State of Illinois
91st General Assembly
Legislation

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91_HB4244

 
                                               LRB9111657LDpk

 1        AN  ACT  to  amend  the  School  Code by changing Section
 2    27A-2.

 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:

 5        Section  5.   The  School  Code  is  amended  by changing
 6    Section 27A-2 as follows:

 7        (105 ILCS 5/27A-2)
 8        Sec. 27A-2. Legislative declaration.
 9        (a)  The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
10             (1)  Encouraging educational excellence  is  in  the
11        best interests of the people of Illinois this State.
12             (2)  There  are  educators,  community  members, and
13        parents in Illinois who can offer flexible and innovative
14        educational techniques and  programs,  but  who  lack  an
15        avenue  through  which  to provide them within the public
16        school system.
17             (3)  The  enactment   of   legislation   authorizing
18        charter  schools  to operate in Illinois will promote new
19        options within the public school system and will  provide
20        pupils,  educators,  community  members, and parents with
21        the stimulus to strive for educational excellence.
22        (b)  The General Assembly further finds and declares that
23    this Article is enacted for the following purposes:
24             (1)  To improve pupil learning by  creating  schools
25        with high, rigorous standards for pupil performance.
26             (2)  To  increase  learning  opportunities  for  all
27        pupils,   with  special  emphasis  on  expanded  learning
28        experiences for at-risk pupils, consistent, however, with
29        an equal commitment to  increase  learning  opportunities
30        for  all other groups of pupils in a manner that does not
31        discriminate on the basis  of  disability,  race,  creed,
 
                            -2-                LRB9111657LDpk
 1        color,   gender,  national  origin,  religion,  ancestry,
 2        marital status, or need for special education services.
 3             (3)  To encourage the use of teaching  methods  that
 4        may  be  different in some respects than others regularly
 5        used in the public school system.
 6             (4)  To allow the development of new, different,  or
 7        alternative   forms   of  measuring  pupil  learning  and
 8        achievement.
 9             (5)  To create new  professional  opportunities  for
10        teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for
11        the learning program at the school site.
12             (6)  To  provide  parents  and  pupils with expanded
13        choices within the public school system.
14             (7)  To encourage parental and community involvement
15        with public schools.
16             (8)  To hold charter schools accountable for meeting
17        rigorous school content standards and  to  provide  those
18        schools with the opportunity to improve accountability.
19        (c)  In  authorizing charter schools, it is the intent of
20    the General  Assembly  to  create  a  legitimate  avenue  for
21    parents,  teachers, and community members to take responsible
22    risks and create new, innovative, and more flexible  ways  of
23    educating  children  within  the  public  school system.  The
24    General Assembly seeks to  create  opportunities  within  the
25    public   school   system   of  Illinois  for  development  of
26    innovative  and  accountable  teaching  techniques.       The
27    provisions of this Article should be interpreted liberally to
28    support the findings and goals of this Section and to advance
29    a renewed commitment by the State of Illinois to the mission,
30    goals, and diversity of public education.
31    (Source: P.A. 89-450, eff. 4-10-96; 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)

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