HJ0066

LRB095 12197 NHT 36470 r






1

HOUSE 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

 
 


 






HJ0066
- 2 -
LRB095 12197 NHT 36470 r




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  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
11
NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
12
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the State Board of Education, 
13
the Board of Higher Education, and the Office of the Governor 
14
shall 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 
 


 






HJ0066
- 3 -
LRB095 12197 NHT 36470 r




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.