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District submits ISBE-IASA advisory questions on foreign-language graduation requirement, Tier 2 pensions, and Evidence-Based Funding shortfalls
Summary
Administration shared three questions submitted to ISBE about (1) the upcoming two-year foreign-language graduation requirement and teacher shortages, (2) Tier 2 pension inequities affecting recruitment and costs, and (3) Evidence-Based Funding gaps for transportation and special education.
Central SD 51's administration informed the board that it had submitted substantive questions to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for the Dec. 9 ISBE-IASA advisory meeting concerning staffing and funding challenges.
The questions raised by the district: first, concern about the upcoming two-year foreign-language graduation requirement scheduled for students entering 9th grade in 2028–29, highlighting an estimated need for approximately 600 additional foreign-language teachers statewide and potential conflicts with CTE pathways and other coursework. Second, continued concerns about inequities in Tier 2 pension provisions and the resulting recruitment and retention challenges; the district noted more than 20 legislative hearings without a clear solution. Third, the district queried how the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) model can address shortfalls in transportation and special-education reimbursements given said growth in special-education needs and historically low state reimbursement levels.
Those questions were presented as requests for ISBE's response and support; the transcript records the content of the questions but does not include ISBE's responses in the provided segments.
