Information and expertise to help you stay knowledgeable and up-to-date
IASB compiles, publishes, and maintains a wide range of information on topics spanning from school governance to the requirements of state law and the challenges of school finance. Many of these resources may be downloaded or accessed online. Others may be ordered via the IASB Online Bookstore.
Free Pamphlets and Tools
Information is available to assist not only local boards of education, but also the general public in understanding some basic principles of school governance and the role of a local school board.
Dates contained in the calendar comply with statutory deadlines in the Election Code, School Code, and selected public acts.
An overview of the roles, responsibilities, and core functions of boards of education and what makes an effective school board.
A brief look at where Illinois schools get their money, how and where it is spent, and answers to budget-related questions.
Additional Resources
- Qualifications and Characteristics of School Board Candidates — Key considerations for board service, including the knowledge, skills, and characteristics of effective school board members.
- Bringing Student Representatives to the Board Table — An overview of the process and best practices to bring student members to the board table.
- A School Board's Guide to Identifying, Recruiting, and Mentoring Future School Board Members — Guidance for local boards of education in developing an effective, ongoing process for finding school board candidates.
- IASB Annual Report — A snapshot of the work of IASB during the past fiscal year.
Data & Surveys
IASB maintains a robust dataset that may be useful to school board members, public school districts, and other education-related organizations.
School Law
IASB's Office of General Counsel contributes to many Association programs and publications and provides legal information and legal resources to members. Guidance documents to help provide clarity and understanding for a number of complicated laws and legal issues that impact local school governance.
Note: Member boards seeking specific legal advice should contact their board attorneys directly.
Illinois School Board Journal
The Illinois School Board Journal is intended to educate and inform and not only highlight Association programs, services, and positions. The Journal is a “marketplace of ideas” providing readers with opposing views, opinions, and conflicting positions, and is rooted in its editorial integrity and credibility.
Inside IASB — Talk Podcast
This podcast discusses school board leadership and education topics with district leaders while introducing listeners to a set of guiding principles that describe the fundamental duties of board service for close to 6,000 Illinois school board member volunteers. IASB refers to these guiding beliefs as the Foundational Principles of Effective Governance.
