Illinois School Overview

Elementary and Secondary: Public

The state of Illinois has 908 school districts. Each local school district is governed by a seven-member board of education elected by resident voters in the district (except in Chicago where the five-member panel is appointed by the mayor). The board of education is then responsible for hiring a superintendent and approving the hire of principals, teachers and other school staff. The board has authority, within the scope of state law, to make decisions about how the district operates, including expenditure of funds, courses taught, student discipline policies, which schools in the district students will attend, eligibility for athletics and other extra-curricular activities, dress codes, and how the district will comply with state and federal requirements.

School classifications include elementary (grades K-8 only); middle or junior high (grades 6-8 only), secondary (grades 9-12 only) and unit districts (grades K-12 only).

All districts are required to provide educational programs and facilities for students with physical and mental disabilities, emotional disorders, learning disabilities or vision and hearing impairments. In addition to local school district programs, the state operates the Illinois School for the Deaf and Illinois School for the Visually Impaired in Jacksonville and the Illinois Children's School and Rehabilitation Center in Chicago for students with physical disabilities.

Health examinations are required for all students entering kindergarten or first grade; fifth and ninth grade; and for students entering school for the first time at any grade level (this includes pre-school and students transferring in from other states or countries).

Immunizations that are required for kindergarten through 12th grade students are DTP (diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis), polio, measles, rubella, mumps and for students in grades five and six hepatitis B. Children entering preschool must also have Hib (haemophilus influenza type b) and hepatitis B inoculations.

By law, students in Illinois must enter school by age 7 and remain in school until age 16. For students to attend kindergarten, they must turn 5 years old prior to September 1 of the year in which they enter school. School districts have the option of screening students whose 5th birthdays fall after that deadline to determine if they are developmentally ready to attend school.

Each school district must prepare and submit to parents, taxpayers, the Governor, General Assembly and State Board of Education, a report card assessing the performance of its schools and students. The report card is an index of school performance as measured against statewide and local standards. Report cards are available from each public school district upon request.

State high school graduation requirements include successful completion of the following courses: language arts, three years; mathematics, two years (one year may be related to computer technology); science, one year; social studies, two years (at least one year must be U.S. history or a combination of U.S. history and American government); and one year from one of the following fields: music, art, foreign language or vocational education. Local school boards may adopt additional requirements. All high schools must offer course work, which would enable a high school graduate to enter Illinois public schools of higher education.

For specifics concerning graduation requirements contact the local school superintendent. Information about the state's school system in general may be obtained from:

Illinois State Board of Education - 100 North 1st Street, 1st Hoor, Springfield 62777-0001
(217) 782-2221, http://www.isbe.state.il.us/

Other State and local links of interest:

www.uiuc.edu The University of Illinois Page
www.bacnet.edu Belleville Area College
www.mckendree.edu McKendree College
www.pioneerlocal.com School report cards