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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.


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105 ILCS 5/34-4.5

    (105 ILCS 5/34-4.5)
    Sec. 34-4.5. Chronic truants.
    (a) Socio-emotional focused attendance intervention. The chief executive officer or the chief executive officer's designee shall implement a socio-emotional focused attendance approach that targets the underlying causes of chronic truancy. For each pupil identified as a chronic truant, as defined in Section 26-2a of this Code, the board may establish an individualized student attendance plan to identify and resolve the underlying cause of the pupil's chronic truancy.
    (b) Notices. Prior to the implementation of any truancy intervention services pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section, the principal of the school attended by the pupil or the principal's designee shall notify the pupil's parent or guardian by personal visit, letter, or telephone of each unexcused absence of the pupil. After giving the parent or guardian notice of the tenth unexcused absence of the pupil, the principal or the principal's designee shall send the pupil's parent or guardian a letter, by certified mail, return receipt requested, notifying the parent or guardian that he or she is subjecting himself or herself to truancy intervention services as provided under subsection (d) of this Section.
    (c) (Blank).
    (d) Truancy intervention services. The chief executive officer or the chief executive officer's designee may require the pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian or both the pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian to do any or all of the following: complete a parenting education program; obtain counseling or other supportive services; and comply with an individualized educational plan or service plan as provided by appropriate school officials. If the parent or guardian of the chronic truant shows that he or she took reasonable steps to ensure attendance of the pupil at school, he or she shall not be required to perform services.
    (e) Non-compliance with services. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, if a pupil determined by the chief executive officer or the chief executive officer's designee to be a chronic truant or the parent or guardian of the pupil fails to fully participate in the services offered under subsection (d) of this Section, the chief executive officer or the chief executive officer's designee may refer the matter to the Department of Human Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, or any other applicable organization or State agency for socio-emotional based intervention and prevention services. Additionally, if the circumstances regarding a pupil identified as a chronic truant reasonably indicate that the pupil may be subject to abuse or neglect, apart from truancy, the chief executive officer or the chief executive officer's designee must report any findings that support suspected abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Family Services pursuant to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. A State agency that receives a referral may enter into a data sharing agreement with the school district to share applicable student referral and case data. A State agency that receives a referral from the school district shall implement an intake process that may include a consent form that allows the agency to share information with the school district.
    (f) Limitation on applicability. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to apply to a parent or guardian of a pupil not required to attend a public school pursuant to Section 26-1.
(Source: P.A. 102-456, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

105 ILCS 5/34-5

    (105 ILCS 5/34-5) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-5)
    Sec. 34-5. (Repealed).
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-6

    (105 ILCS 5/34-6) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-6)
    Sec. 34-6. Superintendent of schools. After June 30, 1999, the board may, by a vote of a majority of its full membership, appoint a general superintendent of schools to serve pursuant to a performance-based contract for a term ending on June 30th of the third calendar year after his or her appointment. He shall be the chief administrative officer of the board and shall have charge and control, subject to the approval of the board and to other provisions of this Article, of all departments and the employees therein of public schools, except the law department. He shall negotiate contracts with all labor organizations which are exclusive representatives of educational employees employed under the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. All contracts shall be subject to approval of the Board of Education. The board may conduct a national search for a general superintendent. An incumbent general superintendent may not be precluded from being included in such national search. Persons appointed pursuant to this Section shall be exempt from the provisions and requirements of Sections 21-1a, 21-7.1, and 21B-15 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 97-607, eff. 8-26-11.)

105 ILCS 5/34-6.1

    (105 ILCS 5/34-6.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-6.1)
    Sec. 34-6.1. The president or general superintendent shall 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. 85-942.)

105 ILCS 5/34-7

    (105 ILCS 5/34-7) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-7)
    Sec. 34-7. Establishment of departments.
    The board of education shall establish such general departments as it may deem necessary or appropriate and determine the duties and functions of each. The heads of such departments shall be appointed by the general superintendent of schools subject to the approval of a majority of the full membership of the board. Nothing contained in this Section shall apply to the law department.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-8)
    Sec. 34-8. Powers and duties of general superintendent. The general superintendent of schools shall prescribe and control, subject to the approval of the board and to other provisions of this Article, the courses of study mandated by State law, textbooks, educational apparatus and equipment, discipline in and conduct of the schools, and shall perform such other duties as the board may by rule prescribe. 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 general superintendent may be granted the authority by the board to hire a specific number of employees to assist in meeting immediate responsibilities. Conditions of employment for such personnel shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 34-85.
    The general superintendent may, pursuant to a delegation of authority by the board and Section 34-18, approve contracts and expenditures.
    Pursuant to other provisions of this Article, sites shall be selected, schoolhouses located thereon and plans therefor approved, and textbooks and educational apparatus and equipment shall be adopted and purchased by the board only upon the recommendation of the general superintendent of schools or by a majority vote of the full membership of the board and, in the case of textbooks, subject to Article 28 of this Act. The board may furnish free textbooks to pupils and may publish its own textbooks and manufacture its own apparatus, equipment and supplies.
    In addition, in January of each year, the general superintendent of schools 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 general superintendent shall also have the authority to monitor the performance of attendance centers, to identify and place an attendance center on remediation and probation, and to recommend to the board that the attendance center be placed on intervention and be reconstituted, subject to the provisions of Sections 34-8.3 and 8.4.
    The general superintendent, or his or her designee, shall conduct an annual evaluation of each principal in the district pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the Board and the Board approved principal evaluation form. The evaluation shall be based on factors, including the following: (i) student academic improvement, as defined by the school improvement plan; (ii) student absenteeism rates at the school; (iii) instructional leadership; (iv) effective implementation of programs, policies, or strategies to improve student academic achievement; (v) school management; and (vi) other factors, including, without limitation, the principal's communication skills and ability to create and maintain a student-centered learning environment, to develop opportunities for professional development, and to encourage parental involvement and community partnerships to achieve school improvement.
    Effective no later than September 1, 2012, the general superintendent or his or her designee shall develop a written principal evaluation plan. The evaluation plan must be in writing and shall supersede the evaluation requirements set forth in this Section. The evaluation plan must do at least all of the following:
        (1) Provide for annual evaluation of all principals
    
employed under a performance contract by the general superintendent or his or her designee, no later than July 1st of each year.
        (2) Consider the principal's specific duties,
    
responsibilities, management, and competence as a principal.
        (3) Specify the principal's strengths and weaknesses,
    
with supporting reasons.
        (4) Align with research-based standards.
        (5) Use data and indicators on student growth as a
    
significant factor in rating principal performance.
(Source: P.A. 95-496, eff. 8-28-07; 96-861, eff. 1-15-10.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.05

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.05)
    Sec. 34-8.05. Reporting firearms in schools. On or after January 1, 1997, 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 general 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 no later than 24 hours after the occurrence of the incident and to the Illinois State Police in a form, manner, and frequency as prescribed by the Illinois State Police.
    The State Board of Education shall receive an annual statistical compilation and related data associated with incidents involving firearms in schools from the Illinois State Police. 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.
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.1

