ISBE Help for Schools, ELIS Licensure, Report Cards, Calendars & State Board Meetings
The Illinois State Board of Education, usually called ISBE, is Illinois’ statewide K–12 education agency. Parents, educators, district staff, school leaders, vendors and researchers use ISBE for statewide policy, educator licensure, school data, accountability, special education, public records, funding and education systems.
ISBE is not a local school district. Enrollment, attendance, bus routes, individual student grades, transcripts, lunch accounts and most school-calendar questions normally begin with the local school or district. Use the task guide below to reach the correct state or local route.
Illinois State Board of Education office, phone and leadership
State agency
Illinois State Board of Education.
State Board Chair
Dr. Steven Isoye.
State Superintendent
Dr. Tony Sanders.
Board structure
Nine Governor-appointed members with Senate consent.
Best support strategy: ISBE provides a ServiceNow help portal so users can create and track support requests. Educator licensure and credential questions may also need the appropriate Regional Office of Education or Intermediate Service Center.
Use the agency contact page after identifying whether the matter actually belongs with ISBE.
Open official ISBE contact information →ISBE or your local school district: who handles the problem?
| Your task | Best starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois teacher license or ELIS | ISBE / ROE / ISC | Illinois educator credentials are state-level licenses. |
| State Board meeting or agenda | ISBE | This is statewide Board business. |
| Public school performance | Illinois Report Card | ISBE publishes statewide public performance data. |
| Special-education state complaint | Local resolution / ISBE formal route | ISBE administers IDEA dispute-resolution systems. |
| Student enrollment | Local district | Students enroll through the local school system. |
| Bus stop or pickup time | Local district | Individual routes and stops are managed locally. |
| Grades or transcript | School / district | Individual education records are held locally. |
| Snow day or school holiday | Local district | The district controls its operational calendar and closure notices. |
| School lunch balance | School / district nutrition office | ISBE oversees statewide programs but does not manage each student’s meal account. |
Most common wrong-office mistake: “Illinois Board of Education” sounds like one statewide help desk for every school problem, but daily student services remain largely local.
Illinois State Board leadership, role and member contact
The Illinois State Board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor with Senate consent. Board members serve four-year terms and State Board membership is limited to two consecutive terms.
Current Chair
Current ISBE systems identify Dr. Steven Isoye as Chairman.
State Superintendent
Dr. Tony Sanders serves as State Superintendent of Education and leads the agency’s operations.
Statewide role
The Board addresses education policy, statewide programs, funding recommendations, accountability and other K–12 matters.
Board-member contact: ISBE says State Board members do not maintain offices at ISBE and use private email accounts. The Board meeting page provides a contact-routing system so messages can be relayed to the selected member.
How to attend, speak at or record an ISBE Board meeting
Springfield State Board meetings are held in the fourth-floor Board Room at 100 N. First Street unless the meeting posting specifies otherwise. ISBE tells users to check the active notice because meeting start times can change.
Open the current posting
Confirm the agenda, packet, meeting time, location and participation options rather than relying on an older calendar entry.
Choose your participation type
Meeting sign-in options can include Request to Speak in Person, Request to Speak via Phone, Intent to Record and Guest.
Sign in before the meeting begins
In-person sign-in is provided at the meeting location; online sign-in may be provided for telephone participation when a virtual option is available.
Identify your specific education topic
Public presentations must concern educationally relevant issues, and speakers are asked to identify their topic.
Prepare a three-minute statement
No individual is permitted more than three minutes under the current public-participation rules.
Board public-comment limit
Up to one hour total, potentially divided between two public-comment periods.
Committee limit
Up to 30 minutes total for committee public participation.
Organization rule: generally only one person may represent an organization at a meeting unless the chair permits multiple speakers; multiple representatives do not automatically increase the organization’s presentation time.
Recording: public Board proceedings may be recorded in a manner that does not interrupt or distract from the meeting. Portions lawfully closed under the Open Meetings Act may not be recorded by the public.
Use the live Board meeting page because meeting postings, packets and participation options can change.
Check current Illinois State Board meetings →Need an accommodation for a State Board meeting?
ISBE states that its public Board meetings are accessible to persons with disabilities and asks attendees needing special accommodations to contact the Board office no later than the day before the meeting.
