SB1787 EngrossedLRB103 25387 RJT 51733 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning education.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  


 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 
522-95 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/22-95 new)
7    Sec. 22-95. Rural Education Advisory Council.
8    (a) The Rural Education Advisory Council is created as a 
9statewide advisory council to exchange thoughtful dialogue 
10concerning the needs, challenges, and opportunities of rural 
11schools districts and to provide policy recommendations to the 
12State. The Council shall perform all of the following 
13functions:
14        (1) Convey and impart the perspective of rural 
15    communities and provide context during policy discussions 
16    on various statewide issues with the State Superintendent 
17    of Education and State Board of Education.
18        (2) Present to the State Superintendent of Education 
19    the opportunity to provide an explanation to rural 
20    communities about the statewide perspective with regard to 
21    various policy and legal issues, to present feedback on 
22    critical issues facing rural communities, to generate 
23    ideas, and to communicate information to the State 
 
 
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1    Superintendent.
2        (3) Provide feedback about this State's 
3    pre-kindergarten through grade 20 practices and policies 
4    in order that the application of policies in rural areas 
5    may be more fully understood.
6        (4) Analyze and monitor the continued impact of the 
7    implementation of Public Act 100-465 on school districts 
8    and to provide a rural perspective on the continued 
9    funding challenges faced by schools.
10    (b) The Council shall consist of all of the following 
11members:
12        (1) The State Superintendent of Education or his or 
13    her designee.
14        (2) The Executive Director of the Association of 
15    Illinois Rural and Small Schools or his or her designee 
16    appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
17        (3) The Executive Director of the Illinois Community 
18    College Board or his or her designee.
19        (4) Five superintendents  of rural school districts who 
20    represent 3 super-regions of this State recommended by the 
21    Executive Director of the Association of Illinois Rural 
22    and Small Schools and appointed by the State 
23    Superintendent of Education.
24        (5) One principal from a rural school district 
25    recommended by the Illinois Principal Association and 
26    appointed by the State Superintendent of Education. 
 
 
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1        (6) One representative from the Illinois Association 
2    of School Boards appointed by the State Superintendent of 
3    Education.
4        (7) One representative from the Board of Directors of 
5    the Illinois Association of School Administrators 
6    appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
7        (8) The President of the Illinois Association of 
8    Regional School Superintendents or his or her designee 
9    appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
10        (9) One student who is at least 16 years old and who is 
11    from a rural school district that is eligible under the 
12    federal Rural Education Achievement Program appointed by 
13    the State Superintendent of Education from a list of 
14    students nominated by school principals.
15    Council members shall serve without compensation, but 
16shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary 
17expenses from funds appropriated to the State Board of 
18Education for that purpose.
19    (c) The Council shall meet initially at the call of the 
20State Superintendent of Education, shall select one member as 
21chairperson at its initial meeting, and shall thereafter meet 
22at the call of the chairperson. 
23    (d) The State Board of Education shall provide 
24administrative and other support to the Council, with 
25assistance from the Association of Illinois Rural and Small 
26Schools. Support shall include all of the following: 
 
 
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1        (1) To collaborate with the State Superintendent of 
2    Education to create a clear and strategically focused 
3    agenda with expected outcomes.
4        (2) To gather input from the Council and other 
5    stakeholders to ensure that meetings are productive.
6        (3) To coordinate with presenters to ensure that 
7    presentations are designed to prompt discussions and 
8    problem solving.
9        (4) To assist with necessary research and content 
10    creation between Council meetings.
11        (5) To cooperate with other State agencies and the 
12    General Assembly to assist in keeping the Council informed 
13    of major policy developments that may impact rural schools 
14    and students. 
15        (6) To take meeting minutes and work with the Council 
16    to ensure that Open Meetings Act requirements are 
17    satisfied.