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-8.1)
    Sec. 34-8.1. Principals. Principals shall be employed to supervise the operation of each attendance center. Their powers and duties shall include but not be limited to the authority (i) to direct, supervise, evaluate, and suspend with or without pay or otherwise discipline all teachers, assistant principals, and other employees assigned to the attendance center in accordance with board rules and policies and (ii) to direct all other persons assigned to the attendance center pursuant to a contract with a third party to provide services to the school system. The right to employ, discharge, and layoff shall be vested solely with the board, provided that decisions to discharge or suspend nonlicensed employees, including disciplinary layoffs, and the termination of licensed employees from employment pursuant to a layoff or reassignment policy are subject to review under the grievance resolution procedure adopted pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 10 of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. The grievance resolution procedure adopted by the board shall provide for final and binding arbitration, and, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the arbitrator's decision may include all make-whole relief, including without limitation reinstatement. The principal shall fill positions by appointment as provided in this Section and may make recommendations to the board regarding the employment, discharge, or layoff of any individual. The authority of the principal shall include the authority to direct the hours during which the attendance center shall be open and available for use provided the use complies with board rules and policies, to determine when and what operations shall be conducted within those hours, and to schedule staff within those hours. Under the direction of, and subject to the authority of the principal, the Engineer In Charge shall be accountable for the safe, economical operation of the plant and grounds and shall also be responsible for orientation, training, and supervising the work of Engineers, Trainees, school maintenance assistants, custodial workers and other plant operation employees under his or her direction.
    There shall be established by the board a system of semi-annual evaluations conducted by the principal as to performance of the engineer in charge. Nothing in this Section shall prevent the principal from conducting additional evaluations. An overall numerical rating shall be given by the principal based on the evaluation conducted by the principal. An unsatisfactory numerical rating shall result in disciplinary action, which may include, without limitation and in the judgment of the principal, loss of promotion or bidding procedure, reprimand, suspension with or without pay, or recommended dismissal. The board shall establish procedures for conducting the evaluation and reporting the results to the engineer in charge.
    Under the direction of, and subject to the authority of, the principal, the Food Service Manager is responsible at all times for the proper operation and maintenance of the lunch room to which he is assigned and shall also be responsible for the orientation, training, and supervising the work of cooks, bakers, porters, and lunchroom attendants under his or her direction.
    There shall be established by the Board a system of semi-annual evaluations conducted by the principal as to the performance of the food service manager. Nothing in this Section shall prevent the principal from conducting additional evaluations. An overall numerical rating shall be given by the principal based on the evaluation conducted by the principal. An unsatisfactory numerical rating shall result in disciplinary action which may include, without limitation and in the judgment of the principal, loss of promotion or bidding procedure, reprimand, suspension with or without pay, or recommended dismissal. The board shall establish rules for conducting the evaluation and reporting the results to the food service manager.
    Nothing in this Section shall be interpreted to require the employment or assignment of an Engineer-In-Charge or a Food Service Manager for each attendance center.
    Principals shall be employed to supervise the educational operation of each attendance center. If a principal is absent due to extended illness or leave of absence, an assistant principal may be assigned as acting principal for a period not to exceed 100 school days. Each principal shall assume administrative responsibility and instructional leadership, in accordance with reasonable rules and regulations of the board, for the planning, operation and evaluation of the educational program of the attendance center to which he is assigned. The principal shall submit recommendations to the general superintendent concerning the appointment, dismissal, retention, promotion, and assignment of all personnel assigned to the attendance center; provided, that from and after September 1, 1989: (i) if any vacancy occurs in a position at the attendance center or if an additional or new position is created at the attendance center, that position shall be filled by appointment made by the principal in accordance with procedures established and provided by the Board whenever the majority of the duties included in that position are to be performed at the attendance center which is under the principal's supervision, and each such appointment so made by the principal shall be made and based upon merit and ability to perform in that position without regard to seniority or length of service, provided, that such appointments shall be subject to the Board's desegregation obligations, including but not limited to the Consent Decree and Desegregation Plan in U.S. v. Chicago Board of Education; (ii) the principal shall submit recommendations based upon merit and ability to perform in the particular position, without regard to seniority or length of service, to the general superintendent concerning the appointment of any teacher, teacher aide, counselor, clerk, hall guard, security guard and any other personnel which is to be made by the general superintendent whenever less than a majority of the duties of that teacher, teacher aide, counselor, clerk, hall guard, and security guard and any other personnel are to be performed at the attendance center which is under the principal's supervision; and (iii) subject to law and the applicable collective bargaining agreements, the authority and responsibilities of a principal with respect to the evaluation of all teachers and other personnel assigned to an attendance center shall commence immediately upon his or her appointment as principal of the attendance center, without regard to the length of time that he or she has been the principal of that attendance center.
    Notwithstanding the existence of any other law of this State, nothing in this Act shall prevent the board from entering into a contract with a third party for services currently performed by any employee or bargaining unit member.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, each principal may approve contracts, binding on the board, in the amount of no more than $10,000, if the contract is endorsed by the Local School Council.
    Unless otherwise prohibited by law or by rule of the board, the principal shall provide to local school council members copies of all internal audits and any other pertinent information generated by any audits or reviews of the programs and operation of the attendance center.
    Each principal shall hold a valid Professional Educator License issued in accordance with Article 21B and endorsed as required by that Article for the position of principal. The board may establish or impose clear, specific, explicit, and objective academic, educational, examination, and experience requirements and criteria that are in addition to those established and required by Article 21B for issuance of a valid license endorsed for the position of principal as a condition of the nomination, selection, appointment, employment, or continued employment of a person as principal of any attendance center or as a condition of the renewal of any principal's performance contract. If the additional requirements and criteria result or may result in the exclusion of an otherwise qualified and licensed candidate from being eligible for selection to serve as a principal of an attendance center, then the board shall maintain a public database that includes the names of all the candidates who are eligible to be selected as a principal and who do not choose to not have their name included in the database. The board shall give notice of no less than 30 days to all otherwise qualified and licensed candidates each quarter of their ability to be included in the database and shall make updates to the database within no more than 10 days after the end of the quarter for which notice is given.
    The board must establish standards and procedures to ensure that no candidate is deemed ineligible to be selected as a principal for reasons that are not directly related to the candidate's anticipated performance as a principal. The standards and procedures established by the board must do all of the following:
        (1) Set forth all of the specific criteria used by
    
the board to make decisions concerning the eligibility of candidates.
        (2) Provide each candidate with a written,
    
competency-aligned score report and evidence-based rationale related to the scoring criteria for each competency area.
        (3) Provide remediation goals and other supportive
    
services to assist a candidate in correcting any deficiencies identified by the board in the board's rationale.
        (4) Include provisions to ensure that no person is
    
