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New Illinois Law Dictates When State Can Take Over School Districts

Illinois has a new set of rules for when and how the state can take over failing school districts. It was signed into law Monday by Gov. Pat Quinn before he left office. 

The law, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Heather Steans, re-prioritizes the board’s responsibilities.

“It really is to narrow and make it clear what the criteria are for both intervening in a district -- and exiting.”

Before this bill became law, the State Board of Education was required to intervene when any school district spent at least three years on the academic watch list.

Prior to this legislation, the board could have intervened in about a hundred districts. But the state has only stepped in twice due to a lack of resources.

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