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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, In Illinois, more than 1.2 million adults do not
3have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate and
4approximately 2.73 million immigrants speak a language other
5than English in their homes; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In Illinois, adult learners have access to basic
7education and literacy activities, high quality career
8pathways, postsecondary education, and training programs in
9high demand occupations; and
 
10    WHEREAS, With the passage and implementation of the federal
11Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, adult
12education has a greater emphasis on employability and technical
13skills training; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Illinois now has three exams approved for
15determining high school equivalency, giving adult education
16students more options for testing, including both
17computer-based and paper-based testing formats; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Eighty-three adult education providers across
19Illinois offer programs funded through the Illinois Community
20College Board that provide comprehensive instruction to more
21than 82,000 learners each year; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, "Creating Pathways for Adult Learners: A
2Visioning Document for the Illinois Adult Education and Family
3Literacy Program" was written in November of 2009 and intended
4to guide operations for a five year period; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Illinois Community College Board has the
6statutory authority over adult education and high school
7equivalency testing; therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
10CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Statewide Task
11Force on the Future of Adult Education and Literacy within the
12Illinois Community College Board; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the
14following members:
 
15        (1) the Executive Director of the Illinois Community
16    College Board or his or her designee, who is to serve as
17    Chair of the Task Force;
 
18        (2) the Chair of the Illinois Community College Board
19    or his or her designee;
 

 

 

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1        (3) the Secretary of Education or his or her designee;
 
2        (4) the Secretary of State or his or her designee;
 
3        (5) the State Superintendent of the Illinois Board of
4    Education or his or her designee;
 
5        (6) the Executive Director of the Illinois Board of
6    Higher Education or his or her designee;
 
7        (7) the Executive Director of the Illinois Student
8    Assistance Commission or his or her designee;
 
9        (8) the Executive Director of the Department of
10    Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee;
 
11        (9) the Executive Director of the Department of
12    Employment Security or his or her designee;
 
13        (10) the Executive Director of the Department of Human
14    Services or his or her designee;
 
15        (11) one member of the General Assembly, appointed by
16    the President of the Senate;
 
17        (12) one member of the General Assembly, appointed by

 

 

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1    the Minority Leader of the Senate;
 
2        (13) one member of the General Assembly, appointed by
3    the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
 
4        (14) one member of the General Assembly, appointed by
5    the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;
 
6        (15) a representative of a statewide association
7    representing regional superintendents of schools,
8    appointed by the Executive Director of the Illinois
9    Community College Board;
 
10        (16) a representative of a statewide association
11    representing adult and continuing educators, appointed by
12    the Executive Director of the Illinois Community College
13    Board;
 
14        (17) a president or chief executive officer of a
15    community college, appointed by the Executive Director of
16    the Illinois Community College Board;
 
17        (18) a member of the philanthropic community,
18    appointed by the Executive Director of the Illinois
19    Community College Board;
 

 

 

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1        (19) a representative of a nonprofit, community-based
2    organization that provides adult education programs,
3    appointed by the Executive Director of the Illinois
4    Community College;
 
5        (20) a representative of a community college that
6    provides adult education programs, appointed by the
7    Executive Director of the Illinois Community College
8    Board;
 
9        (21) a representative of a local education agency that
10    provides adult education programs, appointed by the
11    Executive Director of the Illinois Community College
12    Board; and
 
13        (22) a representative of a postsecondary Career and
14    Technical Education program; appointed by the Executive
15    Director of the Illinois Community College Board; and be it
16    further
 
17    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall create a statewide
18strategic plan for adult education and literacy that shall
19consider, but not be limited to, all of the following:
 
20        (1) demographics of the State's population;
 

 

 

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1        (2) the State's economic and educational conditions;
 
2        (3) current and projected needs of the State's adult
3    residents with low literacy skills, without a high school
4    diploma and those who have limited English speaking skills;
 
5        (4) options for adults without a high school diploma;
 
6        (5) the federal Adult Education funding guidelines;
 
7        (6) student pipeline issues, including college and
8    career readiness, transitions to college or training
9    programs, and postsecondary retention, transfer, and
10    graduation rates;
 
11        (7) curriculum and instruction, professional
12    development, assessment, and program design;
 
13        (8) productivity and accountability;
 
14        (9) innovation in approaches to teaching and learning
15    for adult learners;
 
16        (10) workforce readiness; and
 
17        (11) partnerships involving, Workforce Innovation and

 

 

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1    Opportunity Act partner agencies, higher education,
2    nonprofits, and business; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall seek input from
4stakeholders and members of the public on the issues to be
5reviewed and reported on by the Task Force; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That members of the Task Force shall serve
7without compensation and the Illinois Community College Board
8shall provide administrative and other support to the Task
9Force; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report to the General
11Assembly and the Governor on or before January 31, 2018 with a
12strategic plan for adult education that includes a series of
13recommendations and priority actions to guide the State agency
14responsible for adult education and literacy services over the
15next five years; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That the Task Force is dissolved upon the filing
17of its final report.