Public Act 0497 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1787 Enrolled LRB103 25387 RJT 51733 b

Public Act 103-0497

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 22-95 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/22-95 new)

Sec. 22-95. Rural Education Advisory Council.

(a) The Rural Education Advisory Council is created as a statewide advisory council to exchange thoughtful dialogue concerning the needs, challenges, and opportunities of rural schools districts and to provide policy recommendations to the State. The Council shall perform all of the following functions:

(1) Convey and impart the perspective of rural communities and provide context during policy discussions on various statewide issues with the State Superintendent of Education.

(2) Present to the State Superintendent of Education the opportunity to speak directly with representatives of rural communities on various policy and legal issues, to present feedback on critical issues facing rural communities, to generate ideas, and to communicate information to the State Superintendent.

(3) Provide feedback about this State's pre-kindergarten through grade 12 practices and policies so that the application of policies in rural areas may be more fully understood.

(b) The Council shall consist of all of the following members:

(1) The State Superintendent of Education or his or her designee.

(2) One representative of an association representing rural and small schools, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(3) Five superintendents of rural school districts who represent 3 super-regions of this State and who are recommended by an association representing rural and small schools, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(4) One principal from a rural school district recommended by a statewide organization representing school principals, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(5) One representative from a rural school district recommended by a statewide organization representing school boards, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(6) One representative of a statewide organization representing district superintendents, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(7) One representative of a statewide organization representing regional superintendents of schools, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(8) One student who is at least 15 years old, who is a member of the State Board of Education's Student Advisory Council, and who is from a rural school district, appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

Council members must reflect, as much as possible, the racial and ethnic diversity of this State.

Council members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated to the State Board of Education for that purpose, subject to the rules of the appropriate travel control board.

(c) The Council shall meet initially at the call of the State Superintendent of Education, shall select one member as chairperson at its initial meeting, and shall thereafter meet at the call of the chairperson.

(d) The State Board of Education shall provide administrative and other support to the Council as needed.

(e) The Council is dissolved and this Section is repealed on December 31, 2031.

Effective Date: 1/1/2024