HR0244 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0244 LRB101 11802 MST 58599 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois School Code provides that each school board is required to annually prepare a calendar for each school term that specifies both the opening and closing dates of the term; and

WHEREAS, A school district's calendar must provide for a minimum of at least 185 days that generally includes five emergency days and four teacher institute days in order to ensure 176 days of actual pupil attendance; and

WHEREAS, While the School Code does not govern when a school term should begin or end, schools are increasingly starting their school year in mid-August; and

WHEREAS, Traditionally, especially prior to the mid-1990s, schools would begin their school term after Labor Day, according to a 2015 CNN article, "Back to school: Why August is the new September"; and

WHEREAS, Some states, including Michigan and Maryland, have implemented prohibitions on school terms beginning before Labor Day in an effort to boost their tourism industries; and

WHEREAS, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan recently signed an executive order prohibiting schools from commencing their school term prior to Labor Day unless the school district has received a waiver; and

WHEREAS, Research shows that the date upon which a school term begins does not necessarily impact a student's academic success; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Illinois State Board of Education to study the impact of beginning a school term during various points throughout August as compared to after Labor Day; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State Board of Education submit a report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2019 including the following information and recommendations:

(1) A summary of current school term start dates in school districts throughout Illinois;

(2) Laws in other states that govern when a school term may commence; and

(3) The effects that beginning a school term at various points in August, as compared to after Labor Day, would have on school district budgets, administrators, teachers, and students; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the State Superintendent of Education.