discriminated against on the basis of conscious or implicit biases associated with race, color, national origin, or a disability that is unrelated to the person's ability to perform the duties of a principal.
    The board, in cooperation with the organization that represents the district's principals and assistant principals, must establish a grievance and hearing procedure for those candidates the general superintendent or the general superintendent's designee has deemed ineligible to serve as principal of an attendance center or whose eligibility has been slated for revocation. The evaluator must be a State Board of Education-trained principal evaluator or must receive such training before rendering a decision. The hearing officer must receive sufficient training in principal evaluation processes and criteria to render an informed decision.
    Within 10 days after the general superintendent or the general superintendent's designee determines that a candidate is ineligible or makes a decision to revoke the eligibility of an administrator, the general superintendent or the general superintendent's designee must notify the candidate or administrator, in writing, of the specific reasons for the general superintendent's or the general superintendent's designee's determination of the candidate's or administrator's ineligibility. Within 30 days after receiving this notification, the candidate or administrator may request that the general superintendent or the general superintendent's designee initiate a review of the decision through the grievance and hearing process established pursuant to this Section.
    In the case of a principal who is deemed ineligible based on a performance evaluation, the evaluator conducting the review must consider as evidence of the principal's performance any local school council evaluation that covers the same evaluation period. If a decision to revoke eligibility is grieved, the administrator shall remain on the eligibility list until the administrator receives a decision in the grievance. However, prior to any hiring decision, the board may communicate to any local school council that the administrator has a grievance pending while the grievance is pending. The grievance decision shall be binding on the principal and the board.
    If performance evaluations are included in the criteria used by the board in determining that a principal is no longer eligible to seek a principal position at an attendance center, the board's criteria must use the standard of either an unsatisfactory summative evaluation or 2 or more basic or lower summative performance evaluations within a period of 7 school years, except as provided below in the case of a principal who is in his or her first principal position. A principal with summative performance evaluations of basic in the principal's first 2 school years in that role shall not impact a principal's eligibility status if the principal earns an increased numerical rating in at least one competency domain while maintaining ratings on all other competency domains in the school year immediately following the basic rating. A principal who is deemed ineligible based on a performance evaluation may request that the general superintendent review that determination under the grievance procedure, in which case the general superintendent's designee must be a State Board of Education-trained principal evaluator, and, in conducting that review, the general superintendent's designee must consider any local school council evaluation that covers the same evaluation period. If an individual evaluator rates an individual principal as unsatisfactory for the first time, the board may not determine that a principal is no longer eligible to serve as a principal based on performance evaluations from that evaluator if, during the same school term of service, the local school council's evaluation of the principal's performance was distinguished. If a principal has been deemed ineligible based on a performance evaluation, the principal's status is restored to eligible when the principal receives a proficient or higher summative performance evaluation rating, provided the principal meets all other criteria for eligibility.
    The board shall specify in its formal job description for principals, and from and after July 1, 1990 shall specify in the 4 year performance contracts for use with respect to all 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. The principal, with the assistance of the local school council, shall develop a school improvement plan as provided in Section 34-2.4 and, upon approval of the plan by the local school council, shall be responsible for directing implementation of the plan. The principal, with the assistance of the professional personnel leadership committee, shall develop the specific methods and contents of the school's curriculum within the board's system-wide curriculum standards and objectives and the requirements of the school improvement plan. The board shall ensure that all 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.
    Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the board and the exclusive representative of the district's teachers from entering into an agreement under Section 34-85c of this Code to establish alternative procedures for teacher evaluation, remediation, and removal for cause after remediation, including an alternative system for peer evaluation and recommendations, for teachers assigned to schools identified in that agreement.
    On or before October 1, 1989, the Board of Education, in consultation with any professional organization representing principals in the district, shall promulgate rules and implement a lottery for the purpose of determining whether a principal's existing performance contract (including the performance contract applicable to any principal's position in which a vacancy then exists) expires on June 30, 1990 or on June 30, 1991, and whether the ensuing 4 year performance contract begins on July 1, 1990 or July 1, 1991. The Board of Education shall establish and conduct the lottery in such manner that of all the performance contracts of principals (including the performance contracts applicable to all principal positions in which a vacancy then exists), 50% of such contracts shall expire on June 30, 1990, and 50% shall expire on June 30, 1991. All persons serving as principal on May 1, 1989, and all persons appointed as principal after May 1, 1989 and prior to July 1, 1990 or July 1, 1991, in a manner other than as provided by Section 34-2.3, shall be deemed by operation of law to be serving under a performance contract which expires on June 30, 1990 or June 30, 1991; and unless such performance contract of any such principal is renewed (or such person is again appointed to serve as principal) in the manner provided by Section 34-2.2 or 34-2.3, the employment of such person as principal shall terminate on June 30, 1990 or June 30, 1991.
    Commencing on July 1, 1990, or on July 1, 1991, and thereafter, the principal of each attendance center shall be the person selected in the manner provided by Section 34-2.3 to serve as principal of that attendance center under a 4 year performance contract. All performance contracts of principals expiring after July 1, 1990, or July 1, 1991, shall commence on the date specified in the contract, and the renewal of their performance contracts and the appointment of principals when their performance contracts are not renewed shall be governed by Sections 34-2.2 and 34-2.3. Whenever a vacancy in the office of a principal occurs for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by the selection of a new principal to serve under a 4 year performance contract in the manner provided by Section 34-2.3.
    The board of education shall develop and prepare, in consultation with the organization representing principals, a performance contract for use at all attendance centers, and shall furnish the same to each local school council. The term of the performance contract shall be 4 years, unless the principal is retained by the decision of a hearing officer pursuant to subdivision 1.5 of Section 34-2.3, in which case the contract shall be extended for 2 years. The performance contract of each principal shall consist of the uniform performance contract, as developed or from time to time modified by the board, and such additional criteria as are established by a local school council pursuant to Section 34-2.3 for the performance contract of its principal.
    During the term of his or her performance contract, a principal may be removed only as provided for in the performance contract except for cause. He or she shall also be obliged to follow the rules of the board of education concerning conduct and efficiency.
    In the event the performance contract of a principal is not renewed or a principal is not reappointed as principal under a new performance contract, or in the event a principal is appointed to any position of superintendent or higher position, or voluntarily resigns his position of principal, his or her employment as a principal shall terminate and such former principal shall not be reinstated to the position from which he or she was promoted to principal, except that he or she, if otherwise qualified and licensed in accordance with Article 21B, shall be placed by the board on appropriate eligibility lists which it prepares for use in the filling of vacant or additional or newly created positions for teachers. The principal's total years of service to the board as both a teacher and a principal, or in other professional capacities, shall be used in calculating years of experience for purposes of being selected as a teacher into new, additional or vacant positions.
    In the event the performance contract of a principal is not renewed or a principal is not reappointed as principal under a new performance contract, such principal shall be eligible to continue to receive his or her previously provided level of health insurance benefits for a period of 90 days following the non-renewal of the contract at no expense to the principal, provided that such principal has not retired.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 102-1139, eff. 2-10-23.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.1a

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.1a)
    Sec. 34-8.1a. Waiver of collective bargaining agreement provisions. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or collective bargaining agreement to the contrary, the principal, with the concurrence of at least 63.5% through August 31, 1995, and 51% thereafter of an attendance center's personnel in the teachers' bargaining unit, whether certificated or uncertificated non-academic, shall have the right to declare waived and superseded a provision of the teachers' collective bargaining agreement as it applies in or at the attendance center to the bargaining unit's employees. Any collective bargaining agreement entered into after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995 with a bargaining unit other than the teachers' bargaining unit shall contain a waiver procedure that meets the requirements of this Section.
    Any waiver approved as provided in this Section shall be final upon concurrence of the required percentage of personnel and shall not be subject to approval or rejection by a bargaining unit or a committee of the bargaining unit.
(Source: P.A. 88-511; 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.1b

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.1b)
    Sec. 34-8.1b. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 89-15, eff. 5-30-95. Repealed by P.A. 102-1138, eff. 2-10-23.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.3

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-8.3)
    Sec. 34-8.3. Remediation and probation of attendance centers.
    (a) The general superintendent shall monitor the performance of the attendance centers within the district and shall identify attendance centers, pursuant to criteria that the board shall establish, in which:
        (1) there is a failure to develop, implement, or
    
comply with a school improvement plan;
        (2) there is a pervasive breakdown in the educational
    
program as indicated by factors, including, but not limited to, the absence of improvement in student reading and math achievement scores, an increased drop-out rate, a decreased graduation rate, and a decrease in rate of student attendance;
        (3) (blank); or
        (4) there is a failure or refusal to comply with the
    
provisions of this Act, other applicable laws, collective bargaining agreements, court orders, or with Board rules which the Board is authorized to promulgate.
    (b) If the general superintendent identifies a nonperforming school as described herein, he or she shall place the attendance center on remediation by developing a remediation plan for the center. The purpose of the remediation plan shall be to correct the deficiencies in the performance of the attendance center by one or more of the following methods:
        (1) drafting a new school improvement plan;
        (2) applying to the board for additional funding for
    
training for the local school council;
        (3) directing implementation of a school improvement
    
plan;
        (4) mediating disputes or other obstacles to reform
    
or improvement at the attendance center.
    Nothing in this Section removes any authority of the local school council, which shall retain the right to reject or modify any school improvement plan or implementation thereof, as long as the rejection or modification of any school improvement plan or implementation thereof is consistent with State and federal requirements.
    If, however, the general superintendent determines that the problems are not able to be remediated by these methods, the general superintendent shall place the attendance center on probation. The board shall establish guidelines that determine the factors for placing an attendance center on probation.
    (c) Each school placed on probation shall have a school improvement plan and school budget for correcting deficiencies identified by the board. The plan shall include specific steps that the local school council and school staff must take to correct identified deficiencies and specific objective criteria by which the school's subsequent progress will be determined. The school budget shall include specific expenditures directly calculated to correct educational and operational deficiencies identified at the school by the probation team.
    (d) Schools placed on probation that, after a maximum of one year, fail to make adequate progress in correcting deficiencies are subject to the following actions by the general superintendent with the approval of the board, after opportunity for a hearing:
        (1) Ordering new local school council elections.
        (2) Removing and replacing the principal.
        (3) Replacement of faculty members, subject to the
    
provisions of Section 24A-5.
        (4) Reconstitution of the attendance center and
    
replacement and reassignment by the general superintendent of all employees of the attendance center.
        (5) Intervention under Section 34-8.4.
        (5.5) Operating an attendance center as a contract
    
turnaround school.
        (6) Closing of the school.
    (e) Schools placed on probation shall remain on probation from year to year until deficiencies are corrected, even if such schools make acceptable annual progress. The board shall establish, in writing, criteria for determining whether or not a school shall remain on probation. If academic achievement tests are used as the factor for placing a school on probation, the general superintendent shall consider objective criteria, not just an increase in test scores, in deciding whether or not a school shall remain on probation. These criteria shall include attendance, test scores, student mobility rates, poverty rates, bilingual education eligibility, special education, and English language proficiency programs, with progress made in these areas being taken into consideration in deciding whether or not a school shall remain on probation. Such criteria shall be delivered to each local school council on or before October 31 of each year.
    (e-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary, a school that has been on probation for 5 years or more shall have the following powers restored to its local school council:
        (1) to grant approval of the school improvement plan;
    
