According to the United States, Flag Code and the State of Illinois Flag Display Act, only the President of the United States and the Governor of the State of Illinois have the authority to direct the lowering of the United States flag and Illinois flag. The Illinois Flag Display Act was amended in 2007 to require that the flag be lowered to mark the death in combat of any soldier from Illinois, and also applies to line-of-duty deaths of police officers and firefighters. The state’s law specifically applies to state and local government facilities in Illinois, including schools. Each District 211 school has a school flag that can be displayed at half-staff when appropriate for a special school situation.

Illinois Flag Display Act
United States Flag Code