Bill Text: IL HB4709 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county board or board of election commissioners may use public school buildings as polling places only if a school board or a local school council approves the use of that school. Provides that, if the county board or board of election commissioners uses all convenient and available public buildings and determines that a public school building is needed as a polling place, it shall send a written request to use the public school building to the school board or local school council. Sets forth provisions concerning the contents of the request and the response to the request. Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board or local school council shall have the power to approve or deny, in accordance with the school board or local school council's rules and policies, any request of a county board or board of election commissioners to use a school building as a polling place. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-05 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB4709 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB4709-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB4709 Introduced , by Rep. Maura Hirschauer SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
10 ILCS 5/1-24
10 ILCS 5/11-4.1 from Ch. 46, par. 11-4.1
105 ILCS 5/10-20.87 new
105 ILCS 5/22-21 from Ch. 122, par. 22-21
105 ILCS 5/34-2.3 from Ch. 122, par. 34-2.3
Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county board or board of election commissioners may use public school buildings as polling places only if a school board or a local school council approves the use of that school. Provides that, if the county board or board of election commissioners uses all convenient and available public buildings and determines that a public school building is needed as a polling place, it shall send a written request to use the public school building to the school board or local school council. Sets forth provisions concerning the contents of the request and the response to the request. Amends the School Code. Provides that each school board or local school council shall have the power to approve or deny, in accordance with the school board or local school council's rules and policies, any request of a county board or board of election commissioners to use a school building as a polling place. Makes corresponding changes. Effective immediately.
LRB103 37217 SPS 67336 b
A BILL FOR
HB4709 LRB103 37217 SPS 67336 b
AN ACT concerning elections.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing
Sections 1-24 and 11-4.1 as follows:
(10 ILCS 5/1-24)
(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2025)
Sec. 1-24. 2024 Election Day State holiday.
Notwithstanding any other provision of State law to the
contrary, the 2024 general election shall be a State holiday
known as 2024 General Election Day and shall be observed
throughout this State. The 2024 general election shall be
deemed a legal school holiday for purposes of the School Code.
Any school closed under this amendatory Act of the 103rd
General Assembly and Section 24-2 of the School Code may shall
be made available to an election authority as a polling place
for 2024 General Election Day if approved by a school board or
a local school council established under Article 34 of the
School Code, as described in Section 11-4.1. This Section is
repealed on January 1, 2025.
(Source: P.A. 103-467, eff. 8-4-23.)
(10 ILCS 5/11-4.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 11-4.1)

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Sec. 11-4.1. (a) In appointing polling places under this
Article, the county board or board of election commissioners
shall, insofar as they are convenient and available, use
schools and other public buildings other than public school
buildings, as polling places. The county board or board of
election commissioners may use public school buildings as
polling places only if a school board or a local school council
established under Article 34 of the School Code approves the
use of that school, in accordance with this Section.
(b) Upon request of the county board or board of election
commissioners, the proper agency of government (including
school districts and units of local government, as defined in
Section 1 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution) shall
make a public building under its control available for use as a
polling place on an election day and for a reasonably
necessary time before and after election day, without charge.
If the county board or board of election commissioners uses
all convenient and available public buildings and determines
that a public school building is needed as a polling place, it
shall send a written request to use the public school building
to the school board or local school council that has
jurisdiction over that public school building. The written
request to the local school board or local school council
shall:
(1) specify the public school building that the county
board or board of election commissioners is requesting be

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made available for use as a polling place, without charge;
(2) include a statement that the public school
building is needed as a polling place despite the county
board or board of election commissioner's best efforts to
utilize all other public buildings as polling places; and
(3) specify the dates and times that the public school
building is needed, including the election days and the
reasonably necessary times before and after the election
days.
The school board or local school council shall approve or
deny the request within 60 calendar days after receiving the
request and shall notify the county board or board of election
commissioners of its decision. If the school board or local
school council approves the request, If the county board or
board of election commissioners chooses a school to be a
polling place, then the school district must make the school
available for use as a polling place. However, for the day of
the election, the school board or local school council a
school district is encouraged to (i) close the school or (ii)
hold a teachers institute on that day with students not in
attendance.
(c) A government agency which makes a public building
under its control available for use as a polling place shall
(i) ensure the portion of the building to be used as the
polling place is accessible to voters with disabilities and
elderly voters and (ii) allow the election authority to