and
        (2) to approve the school budget.
    With respect to the employment, dismissal, and evaluation of a school principal, the local school council of a school that has been on probation for 5 years or more shall conduct a non-binding poll that must be considered by the network chief. The network chief shall work collaboratively with the local school council throughout the process of employment, dismissal, and evaluation of a school principal.
    (f) Where the board has reason to believe that violations of civil rights, or of civil or criminal law have occurred, or when the general superintendent deems that the school is in educational crisis it may take immediate corrective action, including the actions specified in this Section, without first placing the school on remediation or probation. Nothing described herein shall limit the authority of the board as provided by any law of this State. The board shall develop criteria governing the determination regarding when a school is in educational crisis. Such criteria shall be delivered to each local school council on or before October 31 of each year.
    (g) All persons serving as subdistrict superintendent on May 1, 1995 shall be deemed by operation of law to be serving under a performance contract which expires on June 30, 1995, and the employment of each such person as subdistrict superintendent shall terminate on June 30, 1995. The board shall have no obligation to compensate any such person as a subdistrict superintendent after June 30, 1995.
    (h) The general superintendent shall, in consultation with local school councils, conduct an annual evaluation of each principal in the district pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the Board of Education.
(Source: P.A. 102-677, eff. 12-3-21.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.3a

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.3a)
    Sec. 34-8.3a. Financial supervision of attendance centers.
    (a) A fiscal advisor that has been appointed pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 34-2.1 of this Code shall, not later than 90 days after his or her appointment, report to the general superintendent, the board of education, the local school council, and the principal of the school on the progress made in addressing any of the financial deficiencies. If the fiscal advisor determines that the attendance center has rectified all identified deficiencies or has made satisfactory progress in addressing identified deficiencies such that the deficiencies shall be corrected subsequent to the 90-day period, no further action shall be taken by the Board. If, however, the local school council and the principal have not rectified or made satisfactory progress in correcting identified deficiencies, the general superintendent may appoint a financial supervision team, consisting of the fiscal advisor, the general superintendent or his or her designee, and a representative of an outside, independent auditor. Financial supervision teams may develop and implement school budgets to correct the financial irregularities identified in the fiscal advisor's report. The budget shall identify specifically those expenditures that directly correct the irregularities identified in the fiscal advisor's report. Financial supervision teams shall institute systems and procedures necessary to achieve appropriate fiscal management at the school.
    (b) Financial supervision teams may modify an existing school improvement plan only to the extent necessary to implement the school budget it develops. Modifications to a school improvement plan shall include specific steps that the local school council and school staff must take to correct each specific financial irregularity identified by the fiscal advisor's report. The modifications to a school improvement plan shall further specify objective criteria by which the deficiencies identified in the fiscal advisor's report are to be corrected. The local school council and school staff shall be consulted on the school budget and modifications to the school improvement plan to be implemented by the financial supervision team but will have no authority to modify either.
    (c) Upon implementation of the budget developed by the financial supervision team, and accompanying modifications to a school improvement plan, the financial supervision team's authority to conduct fiscal or related educational management of a school shall cease.
(Source: P.A. 91-622, eff. 8-19-99.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.4

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.4)
    Sec. 34-8.4. Intervention. The Chicago Schools Academic Accountability Council may recommend to the Chicago School Reform Board of Trustees that any school placed on remediation or probation under Section 34-8.3 or schools that for the 3 consecutive school years of 1992-1993, 1993-1994, and 1994-1995 have met the State Board of Education's category of "does not meet expectations" be made subject to intervention under this Section 34-8.4. In addition to any powers created under this Section, the Trustees shall have all powers created under Section 34-8.3 with respect to schools subjected to intervention.
    Prior to subjecting a school to intervention, the Trustees shall conduct a public hearing and make findings of facts concerning the recommendation of the Chicago Schools Academic Accountability Council and the factors causing the failure of the school to adequately perform. The Trustees shall afford an opportunity at the hearing for interested persons to comment about the intervention recommendation. After the hearing has been held and completion of findings of fact, the Trustees shall make a determination whether to subject the school to intervention.
    If the Trustees determine that a school shall be subject to intervention under this Section, the Trustees shall develop an intervention implementation plan and shall cause a performance evaluation to be made of each employee at the school. Upon consideration of such evaluations, and consistent with the intervention implementation plan, the Trustees may reassign, layoff, or dismiss any employees at the attendance center, notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 24A-5 and 34-85.
    The chief educational officer shall appoint a principal for the school and shall set the terms and conditions of the principal's contract, which in no case may be longer than 2 years. The principal shall select all teachers and non-certified personnel for the school as may be necessary. Any provision of Section 34-8.1 that conflicts with this Section shall not apply to a school subjected to intervention under this Section.
    If pursuant to this Section, the general superintendent, with the approval of the board, orders new local school council elections, the general superintendent shall carry out the responsibilities of the local school council for a school subject to intervention until the new local school council members are elected and trained.
    Each school year, 5% of the supplemental general State aid funds distributed to a school subject to intervention during that school year under subsection 5(i)(1)(a) of part A of Section 18-8 or subsection (H) of Section 18-8.05 shall be used for employee performance incentives. The Trustees shall prepare a report evaluating the results of any interventions undertaken pursuant to this Section and shall make recommendations concerning implementation of special programs for dealing with underperforming schools on an ongoing basis. This report shall be submitted to the State Superintendent of Education and Mayor of the City of Chicago by January 1, 1999.
(Source: P.A. 89-15, eff. 5-30-95; 89-698, eff. 1-14-97; 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.5

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.5)
    Sec. 34-8.5. (Repealed).
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.6

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.6)
    Sec. 34-8.6. Short title. Sections 34-8.6 through 34-8.19 of this Act may be cited as the Chicago Learning Zone Implementation Law.
(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.7

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.7)
    Sec. 34-8.7. Findings. The General Assembly observes that the Chicago Learning Zone Advisory Committee has issued its report and recommendations. The General Assembly finds, after due consideration of the Committee's report and recommendations, that establishment of a Chicago Learning Zone designation, as the educational version of enterprise zones, will create an opportunity to accelerate the process of Chicago school reform. The General Assembly further finds that the Chicago Learning Zone will offer a fundamental change in operations from a mode of following regulations to an outcome mode, that this change will be one which concentrates on improving academic achievement in ways that can be utilized to reform the system, and that this change will be predicated on the overriding philosophy that attendance centers should be empowered to develop models most appropriate to their situations.
    The General Assembly further observes that the value of a learning experience is determined by the outcomes achieved, not by the time or place of attendance; and, it finds that Learning Zone schools should have the ability to operate without State laws and regulations, board rules, and policies, and the ability to operate with contractual waivable conditions by a vote of the school staff governed by the contracts. Accordingly, the General Assembly finds that the educational needs of the schoolchildren of Chicago will be served by establishing a Chicago Learning Zone.
(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.8

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.8)
    Sec. 34-8.8. (Repealed).
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.9

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.9)
    Sec. 34-8.9. (Repealed).
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.10

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.10)
    Sec. 34-8.10. Applications for Learning Zone designation. The board shall evaluate applications from attendance centers within Chicago. Applications shall be in the form prescribed by the board. The board shall, upon majority vote, grant Learning Zone designations that, in its judgment, satisfy the goals and requirements of this Law. The board shall establish policies and procedures necessary to implement this Law.
(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.11

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.11)
    Sec. 34-8.11. Evaluation criteria. In determining whether to grant Learning Zone designation, the board shall consider the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the application demonstrates that improved student learning will be the paramount priority and outcome;
    (2) Proposed adoption of high, rigorous standards of achievement and outcome for all students and staff;
    (3) Proposed use of shared, collegial decision-making;
    (4) Creative, flexible, and innovative proposed restructuring of the applicant attendance centers to create student-centered learning environments;
    (5) Parental and community integration and involvement;
    (6) Development of collaborative relationships with health and human services agencies;
    (7) Ability to function on a localized, decentralized basis within the Chicago public school system;
    (8) Appropriateness of budget and resource allocations, including those functions to be assumed and those to remain centralized;
    (9) Impact of the statutes, regulations, rules, and policies for which waivers are sought; and
    (10) Such other factors, not confined to the foregoing, that are fiscally sound and reasonably determinative of successful student outcome.
(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.12

