SR0560enr 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

09600SR0560 Enrolled LRB096 16036 MJR 31284 r

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 560

WHEREAS, A recent analysis shows that more than half of all Illinois children suspended from public schools are African-American, even though they represent less than one-fifth of the enrollment; and

WHEREAS, Expulsion rates also disproportionally hit African-American students, causing them to miss more classroom instruction time, which leads to increased rates of dropouts, joblessness, and incarceration; and

WHEREAS, In the last decade, suspensions of African-American students have escalated by 75% while those of white students have dropped more than 5%; white students are expelled 16% more often than they were 10 years ago, but African-American students are expelled 56% more often; and

WHEREAS, Caucasian students make up nearly three-fifths of public school enrollment, yet in the most recent data, they account for one-third or fewer of both suspensions and expulsions; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Task Force on Eliminating Racial Bias in Suspensions and Expulsions be convened, consisting of 15 members, who shall serve without compensation, as follows:

(1) one member appointed by the Governor, who shall serve as chair;

(2) one member appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(4) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(5) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(6) one member appointed by the Chairperson of the Illinois State Board of Education;

(7) one member appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of an association representing school boards;

(8) one member appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Chicago Board of Education;

(9) one member appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of an organization representing teachers;

(10) one member appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of a different organization representing teachers;

(11) one member appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of an association representing regional superintendents, who shall have expertise in administering a regional safe school program; and

(12) one member appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of an organization representing collar county school districts;

(13) one member appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of an organization representing suburban school districts;

(14) one member appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of an organization representing large unit school districts; and

(15) one member appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of an organization representing parents and teachers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall examine the causes of the racial gap in suspension and expulsion rates, consider the long-term implications of the inequity, and issue a report to the General Assembly by May 1, 2010 that makes recommendations for removing bias from the suspension and expulsion processes; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be dissolved upon filing its report with the General Assembly.