ISBE forms are no longer housed on a single library page. The Illinois State Board of Education now hosts its forms on topic-specific pages across isbe.net, with student health documents on the Illinois Department of Public Health site, educator licensure applications inside the ELIS portal, and grant paperwork inside IWAS. Where you go depends on what you need.
Where Each Type of Form Lives
The old centralized page at isbe.net/pages/isbe-forms.aspx is archived. In its place:
- Student health examination and immunization forms are on the Illinois Department of Public Health website.
- IEP templates and required special education notice-and-consent forms are on the ISBE Special Education pages.
- Educator licensure applications, registrations, and renewals are inside the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS).
- Grant and funding applications go through IWAS, the Illinois Web Application Security portal, at apps.isbe.net/iwas.
If you cannot tell which page a form belongs on, the ISBE contact page lists the Springfield office at (217) 782-4321 and the Chicago office at (312) 814-2220.1Illinois State Board of Education. Contact ISBE
Student Health and Immunization Forms
Illinois requires a health examination before a child first enters school and again before kindergarten or first grade, sixth grade, and ninth grade. The exam must happen within one year of the entry date.2Illinois State Board of Education. IDPH School Health Program and Child Health Exam Update Results go on the Certificate of Child Health Examination, a form jointly prescribed by IDPH and ISBE and downloadable from the IDPH site.3Illinois Department of Public Health. Certificate of Child Health Examination
Parents fill in the health history section. A licensed physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant completes and signs the physical examination section and records the lead risk assessment, diabetes screening, and immunization dates. For students in interscholastic sports, the provider also marks whether the child is cleared for physical education and athletics. The completed form goes to the child’s school before the district’s enrollment deadline.3Illinois Department of Public Health. Certificate of Child Health Examination
Two additional forms come up often. An eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist is required for any child enrolling in an Illinois school for the first time, with proof due at the school no later than October 15 of that school year. A waiver form is available if the exam cannot be obtained in time.4Illinois Department of Public Health. Eye Examination Report A dental examination is required at certain grade levels and reported on a separate IDPH form.
Full immunization requirements for the current school year, including grade-specific dose schedules, are published by IDPH.5Illinois State Board of Education. 2025-2026 Immunization Requirements for School Attendance A four-day grace period applies for doses given slightly before the minimum age or interval. If any vaccine is medically contraindicated, the provider must attach a written explanation.3Illinois Department of Public Health. Certificate of Child Health Examination
Religious Exemptions
Parents who object on religious grounds to immunizations or health examinations file a Certificate of Religious Exemption. You need a separate form for each child. The parent completes the sections identifying the student, the school, and the specific vaccines or exams being refused, and adds a written statement of the religious beliefs behind the objection. Both the parent and the child’s health care provider sign it. Submit the form to the school by October 15 or the district’s earlier enrollment date. The school then decides whether the statement is a valid religious objection, and during an outbreak the school can exclude unvaccinated students under IDPH communicable disease rules.6Illinois Department of Public Health. Certificate of Religious Exemption Form
Residency and Enrollment Paperwork
Districts must verify that a child lives within the district, but Illinois law bars them from insisting on any single document. Acceptable proof can be a lease, utility bill, mortgage statement, driver’s license, property tax statement, pay stub, vehicle registration, insurance policy, or bank statement, among others. The list a district accepts must be broad enough for any resident to qualify.7Illinois State Board of Education. Non-Regulatory Guidance on Registration – Residency and Enrollment
When none of the standard documents fit, such as a family sharing a home with relatives, ISBE encourages use of the Affidavit of Enrollment and Residency (ISBE Form 85-51), available in English and Spanish. For children placed by a court or under short-term guardianship, court or state agency documentation establishes the enrolling adult’s relationship.7Illinois State Board of Education. Non-Regulatory Guidance on Registration – Residency and Enrollment Students experiencing homelessness are covered by the federal McKinney-Vento Act, and schools must enroll them immediately even if health records, immunization records, or residency proof are not yet available.