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.12)
    Sec. 34-8.12. Attendance center support. Applications for Learning Zone designation must include evidence that the application is supported by the principal of the attendance center and by a majority vote of the Local School Council and attendance center staff. Applications shall include that evidence for each participating attendance center.
(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.13

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.13)
    Sec. 34-8.13. Learning Zone designation principles. In performing its duties under this Law, the board shall be guided by the following additional principles:
    (1) Learning Zone designations should be effective for an initial period of no less than 3 and no more than 6 years;
    (2) Learning Zone designations should encompass clusters of attendance centers through joint application from secondary and feeder elementary schools or in other reasonably related clusters;
    (3) Learning Zone designations should encompass, in the aggregate, approximately 10% of the students enrolled in attendance centers within Chicago;
    (4) Learning Zone designations should, in the aggregate, be reflective of the racial and ethnic diversity and demography of students enrolled in attendance centers within Chicago;
    (5) Learning Zone designations should be fully operational commencing with the 1996-97 school year; and
    (6) Learning Zone designation renewals, revisions, and applications for additional waivers of statutes, regulations, rules, and policies should be evaluated in light of the goals of this Law.
(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.14

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.14)
    Sec. 34-8.14. Non-waivable provisions. Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the contrary, statutes, regulations, rules, and policy provisions concerning the following shall not be waivable:
        (1) student civil rights;
        (2) staff civil rights;
        (3) health and safety;
        (4) performance and financial audits;
        (5) Local School Council provisions, including
    
required statements of economic disclosure;
        (6) the Open Meetings Act;
        (7) the Freedom of Information Act;
        (8) the assessments required under Section 2-3.64a-5
    
of this Code;
        (9) Chicago learning outcomes;
        (10) Sections 2-3.25a through 2-3.25j of this Code;
    
and
        (11) collective bargaining agreements.
(Source: P.A. 98-972, eff. 8-15-14.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.15

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.15)
    Sec. 34-8.15. Reports. The board shall file reports describing statutory waivers encompassed in the Learning Zone designations it grants under Section 34-8.10 with the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Secretary of State before October 1, 1995 and thereafter before each May 1 and October 1. The provisions in the report or as amended by the General Assembly shall take effect as provided by law.
(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.16

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.16)
    Sec. 34-8.16. Disapproval or amendment of reports. The General Assembly may disapprove the report of the board in whole, or amend it within 30 calendar days after each house of the legislature next convenes after the report is filed, by adoption of a resolution by a record vote of the majority of the members elected in each house directed to the board. The resolution shall be binding upon the board. Reports shall become effective if the General Assembly fails to disapprove or amend the report within the 30 day period.
    For the initial report that the board is required to file before October 1, 1995, the General Assembly may, by January 1, 1996, disapprove the report of the board in whole or amend it, after the report is filed, by the adoption of a resolution by a record vote of the majority of the members. The initial report shall become effective if the General Assembly fails to disapprove or amend the report by January 1, 1996.
(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.17

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.17)
    Sec. 34-8.17. Lump-sum allocation; key centralized functions. Final designation as a Learning Zone under this Law shall entitle the participating attendance centers to receive funds in lump-sum allocations, to budget and spend those funds, and to operate in accordance with the designation and this Law. Lump-sum allocations shall be based on the number of enrolled regular and special needs students and shall include all operating funds for compensation, supplies, equipment, repairs, energy, maintenance, transportation, and professional services, and all special funds that follow special populations, including desegregation, special education, bilingual, federal, and State Chapter 1 funds. A sum equal to 3.2% of operating funds shall be deducted by the board to provide key centralized functions, unless a designated Learning Zone obtains one or more of those functions elsewhere, in which case the sum shall be appropriately adjusted. As used in this Law, key centralized functions shall mean:
        (1) Equity assurance staff to ensure that services
    
are maintained for students with disabilities, English learners, low-income students, and any other special need students as required by federal law;
        (2) Payroll services and background and credential
    
checks;
        (3) Budget and treasury services to levy and collect
    
taxes and distribute lump-sum funding;
        (4) Central computer systems providing information
    
distribution and networking;
        (5) On-line data collection and analysis centers for
    
student and school data;
        (6) Emergency pool funding; and
        (7) Legal and labor departmental services for
    
system-wide litigation and collective bargaining negotiations.
(Source: P.A. 99-30, eff. 7-10-15.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.18

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.18)
    Sec. 34-8.18. The board shall revoke Learning Zone designation and the attendance center or centers involved shall return to their prior status upon a finding of:
        (1) A material violation of conditions, standards, or
    
procedures established in the designation or this Law;
        (2) Failure to meet or make reasonable progress
    
toward achievement of goals;
        (3) Failure to meet generally accepted standards of
    
fiscal management; or
        (4) Conditions jeopardizing the health or safety of
    
students.
    Technical assistance designed to resolve items (1) through (4) may, in the discretion of the board, be provided to attendance centers prior to or in lieu of revocation of Learning Zone designations.
(Source: P.A. 89-3, eff. 2-27-95; 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-8.19

    (105 ILCS 5/34-8.19)
    Sec. 34-8.19. (Repealed).
(Source: Repealed by P.A. 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-9

    (105 ILCS 5/34-9) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-9)
    Sec. 34-9. Report and estimates. On or before December 1, 1972, on or before December 1, 1973, on or before August 1, 1974 and on or before August 1 of each fiscal year thereafter, the general superintendent of schools shall submit to the board a report containing:
        1. A separate balance sheet for each fund under the
    
control of the board, showing, by classes, the estimated current assets and liabilities thereof as of the beginning of the next fiscal year and the amounts of such assets available for appropriation in such year, either for expenditures or charges to be made or incurred during such year or for liabilities unpaid at the beginning thereof. Estimates of taxes to be received from prior levies shall be net, after deducting amounts sufficient to cover the loss and cost of collecting taxes and also deferred collections thereof and abatements in the amount of taxes extended or to be extended upon the collectors' books. Estimates of the liabilities of the respective funds shall include (a) all final judgments, and accrued interest thereon, entered against the board and unpaid at the beginning of such next fiscal year, (b) the principal of all general obligation notes or anticipation tax warrants and all temporary loans and all accrued interest thereon unpaid at the beginning of such next fiscal year, (c) any amount for which the board is required to reimburse the working cash fund from the educational purposes fund pursuant to the provisions of Sections 34-30 to 34-36 inclusive, and (d) estimates of all accounts payable including estimates of audited vouchers, participation certificates, interfund loans and purchase orders payable.
        2. Detailed estimates, by funds, of all taxes to be
    
levied for the next fiscal year and of all other current revenues to be derived from other sources, which will be applicable to expenditures or charges to be made or incurred during such year. In estimating taxes to be levied for any purpose, except for the payment of bonded indebtedness or interest thereon and except for pension fund or working cash fund purposes, the general superintendent of schools shall be governed by the limitations in Sections 34-43 to 34-52, inclusive.
        3. Estimates, by funds, of the amounts necessary for
    
the board to appropriate for expenditures or charges to be made or incurred during the next succeeding fiscal year, including estimates of the interest to accrue during such year upon general obligation notes or anticipation tax warrants and temporary loans. Such estimates shall be so classified as to show the different objects and purposes for which expenditures or charges are to be made or incurred and the amount required for each object or purpose.
        4. Such other information concerning the financial
    
affairs of the board as the board may prescribe.
(Source: P.A. 77-2734.)

105 ILCS 5/34-10

    (105 ILCS 5/34-10) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-10)
    Sec. 34-10. Revised report-Amendments-Excessive appropriations. Within the first 15 days of each fiscal year the general superintendent of schools may submit to the board a revised report on all matters specified in Section 34-9, upon the basis of information then available, and may submit amendments to such report at any time prior to the passage of the annual school budget. He shall also submit to the board, whenever requested by it, any additional or supplemental information he may have concerning matters upon which he is required to report. He shall, within 10 days after the first regular meeting of the board occurring not less than 7 days after the adoption of the school budget, report to the board the extent to which and in what respects, if any, the appropriations contained in such budget in his judgment exceed the appropriations which the board is by law authorized to make.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/34-11

    (105 ILCS 5/34-11) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-11)
    Sec. 34-11. Duties of general counsel; assistants. The board by a majority vote of its full membership shall appoint a general counsel who shall have charge and control, subject to the approval of the board, of the law department and of all litigation, legal questions and such other legal matters as may be referred to the department by the board or by the general superintendent of schools. Appointments, promotions and discharge of assistant attorneys shall be made by a majority of the board upon recommendation of the attorney or by a majority vote of the full membership of the board. The general counsel shall hold this office for an indefinite term subject to removal by a majority vote of the full membership of the board. In this Article, "attorney" means general counsel.
(Source: P.A. 91-622, eff. 8-19-99.)

