Illinois State Board of Education

Board that administrates public education in Illinois

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

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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

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As of January 2025[update] the membership of the board is:[8]

* Steve Isoye (chair)
* Donna S. Leak (vice chair)
* Sherly Chavarria (secretary)
* James D. Anderson
* Roger L. Eddy
* Anna Grassellino
* Patricia Nugent

## Chairs

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This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (March 2023)

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* 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–present)[8]

[23][24]

## See also

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* Illinois State Superintendent
* Illinois Community College Board -- deals with community colleges in Illinois
* Illinois Board of Higher Education -- deals with colleges and universities and, since 2012, private business schools and private vocational schools
* Regional office of education

## References

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1. ^ a b "State Board of Education". Illinois State Board of Education. 2010. Archived from the original on March 30, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
2. ^ "Division Descriptions". Illinois State Board of Education. 2010. Archived from the original on April 9, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
3. ^ "Private Business and Vocational Schools". Illinois Board of Higher Education. November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
4. ^ School Code (105 ILCS 5/1A-4(C) ) as of 2009-01-01
5. ^ a b Stevner, Donald (July 1986). "The evolution of the State Board of Education". Illinois Issues (12). Retrieved March 15, 2023.
6. ^ "ISBE Values and Beliefs PDF" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Education. October 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
7. ^ "ISBE Home Page". Illinois State Government. 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
8. ^ a b "Board Members". Illinois State Board of Education. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
9. ^ Heise, Kenan (September 23, 1995). "JACK WITKOWSKY; SERVED ON CITY, STATE SCHOOL BOARDS". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
10. ^ "Louis L. Mervis: University Honors and Awards: Indiana University". University Honors & Awards. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
11. ^ 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.
12. ^ Washburn, Gary; Martinez, Michael (April 15, 1999). "GIDWITZ QUITS CITY COLLEGES BOARD". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
13. ^ Gidwitz, Ronald J. "STATEMENT OF ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CHAIRMAN RONALD J. GIDWITZ". Illinois State Board of Education. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
14. ^ "IASB School Board News Bulletin: May, 2003". archives.iasb.com. Illinois Association of School Boards. May 2003. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
15. ^ "EAST ST. LOUIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ISBE JOIN TOGETHER". Illinois State Board of Education. June 9, 2004. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
16. ^ "IASB School Board News Bulletin: May, 2003". archives.iasb.com. Illinois Association of School Boards. May 2003. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
17. ^ "EAST ST. LOUIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ISBE JOIN TOGETHER". Illinois State Board of Education. June 9, 2004. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
18. ^ Multiple sources:
* "CPS : Leadership : JesseRuiz". cps.edu. Chicago Public Schools. April 17, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
* Vinicky, Amanda1 (October 13, 2017). "Jesse Ruiz to Run for Illinois Attorney General: Sources". WTTW News. Retrieved June 4, 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. September 15, 2004. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
* "JESSE RUIZ, FORMER ILLINOIS STATE BOARD PRESIDENT, RECEIVES NATIONAL HONOR". Illinois State Board of Education. October 23, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
19. ^ "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 March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
20. ^ Pearson, Rick (January 11, 2015). "Rauner names Meeks as Illinois State Board of Education chairman". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
21. ^ a b Hinz, Greg (February 25, 2019). "Pritzker names U of C exec to head state school board". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
22. ^ Smylie, Samantha (May 3, 2022). "Darren Reisberg, ISBE chair, reflects on schools during pandemic". Chalkbeat Chicago. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
23. ^ Smylie, Samantha (September 20, 2022). "Steven Isoye, longtime Illinois educator, is next pick to chair of state board of education". Chalkbeat Chicago. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
24. ^ Gonzales, Philip (January 26, 2023). "Illinois State Board of Education met Nov. 17". Prairie State Wire. Retrieved March 15, 2023.

## External links

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* Official website
* Interactive Illinois Report Card

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