§ 1B-2 — Findings and purpose

(a) The General Assembly finds: (1) A fundamental goal of the people of the State, as expressed in Section 1 of Article X of the Illinois Constitution, is the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities. When a board of education faces financial difficulties, continued operation of the public school system is threatened. (2) A sound financial structure is essential to the continued operation of any school system. It is vital to commercial, educational and cultural interests that the public schools remain in operation. To achieve that goal, public school systems must have effective access to the private market to borrow short and long term funds. (3) To promote the financial integrity of boards of education of school districts with a population of less than 500,000, it is necessary to provide for emergency State financial assistance and the creation of financial oversight panels with the powers necessary to promote sound financial management to assure the continued availability of educational opportunities. (b) It is the purpose of this Article to provide financial oversight panels and emergency State financial assistance to school districts and establish a secure financial basis for their continued existence. The intention of the General Assembly, in enacting this legislation, is to establish procedures, provide powers and impose restrictions to assure the financial and educational integrity of the public schools while leaving principal responsibility for the educational policies of the public schools to the boards of education within the State, consistent with the requirements for satisfying the public policy and purpose herein set forth.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 88-618, eff. 9-9-94.)