Illinois educator license fees and application routes
Do not start by paying for the first “Illinois teacher license” service found in search. ISBE applications are completed through the official licensure system, and the correct credential type determines the fee and documentation.
| License / action | Current ISBE fee | Who uses it? |
|---|---|---|
| PEL — In-State Non-Entitlement | $150 | Eligible Illinois applicants outside the entitlement route. |
| PEL — In-State Entitlement | $100 | Applicants recommended through an eligible Illinois entitlement program. |
| PEL — Out-of-State / Out-of-Country | $150 | Applicable reciprocity or out-of-country applicants. |
| Substitute Teaching License | $50 | Illinois substitute-teaching credential. |
| Short-Term Substitute | $25 | Short-term substitute pathway. |
| ELS — Paraprofessional | $100 | Paraprofessional credential. |
| ELS — CTE / CTEP | $100 | Applicable Career and Technical Education licensure routes. |
| Approval | $50 | Applicable ISBE educator approval. |
| Subsequent Endorsement | $50 | Adding an applicable endorsement after initial licensure. |
Verify before payment: fees and requirements can change. Use the fee displayed in the current ISBE application/ELIS workflow as the final amount.
PEL application workflow
Identify your licensure route
Check Illinois requirements before applying so you know whether you are using entitlement, non-entitlement or an out-of-state/out-of-country pathway.
Create or open your ELIS account
Complete the appropriate application and pay the listed electronic fee.
Send official transcripts correctly
ISBE directs regionally accredited institutions to send official transcripts directly to ISBE or an appropriate ROE/ISC. Applicant-submitted transcripts must meet ISBE’s official-transcript conditions.
Submit supporting evidence
Reciprocity and other pathways may require licenses, certificates, testing or additional documents.
Check registration after issuance
An educator should verify both license status and registration requirements before relying on an issued credential for Illinois employment.
The official application page contains the current fee table, transcript instructions and application sequence.
Open the Illinois educator licensure application process →What ELIS is used for
Educator account
Apply for and maintain Illinois educator credentials and related licensure information.
Public license lookup
Search public Illinois educator licensure information without relying on a third-party credential site.
Professional development
Educators use ELIS/PD functionality to maintain applicable professional-development records and renewal information.
Credential security: access ELIS through ISBE-controlled pages. Do not enter an ELIS password, IEIN or sensitive educator documents into an unofficial license-renewal website.
Start from the official ISBE ELIS resource page so you use the correct login or public-search route.
Open official ELIS resources →Illinois PEL renewal, PD hours and registration fees
| Credential | Typical requirement | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| PEL — Teaching | 120 PD hours per five-year cycle when applicable | $10/year; $50 per five-year cycle |
| PEL — School Support | 120 PD hours, subject to applicable professional-license/certification rules | $10/year; $50 per five-year cycle |
| PEL — Administration | 100 PD hours plus one Administrator Academy for each qualifying employed fiscal year | $10/year; $50 per five-year cycle |
| Substitute License | No PD hours listed | $10/year |
Check the current PD requirements and renewal instructions before entering hours or making payment.
Review current Illinois renewal requirements →How to use the Illinois Report Card without misreading the data
The Illinois Report Card is the state’s official public source for statewide, district and school performance information. It is not a private student portal.
Search the exact school or district
Search by school, district, city or county name, or use address/city/ZIP search for nearby schools.
Confirm the entity
Similar names exist across Illinois. Verify location and district before comparing results.
Start with the Snapshot
Use the overview first, then explore academic progress, school environment, educators, students, accountability and finance.
Use trends and context
Avoid judging a school from a single percentage. Compare multiple years, student groups and school characteristics.
Go local for private student data
Your child’s individual grades, attendance, test record, discipline and services are not public Report Card data.
Two useful formats: ISBE describes a customizable/filterable printable Report Card and an interactive version designed for comparisons, trends and deeper exploration.
Use the official Report Card rather than a commercial school-ranking page as your starting source.
Search the official Illinois Report Card →School recognition status is not the same as Report Card performance
| Term | What it helps answer | Do not use it as |
|---|---|---|
| Public School Recognition | Whether a public school/district is meeting applicable legal and regulatory operational requirements. | A simple academic-performance rating. |
| Summative Designation | Accountability information based on multiple student and school performance indicators. | A substitute for recognition/compliance status. |
| Report Card metrics | Academic, student, educator, environment, finance and accountability context. | An individual student’s report card. |
Use the dedicated ISBE recognition resource rather than inferring compliance from test scores.