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administer the election as authorized under this Code.
(d) If a qualified elector's precinct polling place is a
school and the elector will be unable to enter that polling
place without violating Section 11-9.3 of the Criminal Code of
2012 because the elector is a child sex offender as defined in
Section 11-9.3 of the Criminal Code of 2012, that elector may
vote by a vote by mail ballot in accordance with Article 19 of
this Code or may vote early in accordance with Article 19A of
this Code.
(Source: P.A. 98-773, eff. 7-18-14; 98-1171, eff. 6-1-15;
99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)
Section 10. The School Code is amended by changing
Sections 22-21 and 34-2.3 and by adding Section 10-20.87 as
follows:
(105 ILCS 5/10-20.87 new)
Sec. 10-20.87. Approval of the use of school buildings for
elections. Each school board shall have the power to approve
or deny, in accordance with the school board's rules and
policies, any request of a county board or board of election
commissioners to use a school building as a polling place as
described in Section 11-4.1 of the Election Code.
(105 ILCS 5/22-21) (from Ch. 122, par. 22-21)
Sec. 22-21. Elections-Use of school buildings.

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(a) A Every school board or a local school council
established under Article 34 of this Code may approve or deny a
request, in accordance with Section 11-4.1 of the Election
Code, for the use of a public school building under its
jurisdiction as a polling place for an election to be held,
provided the request is made by shall offer to the appropriate
officer or board having responsibility for providing polling
places for elections the use of any and all buildings under its
jurisdiction for any and all elections to be held, if so
requested by such appropriate officer or board.
(b) If the school board or local school council approves
the request to use any of the school buildings under its
jurisdiction as a polling place for any election, the
following shall occur at each polling place:
(1) Election officers shall place 2 or more cones,
small United States national flags, or some other marker a
distance of 100 horizontal feet from each entrance to the
room used by voters to engage in voting, which shall be
known as the polling room.
(2) If the polling room is located within a building
that is a public or private school and the distance of 100
horizontal feet ends within the interior of the building,
then the markers shall be placed outside of the building
at each entrance used by voters to enter that building on
the grounds adjacent to the thoroughfare or walkway.
(3) If the polling room is located within a public or

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private school building with 2 or more floors and the
polling room is located on the ground floor, then the
markers shall be placed 100 horizontal feet from each
entrance to the polling room used by voters to engage in
voting.
(4) If the polling room is located in a public or
private school building with 2 or more floors and the
polling room is located on a floor above or below the
ground floor, then the markers shall be placed a distance
of 100 feet from the nearest elevator or staircase used by
voters on the ground floor to access the floor where the
polling room is located.
(5) The area within where the markers are placed shall
be known as a campaign free zone, and electioneering is
prohibited pursuant to this subsection.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the
area on polling place property beyond the campaign free zone,
whether publicly or privately owned, is a public forum for the
time that the polls are open on an election day. At the request
of election officers any publicly owned building must be made
available for use as a polling place. A person shall have the
right to congregate and engage in electioneering on any
polling place property while the polls are open beyond the
campaign free zone, including but not limited to, the
placement of temporary signs. This subsection shall be
construed liberally in favor of persons engaging in

