SR0575 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0575 LRB104 18995 ECR 32440 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Our nation's longstanding and ongoing audacious experiment in self-governance requires a populace with an understanding of the nation's laws and government, the skills for discussion and working together across differences, and a widespread commitment to the civic strength of our communities; and

WHEREAS, Civic education is vital to sustaining and strengthening constitutional democracy in the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, The practice of democracy must be taught and learned anew by each generation; and

WHEREAS, Educators are often engaged in thankless yet essential daily work to support young people in their development of an informed and empowered civic identity that is core to sustaining and strengthening our nation's constitutional democracy; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly has strengthened K-12 civic education in the State over the past decade by requiring civics courses in middle school and high school, and the Illinois Civics Hub has grown the Illinois Democracy Schools Network to more than 90 public and private schools and districts statewide, each of them deeply committed to students' civic development and to supporting teachers, schools, and districts throughout Illinois with civics course and standards implementation; and

WHEREAS, The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence occurring during this current year calls on our collective ability and commitment to work across our differences and reinvest ourselves in making civic learning for all students a community, state, and national priority; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare March 9 through March 15, 2026 as Civic Learning Week in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we extend our deepest appreciation to the students, volunteers, and professionals who prioritize the enterprise of civic learning within our communities.