ISBE Update July 2021

Important Dates and Deadlines
Boards of education have a number of deadlines in August and September related to information that needs to be submitted to the State Board of Education.

Fiscal Year 2022 Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) spending plans must be completed by September 30. The window for districts to begin submitting their plans opens in IWAS on August 2. No matter the amount of EBF funds received, a district must submit a plan to ISBE. An FY 22 EBF spending plan webinar will be held on Monday, June 26 at 2 p.m.
In addition to EBF funds, districts will need to adopt and display a tentative budget at least 30 days prior to the adoption of their finalized balanced budget for the 2021-2022 school year. Districts need to host a public hearing on the budget and once the budget is adopted file the spending plan with ISBE and post it on the district website.

School districts will need to submit their FY 2021 ESSA site-based expenditure report by August 16. The site-based report requires districts to compile per-pupil expenditure data, separated by funding source, at the school level. The ESSA site-based expenditure report is not required for accountability purposes, but instead to assist districts in gaining a better understanding of the relationship between financial investments and student outcomes. The data can then be used to inform decision-making, including educational equity investments, at the local level for districts.
Districts that seek to file waivers from School Code mandates will also have to meet an August deadline. The application deadline to meet the Fall 2021 Waiver Report is August 15. School districts can submit waiver requests for the following reasons:

• Meet the intent of the mandate in a more effective, efficient, or economical manner;

• Stimulate innovation; or

• Improve student performance.

Local boards that are considering submitting waiver requests must hold a public hearing that allows time for testimony and post an official notice 14 days prior to the hearing. Further information on School Code waivers can be found on the ISBE website, along with an overview of the waiver process.