SB2119eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2119 Engrossed LRB096 11289 NHT 21900 b

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 2-3.64b as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.64b new)

Sec. 2-3.64b. Innovation, Intervention, and Restructuring Task Force.

(a) In keeping with the goals outlined in the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the State of Illinois hereby creates the Innovation, Intervention, and Restructuring Task Force to develop recommendations for the innovation, intervention, and restructuring of schools, including those that need comprehensive or focused intervention, as those terms are defined by this State's proposal for participation in the No Child Left Behind differentiated accountability pilot project.

(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) One chairperson, appointed by the Governor.

(2) Two additional members, each appointed by the Governor.

(3) Two members appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

(4) One member appointed by the President of the Senate.

(5) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(6) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(7) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(c) The task force shall compile data, study, and, pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, report on all of the following matters, among any others deemed relevant by the task force:

(1) Ways in which this State can identify schools requiring more intensive intervention.

(2) Strategies for strengthening leadership at struggling schools and otherwise strengthening school district capacity to effectively implement reforms and ensure continuous improvement.

(3) Strategies that have been involved in successful turnaround efforts and a template for evaluating turnaround efforts.

(4) The autonomies, resources, and support that need to be available to achieve and maintain over time a successful turnaround.

(5) Mechanisms for model innovations to be captured and shared across this State.

(6) The amount of funding necessary to accomplish any and all strategies included in the task force's recommendation.

(7) The identification of any statutory or regulatory changes that would be necessary or helpful to promote successful innovation, intervention, and restructuring.

(d) In developing its recommendations, the task force shall compile relevant data. Moreover, the task force shall seek input from appropriate organizations, including the Illinois Education Association, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance, ED-RED, the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, the Metropolitan Planning Council, the Illinois PTA, the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, Voices for Illinois Children, Action for Children, the Legislative Education Network of DuPage County (LEND), the South Cooperative Organization for Public Education (SCOPE), the Ounce of Prevention Fund, the Illinois Business Roundtable, and any other source deemed appropriate.

(e) The task force shall submit a comprehensive report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the State Superintendent of Education not later than December 31, 2009. The task force may, with the written approval of the Governor, reconvene for the purposes of continued study and the development of additional recommendations.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.