SB3559 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18652 LNS 32095 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3559

Introduced 2/5/2026, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/2-3.214 new

Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to develop a standardized Uniform Compliance Complaint Form to be used statewide and made available on the website of every regional office of education and intermediate service center. Provides that the Uniform Compliance Complaint Form shall allow a complainant to allege a school district's or school's violation of the Code or a rule over which the regional superintendent of schools or intermediate service center's executive director has oversight. Provides that upon receipt of a written and signed complaint using the form, the regional office of education or intermediate service center shall conduct an independent investigation. Requires the regional office of education or the intermediate service center to issue a written decision to the complainant within 60 calendar days after receipt of the complaint. Provides that if the regional office of education or intermediate service center finds a violation of the Code or a rule, the regional office of education or intermediate service center shall issue a report requiring the district to develop a corrective action plan. Provides that any district or school official who knowingly provides false information during the investigation or refuses to cooperate with the regional office of education or the intermediate service center in its investigation is subject to a hearing regarding the official's professional educator license status. Allows a party to a complaint to appeal the decision of the regional office of education or the intermediate service center to the State Superintendent of Education within 30 days after the issuance of the written decision. Requires the State Board to adopt rules as are necessary to implement the provisions.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 2-3.214 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.214 new)

Sec. 2-3.214. Uniform Compliance Complaint Form.

(a) The purpose of this Section is to establish a uniform process for the filing and investigation of complaints alleging that a school district or school or district or school official has violated a provision of this Code or a rule adopted by the State Board of Education.

(b) The State Board of Education shall develop a standardized Uniform Compliance Complaint Form to be used statewide. The Uniform Compliance Complaint Form shall be made available on the website of every regional office of education and intermediate service center. The Uniform Compliance Complaint Form shall allow a complainant to allege a school district's or school's violation of this Code or a rule over which the regional superintendent of schools or intermediate service center's executive director has oversight.

(c) Upon receipt of a written and signed complaint using a Uniform Compliance Complaint Form, a regional office of education or an intermediate service center shall conduct an independent investigation, which shall include an opportunity for the complainant and the school district to submit additional information in writing regarding the allegations. The regional office of education or the intermediate service center shall issue a written decision to the complainant within 60 calendar days after receipt of the complaint.

(d) If the regional office of education or the intermediate service center finds a violation of this Code or a rule under subsection (c), the regional office of education or the intermediate service center shall issue a report requiring the school district to develop a corrective action plan. The regional office of education or the intermediate service center shall monitor the district's progress until compliance is achieved. Notice and status of the corrective action plan shall be posted on the regional office of education's or the intermediate service center's website. Any district or school official who knowingly provides false information during the investigation or refuses to cooperate with the regional office of education or the intermediate service center in its investigation is subject to a hearing regarding the official's professional educator license status under Article 21B.

(e) A party to a complaint submitted under this Section may appeal the decision of a regional office of education or an intermediate service center to the State Superintendent of Education within 30 days after the issuance of the written decision.

(f) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules as are necessary to implement this Section.