HB1159 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 07665 RAS 37839 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB1159

Introduced 02/08/05, by Rep. Patricia Reid Lindner

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/10-20.40 new
105 ILCS 5/34-18.32 new
30 ILCS 805/8.29 new

Amends the School Code. Requires each school district to establish a process by which each parent or guardian of a pupil is given an opportunity to enter into a school-parent compact that shall commit the parent or guardian to assist and cooperate with the educational process of his or her child. Sets forth the elements of the compact, including a description of the school and school district's responsibilities regarding curriculum and instruction, the school's and school district's commitment to assist and encourage active participation, and the parent's or guardian's commitment to share responsibility for pupil learning. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Sections 10-20.40 and 34-18.32 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.40 new)

Sec. 10-20.40. School-parent compact.

(a) The General Assembly finds and declares all of the following:

(1) Parents and guardians are the first and most enduring teachers of a child. Parents play a crucial role in the development of a child in the formative years.

(2) Parental partnerships have the potential to reinforce the role of the family and change attitudes toward education, helping build strong local communities and widen participation in learning. It is ultimately the responsibility of parents to ensure that children have a firm foundation and prepare children for formal learning.

(3) Schools across the nation have found that parent compacts increase successful parent involvement in the education of their children. A parent contract or compact provides opportunities for families to learn how to help their children succeed in school.

(4) The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires every school district that receives Title I funds to adopt a written parent involvement policy. This policy is required to be developed jointly with, approved by, and distributed to parents of participating children and the local community. This policy ensures that strategies that encourage and sustain active parent involvement are in place in every school that receives these federal funds. The activities should be designed to improve student pupil academic achievement and school performance.

(5) In any school accountability system, parent involvement is a critical element. While pupils, teachers, and administrators are being held to rigorous goals and standards, parental accountability is not part of Illinois' rewards and sanctions programs. To increase parent accountability and involvement, each school district should be encouraged to adopt the National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement, as developed by the National Parent Teacher Association, and measure parent involvement at each school against those standards.

(b) In this Section:

"Compact" means a written commitment between a school and the parent or guardian of a pupil to share responsibility for pupil learning.

(c) Each school board shall establish a process by which each parent or guardian of a pupil is given an opportunity to enter into a school-parent compact that commits the parent or guardian to assist and cooperate with the educational process of his or her child.

(d) The compact shall describe how the school, the school district, and the parent or guardian will work together in a mutually supportive and respectful partnership to help the pupil succeed in school. The compact shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) A description of the school and school district's responsibility to provide a high-quality curriculum and instructional program in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables each pupil to meet the academic expectations of the school and school district.

(2) A commitment by the school and school district to assist and encourage active participation by the parent or guardian by doing all of the following:

(A) establishing a process that promotes meaningful communication between home and school on a regular basis;

(B) providing information to parents or guardians on State and school district academic standards for each grade and subject area and on the school and school district's expectations for pupil behavior and academic performance;

(C) promoting the availability of school, school district, and community resources to strengthen school programs, family practices, and pupil learning; and

(D) supporting professional development opportunities for staff members to enhance understanding of effective parent involvement strategies.

(3) A commitment by the parent or guardian to share responsibility for pupil learning by doing all of the following:

(A) ensuring that the child arrives at school prepared to learn;

(B) fostering learning at home, giving appropriate assistance, monitoring homework, and giving feedback to teachers;

(C) attending school meetings;

(D) communicating regularly with teachers and other school staff, as needed, in a meaningful manner;

(E) familiarizing himself or herself with State, school, and school district academic standards for relevant grade and subject areas;

(F) participating, as appropriate, in decisions relating to his or her own child and the total school program; and

(G) engaging in other positive parent responsibilities related to successful pupil learning.

(e) This Section does not supersede any valid restraining order, protective order, or order for custody or visitation issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(105 ILCS 5/34-18.32 new)

Sec. 34-18.32. School-parent compact.

(a) The General Assembly finds and declares all of the following:

(1) Parents and guardians are the first and most enduring teachers of a child. Parents play a crucial role in the development of a child in the formative years.

(2) Parental partnerships have the potential to reinforce the role of the family and change attitudes toward education, helping build strong local communities and widen participation in learning. It is ultimately the responsibility of parents to ensure that children have a firm foundation and prepare children for formal learning.

(3) Schools across the nation have found that parent compacts increase successful parent involvement in the education of their children. A parent contract or compact provides opportunities for families to learn how to help their children succeed in school.

(4) The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires every school district that receives Title I funds to adopt a written parent involvement policy. This policy is required to be developed jointly with, approved by, and distributed to parents of participating children and the local community. This policy ensures that strategies that encourage and sustain active parent involvement are in place in every school that receives these federal funds. The activities should be designed to improve student pupil academic achievement and school performance.

(5) In any school accountability system, parent involvement is a critical element. While pupils, teachers, and administrators are being held to rigorous goals and standards, parental accountability is not part of Illinois' rewards and sanctions programs. To increase parent accountability and involvement, each school district should be encouraged to adopt the National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement, as developed by the National Parent Teacher Association, and measure parent involvement at each school against those standards.

(b) In this Section:

"Compact" means a written commitment between a school and the parent or guardian of a pupil to share responsibility for pupil learning.

(c) The board of education shall establish a process by which each parent or guardian of a pupil is given an opportunity to enter into a school-parent compact that commits the parent or guardian to assist and cooperate with the educational process of his or her child.

(d) The compact shall describe how the school, the school district, and the parent or guardian will work together in a mutually supportive and respectful partnership to help the pupil succeed in school. The compact shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) A description of the school and school district's responsibility to provide a high-quality curriculum and instructional program in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables each pupil to meet the academic expectations of the school and school district.

(2) A commitment by the school and school district to assist and encourage active participation by the parent or guardian by doing all of the following:

(A) establishing a process that promotes meaningful communication between home and school on a regular basis;

(B) providing information to parents or guardians on State and school district academic standards for each grade and subject area and on the school and school district's expectations for pupil behavior and academic performance;

(C) promoting the availability of school, school district, and community resources to strengthen school programs, family practices, and pupil learning; and

(D) supporting professional development opportunities for staff members to enhance understanding of effective parent involvement strategies.

(3) A commitment by the parent or guardian to share responsibility for pupil learning by doing all of the following:

(A) ensuring that the child arrives at school prepared to learn;

(B) fostering learning at home, giving appropriate assistance, monitoring homework, and giving feedback to teachers;

(C) attending school meetings;

(D) communicating regularly with teachers and other school staff, as needed, in a meaningful manner;

(E) familiarizing himself or herself with State, school, and school district academic standards for relevant grade and subject areas;

(F) participating, as appropriate, in decisions relating to his or her own child and the total school program; and

(G) engaging in other positive parent responsibilities related to successful pupil learning.

(e) This Section does not supersede any valid restraining order, protective order, or order for custody or visitation issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.29 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.29 new)

Sec. 8.29. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.