SR0560

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SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, A recent analysis shows that more than half of all 
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Illinois children suspended from public schools are 
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African-American, even though they represent less than 
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one-fifth of the enrollment; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Expulsions rates also disproportionally hit 
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African-American students, causing them to miss more classroom 
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instruction time, which leads to increased rates of drop outs, 
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joblessness, and incarceration; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, In the last decade, suspensions of 
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African-American students have escalated by 75% while those of 
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white students have dropped more than 5%; white students are 
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expelled 16% more often than they were 10 years ago, but 
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African-American students are expelled 56% more often; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Caucasian students make up nearly three-fifths of 
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public school enrollment, yet in the most recent data, they 
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account for one-third or fewer of both suspensions and 
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expulsions; therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Task Force on 
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Eliminating Racial Bias in Suspensions and Expulsions be 
 


 






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convened, consisting of eleven members as follows:
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        (1) one member appointed by the Governor, who shall 
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    serve as chair;
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        (2) one member appointed by the President
of the 
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    Senate;
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        (3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House
of 
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    Representatives;
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        (4) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
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    Senate;
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        (5) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
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    House
of Representatives;
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        (6) one member appointed by the Chairperson of the 
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    Illinois State Board of Education;
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        (7) one member appointed by the Governor upon the 
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    recommendation of an association representing school 
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    boards;
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        (8) one member appointed by the Governor upon the 
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    recommendation of the Chicago Board of Education;
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        (9) one member appointed by the Governor upon the 
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    recommendation of an organization representing teachers;
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        (10) one member appointed by the Governor upon the 
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    recommendation of a different organization representing 
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    teachers; and
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        (11) one member appointed by the Governor upon the 
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    recommendation of an association representing regional 
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    superintendents, who shall have expertise in administering 
 


 






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    a regional safe school program; and be it further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That  the Task Force shall examine the causes of 
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the racial gap in suspension and expulsion rates, consider the 
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long-term implications of the inequity, and issue a report to 
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the General Assembly by April 15, 2010 that makes 
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recommendations for removing bias from the suspension and 
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expulsion processes.