HR1313

LRB095 21456 NHT 50934 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The Illinois Measure of Annual Growth in English 
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(IMAGE) Test was developed as a proficiency test and not as a 
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test to measure student achievement relative to the Illinois 
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Learning Standards (ILS); and
 
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    WHEREAS,  The United States Department of Education has 
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indicated through its peer review process that the IMAGE Test 
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is no longer an acceptable achievement test for English 
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Language Learner (ELL) students; and
 
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    WHEREAS, On February 15, 2008, the State Board of Education 
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received notification from the U.S. Department of Education 
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that the request for flexibility for ELL students made in a 
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January 8th letter to the U.S. Department of Eduction was not 
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approved; and
 
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    WHEREAS,  The State Board of Education has not produced an 
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acceptable replacement test to administer to students who are 
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learning English; instead, the State Board of Education 
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announced that the IMAGE Test will not be given in 2008 and 
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that students with limited proficiency in English will take the 
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same assessment test as English-speaking students; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Discontinuing the IMAGE Test or failing to 
 


 






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implement a similar alternative examination will negatively 
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impact students, schools, and districts throughout this State; 
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assessment data may be swayed by poor test scores of students 
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who simply do not understand English, resulting in schools or 
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districts failing to meet federal standards; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The State Board of Education has offered a short 
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term solution for 2008 that involves accommodations for the 
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Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) and the Prairie 
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State Achievement Examination (PSAE), which include timing, 
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scheduling, setting, and presentation; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The State Board of Education has proposed a 5-year 
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English Language Learner Assessment Plan and a cost analysis 
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for the development and implementation of a transadapted ISAT 
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for math and science; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The 5-year English Language Learner Assessment 
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Plan is a working document that must be flexible to accommodate 
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changes in the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the 
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peer review process, and new assessment requirements; 
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therefore, be it
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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urge the State Board of Education to be responsible for 
 


 






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communicating the lack of comparability of ELL assessment data 
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to that of previous years to stakeholder groups and for 
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denoting this on a school district's school report card under 
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Section 10-17a of the School Code; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That we urge the State Board of Education to work 
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aggressively to implement the 5-year English Language Learner 
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Assessment Plan; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That as this plan is implemented, the State Board 
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of Education recognize the importance of a comprehensive 
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communication plan and aggressively pursue a dialogue with 
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legislators, educators, students and their families, 
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communities, and other stakeholder groups; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That we urge the designation of appropriate 
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resources needed to adequately address the assessment of ELL 
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students; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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delivered to the State Board of Education and the U.S. 
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Department of Education.