The McHenry County Regional Office of Education acts as an advocate for education by providing positive leadership, performing regulatory functions directed by the Illinois School Code and the Illinois State Board of Education, coordinating and delivering state and local services, and disseminating information for educators, school districts, and the community.

Legislative Development of the Office

The Regional Superintendent of Schools is the direct successor to the Commissioner of School Lands, an office that originally had nothing to do with the supervision of schools. A short overview of the development of the office follows:

• 1828: The Sixth General Assembly made it the duty of the body known as the County Board to appoint a competent and responsible person to act as commissioner and agent for the county, in the sale of public lands.
• 1841: The legislature changed the title and duties of the County Commissioner to County Commissioner and Ex-Officio County Superintendent of Schools.
• 1865: The legislature called for election rather than appointment of the County Superintendent of Schools. The Secretary of State acted as State Superintendent of Schools.
• Until 1973: there were 102 elected County Superintendents in Illinois, one for each county.
• 1973: Consolidation mandated by legislation to create 78 regions among 102 counties.
• 1977: Further consolidation by legislative mandate created 57 regions among 102 counties.
• 1994: Legislation passed that eliminated the office of Regional Superintendent in Cook County as of June 30, 1994. Subsequent law allowed for re-establishment of a suburban Cook County region as of August 7, 1995.
• 1995: The 57 Educational Service Regions were reduced to 45 and the services of the 14 Educational Service Centers are assumed by the largest Regional Offices of Education. McHenry County forms KIDS Consortium with Boone/Winnebago and DeKalb Counties.

County and Regional Superintendent of Schools, McHenry County