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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Budgeting for Results Commission has stated
3goals of increasing postsecondary graduation among Illinoisans
4to 60% by 2025 and minimizing achievement gaps between
5different types of students; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In its legislative declaration, the Charter
7Schools Law states that the purpose for charter schools in this
8State is to improve pupil learning; increase learning
9opportunities for all children, with special emphasis on
10expanding options for at-risk pupils; encourage innovation,
11parental engagement, community involvement, and expanded
12public school options; create new professional opportunities
13for teachers; and hold charter schools accountable; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Charter schools serve 13% of Chicago's student
15population and a growing number of students in downstate and
16suburban communities; 91% of the students enrolled in charter
17schools across this State come from low-income families and 95%
18are minorities, making charter schools a key component to help
19close the achievement gaps that persist; and
 
20    WHEREAS, The 2 fundamental pillars of charter schools are
21autonomy and accountability, each of which must be enforced
22through high-quality authorizing; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
3SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that a Task Force on Charter School
4Funding be created to examine charter school funding issues,
5including the following:
6        (1) to compile a comparative analysis of charter school
7    funding practices across the United States;
8        (2) to examine the current funding provisions in the
9    Charter Schools Law for the purpose of ensuring funding
10    equity, specifically the provision allowing school
11    districts to provide charter schools funding in the range
12    of 75% to 125% of the district's per capita tuition charge;
13    and
14        (3) to review the effects of State-authorized charter
15    schools on the students served by the charter, the students
16    in the home school district, and the home school district's
17    budget; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the
19following members, who shall serve without compensation:
20        (1) one member appointed by the President of the
21    Senate;
22        (2) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
23    Senate;
24        (3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of

 

 

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1    Representatives;
2        (4) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
3    House of Representatives;
4        (5) the State Superintendent of Education or his or her
5    designee;
6        (6) the chairperson of the State Charter School
7    Commission or his or her designee;
8        (7) the chief executive officer of a school district in
9    a city having a population exceeding 500,000 or his or her
10    designee;
11        (8) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
12    recommendation of an organization representing teachers in
13    a school district in a city having a population exceeding
14    500,000;
15        (9) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
16    recommendation of the largest statewide organization
17    representing teachers;
18        (10) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
19    recommendation of the second-largest statewide
20    organization representing teachers;
21        (11) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
22    recommendation of a statewide organization representing
23    charter schools in this State;
24        (12) one member appointed by the Governor who is
25    familiar with virtual charter schools, upon recommendation
26    of an organization representing downstate and suburban

 

 

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1    school boards;
2        (13) a principal of a currently operating,
3    high-performing, charter school in this State, appointed
4    by the State Superintendent of Education;
5        (14) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
6    recommendation of a statewide education-policy
7    organization that supports education-policy priorities
8    designed to provide a world-class education to all Illinois
9    youth;
10        (15) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
11    recommendation of the largest charter school in this State;
12        (16) one member appointed by the Governor who is a
13    representative of a community organization that operates
14    charter schools, upon recommendation of that community
15    organization;
16        (17) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
17    recommendation of an organization representing the
18    business community in this State;
19        (18) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
20    recommendation of an education advocacy group that
21    organizes parents and supports high-quality, public school
22    options, including high-quality, public charter schools;
23        (19) one member appointed by the Governor representing
24    a currently operating, Commission-approved charter school
25    in this State, upon recommendation of the leadership of a
26    Commission-approved charter school;

 

 

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1        (20) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
2    recommendation of a statewide 501(c)3 organization that
3    supports school choice, with a focus on innovation in
4    education and next-generation learning models;
5        (21) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
6    recommendation of a school district outside the City of
7    Chicago that has a State-approved charter school;
8        (22) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
9    recommendation of a school district outside the City of
10    Chicago that has a locally approved charter school;
11        (23) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
12    recommendation of a union representing teachers in charter
13    schools; and
14        (24) one member appointed by the Governor who is a
15    nationally recognized expert on charter schools and
16    charter school funding issues; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall elect a
18chairperson from among their membership and that the State
19Charter School Commission shall provide administrative
20support; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall be
22appointed within 30 days after the adoption of this resolution
23and shall begin meeting no later than 30 days after the
24appointments are finalized; in the event that the appointments

 

 

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1by the Governor are not made within 30 days after the adoption
2of this resolution, the State Superintendent of Education shall
3make such appointments within 15 days after the appointment
4deadline; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall issue a report making
6recommendations on any changes to State laws with regard to
7charter school funding on or before January 15, 2014 and that
8the task force shall be dissolved upon issuance of this report;
9and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
11delivered to the Governor, the State Superintendent of
12Education, the State Charter School Commission, and the Chief
13Executive Officer of City of Chicago School District 299.