SJ0043 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0043 LRB099 20038 MST 44444 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Aurora University is a private university with a public purpose that desires to engage partners for the betterment of the community; and

WHEREAS, Aurora University and its partners desire to increase interest and achievement in science and mathematics prior to students matriculating to high school; and

WHEREAS, 43% of 2014 ACT-tested high school graduates in the United States met the ACT College Readiness Benchmark for mathematics; and

WHEREAS, 37% of 2014 ACT-tested high school graduates in the United States met the ACT College Readiness Benchmark for science; and

WHEREAS, Aurora University and its partners wrote a proposal to strengthen science and mathematics education in response to a community challenge from the Dunham Fund; and

WHEREAS, The John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School was authorized by Public Act 98-786, which provided that 2 or more contiguous school districts with all or a portion of their territory located within the same municipality may provide a math and science partnership school through an institution of higher learning; and

WHEREAS, Aurora University, Aurora East School District 131, Aurora West School District 129, Batavia School District 101, and Indian Prairie School District 204 entered into a governing agreement to operate the John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School under this law to inspire students to transformative academic achievement in science and mathematics; and

WHEREAS, Corporations, businesses, not-for-profits, and government entities have partnered with Aurora University and the school districts to develop and implement a curriculum that utilizes the community and University as a laboratory; and

WHEREAS, The success of the school's vision and model depends in large measure on the ongoing commitment of its partners; and

WHEREAS, The John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School can serve as a national model of education that can be replicated in other municipalities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge other school districts around the State of Illinois to look to the John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School as a replicable model for education and to take similar actions in establishing math and science partnership schools.