105 ILCS 5/34-8.3
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 105 - SCHOOLS|105 ILCS 5/ - School Code.|Article 34 - Cities Of Over 500,000 Inhabitants - Board Of Education

 (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.)