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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Hundreds of Illinois schools in rural, suburban,
3 and urban areas are designated for federal and State
4 improvement status to improve low student achievement levels;
5 and
 
6     WHEREAS, Illinois is committed to closing the gap in
7 learning achievement levels between low-income and
8 middle-income or upper-income children and youth; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Research indicates that successful low-income
10 schools where student achievement rates exceed State averages
11 are led by an outstanding school principal; and
 
12     WHEREAS, An essential route to improving student learning
13 in any low-achieving school is through the intervention of a
14 school principal with the motivation, commitment, current
15 knowledge, skills, and disposition to attract, retain, and
16 mobilize teachers to improve the quality of instruction and
17 learning throughout the school; and
 
18     WHEREAS, It is a goal of the State of Illinois that all
19 schools have leadership that improves teaching and learning and
20 increases the academic achievement and development of all
21 students; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, In August 2006 the report, "School Leader
2 Preparation: Blueprint for Change", commissioned by the Board
3 of Higher Education, analyzed the mismatch between leadership
4 credentialing and the needs of Illinois schools and recommended
5 a total of 25 specific actions to be undertaken by the Board of
6 Higher Education, the State Board of Education, the General
7 Assembly, the Governor's office, college and university
8 presidents, and school districts to improve school leadership
9 in this State; therefore, be it
 
10     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
11 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
12 CONCURRING HEREIN, that the State Board of Education, the Board
13 of Higher Education, and the Office of the Governor shall
14 jointly appoint a task force to recommend a sequence of
15 strategic steps, based on, but not limited to, the measures
16 detailed in "Blueprint for Change", to implement improvements
17 in school leadership preparation in this State; and be it
18 further
 
19     RESOLVED, That the task force shall include
20 representatives from a statewide organization representing
21 principals, an association representing Chicago public school
22 principals, a statewide organization representing education
23 leadership faculty, a statewide organization representing

 

 

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1 private college and university education deans, a statewide
2 organization representing public university education deans,
3 statewide organizations representing teachers, a statewide
4 organization representing superintendents, a statewide
5 organization representing school board members, the State
6 Board of Education, the Board of Higher Education, and other
7 appropriate stakeholders; and be it further
 
8     RESOLVED, That the Governor shall appoint a chairperson in
9 consultation with the State Board of Education and the Board of
10 Higher Education; and be it further
 
11     RESOLVED, That the chairperson and the task force shall
12 designate staff from the appropriate State agencies or
13 educational organizations with expertise in school leadership
14 preparation; and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That this task force shall file a report of its
16 findings with the General Assembly, the Office of the Governor,
17 the State Board of Education, and the Board of Higher Education
18 on or before February 1, 2008; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
20 delivered to the State Board of Education, the Board of Higher
21 Education, and the Governor.