HJ0136 LRB095 21570 NHT 51556 r

1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, A charter school is a public school opened and
3 operated by community organizations, universities,
4 foundations, and school teachers with its own unique mission
5 and focus, set by its board in accordance with the Charter
6 Schools Law, which provides schools with autonomy in exchange
7 for greater accountability; and
 
8     WHEREAS, In 1996, the General Assembly enacted the Charter
9 Schools Law to "promote new options within the public school
10 system" and "provide pupils, educators, community members, and
11 parents with the stimulus to strive for educational
12 excellence"; and
 
13     WHEREAS, There are now almost 20,000 students attending
14 this State's charter schools; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Charter schools are a part of public education
16 reform in this State; charters are not the single solution for
17 all education needs, but they can offer flexible and innovative
18 educational techniques and programs to talented professional
19 educators and community members who otherwise lack an avenue
20 through which to provide education within the public school
21 system; therefore, be it
 

 

 

HJ0136 - 2 - LRB095 21570 NHT 51556 r

1     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
3 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that, in order to investigate the
4 effectiveness of charter schools and gather information, there
5 is convened a task force of the General Assembly that consists
6 of 5 House members from the majority party appointed by the
7 Speaker of the House, 4 House members from the minority party
8 appointed by the Minority Leader of the House, 5 Senate members
9 from the majority party appointed by the President of the
10 Senate, and 4 Senate members from the minority party appointed
11 by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and be it further
 
12     RESOLVED, That this task force shall do the following:
13     (1) identify the statutory and public policy limitations
14 that have affected charter school operations;
15     (2) determine if changes to the charter school sector are
16 needed to alleviate demand for charter schools throughout this
17 State;
18     (3) identify the effectiveness of charter schools under
19 current law and the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001;
20 and
21     (4) assess current State Board of Education policies and
22 practices to determine if they are maximizing the effectiveness
23 of charter schools in increasing teaching and learning
24 resources for students and teachers and improving performance
25 in school districts across this State; and be it further
 

 

 

HJ0136 - 3 - LRB095 21570 NHT 51556 r

1     RESOLVED, That the task force shall file a report with the
2 General Assembly concerning its findings on or before October
3 15, 2008; and be it further
 
4     RESOLVED, That the task force shall encourage the
5 participation of as well as entertain questions from
6 representatives of the following entities and any other
7 interested parties: the Illinois Network of Charter Schools,
8 the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Chicago Teachers
9 Union, Service Employees International Union, the Illinois
10 Education Association, the Civic Committee of the Commercial
11 Club of Chicago, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the
12 Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Metropolitan Planning
13 Council, the State Board of Education, and the Alternative
14 Schools Network.