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1
SENATE 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 SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
3CONCURRING HEREIN, that a Task Force on Charter School Funding
4be created to examine charter school funding issues, including
5the 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, upon
25    recommendation of an organization representing downstate
26    and suburban school boards;

 

 

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1        (13) a principal of a currently operating,
2    high-performing, charter school in this State, appointed
3    by the State Superintendent of Education;
4        (14) one member appointed by the Governor who is a
5    parent of a charter school student, upon recommendation of
6    a charter school;
7        (15) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
8    recommendation of the largest charter school in this State;
9        (16) one member appointed by the Governor who is a
10    representative of a community organization that operates
11    charter schools, upon recommendation of that community
12    organization;
13        (17) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
14    recommendation of an organization representing the
15    business community in this State;
16        (18) one member appointed by the Governor, upon
17    recommendation of an education advocacy group that
18    organizes parents and supports high-quality, public school
19    options, including high-quality, public charter schools;
20    and
21        (19) one member appointed by the Governor representing
22    each Commission-approved charter school in this State,
23    upon recommendation of the leadership of the
24    Commission-approved charter schools; and be it further
 
25    RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall elect a

 

 

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1chairperson from among their membership and that the State
2Charter School Commission shall provide administrative
3support; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall be
5appointed within 30 days after the adoption of this resolution
6and shall begin meeting no later than 30 days after the
7appointments are finalized; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall issue a report making
9recommendations on any changes to State laws with regard to
10charter school funding on or before January 15, 2014 and that
11the task force shall be dissolved upon issuance of this report;
12and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
14delivered to the Governor, the State Superintendent of
15Education, the State Charter School Commission, and the Chief
16Executive Officer of City of Chicago School District 299.