Gov. Blagojevich applauds Illinois State Board of Education for taking initial steps to reduce rules and regulations imposed on local school districts

"I'm pleased the Illinois State Board of Education is beginning the process of reducing the administrative burdens on local schools, and I look forward to the process producing real results," said Gov. Blagojevich.

At today's meeting in Springfield, State Board staff members outlined a plan to reduce the number of unnecessary rules and paperwork school districts contend with. The plan includes seeking input from educators, the public, advisory groups and committees focused on specific areas like student transportation, health and life safety and bilingual education. Staff members at the State Board have already started identifying rules related to inactive programs, which represent 20 percent of rules on the books.

Gov. Blagojevich made reducing rules and mandates burdening local school districts one of the top priorities for the new State Board of Education and Interim Superintendent Dunn. The State Board expects to begin adopting rules changes in as few as three months.