SJ0056

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Hundreds of Illinois schools in rural, suburban, 
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and urban areas are designated for federal and State 
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improvement status to improve low student achievement levels; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Illinois is committed to closing the gap in 
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learning achievement levels between low-income and 
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middle-income or upper-income children and youth; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Research indicates that successful low-income 
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schools  where  student achievement rates  exceed State averages 
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are  led by an outstanding school principal; and

 
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    WHEREAS, An essential route to improving student learning 
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in any low-achieving school is through the intervention of a 
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school principal with the motivation, commitment, current  
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knowledge, skills, and disposition to attract, retain, and 
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mobilize teachers to improve the quality of instruction and 
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learning throughout the school; and

 
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    WHEREAS, It is a goal of the State of Illinois that all 
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schools have leadership that improves teaching and learning and 
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increases the academic achievement and development of all 
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students; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, In August 2006 the report, "School Leader 
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Preparation: Blueprint for Change", commissioned by the Board 
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of Higher Education, analyzed the mismatch between leadership 
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credentialing and the needs of Illinois schools and recommended 
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a total of 25 specific actions to be undertaken by the Board of 
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Higher Education, the State Board of Education, the General 
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Assembly, the Governor's office, college and university 
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presidents, and school districts to improve school leadership 
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in this State; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
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CONCURRING HEREIN, that the State Board of Education, the Board 
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of Higher Education, and the Office of the Governor shall 
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jointly appoint a task force to recommend a sequence of 
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strategic steps, based on, but not limited to, the measures 
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detailed in "Blueprint for Change", to implement improvements 
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in school leadership preparation in this State; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the task force shall include 
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representatives from a statewide organization representing 
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principals, an association representing Chicago public school 
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principals, a statewide organization representing education 
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leadership faculty, a statewide organization representing 
 


 






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private college and university education deans, a statewide 
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organization representing public university education deans,  
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statewide organizations representing teachers, a statewide 
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organization representing superintendents, a statewide 
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organization representing school board members, the State 
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Board of Education, the Board of Higher Education, and other 
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appropriate stakeholders; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the Governor shall appoint a chairperson in 
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consultation with the State Board of Education and the Board of 
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Higher Education; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the chairperson and the task force shall 
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designate staff from the appropriate State agencies or 
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educational organizations with expertise in school leadership 
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preparation; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That this task force shall file a report of its 
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findings with the General Assembly, the Office of the Governor, 
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the State Board of Education, and the Board of Higher Education 
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on or before February 1, 2008; 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, the Board of Higher 
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Education, and the Governor.