SR0896 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0896 LRB101 16424 MST 65803 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The demands of the 21st century require a new approach to education to fully prepare our State's youth for college, career, and citizenship; a whole child approach to education addresses students' comprehensive needs through the shared responsibility of students, families, schools, and communities; the goal of such an approach is to ensure each child is challenged, supported, healthy, safe, and engaged; and

WHEREAS, The children of Illinois are our future and will provide the leadership, creativity, and productivity to sustain and strengthen the quality of life in our State; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has the responsibility to ensure that our children have every possible opportunity for a quality education and future success; and

WHEREAS, Each student in Illinois deserves to be challenged academically and prepared for college, meaningful employment in our global economy, and lifelong success; and

WHEREAS, Each student in Illinois deserves to be supported by qualified, caring adults and receive access to personalized learning; and

WHEREAS, Each student in Illinois deserves to learn about and practice a healthy lifestyle; and

WHEREAS, Each student in Illinois deserves to learn in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe; and

WHEREAS, Each student in Illinois deserves to be actively engaged in learning and connected to the school and broader community; and

WHEREAS, The consequences of not ensuring that our young people are challenged, supported, healthy, safe, and engaged are clear; and

WHEREAS, The current high school graduation rate is 86%; and

WHEREAS, SAT Math scores for 11th graders who achieve "meets or exceeds" are at only 35%; and

WHEREAS, SAT English/Language Arts scores for 11th graders who achieve "meets or exceeds" are at only 37%; and

WHEREAS, In science, only 49% of all students in all grades are testing at the proficient level; and

WHEREAS, Only 73% of high school seniors enroll in a college program within 12 months of graduation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare March 2020 as "Illinois Whole Child Month" to recognize the value of assuring that each student is challenged, supported, healthy, safe, and engaged; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge parents, educators, and community members to support a whole child approach to education for each student; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge every school in Illinois to celebrate Whole Child Month by adopting at least one of the whole child tenets to promote and encourage throughout the month; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development as a symbol of our respect and esteem.