Here in Illinois, several recent legislative efforts are serving as catalysts for statewide reform:
 

Public Act 98-1102

Public Act 98-1102 increases accountability of school districts by requiring the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to compile and publically release data regarding each school district’s rates of suspensions, expulsions, and transfers to alternative schools. This data should be disaggregated by subgroups (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, age, grade level, limited English proficiency, incident type and duration). ISBE will monitor those districts with grossly high and inequitable discipline numbers.

P.A. 98-1102, (effective Aug. 26, 2014), was first introduced in the Illinois Senate as SB 2793.

Public Act 99-0456 (SB 100)

Public Act 99-0456, which went into effect on September 15, 2016, requires substantive changes to school discipline practices and policies, including the elimination of any broad-based use of zero tolerance policies. In addition to other requirements, schools must make substantial efforts to consider “appropriate and available” alternatives to exclusionary discipline, ensuring that suspension, expulsion, and school transfers are a measure of last resort.

P.A. 99-0456, (effective Sept. 15, 2016), was first introduced in the Illinois Senate as SB 100.

Are you complying with SB 100? Use TSDC’s Self-Assessment Checklist to find out.

Public Act 100-0105

Public Act 100-0105, which becomes effective January 1, 2018, prohibits the expulsion of children from early childhood education programs that receive Illinois State Board of Education grants or are licensed by the Department of Child and Family Services. It applies to  school- and community-based programs receiving Early Childhood Block Grant funds (Preschool For All, Prevention Initiative) and licensed child care providers serving children ages 0-5 (specifics will be in licensing standards).

P.A. 100-0105, (effective Jan. 1, 2018), was first introduced in the Illinois Senate as HB 2663.