105 ILCS 5/34-12

    (105 ILCS 5/34-12) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-12)
    Sec. 34-12. Participation in meetings by superintendent and attorney. The general superintendent of schools and the general counsel may be present at all meetings of the board and shall have a right to take part in its discussions and deliberations, but shall have no vote.
(Source: P.A. 91-622, eff. 8-19-99.)

105 ILCS 5/34-13

    (105 ILCS 5/34-13) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-13)
    Sec. 34-13. Appointment, removal or suspension of attorney and assistants. The appointment and removal of the general superintendent of schools, heads of general departments now in existence or hereafter established, the general counsel, and all assistant attorneys shall not be subject to the civil service law. The heads of general departments now in existence or hereafter established may be removed by a majority vote of the full membership of the board upon the recommendation of the general superintendent of schools or by a majority vote of the full membership of the board.
(Source: P.A. 91-622, eff. 8-19-99.)

105 ILCS 5/34-13.1

    (105 ILCS 5/34-13.1)
    Sec. 34-13.1. Inspector General.
    (a) The Inspector General and his office in existence on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995 shall be transferred to the jurisdiction of the board upon appointment of the Chicago School Reform Board of Trustees. The Inspector General shall have the authority to conduct investigations into allegations of or incidents of waste, fraud, and financial mismanagement in public education within the jurisdiction of the board by a local school council member or an employee, contractor, or member of the board or involving school projects managed or handled by the Public Building Commission. The Inspector General shall make recommendations to the board about the investigations. The Inspector General in office on the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1996 shall serve for a term expiring on June 30, 1998. His or her successors in office shall each be appointed by the Mayor, without the consent or approval of the City Council, for 4 year terms expiring on June 30th of an even numbered year; however, beginning January 15, 2025, successors shall be appointed by the board instead of the Mayor. If the Inspector General leaves office or if a vacancy in that office otherwise occurs, the Mayor shall appoint, without the consent or approval of the City Council, a successor to serve under this Section for the remainder of the unexpired term; however, beginning January 15, 2027, successors shall be appointed by the board instead of the Mayor. The Inspector General shall be independent of the operations of the board and the School Finance Authority, and shall perform other duties requested by the board.
    (b) 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 or she shall immediately notify the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County State's Attorney. All investigations conducted by the Inspector General shall be conducted in a manner that ensures the preservation of evidence for use in criminal prosecutions.
    (c) At all times the Inspector General shall be granted access to any building or facility that is owned, operated, or leased by the board, the Public Building Commission, or the city in trust and for the use and benefit of the schools of the district.
    (d) 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.
    (e) The Inspector General shall provide to the board and the Illinois General Assembly a summary of reports and investigations made under this Section for the previous fiscal year no later than January 1 of each year, except that the Inspector General shall provide the summary of reports and investigations made under this Section for the period commencing July 1, 1998 and ending April 30, 1999 no later than May 1, 1999. 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 General Assembly.
    (f) (Blank).
    (g) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 102-177, eff. 6-1-22.)

105 ILCS 5/34-14

    (105 ILCS 5/34-14) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-14)
    Sec. 34-14. Section 34-15 Not limited by Sections 34-6 To 34-13.
    Nothing contained in Sections 34-6, 34-7, 34-8, 34-9, 34-10, 34-11, 34-12, or 34-13 of this Act shall in any wise be construed to limit the scope, effect and applicability of Section 34-15 of this Act.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/34-15

    (105 ILCS 5/34-15) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-15)
    Sec. 34-15. Other officers and employees. The board may appoint, or provide for the appointment of, such other officers and employees as it deems necessary.
(Source: P.A. 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-15a

    (105 ILCS 5/34-15a) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-15a)
    Sec. 34-15a. Active military service. Any certificated or non-certificated employee of the Board of Education 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 Board of Education 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 board of education 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 board of education or district policy shall be controlling.
(Source: P.A. 92-660, eff. 7-16-02.)

105 ILCS 5/34-16

    (105 ILCS 5/34-16) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-16)
    Sec. 34-16. Powers of board respecting officers and employees.
    The board shall, subject to the limitations in this Article, prescribe the duties, compensation and terms of office of its officers and the duties, compensation and terms of employment of its employees and determine which of its officers and employees shall give bond, on what conditions, and in what amount.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/34-17

    (105 ILCS 5/34-17) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-17)
    Sec. 34-17. Powers not exercised by city council.
    No power vested in the board or in any of its officers, agents or employees shall be exercised by the city council.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 31.)

105 ILCS 5/34-18

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18)
    Sec. 34-18. Powers of the board. The board shall exercise general supervision and jurisdiction over the public education and the public school system of the city, and, except as otherwise provided by this Article, shall have power:
        1. To make suitable provision for the establishment
    
and maintenance throughout the year or for such portion thereof as it may direct, not less than 9 months and in compliance with Section 10-19.05, of schools of all grades and kinds, including normal schools, high schools, night schools, schools for defectives and delinquents, parental and truant schools, schools for the blind, the deaf, and persons with physical disabilities, schools or classes in manual training, constructural and vocational teaching, domestic arts, and physical culture, vocation and extension schools and lecture courses, and all other educational courses and facilities, including establishing, equipping, maintaining and operating playgrounds and recreational programs, when such programs are conducted in, adjacent to, or connected with any public school under the general supervision and jurisdiction of the board; provided that the calendar for the school term and any changes must be submitted to and approved by the State Board of Education before the calendar or changes may take effect, and provided that in allocating funds from year to year for the operation of all attendance centers within the district, the board shall ensure that supplemental general State aid or supplemental grant funds are allocated and applied in accordance with Section 18-8, 18-8.05, or 18-8.15. To admit to such schools without charge foreign exchange students who are participants in an organized exchange student program which is authorized by the board. The board shall permit all students to enroll in apprenticeship programs in trade schools operated by the board, whether those programs are union-sponsored or not. No student shall be refused admission into or be excluded from any course of instruction offered in the common schools by reason of that student's sex. No student shall be denied equal access to physical education and interscholastic athletic programs supported from school district funds or denied participation in comparable physical education and athletic programs solely by reason of the student's sex. Equal access to programs supported from school district funds and comparable programs will be defined in rules promulgated by the State Board of Education in consultation with the Illinois High School Association. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, neither the board of education nor any local school council or other school official shall recommend that children with disabilities be placed into regular education classrooms unless those children with disabilities are provided with supplementary services to assist them so that they benefit from the regular classroom instruction and are included on the teacher's regular education class register;
        2. To furnish lunches to pupils, to make a reasonable
    
charge therefor, and to use school funds for the payment of such expenses as the board may determine are necessary in conducting the school lunch program;
        3. To co-operate with the circuit court;
        4. To make arrangements with the public or
    
quasi-public libraries and museums for the use of their facilities by teachers and pupils of the public schools;
        5. To employ dentists and prescribe their duties for
    
the purpose of treating the pupils in the schools, but accepting such treatment shall be optional with parents or guardians;
        6. To grant the use of assembly halls and classrooms
    
when not otherwise needed, including light, heat, and attendants, for free public lectures, concerts, and other educational and social interests, free of charge, under such provisions and control as the principal of the affected attendance center may prescribe;
        7. To apportion the pupils to the several schools;
    
provided that no pupil shall be excluded from or segregated in any such school on account of his color, race, sex, or nationality. The board shall take into consideration the prevention of segregation and the elimination of separation of children in public schools because of color, race, sex, or nationality. Except that children may be committed to or attend parental and social adjustment schools established and maintained either for boys or girls only. All records pertaining to the creation, alteration or revision of attendance areas shall be open to the public. Nothing herein shall limit the board's authority to establish multi-area attendance centers or other student assignment systems for desegregation purposes or otherwise, and to apportion the pupils to the several schools. Furthermore, beginning in school year 1994-95, pursuant to a board plan adopted by October 1, 1993, the board shall offer, commencing on a phased-in basis, the opportunity for families within the school district to apply for enrollment of their children in any attendance center within the school district which does not have selective admission requirements approved by the board. The appropriate geographical area in which such open enrollment may be exercised shall be determined by the board of education. Such children may be admitted to any such attendance center on a space available basis after all children residing within such attendance center's area have been accommodated. If the number of applicants from outside the attendance area exceed the space available, then successful applicants shall be selected by lottery. The board of education's open enrollment plan must include provisions that allow low-income students to have access to transportation needed to exercise school choice. Open enrollment shall be in compliance with the provisions of the Consent Decree and Desegregation Plan cited in Section 34-1.01;
        8. To approve programs and policies for providing
    
