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Therapeutic & Alternative Boarding Schools In Illinois

An alternative or therapeutic boarding school can be an effective solution for a troubled teen. However, the process of selecting the right one can be a difficult and stressful process. At Help Your Teen Now, we aim to make that process a little easier, by offering trustworthy and comprehensive resources in one place, as well as providing a team of parent advocates, free of charge. We have helped hundreds of families just like yours and we will be just as dedicated to assisting you. Make the choice today to get your family back on track and help your hurting child. Call us now.

Illinois Regulatory Laws

Accreditation is optional for private schools in Illinois, but those that do apply for accreditation through a state approved accrediting agency may be recognized as by the state. Policy and
Guidelines for Registration and Recognition of Nonpublic Elementary and Secondary Schools, February 2004. Registration is optional for private schools, however, they may register through the State Board of Education. 105 ILCS 5/2-3.25o(e). Nonpublic schools may also apply for recognition from the State Board of Education after one year of being registered and after adhering to guidelines regarding the administration, organization, instructional programs, school facilities, food services and personnel. Policy and Guidelines for Registration and Recognition of Nonpublic Elementary and Secondary Schools, February 2004.

Teacher certification is required at the discretion of the individual school governance, however, the Illinois State Board of Education encourages all instructors to have at least a baccalaureate degree in the subject they are teaching. At the very least, a teacher should have a time line how how and when they plan to achieve that degree. 105 ILCS 5/24-1.1 Children at nonpublic schools should be taught under a curriculum that matches the branches of education taught to students in public schools. 105 ILCS 5/26-1. Recognized non-public schools must have the same graduation requirements as public schools in Illinois.

Children attending nonpublic schools are required to have a health exam including a tuberculosis test and proof of immunization. If the student is exempt, due to religious or medical grounds, that information needs to be provided. 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1; 410 ILCS 235/6. Nonpublic schools must conduct regular safety drills for fire, bus evacuation, severe weather/shelter as well as law enforcement drills for bomb threats or shooters.

Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf

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Step 1 of 3 - Your Contact Info

Illinois Regulatory Laws

Accreditation is optional for private schools in Illinois, but those that do apply for accreditation through a state approved accrediting agency may be recognized as by the state. Policy and
Guidelines for Registration and Recognition of Nonpublic Elementary and Secondary Schools, February 2004. Registration is optional for private schools, however, they may register through the State Board of Education. 105 ILCS 5/2-3.25o(e). Nonpublic schools may also apply for recognition from the State Board of Education after one year of being registered and after adhering to guidelines regarding the administration, organization, instructional programs, school facilities, food services and personnel. Policy and Guidelines for Registration and Recognition of Nonpublic Elementary and Secondary Schools, February 2004.

Teacher certification is required at the discretion of the individual school governance, however, the Illinois State Board of Education encourages all instructors to have at least a baccalaureate degree in the subject they are teaching. At the very least, a teacher should have a time line how how and when they plan to achieve that degree. 105 ILCS 5/24-1.1 Children at nonpublic schools should be taught under a curriculum that matches the branches of education taught to students in public schools. 105 ILCS 5/26-1. Recognized non-public schools must have the same graduation requirements as public schools in Illinois.

Children attending nonpublic schools are required to have a health exam including a tuberculosis test and proof of immunization. If the student is exempt, due to religious or medical grounds, that information needs to be provided. 105 ILCS 5/27-8.1; 410 ILCS 235/6. Nonpublic schools must conduct regular safety drills for fire, bus evacuation, severe weather/shelter as well as law enforcement drills for bomb threats or shooters.

Reference: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf

Statistics for At-Risk Illinois Teens

ADD/ADHD

  • 8.4%

8.4 percent of children in Illinois, aged 3–17 years have been diagnosed with ADHD. (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2016–2019).

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9489617/

TEEN PREGNANCY 

  • 13.6%

The teen pregnancy rate for adolescents aged 15 to 19 in Illinois is 13.6 per 1,000 females in this age group, according to the World Population Review.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/teen-pregnancy-rates-by-state

TEEN SUICIDE

  • 9.4%

Illinois ranks 11th with a suicide rate of 9.4 deaths per 100,000 adolescents aged 15 to 19, according to data from the CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death Files (2020–2022).

https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/measures/teen_suicide/IL

DRUG USE

  • 8.69%

In 2020, approximately 788,000 teenagers aged 12 to 17 nationwide met the criteria for Illicit Drug Use Disorder (IDUD). In Illinois, about 8.69% of adolescents in this age group reported using illicit drugs, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.

https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/#illinois

ALCOHOL USE

  • 8.90%

Approximately 8.90% of teens in Illinois suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2020).

https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/#illinois

TEEN VAPING

  • 19.9%

Illinois ranks 36th among all states, with 19.9% of high school teens reported to have used vapes. (Drug Watch, 2024).

https://www.drugwatch.com/e-cigarettes/vape-stat-by-state/

TEEN PORNOGRAPHY

  • 57%

The porn industry experienced a 12.6% annual revenue increase from 2018 to 2023. Adolescent exposure to pornography has steadily risen, with the age of first exposure becoming increasingly younger. 57% of young adults ages 18-25 use porn monthly or more often.

https://www.addictionhelp.com/porn/statistics/

TEEN BULLYING

  • 46%

According to Pew Research Center, 46% of U.S. teens aged 13 to 17 have experienced at least one of six types of cyberbullying behaviors. (Pew Research Center, 2022).

https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/12/15/teens-and-cyberbullying-2022/

 

Summary

We Can Help!

Knowing what information to trust can be difficult, and verifying it can be time consuming. This is why we have gathered all the information you need at your fingertips. We are not affiliated in any way with the groups and organizations we recommend, so you can be sure that our advice is non-biased. Additionally, we don’t endorse anyone until we have verified that they have a history of success in treating teens. Call today to take our free assessment for your teen, and we can get you started in the direction that is specific to your concerns. Our expert team is standing by to be your advocate through this difficult process.