(310 ILCS 115/5)

Sec. 5. Legislative findings and declarations. The General Assembly finds and declares all of the following:

(1) Attracting and retaining fully qualified teachers is of paramount importance in ensuring that pupils have fair access to a quality education and a fair chance to succeed academically. This is especially critical for schools that have the greatest number and percentage of pupils with the most acute educational needs, who predictably may score lowest on academic achievement examinations.

(2) A high priority should be placed on attracting and retaining quality teaching professionals who have demonstrated exemplary teaching ability, who serve in hard-to-staff schools, and who live in high-cost areas.

(3) Teachers face housing problems that exacerbate school districts' efforts to attract and retain qualified teachers. Many cannot afford to live in the communities in which they teach, making it difficult for them to become active members of their school's community. Providing opportunities for teachers to participate in after-school activities, from tutoring to coaching, benefits the children and community in which the teacher is employed.

(Source: P.A. 95-449, eff. 8-27-07.)