Some of the responsibilities of the Regional Office
of Education (R.O.E.) include assisting local districts and cooperatives in
operating according to state and federal law, certifying and claiming over $25
million of state and federal funds obtained through 40 different programs,
filing all audit and financial reports, registering approximately 3,200 teaching
certificates yearly and assisting the state office in all evaluations and
procedures which must be completed by districts to obtain recognition status.
Legislation has created the R.O.E. Oversight Board
consisting of 13 members. Among their duties are to advise the Regional
Superintendent on the educational needs of the region, review and approve the
fiscal, planning and other activities of R.O.E., approve the budget and
expenditures of the Institute Fund, and conduct annual needs assessment in the
region.
This office also helps the local district improve
instruction through the development of teacher workshops, provides a placement
service for full-time and substitute teachers and assists in the operation of
vocational, special education and other cooperatives to which local school
districts belong.
The R.O.E. has a Truancy Alternative Program which
reports on all truants and actively participates with the Juvenile Services
Division of the Circuit Court in attempting to resolve truancy and other related
problems experienced by school age youth.
Other related activities are the training of all bus
drivers, the administration of a High School Equivalency Testing (GED) Program
and serving as president, recording secretary or member for many boards and
committees which have educational missions.
The Regional Superintendent serves as ex-officio
secretary of the DeKalb County Regional Board of School Trustees. This board
hears requests for transfers of territory from one school district to another
and hears petitions from school districts on matters of consolidation,
annexation, detachment and dissolution.