations and maintenance purposes and the purchase of school grounds or for operations and maintenance purposes and may annually levy a tax for such purposes in excess of current requirements but subject to the tax rate limitations for such purposes provided by law.
(Source: P.A. 86-970; 86-1334.)

105 ILCS 5/17-6.1

    (105 ILCS 5/17-6.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-6.1)
    Sec. 17-6.1. Educational purposes and operations, building and maintenance purposes concurrent equal increase and decrease in maximum authorized tax rate.
    (a) The school board of any school district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants may, by proper resolution, cause to be submitted to the voters of the school district at a regular scheduled election the proposition of whether the maximum authorized annual tax rate for either educational purposes or operations, building and maintenance purposes may be increased with an equal corresponding tax rate decrease being effected in the maximum authorized tax rate for the other fund.
    (b) The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
        Shall the maximum authorized annual tax rate for
    
....... purposes of School District Number ...., ........ County, Illinois (commonly known as .......) be increased from ....% to ....% and the maximum authorized annual tax rate for ....... purposes be decreased concurrently from ....% to ....%?
    (c) The rate amount of the proposed tax rate decrease must be the same as the rate amount of the proposed tax rate increase. No maximum tax rate secured hereunder may exceed the maximum rate specified for the particular fund in Section 17-3 and 17-5.
    (d) The requirements of Section 17-3.4 shall not apply to the proposition provided for in this Section.
    (e) If at the election a majority of the votes cast on the proposition is in favor thereof, the school board may thereafter annually levy the taxes as authorized.
(Source: P.A. 86-1318.)

105 ILCS 5/17-7

    (105 ILCS 5/17-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-7)
    Sec. 17-7. Payments from tax levied. Any sum expended or obligations incurred for the improvement, maintenance, repair or benefit of school buildings and property, including the cost of interior decorating and the installation, improvement, repair, replacement and maintenance of building fixtures, for the rental of buildings and property for school purposes, or for the payment of all premiums for insurance upon school buildings and school building fixtures or for the purchase or equipment to be used in the school lunch program shall be paid from the tax levied for operations and maintenance purposes and the purchase of school grounds. The board may provide by resolution that the payment of all salaries of janitors, engineers or other custodial employees and all costs of fuel, lights, gas, water, telephone service, and custodial supplies and equipment or the cost of a professional survey of the conditions of school buildings as provided in Section 2-3.12, or any one or more of the preceding items shall be paid from the tax levied for operations and maintenance purposes and the purchase of school grounds in which event such salaries or specified costs, or both, shall be so paid until the next fiscal year after the repeal of such resolution. Expenditures for all purposes not specified in Sections 17-7 or 17-8 or other provisions of this Act shall be made from the educational fund.
(Source: P.A. 86-1334; 87-984.)

105 ILCS 5/17-8

    (105 ILCS 5/17-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-8)
    Sec. 17-8. Transportation costs paid from transportation fund. Any transportation operating costs incurred for transporting pupils to and from school and school sponsored activities and the costs of acquiring equipment shall be paid from a transportation fund to consist of moneys received from any tax levy for such purpose, state reimbursement for transportation, except as provided in Section 29-5, all funds received from other districts for transporting pupils and any charges for transportation services rendered to individuals or auxiliary enterprises of the school.
    For the purpose of this Act "transportation operating cost" shall include all costs of transportation except interest and rental of building facilities.
(Source: P.A. 85-581.)

105 ILCS 5/17-8.01

    (105 ILCS 5/17-8.01)
    Sec. 17-8.01. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 82-622. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/17-9

    (105 ILCS 5/17-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-9)
    Sec. 17-9. Extension of taxes by county clerk-Separate tax for payment of bonds.
    When the county clerk determines the amount of taxes to be extended upon all the taxable property in any school district having a population of less than 500,000 inhabitants, he shall determine from the certified copies of bond resolutions filed in his office the amount necessary to pay the maturing principal of and interest on any bonds of the district and shall extend a separate tax sufficient to pay all principal and interest thereon which matures prior to the first delinquent date of taxes to be realized from the next succeeding tax extension or all interest and sinking fund requirements for the payment of principal which must be extended prior to said date. The separate tax shall be extended without limitation as to rate or amount. No deduction shall be made in the rate which may be extended for educational or operations, building and maintenance purposes by reason of any rate extended for payment of principal or interest of bonds, except as provided in this section, nor by reason of any tax required to be extended pursuant to the exercise of the power conferred in Section 10-22.12.
(Source: P.A. 77-2744.)

