State Board to host Q&A events on new flexibility for school districts to define instructional days

The following press release originally appeared on the Illinois State Board of Education website on November 20, 2018.

SPRINGFIELD – School districts in Illinois now have maximum flexibility to define instructional days based on what will improve outcomes for students. The Illinois State Board of Education will host a series of public Q&A events for educators, parents, families, and school and district leaders to ask questions and share successes and challenges in using this flexibility afforded in state law.

Public Act 100-0465, also known as the Evidence-Based Funding for Student Success Act, made sweeping changes to education funding in Illinois when it became law on Aug. 31, 2017. The law changed the basis of state funding to student enrollment, rather than attendance. The act resulted in the sunsetting of Section 18-8.05 of the School Code, which had defined a day of attendance as a minimum of five instructional hours. Funding schools based on enrollment provides school districts the resources and flexibility to support all students, especially those most in need of support to access educational opportunities.

Students learn in a variety of ways and settings. ISBE encourages districts, school boards, and collective bargaining units to work together to innovate new ways of teaching and learning that center on competencies and mastery of subject matter – anywhere and anytime.

ISBE released guidance, available at https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Instructional-Day-Memorandum.pdf, on Nov. 9 to assist school districts in using this flexibility.