Check Illinois public-school recognition information →Illinois accountability redesign: where the process stands
Illinois has been redesigning its assessment, accountability and statewide-support system with the goal of creating clearer, more actionable criteria for schools and families.
March–April 2026
Final public-comment process on the ESSA amendment.
April 14, 2026
ISBE’s timeline lists State Board approval of the final amendment.
April 17, 2026
ISBE’s timeline lists submission to the U.S. Department of Education.
October 2026 target
The published timeline targets implementation on the State Report Card following federal review.
August 2026 status: this article does not assume the October implementation has already occurred. Check the redesign page for the latest federal-review and implementation status.
The redesign hub provides amendment documents, modeling data, public-comment history and the implementation timeline.
Check the current Illinois accountability redesign →Public School District Lookup, entity directory and RCDTS codes
Public School District Lookup
Use when you need to identify a public school district for a location or verify district information.
Directory of Educational Entities
Includes public schools/districts, charters, nonpublic entities, ROEs/ISCs, special-education entities and other education organizations.
RCDTS
A 15-digit Region-County-District-Type-School code used to identify Illinois education entities.
Why RCDTS matters: a school name alone can be ambiguous. RCDTS is useful in state reporting, grants, data systems, vendor verification and administrative forms.
Use the ISBE directory hub to choose the correct public, nonpublic or administrative lookup.
Open ISBE educational entity directories →Illinois Public School Calendar Inquiry vs your district calendar
ISBE maintains a statewide Public School Calendar Inquiry system, but families should understand what it is before treating it like a one-calendar-for-Illinois website.
ISBE Public School Calendar Inquiry
Search approved final public-school calendars using filters such as school year, county, region, district, school, calendar code, school type and date range.
Your local district calendar
Best final source for the student’s first day, holidays, teacher workdays, emergency changes, school-specific events and local closure notices.
Best calendar workflow for a family
Identify the exact district
Use the district lookup if you are not certain which public district serves the address.
Check the ISBE calendar record if needed
Use Public School Calendar Inquiry when you need the state calendar filing/search view.
Use the district website before planning
Confirm the active family-facing district calendar before arranging travel, childcare or attendance decisions.
Recheck after emergency closures
Weather, emergency days and local changes can affect the practical school schedule.
No single family calendar: the Illinois State Board meeting calendar, Public School Calendar Inquiry and your child’s district calendar are three different things.
Use ISBE’s searchable calendar inquiry by school year and education entity.
Open Illinois Public School Calendar Inquiry →IEP Facilitation, Mediation, State Complaint or Due Process?
ISBE provides several special-education dispute-resolution systems. They are not interchangeable.
| Process | Best fit | Participation | Timing / limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| IEP Facilitation | Improve communication while developing a mutually acceptable IEP. | Voluntary | No specific completion timeline. |
| State-Sponsored Mediation | Resolve disagreements involving special education or related services. | Both parties voluntarily agree. | Scheduled in a timely manner; no filing limitation listed in the comparison. |
| Written State Complaint | Alleged violation of state/federal special-education requirements. | District participation required. | 60 calendar days; allegations generally within one year. |
| Due Process Hearing | Formal dispute involving identification, evaluation, placement or FAPE. | Formal hearing process. | 75 calendar days for a regular full-resolution-session timeline; comparison lists a two-year limitation. |
Start locally when possible: ISBE encourages communication with school staff, the principal, superintendent, special-education cooperative or IEP team before or alongside formal dispute options when appropriate.
Written state complaint checklist
Privacy + AI caution: ISBE specifically warns users about privacy implications when entering special-education information into AI systems. Do not put private IEPs, disability records, addresses or medical details into public or untrusted tools, and verify legal requirements from official sources.
Start with ISBE’s side-by-side dispute-resolution information before filing a formal complaint or hearing request.
Compare Illinois special-education dispute options →Review the exact filing requirements, one-year rule and submission instructions first.
Open ISBE’s complaint investigation process →Illinois homeschool registration and instruction requirements
Registration is not mandatory
Illinois does not require parents to register with ISBE before beginning homeschooling. ISBE provides a voluntary registration option.
Instruction is required
The homeschool program must provide education at least equivalent to public-school education in required subject areas.
Leaving public school
ISBE recommends notifying the public school of the intent to homeschool so the child is not simply marked absent and referred for truancy.