transportation services to students. 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;
        9. Subject to the limitations in this Article, to
    
establish and approve system-wide curriculum objectives and standards, including graduation standards, which reflect the multi-cultural diversity in the city and are consistent with State law, provided that for all purposes of this Article courses or proficiency in American Sign Language shall be deemed to constitute courses or proficiency in a foreign language; and to employ principals and teachers, appointed as provided in this Article, and fix their compensation. The board shall prepare such reports related to minimal competency testing as may be requested by the State Board of Education and, in addition, shall monitor and approve special education and bilingual education programs and policies within the district to ensure that appropriate services are provided in accordance with applicable State and federal laws to children requiring services and education in those areas;
        10. To employ non-teaching personnel or utilize
    
volunteer personnel for: (i) non-teaching duties not requiring instructional judgment or evaluation of pupils, including library duties; and (ii) supervising study halls, long distance teaching reception areas used incident to instructional programs transmitted by electronic media such as computers, video, and audio, detention and discipline areas, and school-sponsored extracurricular activities. The board 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 educator license, directly engaged in teaching subject matter or conducting activities; provided that the teacher shall be continuously aware of the nonlicensed persons' activities and shall be able to control or modify them. The general superintendent shall determine qualifications of such personnel and shall prescribe rules for determining the duties and activities to be assigned to such personnel;
        10.5. To 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;
        11. To provide television studio facilities in not to
    
exceed one school building and to provide programs for educational purposes, provided, however, that the board shall not construct, acquire, operate, or maintain a television transmitter; to grant the use of its studio facilities to a licensed television station located in the school district; and to maintain and operate not to exceed one school radio transmitting station and provide programs for educational purposes;
        12. To offer, if deemed appropriate, outdoor
    
education courses, including field trips within the State of Illinois, or adjacent states, and to use school educational funds for the expense of the said outdoor educational programs, whether within the school district or not;
        13. 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 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;
        14. To insure against any loss or liability of the
    
board, the former School Board Nominating Commission, Local School Councils, the Chicago Schools Academic Accountability Council, or the former Subdistrict Councils or of any member, officer, agent, or employee thereof, resulting from alleged violations of civil rights arising from incidents occurring on or after September 5, 1967 or from the wrongful or negligent act or omission of any such person whether occurring within or without the school premises, provided the officer, agent, or employee was, at the time of the alleged violation of civil rights or wrongful act or omission, acting within the scope of his or her employment or under direction of the board, the former School Board Nominating Commission, the Chicago Schools Academic Accountability Council, Local School Councils, or the former Subdistrict Councils; and to provide for or participate in insurance plans for its officers and employees, including, but not limited to, retirement annuities, medical, surgical and hospitalization benefits in such types and amounts as may be determined by the board; provided, however, that the board shall contract for such insurance only with an insurance company authorized to do business in this State. Such insurance may include provision for employees who rely on treatment by prayer or spiritual means alone for healing, in accordance with the tenets and practice of a recognized religious denomination;
        15. 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;
        16. (a) To provide, on an equal basis, 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 for the purposes of informing students of the educational and career opportunities available in the military 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 paragraph 16, "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 available in the military 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;
        17. (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 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 may be conducted by such bargaining representative at the employee's request.
        (b) For the purpose of this paragraph 17:
            (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 the
        
marketing or sale of a product after deducting the expenses of developing and marketing such product;
        18. To delegate to the general superintendent of
    
schools, by resolution, the authority to approve contracts and expenditures in amounts of $35,000 or less;
        19. Upon the written request of an employee, to
    
withhold from the compensation of that employee any dues, payments, or contributions payable by such employee to any labor organization as defined in the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Under such arrangement, an amount shall be withheld from each regular payroll period which is equal to the pro rata share of the annual dues plus any payments or contributions, and the board shall transmit such withholdings to the specified labor organization within 10 working days from the time of the withholding;
        19a. Upon receipt of notice from the comptroller of a
    
municipality with a population of 500,000 or more, a county with a population of 3,000,000 or more, the Cook County Forest Preserve District, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, or a housing authority of a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more that a debt is due and owing the municipality, the county, the Cook County Forest Preserve District, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, or the housing authority by an employee of the Chicago Board of Education, to withhold, from the compensation of that employee, the amount of the debt that is due and owing and pay the amount withheld to the municipality, the county, the Cook County Forest Preserve District, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, or the housing authority; provided, however, that the amount deducted from any one salary or wage payment shall not exceed 25% of the net amount of the payment. Before the Board deducts any amount from any salary or wage of an employee under this paragraph, the municipality, the county, the Cook County Forest Preserve District, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, or the housing authority shall certify that (i) the employee has been afforded an opportunity for a hearing to dispute the debt that is due and owing the municipality, the county, the Cook County Forest Preserve District, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, or the housing authority and (ii) the employee has received notice of a wage deduction order and has been afforded an opportunity for a hearing to object to the order. For purposes of this paragraph, "net amount" means that part of the salary or wage payment remaining after the deduction of any amounts required by law to be deducted and "debt due and owing" means (i) a specified sum of money owed to the municipality, the county, the Cook County Forest Preserve District, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, or the housing authority for services, work, or goods, after the period granted for payment has expired, or (ii) a specified sum of money owed to the municipality, the county, the Cook County Forest Preserve District, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, or the housing authority pursuant to a court order or order of an administrative hearing officer after the exhaustion of, or the failure to exhaust, judicial review;
        20. The board is encouraged to employ a sufficient
    
number of licensed school counselors to maintain a student/counselor ratio of 250 to 1. Each counselor shall spend at least 75% of his work time in direct contact with students and shall maintain a record of such time;
        21. To make available to students vocational and
    
career counseling and to establish 5 special career counseling days for students and parents. On these days representatives of local businesses and industries shall be invited to the school campus and shall inform students of career opportunities available to them in the various businesses and industries. Special consideration shall be given to counseling minority students as to career opportunities available to them in various fields. For the purposes of this paragraph, minority student means a person who is any of the following:
        (a) American Indian or Alaska Native (a person having
    
origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America, including Central America, and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment).
        (b) Asian (a person having origins in any of the
    
original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited to, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam).
        (c) Black or African American (a person having
    
origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa).
        (d) Hispanic or Latino (a person of Cuban, Mexican,
    
Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race).
        (e) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (a
    
person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands).
        Counseling days shall not be in lieu of regular
    
school days;
        22. 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;
        23. 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;
        24. To develop a policy, based on the current state
    
of existing school facilities, projected enrollment, and efficient utilization of available resources, for capital improvement of schools and school buildings within the district, addressing in that policy both the relative priority for major repairs, renovations, and additions to school facilities and the advisability or necessity of building new school facilities or closing existing schools to meet current or projected demographic patterns within the district;
        25. To make available to the students in every high
    
school attendance center the ability to take all courses necessary to comply with the Board of Higher Education's college entrance criteria effective in 1993;
        26. To encourage mid-career changes into the teaching
    
profession, whereby qualified professionals become licensed teachers, by allowing credit for professional employment in related fields when determining point of entry on the teacher pay scale;
        27. To provide or contract out training programs for
    
administrative personnel and principals with revised or expanded duties pursuant to this Code in order to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to perform their duties;
        28. To establish a fund for the prioritized special
    
needs programs, and to allocate such funds and other lump sum amounts to each attendance center in a manner consistent with the provisions of part 4 of Section 34-2.3. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require any additional appropriations of State funds for this purpose;
        29. (Blank);
        30. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act
    
or any other law to the contrary, to contract with third parties for services otherwise performed by employees, including those in a bargaining unit, and to layoff those employees upon 14 days written notice to the affected employees. Those contracts may be for a period not to exceed 5 years and may be awarded on a system-wide basis. The board may not operate more than 30 contract schools, provided that the board may operate an additional 5 contract turnaround schools pursuant to item (5.5) of subsection (d) of Section 34-8.3 of this Code, and the governing bodies of contract schools are subject to the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act;
        31. To promulgate rules establishing procedures
    