Special Education Forms
ISBE publishes recommended IEP templates (the 34-54 series) and the required notice-and-consent forms on its special education pages.8Illinois State Board of Education. IEP Forms These forms carry out 23 Illinois Administrative Code Part 226, the state’s implementation of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The paperwork trail starts with a referral for evaluation. Once a parent gives written consent, the district has 60 school days to complete the evaluation and hold an IEP meeting on eligibility. The IEP team (parents, teachers, a school administrator, and the student when appropriate) reviews testing data, academic performance, and teacher input to decide whether the child has a disability that requires specialized instruction.9Illinois State Board of Education. Instructions for Individualized Education Program Forms
If the child qualifies, the team develops an IEP that documents specific goals, accommodations, and the type, frequency, and duration of services such as speech therapy or occupational therapy. The district provides a copy to the parent and keeps a copy on file. Educators update the IEP at least annually and conduct a full reevaluation at least every three years.9Illinois State Board of Education. Instructions for Individualized Education Program Forms
Educator Licensure and Renewal in ELIS
Illinois educators apply for, renew, and manage credentials through the Educator Licensure Information System.10Illinois State Board of Education. Educator Licensure Information System The application has three steps: review the requirements for the credential type you need, create an ELIS account, and submit the application with the $50 fee, which is assessed electronically at submission.11Illinois State Board of Education. Educator Licensure Application
Once you hold a license, register it in each region where you work. Registration is $10 per year for most license types, $5 per year for an Educator License with Stipulations endorsed as Paraprofessional, and free for short-term substitute licenses. You pay the full validity period at registration rather than year by year.12Illinois State Board of Education. Licensure Registration
Your Illinois Educator Identification Number (IEIN) is the identifier you use throughout. You need it to log into ELIS, and employers or universities use it to verify your credentials.13Illinois State Board of Education. Professional Educator License
Renewal Requirements
Professional Educator Licenses renew every five years. Teachers and school support personnel must complete 120 hours of professional development per renewal cycle, regardless of how many degrees they hold. Acceptable activities include coursework from a regionally accredited Illinois college or university, sessions from an approved Illinois professional development provider, and National Board Certification. One semester hour of college coursework equals 15 professional development hours. Out-of-state coursework does not count unless it has been approved by an Illinois provider.14Illinois State Board of Education. Renewal and Professional Development for Educators
Educators who hold a valid National Board Certificate get a 60-hour reduction, bringing the requirement to 60 hours. To claim it, add your certification information as a professional development activity in your ELIS account. To renew, log into ELIS beginning April 1 of the year your license expires, confirm every professional development hour is recorded on the Professional Development tab, and verify your employment status is current.15Illinois State Board of Education. Renewal
Nutrition and Grant Forms
Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, or other federal nutrition programs use ISBE forms to report eligibility data and claim reimbursements. Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals follows the USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines, which run July 1 through June 30 each year.16Food and Nutrition Service. Income Eligibility Guidelines Districts distribute the meal application forms to families and process results against the current year’s thresholds.
Grant applications and other financial reporting go through IWAS. Budget codes and historical spending data are typically required fields, because the state uses them to evaluate funding requests and track how previous allocations were spent. For form-specific questions, the district business office or the ISBE Nutrition and Wellness division can help.
How to Submit Completed Forms
Submission depends on the form:
- Educator licensure applications and renewals go through ELIS. Check every field on the final screen before confirming, and save the confirmation the system generates. Official transcripts can be emailed to transcripts@isbe.net or mailed to Illinois State Board of Education, Educator Effectiveness – E240, 100 N. 1st Street, Springfield, IL 62777.11Illinois State Board of Education. Educator Licensure Application
- Grant and funding applications go through IWAS at apps.isbe.net/iwas.
- Student health, immunization, eye, and dental forms go directly to the child’s school, which maintains the records.
- Special education forms stay within the district. Parents receive copies; the district keeps originals on file.
Physical documents for ISBE itself go to the Springfield headquarters at 100 N. 1st Street, Springfield, IL 62777. Licensure and transcript submissions are directed to Springfield rather than the Chicago office.1Illinois State Board of Education. Contact ISBE Processing times for mailed documents range from several weeks to a few months depending on the season. If a submission is incomplete, ISBE sends a notification identifying what needs correction, and responding quickly keeps the application moving.