Subject areas identified by ISBE
📖 Language Arts
➗ Mathematics
🔬 Biological and Physical Science
🌎 Social Science / Social Studies
🎨 Fine Arts
🏃 Physical Development and Health
“ISBE-approved curriculum” warning: ISBE says it does not recommend homeschool curriculum materials or plan a family’s homeschool curriculum. Be cautious when a private curriculum seller implies state approval.
Read the state’s current guidance before withdrawing a child or purchasing a private program.
Read official Illinois homeschooling guidance →ISBE registration and recognition for Illinois nonpublic schools
Nonpublic-school administration is another intent that should not be confused with family homeschool registration.
Registration
Registration is a voluntary process for nonpublic schools. Participating schools provide required enrollment, staff, contact and compliance information.
Recognition
ISBE explains that a nonpublic school generally must first be registered for at least one full calendar year and be registered for the current school year before applying for recognition.
Do not mix three systems: public-school recognition, voluntary nonpublic-school registration/recognition and voluntary homeschool registration are separate concepts.
Use the dedicated nonpublic-program information for current registration, recognition and reporting procedures.
Open ISBE nonpublic school registration and recognition →ISBE FOIA: when to use it and when not to
| Need | ISBE FOIA? | Better route when no |
|---|---|---|
| Public record held by ISBE | Yes | Use the ISBE Public Records Center. |
| General agency question | No | Contact ISBE or use ServiceNow. |
| Student transcript or grades | Usually no | Contact the local school/district records office. |
| Local school-board record | Not through ISBE first | Use the local public body’s FOIA process. |
Non-commercial
ISBE states a five-business-day response period.
Commercial purpose
ISBE states a 21-day response period.
Electronic records
ISBE lists no charge for electronic records.
Paper
Current ISBE guidance lists the first 50 pages free and 15¢ per page thereafter, subject to applicable rules and costs.
After-hours submission: a request received outside agency business hours is treated as received on the next business day under ISBE’s published guidance.
Review the FOIA instructions before submitting so you do not use the records portal as a general contact form.
Open official ISBE FOIA information →Which ISBE data system do you actually need?
| System | Main use | Typical audience |
|---|---|---|
| ELIS | Educator licensure information | Educators, administrators and public credential users |
| IWAS / MyISBE systems | Secure access to many state education applications | Authorized school/district/agency users |
| SIS | State student-information reporting | Authorized district users |
| EIS | Employment information reported by districts | District administrators |
| EPS | Entity profile information for Illinois schools and districts | Education entities / administrators |
| FRIS Inquiry | Public view of state/federal grant, expenditure and disbursement information | Public, researchers, administrators |
| Public School Calendar Inquiry | Approved final public-school calendar searches | Public and school administrators |
| RCDTS Lookup | Identify Illinois K–12 education entities by state code | Administrators, researchers, vendors and public users |
Student-data privacy: public inquiry systems and secure administrative systems are not interchangeable. Never attempt to enter student-level or district credentials into an unofficial data website.
The education data systems hub explains state reporting and inquiry tools and who they are intended for.
Open ISBE Education Data Systems →ISBE budget and grant information
FY 2027 budget
ISBE’s budget hub currently includes FY 2027 Board recommendations, budget book, Governor comparison and General Assembly budget information.
Funding data
FRIS Inquiry provides public access to grant, expenditure and disbursement information for education agencies receiving ISBE funding.
District administration
School districts and joint agreements use separate ISBE fiscal, grant and reporting systems that should not be confused with family-facing tools.
Use the budget hub for the current fiscal-year budget materials rather than an older press release.
Open current ISBE budget information →Common ISBE topics that still require the right subpage
Nutrition
ISBE administers statewide school-meal and nutrition programs, including CEP guidance, but individual menus and meal balances are local.
Transportation
ISBE handles statewide transportation rules, claims and reimbursement systems; local districts manage individual routes and stops.
Standards & instruction
Use ISBE for statewide academic standards and instructional guidance; contact the local school for a particular teacher’s curriculum implementation.
Assessments
ISBE administers statewide assessment policy and reporting. Families should use the school for an individual student’s score report.
Multilingual programs
ISBE provides statewide policy and program resources, while student-specific placement and services begin with the district.
Career & Technical Education
ISBE provides statewide CTE policy and resources; actual courses and enrollment depend on the school/district program.
ISBE, IBHE, ICCB and local boards are different
ISBE
Illinois State Board of Education — statewide PreK–12/K–12 education administration and policy.
