SJ0056 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0056 LRB095 12222 NHT 36584 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Hundreds of Illinois schools in rural, suburban, and urban areas are designated for federal and State improvement status to improve low student achievement levels; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is committed to closing the gap in learning achievement levels between low-income and middle-income or upper-income children and youth; and

WHEREAS, Research indicates that successful low-income schools where student achievement rates exceed State averages are led by an outstanding school principal; and

WHEREAS, An essential route to improving student learning in any low-achieving school is through the intervention of a school principal with the motivation, commitment, current knowledge, skills, and disposition to attract, retain, and mobilize teachers to improve the quality of instruction and learning throughout the school; and

WHEREAS, It is a goal of the State of Illinois that all schools have leadership that improves teaching and learning and increases the academic achievement and development of all students; and

WHEREAS, In August 2006 the report, "School Leader Preparation: Blueprint for Change", commissioned by the Board of Higher Education, analyzed the mismatch between leadership credentialing and the needs of Illinois schools and recommended a total of 25 specific actions to be undertaken by the Board of Higher Education, the State Board of Education, the General Assembly, the Governor's office, college and university presidents, and school districts to improve school leadership in this State; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that the State Board of Education, the Board of Higher Education, and the Office of the Governor shall jointly appoint a task force to recommend a sequence of strategic steps, based on, but not limited to, the measures detailed in "Blueprint for Change", to implement improvements in school leadership preparation in this State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the task force shall include representatives from a statewide organization representing principals, an association representing Chicago public school principals, a statewide organization representing education leadership faculty, a statewide organization representing private college and university education deans, a statewide organization representing public university education deans, statewide organizations representing teachers, a statewide organization representing superintendents, a statewide organization representing school board members, the State Board of Education, the Board of Higher Education, and other appropriate stakeholders; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor shall appoint a chairperson in consultation with the State Board of Education and the Board of Higher Education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the chairperson and the task force shall designate staff from the appropriate State agencies or educational organizations with expertise in school leadership preparation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this task force shall file a report of its findings with the General Assembly, the Office of the Governor, the State Board of Education, and the Board of Higher Education on or before February 1, 2008; and be it further

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