HR0471LRB102 20080 ECR 28927 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Illinois has a long history of supporting 
3nonpublic elementary and secondary schools; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, In 2017, the General Assembly created the Invest 
5in Kids Act to provide low-income students with scholarship 
6monies to attend nonpublic schools due in large part to the 
7strong academic prowess of nonpublic schools; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Nonpublic schools also have a long tradition of 
9competing in elementary and high school athletics often as 
10strong contenders for state championships in a variety of 
11sports; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, The Illinois School Code allows nonpublic schools 
13to voluntarily register with the Illinois State Board of 
14Education; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, The Illinois School Code also allows nonpublic 
16schools to seek recognition status through the Illinois State 
17Board of Education; doing so shows parents and students that a 
18particular nonpublic school meets the academic and safety 
19standards of public schools in Illinois; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, This voluntary registration and recognition 
 
 
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1status has helped to keep nonpublic schools across Illinois as 
2independent entities for several years; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, During the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor JB 
4Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education have sought 
5several times to supersede the tradition of nonpublic 
6education in Illinois by placing several COVID-related 
7mandates onto nonpublic schools; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, As of September 10, 2021, the Illinois State 
9Board of Education has removed the recognition status of 15 
10nonpublic schools for failing to abide by Governor Pritzker's 
11mask mandate at schools; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, The governing boards of nonpublic schools should 
13have the right to make decisions in the best interest of their 
14students and staff as they see fit; therefore, be it
  
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
16HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
17we support nonpublic school autonomy and the voluntary process 
18that allows nonpublic schools to seek registration and 
19recognition with the Illinois State Board of Education; and be 
20it further
  
 
21    RESOLVED, that we urge Governor JB Pritzker and the 
 
 
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1Illinois State Board of Education to support nonpublic school 
2autonomy when it comes to making decisions for their schools, 
3including decisions related to COVID-19; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
5delivered to Governor JB Pritzker and State Superintendent Dr. 
6Carmen Ayala.