IBHE
Illinois Board of Higher Education — colleges and universities.
ICCB
Illinois Community College Board — community-college system.
Local school board
Governs an individual public school district and handles district-level Board business.
Need Chicago Public Schools instead of statewide ISBE?
Chicago Board of Education
Use this local guide when your question concerns Chicago Public Schools Board meetings, governance or district services rather than Illinois statewide education.
Chicago Board budget
Use this guide when your search intent is CPS budget information rather than the statewide Illinois PreK–12 budget.
Common ISBE search problems and the fastest fix
📅 Need your child’s school calendar
Fix: identify the local district and use its family-facing calendar. ISBE’s calendar systems do not replace district closure notices.
🔐 ELIS login looks unfamiliar
Fix: restart from isbe.net/elis before entering credentials.
🎓 License issued but employment problem remains
Fix: check registration status, endorsement and employment requirements in ELIS/with the appropriate ROE or ISC.
📊 Looking for your child’s grades in Report Card
Fix: contact the school. Illinois Report Card contains public school/district data, not private student grades.
📄 Used FOIA to ask a question
Fix: use Contact ISBE or ServiceNow. FOIA is for requesting records.
✅ Recognition confused with school performance
Fix: use recognition for compliance context and the Report Card/accountability system for performance context.
🧩 Unsure which special-ed process to file
Fix: compare IEP facilitation, mediation, State Complaint and Due Process before choosing a formal route.
🏠 Website says homeschool registration is mandatory
Fix: compare that claim with current ISBE guidance; Illinois state registration is voluntary.
🔢 School with similar name found
Fix: verify the city, district and RCDTS entity instead of relying only on the school name.
🏫 Need a bus route or transcript
Fix: start with the local district rather than a statewide ISBE department.
Illinois State Board of Education FAQs
What is the official Illinois State Board of Education website?
The official Illinois State Board of Education website is isbe.net. Use it for State Board meetings, educator licensure, ELIS, Illinois Report Card resources, school and district directories, FOIA, special education and statewide K–12 education information.
What is the Illinois State Board of Education phone number?
ISBE lists Springfield phone 217-782-4321, Chicago phone 312-814-2220 and Agency Call Center 866-262-6663.
Who is the Illinois State Superintendent of Education?
As checked August 14, 2026, Dr. Tony Sanders is the Illinois State Superintendent of Education. The Illinois Report Card lists him as State Superintendent since February 23, 2023.
Who is the Illinois State Board of Education Chair?
Current ISBE systems identify Dr. Steven Isoye as Chairman. Recheck current ISBE information before using a leadership name in formal correspondence.
How long can I speak during ISBE public comment?
Current ISBE public-participation rules limit each individual to three minutes. Total public-comment time is up to one hour for State Board meetings and 30 minutes for committee meetings.
How much does an Illinois Professional Educator License application cost?
ISBE currently lists $150 for non-entitlement and out-of-state/out-of-country PEL applications and $100 for the listed in-state entitlement PEL route. Verify the amount in the current application before paying.
How many PD hours are needed to renew an Illinois teaching PEL?
ISBE currently lists 120 professional-development hours for applicable teaching PEL five-year renewal cycles. Requirements vary for administrative, support-service and other credentials.
Where can I find an Illinois school calendar?
ISBE provides a Public School Calendar Inquiry for approved public-school calendar records. Families should use the student’s local district website as the final source for practical school dates, closures and school-specific events.
Does Illinois require homeschool registration?
No. Current ISBE guidance says Illinois does not require parents to register before beginning homeschooling. ISBE provides a voluntary registration option.
How long does ISBE have to respond to a FOIA request?
ISBE states that it responds within five business days to non-commercial FOIA requests and within 21 days to commercial-purpose requests, subject to applicable law and circumstances.
Final ISBE verification checklist
Verification scope: this update was checked against current ISBE contact information, Board meeting/public-participation guidance, ELIS and educator licensure application fees, professional-development requirements, Illinois Report Card, educational directories, Public School Calendar Inquiry, recognition resources, 2026 accountability redesign, special-education dispute processes, homeschooling, nonpublic-school registration/recognition, FOIA, data systems and budget resources on August 14, 2026.
Independent-site notice: BoardofEducations.org is an independent informational guide. It is not the Illinois State Board of Education, a local Illinois school district or another Illinois government agency. Current official ISBE rules, notices, forms, decisions and application systems take priority.