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91_HB4244
LRB9111657LDpk
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 as follows:
10 (1) Encouraging educational excellence is in the
11 best interests of the people of Illinois this State.
12 (2) There are educators, community members, and
13 parents in Illinois who can offer flexible and innovative
14 educational techniques and programs, but who lack an
15 avenue through which to provide them within the public
16 school system.
17 (3) The enactment of legislation authorizing
18 charter schools to operate in Illinois will promote new
19 options within the public school system and will provide
20 pupils, educators, community members, and parents with
21 the stimulus to strive for educational excellence.
22 (b) The General Assembly further finds and declares that
23 this Article is enacted for the following purposes:
24 (1) To improve pupil learning by creating schools
25 with high, rigorous standards for pupil performance.
26 (2) To increase learning opportunities for all
27 pupils, with special emphasis on expanded learning
28 experiences for at-risk pupils, consistent, however, with
29 an equal commitment to increase learning opportunities
30 for all other groups of pupils in a manner that does not
31 discriminate on the basis of disability, race, creed,
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1 color, gender, national origin, religion, ancestry,
2 marital status, or need for special education services.
3 (3) To encourage the use of teaching methods that
4 may be different in some respects than others regularly
5 used in the public school system.
6 (4) To allow the development of new, different, or
7 alternative forms of measuring pupil learning and
8 achievement.
9 (5) To create new professional opportunities for
10 teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for
11 the learning program at the school site.
12 (6) To provide parents and pupils with expanded
13 choices within the public school system.
14 (7) To encourage parental and community involvement
15 with public schools.
16 (8) To hold charter schools accountable for meeting
17 rigorous school content standards and to provide those
18 schools with the opportunity to improve accountability.
19 (c) In authorizing charter schools, it is the intent of
20 the General Assembly to create a legitimate avenue for
21 parents, teachers, and community members to take responsible
22 risks and create new, innovative, and more flexible ways of
23 educating children within the public school system. The
24 General Assembly seeks to create opportunities within the
25 public school system of Illinois for development of
26 innovative and accountable teaching techniques. The
27 provisions of this Article should be interpreted liberally to
28 support the findings and goals of this Section and to advance
29 a renewed commitment by the State of Illinois to the mission,
30 goals, and diversity of public education.
31 (Source: P.A. 89-450, eff. 4-10-96; 90-548, eff. 1-1-98.)