EAST ST. LOUIS, IL (KMOX)  The Illinois Board of Education is taking over East St. Louis’ public schools because it does not believe the district’s students are being properly educated.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports the board will send a consultant to run the district. The East St. Louis district spends eight-point-seven-percent of its budget on administration.

That’s more than double the statewide average. The district also has been on a watch list of under-performing schools for four years.

State law requires the board to step in after four years,  though a state audit released today indicates that seldom happens.

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