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electioneering on all polling place property beyond the
campaign free zone for the time that the polls are open on an
election day.
(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03.)
(105 ILCS 5/34-2.3) (from Ch. 122, par. 34-2.3)
Sec. 34-2.3. Local school councils; powers and duties.
Each local school council shall have and exercise, consistent
with the provisions of this Article and the powers and duties
of the board of education, the following powers and duties:
1. (A) To annually evaluate the performance of the
principal of the attendance center using a Board approved
principal evaluation form, which shall include the evaluation
of (i) student academic improvement, as defined by the school
improvement plan, (ii) student absenteeism rates at the
school, (iii) instructional leadership, (iv) the effective
implementation of programs, policies, or strategies to improve
student academic achievement, (v) school management, and (vi)
any other factors deemed relevant by the local school council,
including, without limitation, the principal's communication
skills and ability to create and maintain a student-centered
learning environment, to develop opportunities for
professional development, and to encourage parental
involvement and community partnerships to achieve school
improvement;
(B) to determine in the manner provided by subsection (c)

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of Section 34-2.2 and subdivision 1.5 of this Section whether
the performance contract of the principal shall be renewed;
and
(C) to directly select, in the manner provided by
subsection (c) of Section 34-2.2, a new principal (including a
new principal to fill a vacancy) -- without submitting any
list of candidates for that position to the general
superintendent as provided in paragraph 2 of this Section --
to serve under a 4 year performance contract; provided that
(i) the determination of whether the principal's performance
contract is to be renewed, based upon the evaluation required
by subdivision 1.5 of this Section, shall be made no later than
150 days prior to the expiration of the current
performance-based contract of the principal, (ii) in cases
where such performance contract is not renewed -- a direct
selection of a new principal -- to serve under a 4 year
performance contract shall be made by the local school council
no later than 45 days prior to the expiration of the current
performance contract of the principal, and (iii) a selection
by the local school council of a new principal to fill a
vacancy under a 4 year performance contract shall be made
within 90 days after the date such vacancy occurs. A Council
shall be required, if requested by the principal, to provide
in writing the reasons for the council's not renewing the
principal's contract.
1.5. The local school council's determination of whether

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to renew the principal's contract shall be based on an
evaluation to assess the educational and administrative
progress made at the school during the principal's current
performance-based contract. The local school council shall
base its evaluation on (i) student academic improvement, as
defined by the school improvement plan, (ii) student
absenteeism rates at the school, (iii) instructional
leadership, (iv) the effective implementation of programs,
policies, or strategies to improve student academic
achievement, (v) school management, and (vi) any other factors
deemed relevant by the local school council, including,
without limitation, the principal's communication skills and
ability to create and maintain a student-centered learning
environment, to develop opportunities for professional
development, and to encourage parental involvement and
community partnerships to achieve school improvement. If a
local school council fails to renew the performance contract
of a principal rated by the general superintendent, or his or
her designee, in the previous years' evaluations as meeting or
exceeding expectations, the principal, within 15 days after
the local school council's decision not to renew the contract,
may request a review of the local school council's principal
non-retention decision by a hearing officer appointed by the
American Arbitration Association. A local school council
member or members or the general superintendent may support
the principal's request for review. During the period of the

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hearing officer's review of the local school council's
decision on whether or not to retain the principal, the local
school council shall maintain all authority to search for and
contract with a person to serve as interim or acting
principal, or as the principal of the attendance center under
a 4-year performance contract, provided that any performance
contract entered into by the local school council shall be
voidable or modified in accordance with the decision of the
hearing officer. The principal may request review only once
while at that attendance center. If a local school council
renews the contract of a principal who failed to obtain a
rating of "meets" or "exceeds expectations" in the general
superintendent's evaluation for the previous year, the general
superintendent, within 15 days after the local school
council's decision to renew the contract, may request a review
of the local school council's principal retention decision by
a hearing officer appointed by the American Arbitration
Association. The general superintendent may request a review
only once for that principal at that attendance center. All
requests to review the retention or non-retention of a
principal shall be submitted to the general superintendent,
who shall, in turn, forward such requests, within 14 days of
receipt, to the American Arbitration Association. The general
superintendent shall send a contemporaneous copy of the
request that was forwarded to the American Arbitration
Association to the principal and to each local school council