105 ILCS 5/17-9.01

    (105 ILCS 5/17-9.01)
    Sec. 17-9.01. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 86-1334. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/17-9.02

    (105 ILCS 5/17-9.02)
    Sec. 17-9.02. Supplemental tax levy for Ford Heights School District 169.
    (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Article and in addition to the methods provided by other Sections of this Article for increasing the rate of tax levied for any school purpose, Ford Heights School District 169 may levy a supplemental tax for the 2006, 2007, and 2008 taxable years.
    (b) The supplemental tax authorized by this Section is levied upon all the taxable property of the school district at its value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue for each of the years in which the levy is made. The supplemental tax is in addition to all other taxes that the district may levy for any school purpose for the years in which the levy is made.
    (c) For each year that it is levied, the supplemental tax must be levied at a rate not exceeding that which, when applied to the equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the district for that year in which the levy is made, is sufficient to yield that amount of tax revenue that is equal to $1,067,000 for a total of $3,201,000 for all taxable years that the tax is levied.
    (d) The supplemental tax authorized by this Section must be levied by proper resolution of the school board and without referendum. A certified copy of the resolution levying the supplemental tax, signed by the president and clerk or secretary of the school board, must be filed in the office of the county clerk, and it is, then, the duty of the county clerk to extend the supplemental tax. The supplemental tax must be extended and collected in like manner as all other taxes of the school district, but the supplemental tax must be separately identified by the collectors.
    (e) Ford Heights School District 169 may use the proceeds from the supplemental tax for any purpose for which the district is authorized to make expenditures.
(Source: P.A. 94-1078, eff. 1-9-07.)

105 ILCS 5/17-10

    (105 ILCS 5/17-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-10)
    Sec. 17-10. Certificate of last ascertained equalized value-Tax books-Notice to school treasurers.
    The county clerk shall furnish the school board of any school district, upon request, a certificate showing the last ascertained full, fair cash value of the taxable property of the district.
    When a school district lies partly in two or more counties, the county clerk of each county in which any part of such district lies shall furnish, upon request, to the school board of the district, a certificate showing the last ascertained full, fair cash value of the taxable property in that part of the district lying in such county.
    When making out the tax books for the collector, the county clerk shall compute each taxable person's tax in each school district upon the total amount of taxable property for that year, located in such district, whether belonging to residents or non-residents, upon the valuation produced by the equalization and assessment of property by the county board of review, and all property originally assessed by the Department of Revenue. Such computation shall be made so as to realize the amount of money required to be raised in such district, as shown in the certificate of tax levy, made out by the governing body of such district, and filed with the county clerk as required by this Act. The county clerk shall cause each person's tax, so computed, to be set upon the tax book to be delivered to the collector for that year, in a separate column against each taxpayer's name, or parcel of taxable property, as it appears in the collector's books, to be collected in the same manner, and at the same time, and by the same person, as State and county taxes are collected. He shall number the school districts on the maps in his office to correspond with the numbers of districts as returned to him by the county superintendent of schools, and in making up the tax books to be delivered to the collector of taxes, the county clerk shall copy therein the number of the school districts set opposite each person's assessment of personal property by the assessor making the assessment of such person, and shall extend the school tax on each person's assessment of personal property. The computation of each person's tax and the extension made by the clerk shall be final and conclusive. The rate shall be uniform, and shall not exceed that required by the amount certified by the school board. The county clerk, before delivering the tax book to the collector, shall make and send by mail to each school treasurer of the county a certificate of the amount due his district or districts from the tax so extended and placed on the tax books.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/17-11

    (105 ILCS 5/17-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-11)
    Sec. 17-11. Certificate of tax levy.
    (a) The school board of each district, other than a school district subject to the authority of a Financial Oversight Panel pursuant to Article 1H of this Code, shall ascertain, as near as practicable, annually, how much money must be raised by special tax for transportation purposes if any and for educational and for operations and maintenance purposes for the next ensuing year. In school districts with a population of less than 500,000, these amounts shall be certified and returned to each county clerk on or before the last Tuesday in December, annually. The certificate shall be signed by the president and clerk or secretary, and may be in the following form:
CERTIFICATE OF TAX LEVY
    We hereby certify that we require the sum of ...... dollars, to be levied as a special tax for transportation purposes and the sum of ...... dollars to be levied as a special tax for educational purposes, and the sum ...... dollars to be levied as a special tax for operations and maintenance purposes, and the sum of ...... to be levied as a special tax for a working cash fund, on the equalized assessed value of the taxable property of our district, for the year (insert year).
    Signed on (insert date).
    A ........... B ............., President
    C ........... D............., Clerk (Secretary)
    Dist. No. .........., ............ County
 
