HR0491 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0491 LRB095 12359 NHT 37208 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Governor and many other education and business-related groups have called for the creation of a permanent State P-20 Council to help produce a seamless education system that no longer treats kindergarten through grade 12 and higher education as two separate and competing forces; and

WHEREAS, House Bill 1648 of the 95th General Assembly creates a State P-20 Council, consisting of business and community leaders, representatives of kindergarten through grade 12 education, and representatives of community college and higher education institutions, to articulate a framework for systemic educational improvement and to prepare students throughout their entire academic career for success in the workforce and the community; and

WHEREAS, The legislation calls upon the Council to specifically coordinate pre-kindergarten through grade 20 education; leverage strategies, actions, legislation, and resources of all stakeholders to support fundamental and lasting improvement in Illinois' public schools, community colleges, and universities; discuss issues that are vital to educational reform in Illinois; provide recommendations on subjects related to education to the State Board of Education, the Governor, and the General Assembly; develop consensus on educational policy reforms and innovations; and help align university teaching programs with the needs of Illinois schools; and

WHEREAS, Numerous education advocacy groups have proposed plans to enhance school accountability as a part of education reform, including the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, the Civic Federation, A+ Illinois, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, and the Saturday Morning Dialogue Group; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that upon establishment of the P-20 Council, the Council shall, in addition to its stated duties and responsibilities under House Bill 1648 of the 95th General Assembly, take up all proposed plans and legislation related to school accountability and make recommendations relating to accountability issues; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education.