HB3053 Summary: Classrooms First Act

• Modifies Section 11E-135 of the School Code to add exception language referencing new Section 11E-140 regarding financial incentives for school district reorganization.

• Creates the School District Efficiency Commission with 20 voting members including state officials, legislators, and representatives from teachers' organizations, school boards, administrators, and parent groups.

• Commission must recommend to the Governor and General Assembly on optimal school district numbers, enrollment sizes, and reorganizations, focusing on reducing administrative duplication, improving student education, and lowering property tax burden.

• Commission must draft specific recommendations to reduce the statewide number of school districts by at least 25% through reorganization into unit districts, with recommendations placed on ballots if approved by at least 11 Commission members.

• Commission dissolves upon filing its report by May 1, 2020, and Section 11E-140 is repealed on February 1, 2021; reorganizations from Commission recommendations are exempt from standard incentive payments under Section 11E-135.