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1
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 560

 
2     WHEREAS, A recent analysis shows that more than half of all
3 Illinois children suspended from public schools are
4 African-American, even though they represent less than
5 one-fifth of the enrollment; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Expulsion rates also disproportionally hit
7 African-American students, causing them to miss more classroom
8 instruction time, which leads to increased rates of dropouts,
9 joblessness, and incarceration; and
 
10     WHEREAS, In the last decade, suspensions of
11 African-American students have escalated by 75% while those of
12 white students have dropped more than 5%; white students are
13 expelled 16% more often than they were 10 years ago, but
14 African-American students are expelled 56% more often; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Caucasian students make up nearly three-fifths of
16 public school enrollment, yet in the most recent data, they
17 account for one-third or fewer of both suspensions and
18 expulsions; therefore, be it
 
19     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
20 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Task Force on
21 Eliminating Racial Bias in Suspensions and Expulsions be

 

 

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1 convened, consisting of 15 members, who shall serve without
2 compensation, as follows:
3         (1) one member appointed by the Governor, who shall
4     serve as chair;
5         (2) one member appointed by the President of the
6     Senate;
7         (3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
8     Representatives;
9         (4) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
10     Senate;
11         (5) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
12     House of Representatives;
13         (6) one member appointed by the Chairperson of the
14     Illinois State Board of Education;
15         (7) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
16     recommendation of an association representing school
17     boards;
18         (8) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
19     recommendation of the Chicago Board of Education;
20         (9) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
21     recommendation of an organization representing teachers;
22         (10) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
23     recommendation of a different organization representing
24     teachers;
25         (11) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
26     recommendation of an association representing regional

 

 

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1     superintendents, who shall have expertise in administering
2     a regional safe school program; and
3         (12) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
4     recommendation of an organization representing collar
5     county school districts;
6         (13) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
7     recommendation of an organization representing suburban
8     school districts;
9         (14) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
10     recommendation of an organization representing large unit
11     school districts; and
12         (15) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
13     recommendation of an organization representing parents and
14     teachers; and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall examine the causes of
16 the racial gap in suspension and expulsion rates, consider the
17 long-term implications of the inequity, and issue a report to
18 the General Assembly by May 1, 2010 that makes recommendations
19 for removing bias from the suspension and expulsion processes;
20 and be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be dissolved upon
22 filing its report with the General Assembly.