HR1148 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1148 LRB094 20200 RAS 58034 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Numerous studies performed in other states have shown evidence demonstrating that reducing class size, particularly for younger children, will have a positive effect on student achievement overall and an especially significant impact on the education of lower income children; and

WHEREAS, A landmark Tennessee class-size study, called STAR, shows that students who had been placed in small classes in grades K through 3 continue to outperform others right through high school, with higher graduation rates, higher grade point averages, and a greater likelihood to be college-bound; and

WHEREAS, The Tennessee study also shows that smaller classes are more cost effective, citing evidence that fewer students, particularly low income students, must be held back in higher grade levels and teachers can identify children more easily with special learning problems allowing them to provide effective help in the classroom without making an unnecessary and often costly referral to special education services; and

WHEREAS, Studies in Wisconsin, Tennessee, and California have shown that smaller classes allow teachers to focus more on instruction and less on classroom discipline; and

WHEREAS, More than thirty states have moved toward reducing class size, including Illinois, which enacted P.A. 93-814 to establish the State's K-3 Class Size Reduction grant program to provide schools on the Early Academic Warning List or the Academic Watch List grants to defray the costs and expenses of operating and maintaining classes in grades kindergarten through 3rd grade with an average class size within a specific grade of no more than 20 pupils; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has been unable to fully implement its class size reduction program since no funds have ever been appropriated for this program; and

WHEREAS, Although evidence in other states suggests that such a program might prove beneficial to students in Illinois, no study has ever been performed in Illinois to reveal the true need for a class size reduction program; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the State Board of Education to measure the need for providing State assistance to school districts to reduce class sizes in grades K through 3 to no more than 20 students; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State Board should survey school districts and determine how many classrooms would require funding to reduce class sizes in grades K through 3 to no more than 20 students; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State Board should further determine potential total costs associated with reducing class sizes in grades K through 3 in all school districts, including the costs of hiring additional teachers and staff and providing additional physical classroom space; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State Board should report to the Governor and the General Assembly on its findings no later than December 31, 2006; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the State Board of Education.