Illinois

:This article is about the State of Illinois. See Illinois (disambiguation) for other uses.

Education

Illinois State Board of Education

The Illinois State Board of Education or ISBE, autonomous of the governor and the state legislature, administers public education in the state. Local municipalities and their respective school districts operate individual public schools but the ISBE audits performance of public schools with an annual school report card. The ISBE also makes recommendations to state leaders concerning education spending and policies.

Related Topics:
Public education - School district - Annual school report card

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There is current debate as to the role of the ISBE and whether or not its autonomous relationship with the governor and the state legislature is appropriate. In 2002, the Office of the Governor proposed the creation of a monolithic statewide department of education to replace the ISBE. However, direct control of the new department would fall under the state governor's jurisdiction. The structure would mimic the system employed by the Hawaii State Department of Education, which has no local school districts. Opponents to the proposal argue that local communities would lose control over what their children would learn in public schools and the means by which those public schools operate.

Related Topics:
2002 - Hawaii State Department of Education

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Primary and secondary schools

Education is compulsory from kindergarten through the twelfth grade in Illinois, commonly but not exclusively divided into three tiers of primary and secondary education: elementary school, middle school or junior high school and high school. District territories are often complex in structure. In some cases, elementary, middle and junior high schools of a single district feed into high schools in another district.

Related Topics:
Kindergarten - Primary - Secondary education - Elementary school - Middle school - Junior high school - High school

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: See List of school districts in Illinois for a listing of all school districts, by county.

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: See List of high schools in Illinois for a partial list of high schools.

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Colleges and universities

While many students enter the military or join the workforce directly from high school, students have the option of applying to colleges and universities in Illinois. Notable Illinois institutions of higher education include Loyola University Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Chicago and the several branches of the University of Illinois. Illinois is also home to 49 colleges in the Illinois community college system.

Related Topics:
College - Universities - Higher education - Loyola University Chicago - Northwestern University - University of Chicago - University of Illinois - Illinois community college system

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List of colleges and universities