Section 525.110  Programs and Services to be Provided

The following school improvement services shall be provided by each Regional Office of Education and the Chicago Intermediate Service Center as defined in Section 525.10 of this Part. These services shall comprise a core common to all Regional Offices and the Chicago Intermediate Service Center, but shall not limit the range of programs and services that may be offered by one or more of these entities.  The 10 Regional Offices of Education with the smallest populations shall provide services under cooperative agreements with one or more of the 35 Regional Offices of Education with the largest populations in accordance with subsection (b) of this Section.

a)         Each Regional Superintendent of Schools shall ensure the provision to all school districts of the programs and services listed in this subsection (a).  Such services may be provided either directly by each Regional Office of Education or in cooperation with one or more Regional Offices of Education.  Such services may include, but need not be limited to, the provision of administrator and teacher training programs, data collection, on-site consultation, evaluation services, implementation of the improvement practices selected by school district staff, and other services identified by school personnel as critical to the completion of their school improvement efforts.

1)         Each Regional Office of Education shall provide for Computer Technology Education as specified in Section 2-3.62(2) of the School Code.  This shall include planning, implementation, and evaluation services necessary for the establishment of programs designed to achieve computer literacy and high-technology competency.  These technology services must include, but need not be limited to, inservice training and staff development; use, application, and evaluation of software; technical assistance; and curriculum development.

2)         Each Regional Office of Education shall provide for Staff Development Services in Fundamental Learning Areas, to include at least mathematics, science, and reading resources, as specified in Section 2-3.62(3) of the School Code.  These services shall include planning, implementation, and evaluation services as they relate to the continuing education, inservice training, and staff development needs of teachers and administrators in the areas of mathematics, biological and physical sciences, language arts, fine arts, social sciences, and physical development and health.  Activities shall include, but need not be limited to, assisting in needs assessment activities, providing workshops and inservice training sessions, providing technical assistance, convening study or assessment groups, and acting as a clearinghouse for research materials in the fundamental learning areas.

3)         Each Regional Office of Education shall ensure access for all administrators to continuing professional development offered through the Illinois Administrators' Academy (Section 2-3.53 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/2-3.53]) and at least provide the following services: assessing regional needs, acting as a clearinghouse for educational materials and research, and keeping accurate records of attendance at inservice training sessions provided through the Illinois Administrators' Academy.

4)         Each Regional Office of Education shall establish and maintain a directory of cooperating consultants used by the Regional Office to provide services to school districts and to make information regarding such consultants available to schools.

b)         The 10 Regional Offices of Education with the smallest populations shall enter into cooperative agreements with one or more of the larger regions to provide those services outlined in subsections (a)(1) through (4) of this Section, provided that:

1)         approval for the agreement is obtained from each Regional Superintendent of Schools involved in the cooperative;

2)         services and programs to be delivered are included in the regional improvement plan pursuant to Section 525.120 of this Part; and

3)         if one or more of the 10 Regional Offices of Education cannot enter into a cooperative agreement with one or more of the larger regions, then the State Board of Education shall work with regions so that they enter into a cooperative agreement or, if necessary, assign regions to participate in a cooperative agreement.

(Source:  Amended at 28 Ill. Reg. 15487, effective November 22, 2004)