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91_HB4244eng HB4244 Engrossed 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 Illinoisthis 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, HB4244 Engrossed -2- LRB9111657LDpk 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.)