HR0244HAM001LRB101 11802 MST 60243 a



1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 244 


2    AMENDMENT NO. ___.  Amend House Resolution 244 by replacing 
3everything after the heading with the following:
 
4    "WHEREAS, The Illinois School Code provides that each 
5school
board is required to annually prepare a calendar for 
6each
school term that specifies both the opening and closing 
7dates
of the term; and
 
8    WHEREAS, A school district's calendar must provide for a

9minimum of at least 185 days that generally includes five

10emergency days and four teacher institute days in order to

11ensure 176 days of actual pupil attendance; and
 
12    WHEREAS, While the School Code does not govern when a

13school term should begin or end, schools are increasingly
  
14starting their school year in mid-August; and
 
 
 
HR0244HAM001- 2 -LRB101 11802 MST 60243 a

1    WHEREAS, Traditionally, especially prior to the mid-1990s,

2schools would begin their school term after Labor Day,

3according to a 2015 CNN article, "Back to school: Why August is

4the new September"; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Some states, including Michigan and Maryland,

6have implemented prohibitions on school terms beginning before

7Labor Day in an effort to boost their tourism industries; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan recently signed an 
9executive order prohibiting schools from commencing their

10school term prior to Labor Day unless the school district has

11received a waiver; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Research shows that the date upon which a school

13term begins does not necessarily impact a student's academic

14success; therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE

16HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that

17we urge the Illinois State Board of Education to study the

18impact of beginning a school term during various points

19throughout August as compared to after Labor Day; and be it

20further
 
21    RESOLVED, That the State Board of Education submit a report

 
 
HR0244HAM001- 3 -LRB101 11802 MST 60243 a

1to the General Assembly by December 31, 2019 including the

2following information:
3        (1) A summary of current school term start dates in

4    school districts throughout Illinois; and
5        (2) Laws in other states that govern when a school term

6    may commence; and
be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
8delivered to the State Superintendent of Education.