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member and shall inform the local school council of its rights
and responsibilities under the arbitration process, including
the local school council's right to representation and the
manner and process by which the Board shall pay the costs of
the council's representation. If the local school council
retains the principal and the general superintendent requests
a review of the retention decision, the local school council
and the general superintendent shall be considered parties to
the arbitration, a hearing officer shall be chosen between
those 2 parties pursuant to procedures promulgated by the
State Board of Education, and the principal may retain counsel
and participate in the arbitration. If the local school
council does not retain the principal and the principal
requests a review of the retention decision, the local school
council and the principal shall be considered parties to the
arbitration and a hearing officer shall be chosen between
those 2 parties pursuant to procedures promulgated by the
State Board of Education. The hearing shall begin (i) within
45 days after the initial request for review is submitted by
the principal to the general superintendent or (ii) if the
initial request for review is made by the general
superintendent, within 45 days after that request is mailed to
the American Arbitration Association. The hearing officer
shall render a decision within 45 days after the hearing
begins and within 90 days after the initial request for
review. The Board shall contract with the American Arbitration

HB4709 - 12 - LRB103 37217 SPS 67336 b
Association for all of the hearing officer's reasonable and
necessary costs. In addition, the Board shall pay any
reasonable costs incurred by a local school council for
representation before a hearing officer.
1.10. The hearing officer shall conduct a hearing, which
shall include (i) a review of the principal's performance,
evaluations, and other evidence of the principal's service at
the school, (ii) reasons provided by the local school council
for its decision, and (iii) documentation evidencing views of
interested persons, including, without limitation, students,
parents, local school council members, school faculty and
staff, the principal, the general superintendent or his or her
designee, and members of the community. The burden of proof in
establishing that the local school council's decision was
arbitrary and capricious shall be on the party requesting the
arbitration, and this party shall sustain the burden by a
preponderance of the evidence. The hearing officer shall set
the local school council decision aside if that decision, in
light of the record developed at the hearing, is arbitrary and
capricious. The decision of the hearing officer may not be
appealed to the Board or the State Board of Education. If the
hearing officer decides that the principal shall be retained,
the retention period shall not exceed 2 years.
2. In the event (i) the local school council does not renew
the performance contract of the principal, or the principal
fails to receive a satisfactory rating as provided in

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subsection (h) of Section 34-8.3, or the principal is removed
for cause during the term of his or her performance contract in
the manner provided by Section 34-85, or a vacancy in the
position of principal otherwise occurs prior to the expiration
of the term of a principal's performance contract, and (ii)
the local school council fails to directly select a new
principal to serve under a 4 year performance contract, the
local school council in such event shall submit to the general
superintendent a list of 3 candidates -- listed in the local
school council's order of preference -- for the position of
principal, one of which shall be selected by the general
superintendent to serve as principal of the attendance center.
If the general superintendent fails or refuses to select one
of the candidates on the list to serve as principal within 30
days after being furnished with the candidate list, the
general superintendent shall select and place a principal on
an interim basis (i) for a period not to exceed one year or
(ii) until the local school council selects a new principal
with 7 affirmative votes as provided in subsection (c) of
Section 34-2.2, whichever occurs first. If the local school
council fails or refuses to select and appoint a new
principal, as specified by subsection (c) of Section 34-2.2,
the general superintendent may select and appoint a new
principal on an interim basis for an additional year or until a
new contract principal is selected by the local school
council. There shall be no discrimination on the basis of

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race, sex, creed, color or disability unrelated to ability to
perform in connection with the submission of candidates for,
and the selection of a candidate to serve as principal of an
attendance center. No person shall be directly selected,
listed as a candidate for, or selected to serve as principal of
an attendance center (i) if such person has been removed for
cause from employment by the Board or (ii) if such person does
not hold a valid Professional Educator License issued under
Article 21B and endorsed as required by that Article for the
position of principal. A principal whose performance contract
is not renewed as provided under subsection (c) of Section
34-2.2 may nevertheless, if otherwise qualified and licensed
as herein provided and if he or she has received a satisfactory
rating as provided in subsection (h) of Section 34-8.3, be
included by a local school council as one of the 3 candidates
listed in order of preference on any candidate list from which
one person is to be selected to serve as principal of the
attendance center under a new performance contract. The
initial candidate list required to be submitted by a local
school council to the general superintendent in cases where
the local school council does not renew the performance
contract of its principal and does not directly select a new
principal to serve under a 4 year performance contract shall
be submitted not later than 30 days prior to the expiration of
the current performance contract. In cases where the local
school council fails or refuses to submit the candidate list

