* Let’s go back to the governor’s amendatory veto of SB444…

As written, the Act requires non-public schools to be “recognized” by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) [in order to qualify to receive Invest in Kids scholarships]. This language creates an eligibility mandate from what is otherwise a voluntary distinction for which schools may apply. Eligibility should be expanded to also include schools that are registered with ISBE, a necessary precursor to becoming “recognized.” While it is prudent to require compliance with ISBE measures that protect the health, safety and well-being of students, the current timelines to become recognized will exclude at least 36 schools that are still in the process of registering for and moving toward recognition; the ramifications of this initial exclusion could potentially last for two years. The students attending or looking to attend these schools deserve the same access to Invest in Kids scholarships as those in already recognized schools. Their educational opportunities cannot wait for years.

By including those who have registered with ISBE as well as those already recognized, the law will better maximize the number of schools and therefore the number of children who can benefit from this promising new program.

The problem that’s being overlooked is that there are far more than 36 schools which could benefit from the governor’s proposed changed. Right now, in order to qualify for the scholarship program, schools have to be “recognized” by the ISBE. And that means several hoops must first be cleared…

That term — “recognized” — sounds bland. But it’s kind of a big deal. It’s the stamp of approval the State Board of Education gives to schools that meet a 17-page list of standards for curriculum, health and safety. For example, a school has to prove students are immunized, and that staff members have passed criminal background checks. Then all that information is verified by investigators who visit the facility.

* Under the governor’s amendatory veto, non-public schools would merely have to file some registration paperwork with the State Board of Education by February 15th and they would qualify for the new scholarship program…

Registration requires a simple 5-page form pledging “assurances,” and it’s on the honor system. No site visit required.

* With that in mind…

…Adding… From Patty Schuh…

From the ISBE website: “Please note that for purposes of registration, a nonpublic school is any nonprofit, non-home-based, and nonpublic elementary or secondary school (Section 2-3.25o(e)) of the Illinois School Code) that is in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and attendance at which satisfies the requirements of Section 26-1 of the Illinois School Code. Only such schools can register and re-register.

       

22 Comments - WhoKnew - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 11:55 am: Way to go Andy. That’s going to leave a mark!!/s - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:00 pm: From the newspapers, this trailer bill was prepared by ISBE. Did BTIA(TM) not get together with ISBE beforehand? That seems impossible, but true. Who’s running the show in the governor’s office these days? It’s a trailer bill, for crying out loud. They’re supposed to be buttoned-up tight. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:03 pm: Where o where are Ms. Bourne and Mr. Barickman? Have they not been told what to say? I may have missed it… - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:04 pm: Now we know what Buster Brown looks like as an adult. Cretins. - ArchPundit - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:06 pm: Senator Manar is getting shrill. Rightly so. So we are going to be providing funds to the Osama bin Laden Madrasas now. Good to know. BTW, I have no problem with Islamic based schools getting the same benefits as Catholic schools, but the point of this issue is that without standards of who can get aid, anyone can get aid and that’s not going to work. If you think my OBL example is over the top what about the Louis Farrakhan school of whacked out nutjobs getting money? - Jocko - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:18 pm: Scholarship-eligible or not, principal David Turpin leaves a LOT to be desired. I’m sure the AV will somehow become Madigan’s fault. /s - walker - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:18 pm: Rauner’s reach exceeds his grasp on this one. - Highland Il - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:25 pm: From Rauner’s campaign website: “We’ve fully-funded education for the first time in years, increasing K-12 education funding by nearly $1 billion, and we brought early childhood education funding to historical levels. And this year, we signed a historic education reform law that provides tax credits for scholarship programs, provides more funding for school districts most in need and removes onerous state mandates to give local communities more control.” Still taking credit for this…. - City Zen - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:47 pm: “Had they been in IL, Rauner veto would qualify their “school” for tax credit funding.” Is that a knock on Rauner, ISBE, or both? Would the Sandcastle Day School have qualified as a school for the program? Were its students eligible for scholarships, considering dad/principal made $140,000 per year? - SW - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 12:56 pm: And there is no requirement the schools registered before February 15, 2018 ever become recognized. - JS Mill - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 1:03 pm: =Where o where are Ms. Bourne and Mr. Barickman? Have they not been told what to say? I may have missed it…= Maybe they have determined that the SS Rauner is a sinking ship and have decided to abandon? Rauner probably wants “registered” schools to be eligible for scholarships because it could then include “Home School”. That would be my take. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 1:09 pm: ===Rauner probably wants “registered” schools to be eligible for scholarships because it could then include “Home School”. That would be my take.=== Cloud be. I dunno what Rauner thinks when he AVs a trailer bill that was his “greatest bipartisan accomplishments” ===Maybe they have determined that the SS Rauner is a sinking ship and have decided to abandon?=== Meh. Both, on this subject and school funding, they carried the water for Rauner, with Ms. Bourne “confused” how well her districts did… until Charlie Wheeler refreshed our memories here in comments, or Mr. Barickman, who had to retract a whole opinion that ran counter to the “opinion” Rauner wanted him to have. It’s meh, because it’s not going to be lost on other that here we are, and the silence is what, resignation they failed too… or… what? - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 1:18 pm: ===Who’s running the show in the governor’s office these days?=== Although Rauner would deny it, this sure looks like he intentionally put this wrench into the gears of the school funding bill. Why? Create another artificial crisis. He doesn’t care about schools, he only cares about his war. This is another shot in his hopeless battle. Rauner is like the fabled Japanese soldiers on some God-foresaken island who fought on long after the war was over. He’s a holdout for his lost cause, but he still has some ammo in his bunker and so he’s going to go down fighting. - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 1:37 pm: Who’s going to tell Andy that his example is inaccurate? - itsjustme - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 2:13 pm: I don’t know whether Andy’s example fits or not. ISBE says “non-home-based,” but doesn’t require a site visit. So without a site visit, how do you really know whether the school is home-based? Seems like a gray area. - Truth Squad - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 2:25 pm: How does Manar continually get away from telling so many lies? It’s positively Trumpian. - A State Employee Guy - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 2:58 pm: Jesus, Andy. Those two people starved, shackled, and otherwise abused their kids. Maybe “hey they were running a school” isn’t the thing to focus on in that story. - ArchPundit - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 3:06 pm: —Who’s going to tell Andy that his example is inaccurate? How is it inaccurate? - ArchPundit - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 3:16 pm: So, is that these two ran a school at home the difference? Okay, but the same problem would exist with schools that are registered. Explain to me why the OBL Madrasas wouldn’t be receiving state money? They would be unlikely to make it through a site visit, but they could easily register. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 16, 18 @ 5:55 pm: Public records show the couple own the tract house where the children were found. Its address is also listed in a state Department of Education directory as the location of the Sandcastle Day School, a private K-12 campus. David Turpin is listed as the principal. During the last school year, the school was listed in state records as a nonreligious and co-ed institution. There were six students enrolled — one each in the fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, 10th and 12th grades. - ChampaignYote - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 9:01 am: The ISBE’s webpage, as posted in an update to this discussion, states that you can’t register as a non-public school if it is in your home. Manar’s example of “what could happen” occurred in a registered school at a home, I guess that means in California they register “home-schools” whereas the ISBE does not. - MrMan - Wednesday, Jan 17, 18 @ 10:48 am: Ms Bourne and Mr Barickman…. “well you see because because Madigan?” They are so done and so is Rauner not even us republicans can stomach them now Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.