SR0131 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0131 LRB104 11992 ECR 22087 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Our nation's long-standing and ongoing audacious experiment in self-governance requires a populace with an understanding of the nation's laws and government, the skills for discussion and working together across difference, and a widespread commitment to the civic strength of our communities; and

WHEREAS, Civic education is vital to sustaining and strengthening constitutional democracy in the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, The practice of democracy must be taught and learned anew by each generation; and

WHEREAS, Schools play a central role in building the civic strength of our populace and nation; and

WHEREAS, Civic Learning Week seeks to unite our community and highlight the importance of civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions that provide the foundation for an informed and engaged populace; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly has strengthened K-12 civic education in the State over the past decade by requiring civics courses in middle school and high school, and the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition has grown the Illinois Democracy Schools network to more than 90 high schools statewide, each of them deeply committed to students' civic development, and supports teachers, schools, and districts throughout the State with civics course and standards implementation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare the week of March 9 through March 17, 2025 as Civic Learning Week in the State of Illinois.