ISBE Approves Resolution for Full In-Person Learning
May 19, 2021
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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.”
Discussion during ISBE’s meeting noted that this resolution does not impact whether school districts may use remote instruction while the Governor’s disaster declarations are still in effect, and the Governor may continue to issue such disaster declarations in the coming months. When a disaster declaration is no longer in effect, pre-pandemic provisions of the Illinois School Code for e-learning plans and “remote educational programs” will still be available to school districts. However, these provisions require school board involvement and provide more limited opportunities for remote learning than the options that are currently available.
For questions about remote learning and planning for the next school year, please contact your Robbins Schwartz attorney.