What is an ROE?

Regional Offices of Education are essential support offices partnering with the Illinois State Board of Education to support local school districts. The Regional Superintendent of Schools is the chief administrative officer of a Regional Office of Education, and the only elected education professional office in Illinois. 

As an intermediate agency between the Illinois State Board of Education and local school districts, the Regional Office of Education performs regulatory functions as directed by the Illinois School Code.

In addition to coordinating and delivering state and local services, the Regional Office of Education acts as an advocate for education by providing leadership and disseminating information for educators, school districts and the public. Specific duties of the Regional Office of Education are stated in the School Code and can be summarized in two major areas, service and assurance to the public.

Service components include the dissemination of information on education legislation, legal issues, cooperative management, research and administration. The Regional Office of Education also provides information to citizens about state and local programs that will help meet the needs of their children. Each service component requires specific skills placing the Regional Office as an intermediate agent that brings together people, concepts and resources to provide educational services.

Assurances to the public cover areas such as fiscal responsibilities, local school performances, life safety, certification, supervision and curriculum. In these areas legislation places enforcement responsibilities on the Regional Office of Education to guarantee that certain minimums are met and legal parameters followed.