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91_HJ0022
LRB9106754NTtmA
1 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The improvement of standards for the delivery of
3 educational services has resulted in a recognition of a need
4 for programs of increased accountability, qualifications, and
5 demonstrated competency of instructional personnel in the
6 public schools; and
7 WHEREAS, Paraprofessionals in the classrooms are an
8 integral and necessary part of the instructional program of
9 public schools and must be recognized as vital partners in
10 the quest for educational excellence and reform; and
11 WHEREAS, National professional organizations representing
12 paraprofessionals have encouraged standards to ensure that
13 paraprofessionals are well prepared to work with children;
14 and
15 WHEREAS, Other states have studied and outlined
16 employment criteria and training requirements for
17 paraprofessionals; and
18 WHEREAS, The State of Illinois does not require any
19 training or specialized education for paraprofessionals
20 working in regular and special education programs; and
21 WHEREAS, The General Assembly has been a strong proponent
22 of education reform measures directed toward upgrading the
23 quality of public education, raising standards for teacher
24 certification, and increased responsibility and
25 accountability by instructional personnel; therefore, be it
26 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
27 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
28 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that for the purposes of this
29 Resolution, "paraprofessional" means an employee, other than
30 a teacher, in a school (i) whose position is either
31 instructional in nature or who delivers other direct services
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1 to students or their parents and (ii) who serves in a
2 position for which a teacher or another professional has the
3 ultimate responsibility for the design, implementation, and
4 evaluation of individual education programs or related
5 services and for student performance; and be it further
6 RESOLVED, That there is created the Task Force on
7 Paraprofessionals consisting of the following members: two
8 members of the Senate appointed by the President of the
9 Senate; two members of the House of Representatives appointed
10 by the Speaker of the House; one teacher who is a member of
11 the Illinois Federation of Teachers and one teacher who is a
12 member of the Illinois Education Association, each appointed
13 by the State Superintendent of Education; eight
14 paraprofessionals appointed by the State Superintendent of
15 Education, chosen from a list of nominees provided by the
16 Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education
17 Association in proportion to the membership of each
18 organization; one member appointed by the Illinois
19 Association of School Boards; one member appointed by the
20 Illinois Parent Teacher Association; one member appointed by
21 the Illinois Association of School Administrators; one member
22 from the State Teacher Certification Board appointed by the
23 State Superintendent of Education; one member representing
24 the higher education community appointed by the State
25 Superintendent of Education; one member representing the
26 Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association appointed by the
27 State Superintendent of Education; one member representing
28 the State Board of Education's Staff Development Division
29 appointed by the State Superintendent of Education; one
30 member representing a statewide council of special education
31 administrators appointed by the State Superintendent of
32 Education; and one member appointed by the Governor, who
33 shall serve as chairperson of the Task Force; and be it
34 further
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1 RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve
2 without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their
3 reasonable and necessary expenses from funds available for
4 that purpose; the State Board of Education shall provide
5 staff support to the Task Force; and be it further
6 RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall study and make
7 recommendations to the Governor on the licensure of
8 paraprofessionals who work with children in the public
9 schools of Illinois and shall determine entry level
10 standards, training and experience requirements for entering
11 the career, guidelines for education and experience
12 requirements for career advancement, appropriate roles and
13 responsibilities, and a mechanism to enhance job mobility
14 within and between school districts; and be it further
15 RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report its
16 recommendations to the Governor one year after the adoption
17 of this Resolution; and that upon filing its report the Task
18 Force is dissolved.