Private Schools Now Put On Probation If Mask Mandate Not Followed

OSWEGO, IL — Amid lawsuits in the state, the Illinois School Board of Education changed its tune about losing state recognition Tuesday. Private schools that don't comply with the indoor mask mandate currently in place will now be put on a probation period to regain their recognition.

Instead of immediately losing recognition, which provides funding and allows students to participate in Illinois High School Association sports, private schools are now given 60 days to submit a corrective plan, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune.

If a school doesn't have state recognition, it also means graduating seniors' diplomas aren't accepted by the state.

If they don't comply within the set time frame, private schools will be labeled "noncompliant." The process changed to make it more equitable for all schools, West Central Illinois radio station WLDS 1180 reported.

This change from ISBE — which officials "quietly amended," the Tribune said — comes a few days after a Kendall County judge ruled that private schools are held to different standards when it comes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's mask mandate for schools.

Parkview Christian Academy, in Yorkville, was at the center of the controversy. The school lost its state recognition Aug. 24 after refusing to comply with the mandate, instead allowing parents and guardians to decide if their children should wear masks, Patch reported.

RELATED: Mask Mandate Enforcement Unfair To Private Schools, Judge Finds

The school requested an emergency order for temporary reinstatement while the issue moves through the court system. ISBE reinstated the school's recognition Sept. 29, files show.

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