Prairie State Wire

Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Purchased Care Review Board met Feb. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Chairman Luke Corry called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present.

PRESENT

Luke Corry, Chairman, Illinois State Board of Education, Finance Center

Marc Staley, Vice Chairman, Governor’s Office of Management and Budget

Justin Carlin, Department of Children and Family Services Office of Planning and Budget

Chris Dirks, Department of Healthcare and Family Services Bureau of Health Finance

Rahnee Patrick, Secretary, Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation (1:03)

Camille Hicks, Department of Public Health Office of Policy, Planning, and Statistics

Kristin Patton, Chaddock School District (non-voting member)

REMOTE

None.

ABSENT

Vacant, Department of Human Services Division of Developmental Disabilities

STAFF

Andrew Krupin, Seth Whitworth, Beatriz Martinez Escobedo, Christine McClintock, and Patricia Peyton, Illinois State Board of Education

MINUTES

Chairman Corry asked for a motion to approve the minutes and attachments from the Jan. 14, 2025 meeting. Mr. Dirks made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Ms. Hicks seconded the motion. The motion passed on a unanimous vote, and the minutes and attachments were approved.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Several participants spoke in regard to concerns pertaining to Public Act 103-0644.

Sal Rappaport of Connections Day School said he feared that the IPCRB had not had enough time to review the proposed rules and regulations. Article 321 6B 900 states that revenue not associated with a specific child should be offset and should be added to the rule. Also, Mr. Rappaport said that making the rate calculation between public and private schools equitable could result in schools closing, longer bus rides, litigation from parents, and harm to low-income students.

Dr. Diana Kahn of Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School in Chicago shared concerns that driving down the proration rates will economically challenge school districts. She said the proposed rules utilize rate calculations without consistent cost containment and oversight.

Jennifer Stiemsma of Allendale said she is worried about the proration rates dropping down.

Sally Sover of the Illinois Association of Private Special Education Centers said she was concerned about the proration drop, saying the proposed rule does not provide uniform standards and criteria for both public and nonpublic schools. She said there was no determination on who would be conducting the cost calculations and rate-setting for the public programs. Where is the data on the modeling of the cost calculation and rate-setting? What will the enrollment numbers be? How is the intention reflected in the updated proposed rulemaking or draft template?

Deanna Tyrpak of Soaring Eagle Academy expressed concerns with the lack of parallel to the cost calculation and rate-setting and the drop with the proration rate will potentially put current and former student placement at risk.

Chad Rollins of William M. BeDell Achievement and Resource Center said that PA 103-6044 does not follow the same rate-settings and cost calculations for public and nonpublic schools and would like to see the board take the time to research the intent of this bill.

Greg Cox of CNG Consulting representing Hope School commented that there is no definition of what a separate public day school is. Title 23 Part 401 specifies that private schools have sections for approval of programs and placement and operational requirements that don’t exist in the current rate-setting.

D.D. Fischer of Fischer Consulting said determining allowable costs using an indirect cost rate for public schools will eliminate reasonable cost provisions as it replaces the occupancy and administration costs. Cost ceilings will be determined separately for providers and public schools. Additionally, the board will not be calculating public school rates for two years to compare and contrast the two methods.

Alexander Dreyfus of Hodge-Louis said that as it currently stands a public program does not need to submit its tuition rate to the board.

CLOSED SESSION

None.

SCHOOLS

Ms. McClintock presented an appeal from St. Coletta of Illinois based on IPCRB Rules §900.342(a)(5) and §900.344. After discussion and comments, Mr. Staley made a motion to approve the appeal. Mr. Dirks seconded the motion on the condition that additional information be provided, and it passed in a unanimous vote.

Ms. Martinez Escobedo and Ms. McClintock presented rates for the 2024-25 school year. Please refer to the Minutes Attachments for all rates presented, their amounts, and the actions taken.

There were several requests for extensions of the filing deadline for fiscal year 2024 and one extension request for FY 2023. After discussion, the requests were considered. Ms. Patrick moved to approve the FY 2024 extension requests; Mr. Dirks seconded the motion. The motion passed, and FY 2024 extension requests were approved for PACTT Learning Center, KVC Missouri, School of Expressive Arts & Learning Inc., Alexander Leigh Center for Autism, SEAL South Inc., Summit School Inc., the Achievement Centers Inc., Guiding Light Academy, Parkland Preparatory Academy Inc., Parkland Preparatory South Inc., Soaring Eagle Academy, CSES Schools LLCC, Special Education Services, Giant Steps Illinois Inc., Turning Pointe CN Day School, Hopewell School, and Hopewell Career Academy. The FY 2023 extension request for the Adolescent Adjustment Center was approved as well.

OLD BUSINESS

Mr. Krupin spoke on the revisions to the Part 900 draft template and fielded inquiries from the board regarding the revisions. Mr. Staley motioned to approve the draft Part 900 rules and have them go forward to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). Mr. Carlin seconded the motion. The motion passed in a unanimous vote.

NEW BUSINESS

None.

ADJOURNMENT

Chairman Corry asked if there was any additional business for the board’s consideration. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Carlin made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Mr. Staley seconded the motion. The motion passed in a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 3:04 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board will be at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in the Boardroom on the fourth floor of the Illinois State Board of Education.

https://www.isbe.net/Documents_IPCRB/20250204-Minutes.pdf