HR0404 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


  

 


 
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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Implementation of the Partnership for Assessment
3of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessment has
4been an object of contention for students, parents, teachers,
5and school districts in this State, as well as in other states;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, In 2010, 23 states were slated to participate in
8PARCC, and now there are only 12 states participating; and
 
9    WHEREAS, To date, a comprehensive fiscal impact to this
10State and school districts regarding technology and
11infrastructure needs to fully implement the PARCC assessment
12has yet to be determined; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The State Board of Education submitted a capital
14request of $450 million last year and $126 million this year
15for technology infrastructure, which is a cost directly
16associated with the PARCC assessment; and
 
17    WHEREAS, New learning standards were adopted through the
18Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Approval of any new standards and assessments,
20particularly those with tremendous financial and educational

 

 

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1repercussions, should come before the entire General Assembly;
2and
 
3    WHEREAS, State law requires that school districts use an
4assessment that gauges career and college readiness; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Unlike the previous State assessment, the PARCC
6assessment is not inclusive of the ACT, which is a common and
7accepted measurement of college readiness for admissions
8purposes in institution of higher education across the country;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes that not
11complying with federal testing requirements could jeopardize
12close to $1.1 billion in federal funds for K through 12
13education, which is unacceptable; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The State Board of Education entered into a
15contract for the PARCC assessment, which is set to expire on
16June 30, 2018; and
 
17    WHEREAS, State and federal law allows for other assessment
18options outside of the PARCC assessment; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
20NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we

 

 

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1urge the Governor, in conjunction with the State Board of
2Education, to reevaluate its contract with PARCC in the hopes
3of making new recommendations on how this State can comply with
4State and federal law, while maintaining a rigorous and
5comprehensive assessment that accurately evaluates student
6academic needs and growth; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That we urge the State Board of Education to
8better communicate changes of this size, scope, and cost,
9particularly those pertaining to learning standards and
10assessments, to the General Assembly and the public before
11entering into the rulemaking process; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
13delivered the Governor and the State Board of Education.