IL HB1819

Creates the Rural Education Advisory Council as a statewide advisory body to discuss needs, challenges, and opportunities of rural school districts and provide policy recommendations to the State.

Council shall convey rural community perspectives during policy discussions with the State Superintendent and State Board of Education, and provide feedback on how statewide pre-K through grade 20 policies apply in rural areas.

Council membership includes 9 positions: State Superintendent (or designee), Executive Director of Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools, Illinois Community College Board director, 5 rural superintendents representing 3 super-regions, 1 rural principal, 1 school board representative, 1 school administrator representative, 1 regional superintendent president, and 1 student aged 16+ from federal Rural Education Achievement Program-eligible districts.

Council members serve without compensation but receive reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses from State Board of Education funds.

State Board of Education provides administrative support with assistance from the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools, including agenda creation, stakeholder coordination, research, and ensuring Open Meetings Act compliance.