HB 5097 Illinois House · 104th Regular Session

SCH CD-CHARTER SCH-ADMIN FEES

Summary
Amends the Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Allows the State Board of Education to withhold from each charter school it authorizes up to an additional 3% of the revenue provided to the school as an administrative fee for the purpose of conducting administrative duties related to the administration of the charter school contract, oversight, or authorizing services. Provides that for a charter school authorized by a school board, any amount of agreed funding withheld by the school board as an administrative fee for the purpose of conducting administrative duties related to the administration of the charter school contract, oversight, or authorizing services may not exceed 3% of agreed funding and the amount withheld may not result in the charter school receiving less than the required minimum funding level. Sets forth allowable uses for the administrative fee. Provides that any portion of the administrative fee that is not expended on allowable uses during the fiscal year shall be returned to the charter school. Requires the school board to provide an annual public accounting to the charter school and to the State Board detailing the amount collected as an administrative fee, the allowable uses funded from the fee, and the amount returned from any unexpended fee funds.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2026 Last action Apr 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 7 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to remove the section abolishing the State Charter School Commission and transferring its duties to the State Board, while simultaneously updating the local financing section to clarify how administrative fees are calculated and used. This shift moves the focus from a statewide commission structure to local school board oversight, ensuring that local boards can charge up to a 3% administrative fee for oversight duties without reducing the school's funding below the required minimum level.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed by removing the provision that abolished the State Charter School Commission and transferring its authority to the State Board, effectively eliminating that specific transition timeline and agency restructuring.
TIMELINE

Removed the text abolishing the State Charter School Commission and transferring its powers to the State Board on July 1, 2020.

FISCAL

Revised the administrative fee section to specify that for locally authorized schools, the 3% fee cap applies to 'agreed funding' and explicitly states the withheld amount cannot drop the school's funding below the required minimum level.

REQUIREMENT

Updated allowable uses for the administrative fee to include specific local oversight tasks like site visits and compliance reviews, while prohibiting use for general district operations.

Added a requirement for local school boards to provide an annual public accounting to both the charter school and the State Board detailing fee collections, allowable uses, and any returned unexpended funds.

Included provisions clarifying that all services (rent, transportation, etc.) must be negotiated between the school and the local board and paid from negotiated revenues.

Added a clause stating that funding agreements should not act as financial incentives or disincentives for establishing charter schools.

DEFINITION

Added language defining how pupil enrollment affects the calculation of per capita funding for charter schools.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
3
Committee
6
Amendments
2
Apr 17, 2026
Committee
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 009-000-000
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; by Voice Vote
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Committee
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
lower
Mar 20, 2026
Introduced
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Committee
Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
lower
Feb 10, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules Committee
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors