Illinois State Board of Education

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) administers public education in the state of Illinois. The State Board consists of nine members who are appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate. Board members serve four-year terms, with State Board membership limited to two consecutive terms.^[1] The board sets educational policies and guidelines for public and private schools, preschool through grade 12. It analyzes the aims, needs and requirements of education and recommends legislation to the Illinois General Assembly and Governor for the benefit of the more than 2 million school children in the state.^[1]

Local municipalities and their respective school districts operate individual public schools but the ISBE audits performance of public schools with the Illinois School Report Card. The agency is headquartered at 100 North 1st Street in Springfield. The agency also has offices at the James R. Thompson Center in the Chicago Loop.^[2]

The ISBE also oversaw private business schools and other vocational schools until 2012, when responsibility for regulating those schools was transferred to the Illinois Board of Higher Education.^[3]

Overview

Under the 1970 Illinois Constitution, the modern ISBE board replaced the elected position of Illinois state superintendent, assuming its powers on January 12, 1975.^[4]^[5]

The ISBE describes itself as an agency that "commits to promoting and implementing comprehensive policies, practices, and programs that ensure fair access to quality for all students in our state."^[6]

The ISBE is described by the Illinois state government's website as an agency that "provides leadership and resources to achieve excellence across all Illinois districts..."^[7]

Current members

Governor JB Pritzker appointed eight new members in February 2019. He re-appointed Susie Morrison who had been appointed by Governor Bruce Rauner.^[8]

Steven Isoye, Chair
Donna Leak, Vice Chair
Christine Benson, Secretary
James Anderson
Sherly Chavarria
Roger Eddy
Laura Gonzalez
Anna Grassellino
Partricia Nugent

Chairs

Jack Witkowsky^[5]^[9]
Lou Mervis (1991–1999)^[10]^[11]
Ronald Gidwitz (1999–2003)^[12]^[13]
Janet Steiner (2003–2004)^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]
Jesse Ruiz (2004–2011)^[18]
Gery Chico (2011–2015)^[19]
James Meeks (2015–2019)^[20]^[21]
Darren Reisberg (2019–2022)^[21]^[22]
Steven Isoye (2022–2023)^[23]^[24]

References

^ ^a ^b "State Board of Education". Illinois State Board of Education. 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-03-30. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
^ "Division Descriptions". Illinois State Board of Education. 2010. Archived from the original on 2009-04-09. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
^ "Private Business and Vocational Schools". Illinois Board of Higher Education. 2017-11-08. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
^ School Code (105 ILCS 5/1A-4(C) ) as of 2009-01-01
^ ^a ^b Stevner, Donald (July 1986). "The evolution of the State Board of Education". Illinois Issues (12). Retrieved 15 March 2023.
^ "ISBE Values and Beliefs PDF" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Education. Oct 2018. Retrieved 28 Mar 2019.
^ "ISBE Home Page". Illinois State Government. 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
^ "All New Leadership At State Board Of Education | NPR Illinois".
^ Heise, Kenan (September 23, 1995). "JACK WITKOWSKY; SERVED ON CITY, STATE SCHOOL BOARDS". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
^ "Louis L. Mervis: University Honors and Awards: Indiana University". University Honors & Awards. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
^ O'Connor, John (April 16, 1999). "Governor appoints members of state education board". Newspapers.com. Daily Republican-Register (Mount Carmel, Illinois). The Associated Press. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
^ Washburn, Gary; Martinez, Michael (April 15, 1999). "GIDWITZ QUITS CITY COLLEGES BOARD". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
^ Gidwitz, Ronald J. "STATEMENT OF ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CHAIRMAN RONALD J. GIDWITZ". Illinois State Board of Education. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
^ "IASB School Board News Bulletin: May, 2003". archives.iasb.com. Illinois Association of School Boards. May 2003. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
^ "EAST ST. LOUIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ISBE JOIN TOGETHER". Illinois State Board of Education. June 9, 2004. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
^ "IASB School Board News Bulletin: May, 2003". archives.iasb.com. Illinois Association of School Boards. May 2003. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
^ "EAST ST. LOUIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ISBE JOIN TOGETHER". Illinois State Board of Education. 9 June 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
^
Multiple sources:
- "CPS : Leadership : JesseRuiz". cps.edu. Chicago Public Schools. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- Vinicky, Amanda1 (13 October 2017). "Jesse Ruiz to Run for Illinois Attorney General: Sources". WTTW News. Retrieved 4 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
- "Blagojevich Names New State School Board Members". news.stlpublicradio.org. Saint Louis Public Radio. Associated Press/KWMU. 15 September 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- "JESSE RUIZ, FORMER ILLINOIS STATE BOARD PRESIDENT, RECEIVES NATIONAL HONOR". Illinois State Board of Education. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
^ "In the Executive Ethics Commission of the State of Illinois In re: GERY Chico 0 OEIG Case $12-02216 OEIG FINAL REPORT (REDACTED)" (PDF). eec.illinois.gov. Executive Ethics Commission of Illinois. January 13, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
^ Pearson, Rick (January 11, 2015). "Rauner names Meeks as Illinois State Board of Education chairman". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
^ ^a ^b Hinz, Greg (25 February 2019). "Pritzker names U of C exec to head state school board". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
^ Smylie, Samantha (3 May 2022). "Darren Reisberg, ISBE chair, reflects on schools during pandemic". Chalkbeat Chicago. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
^ Smylie, Samantha (20 September 2022). "Steven Isoye, longtime Illinois educator, is next pick to chair of state board of education". Chalkbeat Chicago. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
^ Gonzales, Philip (January 26, 2023). "Illinois State Board of Education met Nov. 17". Prairie State Wire. Retrieved 15 March 2023.