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to the general superintendent no later than 30 days prior to
the expiration of the incumbent principal's contract, the
general superintendent may appoint a principal on an interim
basis for a period not to exceed one year, during which time
the local school council shall be able to select a new
principal with 7 affirmative votes as provided in subsection
(c) of Section 34-2.2. In cases where a principal is removed
for cause or a vacancy otherwise occurs in the position of
principal and the vacancy is not filled by direct selection by
the local school council, the candidate list shall be
submitted by the local school council to the general
superintendent within 90 days after the date such removal or
vacancy occurs. In cases where the local school council fails
or refuses to submit the candidate list to the general
superintendent within 90 days after the date of the vacancy,
the general superintendent may appoint a principal on an
interim basis for a period of one year, during which time the
local school council shall be able to select a new principal
with 7 affirmative votes as provided in subsection (c) of
Section 34-2.2.
2.5. Whenever a vacancy in the office of a principal
occurs for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled in the
manner provided by this Section by the selection of a new
principal to serve under a 4 year performance contract.
3. To establish additional criteria to be included as part
of the performance contract of its principal, provided that

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such additional criteria shall not discriminate on the basis
of race, sex, creed, color or disability unrelated to ability
to perform, and shall not be inconsistent with the uniform 4
year performance contract for principals developed by the
board as provided in Section 34-8.1 of the School Code or with
other provisions of this Article governing the authority and
responsibility of principals.
4. To approve the expenditure plan prepared by the
principal with respect to all funds allocated and distributed
to the attendance center by the Board. The expenditure plan
shall be administered by the principal. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Act or any other law, any expenditure
plan approved and administered under this Section 34-2.3 shall
be consistent with and subject to the terms of any contract for
services with a third party entered into by the Chicago School
Reform Board of Trustees or the board under this Act.
Via a supermajority vote of 8 members of a local school
council enrolling students through the 8th grade or 9 members
of a local school council at a secondary attendance center or
an attendance center enrolling students in grades 7 through
12, the Council may transfer allocations pursuant to Section
34-2.3 within funds; provided that such a transfer is
consistent with applicable law and collective bargaining
agreements.
Beginning in fiscal year 1991 and in each fiscal year
thereafter, the Board may reserve up to 1% of its total fiscal

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year budget for distribution on a prioritized basis to schools
throughout the school system in order to assure adequate
programs to meet the needs of special student populations as
determined by the Board. This distribution shall take into
account the needs catalogued in the Systemwide Plan and the
various local school improvement plans of the local school
councils. Information about these centrally funded programs
shall be distributed to the local school councils so that
their subsequent planning and programming will account for
these provisions.
Beginning in fiscal year 1991 and in each fiscal year
thereafter, from other amounts available in the applicable
fiscal year budget, the board shall allocate a lump sum amount
to each local school based upon such formula as the board shall
determine taking into account the special needs of the student
body. The local school principal shall develop an expenditure
plan in consultation with the local school council, the
professional personnel leadership committee and with all other
school personnel, which reflects the priorities and activities
as described in the school's local school improvement plan and
is consistent with applicable law and collective bargaining
agreements and with board policies and standards; however, the
local school council shall have the right to request waivers
of board policy from the board of education and waivers of
employee collective bargaining agreements pursuant to Section
34-8.1a.

