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91_HB2061
LRB9103822NTks
1 AN ACT to amend the School Code by changing Section
2 27A-2.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing
6 Section 27A-2 as follows:
7 (105 ILCS 5/27A-2)
8 Sec. 27A-2. Legislative declaration.
9 (a) The General Assembly finds and declares the
10 following as follows:
11 (1) Encouraging educational excellence is in the
12 best interests of the people of this State.
13 (2) There are educators, community members, and
14 parents in Illinois who can offer flexible and innovative
15 educational techniques and programs, but who lack an
16 avenue through which to provide them within the public
17 school system.
18 (3) The enactment of legislation authorizing
19 charter schools to operate in Illinois will promote new
20 options within the public school system and will provide
21 pupils, educators, community members, and parents with
22 the stimulus to strive for educational excellence.
23 (b) The General Assembly further finds and declares that
24 this Article is enacted for the following purposes:
25 (1) To improve pupil learning by creating schools
26 with high, rigorous standards for pupil performance.
27 (2) To increase learning opportunities for all
28 pupils, with special emphasis on expanded learning
29 experiences for at-risk pupils, consistent, however, with
30 an equal commitment to increase learning opportunities
31 for all other groups of pupils in a manner that does not
-2- LRB9103822NTks
1 discriminate on the basis of disability, race, creed,
2 color, gender, national origin, religion, ancestry,
3 marital status, or need for special education services.
4 (3) To encourage the use of teaching methods that
5 may be different in some respects than others regularly
6 used in the public school system.
7 (4) To allow the development of new, different, or
8 alternative forms of measuring pupil learning and
9 achievement.
10 (5) To create new professional opportunities for
11 teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for
12 the learning program at the school site.
13 (6) To provide parents and pupils with expanded
14 choices within the public school system.
15 (7) To encourage parental and community involvement
16 with public schools.
17 (8) To hold charter schools accountable for meeting
18 rigorous school content standards and to provide those
19 schools with the opportunity to improve accountability.
20 (c) In authorizing charter schools, it is the intent of
21 the General Assembly to create a legitimate avenue for
22 parents, teachers, and community members to take responsible
23 risks and create new, innovative, and more flexible ways of
24 educating children within the public school system. The
25 General Assembly seeks to create opportunities within the
26 public school system of Illinois for development of
27 innovative and accountable teaching techniques. The
28 provisions of this Article should be interpreted liberally to
29 support the findings and goals of this Section and to advance
30 a renewed commitment by the State of Illinois to the mission,
31 goals, and diversity of public education.
32 (Source: P.A. 89-450, eff. 4-10-96; 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)