During its monthly open meeting today, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved a resolution that will impact some school districts’ planning for the next school year. ISBE voted unanimously to support a declaration by State Superintendent Carmen Ayala that, “Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, all schools must resume fully in-person learning for all student attendance days,” with the narrow exception that “remote instruction be made available for students who are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine and are under a quarantine order.”

Governor Pritzker’s announcement yesterday that Illinois has aligned its mask guidance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has raised many questions, including what authority controls (federal, state, local), what phase Illinois is in, and whether Illinois is operating under a disaster proclamation. This publication will answer some of the more pressing questions for the educational, municipal, and private sector entities.

In 2018, the Illinois legislature amended the Illinois Pension Code to add a requirement that the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) provide an optional defined contribution benefit to all eligible members of SURS (which is done through SURS employers).

In 2018, the Illinois legislature amended the Illinois Pension Code to add a requirement that the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) provide an optional defined contribution benefit to all eligible members of SURS (which is done through SURS employers).

President Biden issued an Executive Order on March 8, 2021, requiring the Secretary of the Department of Education to review all existing regulations, policies, and guidance documents relating to Title IX.

On April 2, 2021, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed into law, P.A. 102-0001 amending certain provisions of the Illinois Election Code.

On March 23, Governor Pritzker signed SB 1480 into law, making it Public Act 101-0656.

On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed comprehensive legislation into law designed to address the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Plan Act (the “Plan”) contains important provisions impacting employers navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.

The answer to the question of whether a fully vaccinated individual needs to quarantine following “close contact” exposure to a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case depends on the guidance from your local health department.

The Illinois State Board of Education (“ISBE”) recently adopted new regulations, which define a “qualified interpreter” and set forth procedural requirements for school districts providing qualified interpreters at Individualized Education Program (“IEP”) meetings.