HR1176 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1176 LRB093 23391 HSS 53375 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The faculty, staff, and students of Perspectives Charter School are celebrating the School's opening at its new location at 1930 South Archer in Chicago; designed by the world-renowned architect Ralph Johnson of Perkins and Will, the bright angular building exemplifies the soaring vision of Perspectives; and

WHEREAS, Perspectives Charter School was designed in the small school tradition by teachers Kim Day and Diana Shulla-Cose; after teaching for many years in the Chicago Public Schools, both shared the desire to create a better learning environment for the urban student; their vision for Perspectives was grounded in basic beliefs about what students in Chicago deserve from a public education system; Kim and Diana wanted to create a school of high expectations, a school where students are challenged, a school where students feel safe, a school with a family-like atmosphere, and a school that students, parents, and faculty could call their own; and

WHEREAS, The Perspectives Charter School is an agent of social change and progress for urban students in Chicago; the vision is to create a school of choice that satisfies the needs of parents who wish to educate their children to meet the challenges of a changing world through academic rigor and a disciplined life; Perspectives will help students further become intellectually reflective, caring, and ethical people en route to a lifetime of meaningful work; and

WHEREAS, Perspectives' vision is to have the entire senior class graduate and to have all of their students attend college or technical school; the faculty and staff believes that they can educate their students to be knowledgeable workers for the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, This vision began to take shape in 1993 as a "school within a school" serving 45 students; the co-founders believed strongly in the advantages of a small school; a small school environment would offer students more personal attention and give them a sense of individual importance and belonging; it would afford teachers a greater opportunity to provide guidance, resources, and one-on-one time to students; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, the school found a new home just south of the Loop and working with Chicago Public Schools, Perspectives had secured a lease at 1915 S. Federal for two years while a permanent facility was built next door; and

WHEREAS, Perspectives is achieving great success; for the past three years, more than 95% of the senior class has graduated and continued on to college; in the past two years, four students have been awarded the prestigious Posse Foundation scholarship, in which students received $100,000 to attend college; Perspectives students continue to be accepted at more competitive schools including Sara Lawrence University, Penn State, University of Michigan, and the University of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Perspectives has received both national and local attention as a model of successful public urban education; both Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago Public School's CEO Arne Duncan have publicly acknowledged Perspectives; most recently, Perspectives was featured in Chicago Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times, Crain's Chicago Business, on National Public Radio, and on Channel 5 news for its academic success and innovation; and

WHEREAS, Perspectives has become a model for urban education, given new meaning to quality education in public schools, and is proving that public education works and works well; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Perspectives Charter School in the opening of its new location, and we wish the faculty and staff continued success in their endeavor of providing quality education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Perspectives Charter School as an expression of our esteem.