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| Public Act 103-0497 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section | ||||
22-95 as follows: | ||||
(105 ILCS 5/22-95 new) | ||||
Sec. 22-95. Rural Education Advisory Council. | ||||
(a) The Rural Education Advisory Council is created as a | ||||
statewide advisory council to exchange thoughtful dialogue | ||||
concerning the needs, challenges, and opportunities of rural | ||||
schools districts and to provide policy recommendations to the | ||||
State. The Council shall perform all of the following | ||||
functions: | ||||
(1) Convey and impart the perspective of rural | ||||
communities and provide context during policy discussions | ||||
on various statewide issues with the State Superintendent | ||||
of Education. | ||||
(2) Present to the State Superintendent of Education | ||||
the opportunity to speak directly with representatives of | ||||
rural communities on various policy and legal issues, to | ||||
present feedback on critical issues facing rural | ||||
communities, to generate ideas, and to communicate | ||||
information to the State Superintendent. | ||||
(3) Provide feedback about this State's | ||
pre-kindergarten through grade 12 practices and policies | ||
so that the application of policies in rural areas may be | ||
more fully understood. | ||
(b) The Council shall consist of all of the following | ||
members: | ||
(1) The State Superintendent of Education or his or | ||
her designee. | ||
(2) One representative of an association representing | ||
rural and small schools, appointed by the State | ||
Superintendent of Education. | ||
(3) Five superintendents of rural school districts who | ||
represent 3 super-regions of this State and who are | ||
recommended by an association representing rural and small | ||
schools, appointed by the State Superintendent of | ||
Education. | ||
(4) One principal from a rural school district | ||
recommended by a statewide organization representing | ||
school principals, appointed by the State Superintendent | ||
of Education. | ||
(5) One representative from a rural school district | ||
recommended by a statewide organization representing | ||
school boards, appointed by the State Superintendent of | ||
Education. | ||
(6) One representative of a statewide organization | ||
representing district superintendents, appointed by the | ||
State Superintendent of Education. | ||
(7) One representative of a statewide organization | ||
representing regional superintendents of schools, | ||
appointed by the State Superintendent of Education. | ||
(8) One student who is at least 15 years old, who is a | ||
member of the State Board of Education's Student Advisory | ||
Council, and who is from a rural school district, | ||
appointed by the State Superintendent of Education. | ||
Council members must reflect, as much as possible, the | ||
racial and ethnic diversity of this State. | ||
Council members shall serve without compensation but shall | ||
be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from | ||
funds appropriated to the State Board of Education for that | ||
purpose, subject to the rules of the appropriate travel | ||
control board. | ||
(c) The Council shall meet initially at the call of the | ||
State Superintendent of Education, shall select one member as | ||
chairperson at its initial meeting, and shall thereafter meet | ||
at the call of the chairperson. | ||
(d) The State Board of Education shall provide | ||
administrative and other support to the Council as needed. | ||
(e) The Council is dissolved and this Section is repealed | ||
on December 31, 2031.
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