governing the layoff or reduction in force of employees and the recall of such employees, including, but not limited to, criteria for such layoffs, reductions in force or recall rights of such employees and the weight to be given to any particular criterion. Such criteria shall take into account factors, including, but not limited to, qualifications, certifications, experience, performance ratings or evaluations, and any other factors relating to an employee's job performance;
        32. To develop a policy to prevent nepotism in the
    
hiring of personnel or the selection of contractors;
        33. (Blank); and
        34. To establish a Labor Management Council to the
    
board comprised of representatives of the board, the chief executive officer, and those labor organizations that are the exclusive representatives of employees of the board and to promulgate policies and procedures for the operation of the Council.
    The specifications of the powers herein granted are not to be construed as exclusive, but the board shall also exercise all other powers that may be requisite or proper for the maintenance and the development of a public school system, not inconsistent with the other provisions of this Article or provisions of this Code which apply to all school districts.
    In addition to the powers herein granted and authorized to be exercised by the board, it shall be the duty of the board to review or to direct independent reviews of special education expenditures and services. The board shall file a report of such review with the General Assembly on or before May 1, 1990.
(Source: P.A. 102-465, eff. 1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 103-8, eff. 1-1-24.)

105 ILCS 5/34-18.1

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.1) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.1)
    Sec. 34-18.1. Protection from suit. The board shall insure or indemnify and protect the board, Chicago Schools Academic Accountability Council, former School Board Nominating Commission, Local School Councils, or former Subdistrict Councils, any member of the board, Chicago Schools Accountability Council, former School Board Nominating Commission, Local School Council, or former Subdistrict Council, or any agent, employee, teacher, student teacher, officer, or member of the supervisory staff of the school district against financial loss and expense, including reasonable legal fees and costs arising out of any claim, demand, suit, or judgment by reason of alleged negligence, alleged violation of civil rights occurring on or after September 5, 1967, or alleged wrongful act resulting in death or bodily injury to any person or accidental damage to or destruction of property, within or without the school premises, provided such board member, agent, employee, teacher, student teacher, officer or member of the supervisory staff, at the time of the occurrence was acting under the direction of the board within the course or scope of his duties.
(Source: P.A. 89-15, eff. 5-30-95.)

105 ILCS 5/34-18.2

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.2) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.2)
    Sec. 34-18.2. Bilingual programs. The Board of Education may provide programs in a language other than English for those children whose first language is other than English. Such programs are subject to the approval of the State Board of Education pursuant to Article 14C of The School Code. Upon approval of the program the Board shall be entitled to payment from the State of Illinois for the services and materials required.
(Source: P.A. 81-1508.)

105 ILCS 5/34-18.3

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.3)
    Sec. 34-18.3. The Board of Education is authorized to establish and implement peer assistance, tutorial programs whereby qualified, able students assist less able students with their studies and course work. As a part of such program the Board shall award appropriate recognition to students furnishing such tutorial services. In addition, the 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 5/34-18.4

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.4) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.4)
    Sec. 34-18.4. Before and after school programs. The Board of Education may 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 5/34-18.5

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.5) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.5)
    Sec. 34-18.5. 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 the school district 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 offense 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, or 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. Subject to appropriations for these purposes, the State Superintendent of Education shall reimburse the school district and regional superintendent 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 board of education or the regional superintendent shall be confidential and may only be transmitted to the general superintendent of the school district or his designee, the appropriate regional superintendent if the check was requested by the board of education for the school district, the presidents of the appropriate board of education or school boards if the check was requested from the Illinois State Police by the regional superintendent, the State Board of Education and the school district as authorized under subsection (b-5), the State Superintendent of Education, the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board 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 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 the 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) The board of education shall not 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 21B-80. Further, the board of education shall not 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, the board of education 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) The board of education shall not 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 the general superintendent of schools, a regional office of education, or an 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.
    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 general superintendent of schools 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 general superintendent of schools shall, in writing, notify the State Superintendent of Education 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 and must include the Illinois Educator Identification Number (IEIN) of the license holder and a brief description of the misconduct alleged. This notification must be submitted within 30 days after the dismissal or resignation. 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 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 March 19, 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 the 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. 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 board. 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. The board may not 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 board is confidential and may only be transmitted to the general superintendent of schools 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.
    The board may not 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, the board may not 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. The 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 5/34-18.6

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.6) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.6)
    Sec. 34-18.6. Child abuse and neglect; detection, reporting, and prevention; willful or negligent failure to report.
    (a) The Board of Education may provide staff development for local school site personnel who work with pupils in grades kindergarten through 8 in the detection, reporting, and prevention of child abuse and neglect.
    (b) The Department of Children and Family Services may, in cooperation with school officials, distribute appropriate materials in school buildings listing the toll-free telephone number established in Section 7.6 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, including methods of making a report under Section 7 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, to be displayed in a clearly visible location in each school building.
    (c) Except for an employee licensed under Article 21B of this Code, if the 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 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. 100-413, eff. 1-1-18; 100-468, eff. 6-1-18; 101-531, eff. 8-23-19.)

105 ILCS 5/34-18.6a

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.6a) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.6a)
    Sec. 34-18.6a. Orders of protection. The board of education may 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 5/34-18.7

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.7) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.7)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2024)
    Sec. 34-18.7. Youth mental illness and suicide detection and intervention. At least once every 2 years, licensed school personnel and administrators who work with pupils in kindergarten through grade 12 shall be trained to identify the warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior in youth and shall be taught various intervention techniques. The school district may utilize the Illinois Mental Health First Aid training program, established under the Illinois Mental Health First Aid Training Act and administered by certified instructors trained by a national association recognized as an authority in behavioral health, to provide the training and meet the requirements under this Section. If licensed school personnel or an administrator obtains mental health first aid training outside of an in-service training program, he or she may present a certificate of successful completion of the training to the school district to satisfy the requirements of this Section. The training shall be provided within the framework of existing in-service training programs offered by the Board or as part of the professional development activities required under Section 21-14 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 100-903, eff. 1-1-19; 101-350, eff. 1-1-20. Repealed by 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 5/34-18.8

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.8) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.8)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2024)
    Sec. 34-18.8. HIV training. School counselors, nurses, teachers, school social workers, and other school personnel who work with students shall be trained to have a basic knowledge of matters relating to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including the nature of the infection, its causes and effects, the means of detecting it and preventing its transmission, the availability of appropriate sources of counseling and referral, and any other medically accurate information that is age and developmentally appropriate for such students. The Board of Education shall supervise such training. The State Board of Education and the Department of Public Health shall jointly develop standards for such training.
(Source: P.A. 102-197, eff. 7-30-21; 102-522, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22. Repealed by 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 5/34-18.9

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.9) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.9)
    Sec. 34-18.9. 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 the board of education 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 principal 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 board of education shall develop and promulgate written standards, which shall be furnished by the board of education to each principal, under which a principal:
        (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 5/34-18.10

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.10) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.10)
    Sec. 34-18.10. Minority recruitment policy. The board of education shall develop and implement a policy of recruitment and hiring of minority teachers, other licensed employees, and nonlicensed employees, including custodians, lunch room staff, and teacher aides.
(Source: P.A. 102-894, eff. 5-20-22.)

105 ILCS 5/34-18.10a

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.10a) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.10a)
    Sec. 34-18.10a. Transfer of employees. The employment of an employee of the Illinois Chapter I 89-313 special education program transferred from the DuPage County Superintendent of Education to the Chicago Board of Education shall be considered continuous employment.
(Source: P.A. 87-1107.)

105 ILCS 5/34-18.11

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.11) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.11)
    Sec. 34-18.11. Tobacco prohibition. The Board of Education shall prohibit the use of tobacco on school property when such property is being used for any school purposes. Neither the board nor the local school council may 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" include but are 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 5/34-18.12

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.12) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.12)
    Sec. 34-18.12. Inspection for drugs. The Board of Education is empowered 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; 86-1028.)

105 ILCS 5/34-18.13

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.13) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.13)
    Sec. 34-18.13. Infectious disease policies and rules. The Board of Education shall 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 Board may find appropriate.
(Source: P.A. 86-890; 86-1028.)

105 ILCS 5/34-18.14

    (105 ILCS 5/34-18.14) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.14)
    Sec. 34-18.14. 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 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.)