    (b) A failure by the school board to file the certificate with the county clerk in the time required shall not vitiate the assessment.
    (c) A school district subject to the authority of a Financial Oversight Panel pursuant to Article 1H of this Code shall file a certificate of tax levy as otherwise provided by this Section, except that such certificate shall be certified and returned to each county clerk on or before the first Tuesday in November annually. If, for whatever reason, the district fails to certify and return the certificate of tax levy to each county clerk on or before the first Tuesday in November annually, then the Financial Oversight Panel for such school district shall proceed to adopt, certify, and return a certificate of tax levy for such school district to each county clerk on or before the last Tuesday in December annually.
(Source: P.A. 97-429, eff. 8-16-11.)

105 ILCS 5/17-11.1

    (105 ILCS 5/17-11.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-11.1)
    Sec. 17-11.1. Amended Tax Certificate. When a school board has authority to levy taxes at the maximum permissive tax rate allowed by law or the maximum tax rate allowed by voter approved referendum and, after the certificate of tax levy has been filed, a change in the assessed valuation resulting from the application of the equalization multiplier by the Department of Revenue causes the school district's tax extensions to be less than the maximum permissive tax rate allowed by law or the maximum tax rate allowed by voter approved referendum, the school board may, within 20 days of such change, amend the certificate of tax levy to provide for the maximum amount of tax extensions provided by the permissive tax rate or by the voter approved referendum, as limited by the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law.
(Source: P.A. 91-850, eff. 6-22-00.)

105 ILCS 5/17-11.2

    (105 ILCS 5/17-11.2)
    Sec. 17-11.2. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 92-855, eff. 12-6-02. Repealed by P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/17-12

    (105 ILCS 5/17-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-12)
    Sec. 17-12. Districts in two or more counties. When a district lies partly in two or more counties the school board shall ascertain, as near as practicable, the amount to be raised by special tax for educational and operations and maintenance purposes and shall prepare a certificate for each county in which the district lies and shall deliver one of such certificates to each of the county clerks of the counties in which a part of the district is situated. On the first Monday following the delivery of the certificate, or as soon thereafter as may be practicable, each county clerk shall ascertain the total equalized valuation of all the taxable property in that part of the district as lies in his county, and certify the amount thereof to the county clerk of each of the other counties in which any part of the district lies. From the aggregate of such equalized valuation and from the certificate of the amount so required to be levied, such clerk shall ascertain the rate per cent required to produce in the district the amount of such levy, and at that rate shall extend the special tax to be levied for educational and operations and maintenance purposes in that part of the district lying in his respective county.
(Source: P.A. 86-1334.)

105 ILCS 5/17-13

    (105 ILCS 5/17-13)
    Sec. 17-13. (Repealed).
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31. Repealed by P.A. 94-1105, eff. 6-1-07.)

105 ILCS 5/17-14

    (105 ILCS 5/17-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-14)
    Sec. 17-14. Payments by collector to treasurer-Statement of uncollected taxes.
    Within 30 days after the delinquent date for the payment of any tax or installment thereof and after the delivery of the tax books containing the computation and levy of the taxes, or as soon thereafter as the school treasurer shall present the certificate of the amount of the tax and make a demand therefor, the collector shall pay to the treasurer the full amount of the tax certified by the county clerk, or if any part remains uncollected, the collector shall, in addition to the amount collected, deliver to the treasurer a statement of the amount of uncollected taxes for his district or districts, taking his receipt therefor, which receipt shall be evidence in favor of the collector as against the treasurer.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/17-15

    (105 ILCS 5/17-15) (from Ch. 122, par. 17-15)
    Sec. 17-15. Failure of collector to pay.
    If any collector fails to pay the taxes or any part thereof, the school treasurer or other authorized person may proceed against him and his sureties in a civil action upon his official bond in any court of competent jurisdiction. The collector so in default shall pay 12% of the amount due to be assessed as damages, which shall be included in the judgment rendered against him. If he can show that any part of the taxes could not be collected by law, he shall not be liable for such taxes until