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The expenditure plan developed by the principal with
respect to amounts available from the fund for prioritized
special needs programs and the allocated lump sum amount must
be approved by the local school council.
The lump sum allocation shall take into account the
following principles:
a. Teachers: Each school shall be allocated funds
equal to the amount appropriated in the previous school
year for compensation for teachers (regular grades
kindergarten through 12th grade) plus whatever increases
in compensation have been negotiated contractually or
through longevity as provided in the negotiated agreement.
Adjustments shall be made due to layoff or reduction in
force, lack of funds or work, change in subject
requirements, enrollment changes, or contracts with third
parties for the performance of services or to rectify any
inconsistencies with system-wide allocation formulas or
for other legitimate reasons.
b. Other personnel: Funds for other teacher licensed
and nonlicensed personnel paid through non-categorical
funds shall be provided according to system-wide formulas
based on student enrollment and the special needs of the
school as determined by the Board.
c. Non-compensation items: Appropriations for all
non-compensation items shall be based on system-wide
formulas based on student enrollment and on the special

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needs of the school or factors related to the physical
plant, including but not limited to textbooks, electronic
textbooks and the technological equipment necessary to
gain access to and use electronic textbooks, supplies,
electricity, equipment, and routine maintenance.
d. Funds for categorical programs: Schools shall
receive personnel and funds based on, and shall use such
personnel and funds in accordance with State and Federal
requirements applicable to each categorical program
provided to meet the special needs of the student body
(including but not limited to, Federal Chapter I,
Bilingual, and Special Education).
d.1. Funds for State Title I: Each school shall
receive funds based on State and Board requirements
applicable to each State Title I pupil provided to meet
the special needs of the student body. Each school shall
receive the proportion of funds as provided in Section
18-8 or 18-8.15 to which they are entitled. These funds
shall be spent only with the budgetary approval of the
Local School Council as provided in Section 34-2.3.
e. The Local School Council shall have the right to
request the principal to close positions and open new ones
consistent with the provisions of the local school
improvement plan provided that these decisions are
consistent with applicable law and collective bargaining
agreements. If a position is closed, pursuant to this

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paragraph, the local school shall have for its use the
system-wide average compensation for the closed position.
f. Operating within existing laws and collective
bargaining agreements, the local school council shall have
the right to direct the principal to shift expenditures
within funds.
g. (Blank).
Any funds unexpended at the end of the fiscal year shall be
available to the board of education for use as part of its
budget for the following fiscal year.
5. To make recommendations to the principal concerning
textbook selection and concerning curriculum developed
pursuant to the school improvement plan which is consistent
with systemwide curriculum objectives in accordance with
Sections 34-8 and 34-18 of the School Code and in conformity
with the collective bargaining agreement.
6. To advise the principal concerning the attendance and
disciplinary policies for the attendance center, subject to
the provisions of this Article and Article 26, and consistent
with the uniform system of discipline established by the board
pursuant to Section 34-19.
7. To approve a school improvement plan developed as
provided in Section 34-2.4. The process and schedule for plan
development shall be publicized to the entire school
community, and the community shall be afforded the opportunity
to make recommendations concerning the plan. At least twice a

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year the principal and local school council shall report
publicly on progress and problems with respect to plan
implementation.
8. To evaluate the allocation of teaching resources and
other licensed and nonlicensed staff to the attendance center
to determine whether such allocation is consistent with and in
furtherance of instructional objectives and school programs
reflective of the school improvement plan adopted for the
attendance center; and to make recommendations to the board,
the general superintendent and the principal concerning any
reallocation of teaching resources or other staff whenever the
council determines that any such reallocation is appropriate
because the qualifications of any existing staff at the
attendance center do not adequately match or support
instructional objectives or school programs which reflect the
school improvement plan.
9. To make recommendations to the principal and the
general superintendent concerning their respective
appointments, after August 31, 1989, and in the manner
provided by Section 34-8 and Section 34-8.1, of persons to
fill any vacant, additional or newly created positions for
teachers at the attendance center or at attendance centers
which include the attendance center served by the local school
council.
10. To request of the Board the manner in which training
and assistance shall be provided to the local school council.

