HJ0115 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0115 LRB100 21112 MST 37000 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 2014, the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Justice issued guidance through the Dear Colleague Letter on the Nondiscriminatory Administration of School Discipline on January 8, 2014, to assist public schools with administering student discipline without discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin; and

WHEREAS, Every student is entitled to equal education opportunities regardless of race, color, or national origin; and

WHEREAS, This guidance addresses the school-to-prison pipeline, a problematic trend in which students of color are disproportionately suspended, expelled, arrested, and exposed to law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, states, school districts, and schools must not intentionally treat students differently nor implement policies or practices in providing educational resources that disproportionately affect students based on race, color, or national origin, as this discrimination is prohibited; and

WHEREAS, According to U.S. Education Department data, research shows that racial disparities in school discipline contribute to adverse impacts on the student achievement gap, including lower grades, higher dropout rates, higher incarceration rates, and reduction of important instructional time due to exclusionary discipline; and

WHEREAS, Black female students in Illinois are more than 7.5 times more likely to have multiple out-of-school suspensions than white female students; and

WHEREAS, Latino students in Illinois are nearly 1.5 times more likely to have multiple out-of-school suspensions than white students; and

WHEREAS, Black students in Illinois are two times more likely to be referred to law enforcement by their schools than white students; and

WHEREAS, Higher rates of suspension are related to higher rates of future antisocial behaviors and involvement in the juvenile justice system; and

WHEREAS, Data from Chicago educators suggests only 20% of educators feel they have received "at least effective" training on restorative justice; and

WHEREAS, In acknowledgement of said disparities, Illinois passed Senate Bill 100 in 2015 in recognition of the growing national and local movements focused on breaking down the school-to-prison pipeline and reducing exclusionary discipline practices; and

WHEREAS, Those schools and districts that have prioritized implementation of restorative practices as a result of Senate Bill 100 of the 99th General Assembly have seen significant reductions in suspensions, expulsions, and notifications; and

WHEREAS, In accordance with Title VI, data suggest via the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice that this current guidance on how to identify, avoid, and remedy discriminatory discipline will assist schools in providing all students with equal educational opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Equitable discipline policies are crucial to creating safe and welcoming school environments, improving a school's climate and culture, and ultimately increasing overall student engagement and achievement; and

WHEREAS, Given the aforementioned data and concerns, Illinois must reaffirm its commitment to dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline and ensuring that we are educating and preparing all our young people to build a brighter future for themselves and our State; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the U.S. Department of Education to actively sustain the school discipline guidance released by the Departments of Education and Justice in 2014, and the State of Illinois and Illinois State Board of Education to uphold the original school discipline guidance released by the Department of Education and Justice in 2014, regardless of the decision made by the U.S. Department of Education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Illinois State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith, and Illinois State Board of Education Chairman James T. Meeks.