Each State Education Agency (SEA) is responsible for ensuring the general supervision of all educational programs for children with disabilities in the state. In Illinois, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Special Education Services Department is responsible for enforcing the requirements of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and ensuring continuous improvement via Local Education Agencies (LEAs). In carrying out its roles, ISBE is required to oversee the performance of district school boards to assess and ensure the effectiveness of efforts to educate children with disabilities, in accordance with the IDEA and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ISBE’s general supervision system is characterized by multiple operational components that are interrelated, and function in such a manner to form a comprehensive system. The system is intended to improve educational results and functional outcomes for children with disabilities. It is also designed to identify noncompliance and ensure correction of identified noncompliance in a timely manner. The general supervision components discussed here relate to the State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR); data systems to gather data on processes and results; integrated monitoring activities; and strategies for improvement, correction, incentives, and sanctions.
