Bill Title: Amends the School Code. Makes changes concerning State Board of Education actions for schools or school districts that remain on academic watch status. Removes current provisions governing the removal of school board members and the appointment of an Independent Authority. Provides for assistance to lower performing districts. Provides that the State Board has the power to direct the State Superintendent of Education to remove a school board in a district having a population of not more than 500,000. Provides that the State Board may require identified priority districts to seek accreditation through an independent accreditation organization chosen by the State Board and paid for by the State. Allows the State Board to direct the State Superintendent to remove school board members in any district in which the district is unable to obtain accreditation in whole or in part due to reasons related to school board governance. Provides that upon removal of the school board, the State Superintendent shall establish an Independent Authority. Provides that, upon establishment of an Independent Authority to operate the district, the State Superintendent shall appoint members to serve on the Independent Authority. Provides that the Independent Authority shall have all of the powers and duties of a school board and all other powers necessary to meet its responsibilities and to carry out its purposes and that may be requisite or proper for the maintenance, operation, and development of any school or schools under the jurisdiction of the Independent Authority. Sets forth provisions concerning emergency financial assistance, the suspension of school board elections, reports, assistance, the abolition of an Independent Authority, and indemnification and protection from suit. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-01-09 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 98-1155 [HB5537 Detail]

Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]

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Sponsors

Name	Type	Sponsorship	District	Financial	Encyclopedia	Biography
Representative Barbara Currie [D]	Primary	Sponsored Bills	HD-025	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart
Representative Robert Pritchard [R]	Cosponsor	Sponsored Bills	HD-070	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart
Representative Monique Davis [D]	Cosponsor	Sponsored Bills	HD-027	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart
Representative Esther Golar [D]	Cosponsor	Sponsored Bills	HD-006	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart
Representative Eddie Jackson [D]	Cosponsor	Sponsored Bills	HD-114	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart
Representative William Davis [D]	Cosponsor	Sponsored Bills	HD-030	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart
Representative Linda LaVia [D]	Cosponsor	Sponsored Bills	HD-083	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart
Representative Elizabeth Hernandez [D]	Cosponsor	Sponsored Bills	HD-002	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart
Representative Marcus Evans [D]	Cosponsor	Sponsored Bills	HD-033	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart
Representative Robert Rita [D]	Cosponsor	Sponsored Bills	HD-028	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart
Senator Heather Steans [D]	Primary	Sponsored Bills	SD-007	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart
Senator Iris Martinez [D]	Cosponsor	Sponsored Bills	SD-020	FollowTheMoney	Ballotpedia	VoteSmart

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