Illinois
Overview of Education
Elementary and Secondary: Public
The
state of Illinois has 908 school districts. Each local school
district is governed by a seven-member board of education elected
by resident voters in the district (except in Chicago where the
five-member panel is appointed by the mayor). The board of education
is then responsible for hiring a superintendent and approving
the hire of principals, teachers and other school staff. The board
has authority, within the scope of state law, to make decisions
about how the district operates, including expenditure of funds,
courses taught, student discipline policies, which schools in
the district students will attend, eligibility for athletics and
other extra-curricular activities, dress codes, and how the district
will comply with state and federal requirements.
School
classifications include elementary (grades K-8 only); middle or
junior high (grades 6-8 only), secondary (grades 9-12 only) and
unit districts (grades K-12 only).
All
districts are required to provide educational programs and facilities
for students with physical and mental disabilities, emotional
disorders, learning disabilities or vision and hearing impairments.
In addition to local school district programs, the state operates
the Illinois School for the Deaf and Illinois School for the Visually
Impaired in Jacksonville and the Illinois Children's School and
Rehabilitation Center in Chicago for students with physical disabilities.
Health
examinations are required for all students entering kindergarten
or first grade; fifth and ninth grade; and for students entering
school for the first time at any grade level (this includes pre-school
and students transferring in from other states or countries).
Immunizations
that are required for kindergarten through 12th grade students
are DTP (diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis), polio, measles, rubella,
mumps and for students in grades five and six hepatitis B. Children
entering preschool must also have Hib (haemophilus influenza type
b) and hepatitis B inoculations.
By
law, students in Illinois must enter school by age 7 and remain
in school until age 16. For students to attend kindergarten, they
must turn 5 years old prior to September 1 of the year in which
they enter school. School districts have the option of screening
students whose 5th birthdays fall after that deadline to determine
if they are developmentally ready to attend school.
Each
school district must prepare and submit to parents, taxpayers,
the Governor, General Assembly and State Board of Education, a
report card assessing the performance of its schools and students.
The report card is an index of school performance as measured
against statewide and local standards. Report cards are available
from each public school district upon request.
State
high school graduation requirements include successful completion
of the following courses: language arts, three years; mathematics,
two years (one year may be related to computer technology); science,
one year; social studies, two years (at least one year must be
U.S. history or a combination of U.S. history and American government);
and one year from one of the following fields: music, art, foreign
language or vocational education. Local school boards may adopt
additional requirements. All high schools must offer course work,
which would enable a high school graduate to enter Illinois public
schools of higher education.
For
specifics concerning graduation requirements contact the local
school superintendent. Information about the state's school system
in general may be obtained from:
Illinois
State Board of Education - 100 North 1st Street, 1st Hoor, Springfield
62777-0001
(217) 782-2221, http://www.isbe.state.il.us/
Higher
Education: Public
Generally,
credits earned at Illinois community colleges are transferable
toward a degree at the senior universities.
The
state has 49 two-year public colleges which provide opportunities
for the traditional college student who wishes to transfer to
a four-year college or university as well as those seeking additional
training or retraining below the baccalaureate level. For information
contact the local community college, or:
Illinois
Board of Higher Education - 4 West Old Capitol Plaza, Room 500,
Springfield 62701
(217) 782-2551, or http://www.ibhe.state.il.us
Illinois
Community College Board - 401 East Capitol, Springfield 62701-1711,
(217) 785-0123
Senior
universities are:
Chicago
State University - Chicago
Northeastern Illinois University - Chicago
Governor's State University - University Park
Eastern Illinois University - Charleston
Northern Illinois University - DeKaib
Southern Illinois University - Edwardslle and Carbondale
Western Illinois University - Macomb
Illinois State University - Normal
University of Illinois - Springfield, Chicago and Champaign/Urbana
with the Medical Center Campus also in Chicago
Higher
Education: Private
Private
educational facilities include ten junior colleges, more than
35 colleges, ten theological schools, ten universities and a number
of professional and technical schools. Universities include:
Bradley
University - Peoria
DePaul University - Chicago
Illinois Wesleyan University - Bloomington
Lewis University - Romeoville
Loyola University of Chicago - Chicago
Millikjn University - Decatur
Northwestern University - Evanston
Roosevelt University - Chicago
Rush University - Chicago
The University of Chicago - Chicago
Other
State and local links of interest:
www.uiuc.edu
The University of Illinois Page
www.bacnet.edu Belleville Area College
www.mckendree.edu
McKendree College
www.pioneerlocal.com
School report cards