HB4709 - 22 - LRB103 37217 SPS 67336 b
Pursuant to Board guidelines a local school council is
authorized to direct the Board of Education to contract with
personnel or not-for-profit organizations not associated with
the school district to train or assist council members. If
training or assistance is provided by contract with personnel
or organizations not associated with the school district, the
period of training or assistance shall not exceed 30 hours
during a given school year; person shall not be employed on a
continuous basis longer than said period and shall not have
been employed by the Chicago Board of Education within the
preceding six months. Council members shall receive training
in at least the following areas:
1. school budgets;
2. educational theory pertinent to the attendance
center's particular needs, including the development of
the school improvement plan and the principal's
performance contract; and
3. personnel selection.
Council members shall, to the greatest extent possible,
complete such training within 90 days of election.
11. In accordance with systemwide guidelines contained in
the System-Wide Educational Reform Goals and Objectives Plan,
criteria for evaluation of performance shall be established
for local school councils and local school council members. If
a local school council persists in noncompliance with
systemwide requirements, the Board may impose sanctions and

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take necessary corrective action, consistent with Section
34-8.3.
12. Each local school council shall comply with the Open
Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Each local
school council shall issue and transmit to its school
community a detailed annual report accounting for its
activities programmatically and financially. Each local school
council shall convene at least 2 well-publicized meetings
annually with its entire school community. These meetings
shall include presentation of the proposed local school
improvement plan, of the proposed school expenditure plan, and
the annual report, and shall provide an opportunity for public
comment.
13. Each local school council is encouraged to involve
additional non-voting members of the school community in
facilitating the council's exercise of its responsibilities.
14. The local school council may adopt a school uniform or
dress code policy that governs the attendance center and that
is necessary to maintain the orderly process of a school
function or prevent endangerment of student health or safety,
consistent with the policies and rules of the Board of
Education. A school uniform or dress code policy adopted by a
local school council: (i) shall not be applied in such manner
as to discipline or deny attendance to a transfer student or
any other student for noncompliance with that policy during
such period of time as is reasonably necessary to enable the

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student to acquire a school uniform or otherwise comply with
the dress code policy that is in effect at the attendance
center into which the student's enrollment is transferred;
(ii) shall include criteria and procedures under which the
local school council will accommodate the needs of or
otherwise provide appropriate resources to assist a student
from an indigent family in complying with an applicable school
uniform or dress code policy; (iii) shall not include or apply
to hairstyles, including hairstyles historically associated
with race, ethnicity, or hair texture, including, but not
limited to, protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and
twists; and (iv) shall not prohibit the right of a student to
wear or accessorize the student's graduation attire with items
associated with the student's cultural, ethnic, or religious
identity or any other protected characteristic or category
identified in subsection (Q) of Section 1-103 of the Illinois
Human Rights Act. A student whose parents or legal guardians
object on religious grounds to the student's compliance with
an applicable school uniform or dress code policy shall not be
required to comply with that policy if the student's parents
or legal guardians present to the local school council a
signed statement of objection detailing the grounds for the
objection. If a local school council does not comply with the
requirements and prohibitions set forth in this paragraph 14,
the attendance center is subject to the penalty imposed
pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 2-3.25.

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15. All decisions made and actions taken by the local
school council in the exercise of its powers and duties shall
comply with State and federal laws, all applicable collective
bargaining agreements, court orders and rules properly
promulgated by the Board.
15a. To grant, in accordance with board rules and
policies, the use of assembly halls and classrooms when not
otherwise needed, including lighting, heat, and attendants,
for public lectures, concerts, and other educational and
social activities.
15b. To approve, in accordance with board rules and
policies, receipts and expenditures for all internal accounts
of the attendance center, and to approve all fund-raising
activities by nonschool organizations that use the school
building.
15c. To approve or deny, in accordance with the rules and
policies of the local school council, any request of a county
board or board of election commissioners to use a school
building as a polling place as described in Section 11-4.1 of
the Election Code.
16. (Blank).
17. Names and addresses of local school council members
shall be a matter of public record.
(Source: P.A. 102-360, eff. 1-1-22; 102-677, eff. 12-3-21;
102-894, eff. 5-20-22; 103-463, eff. 8-4-23.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

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