HR0396 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0396 LRB095 12066 NHT 35867 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001(NCLB) requires reauthorization in 2007; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the United States Congress to address the following concerns when considering the reauthorization of NCLB:

(1) allow states the flexibility to use growth model assessment models to enhance existing measures of student progress;

(2) provide flexibility in program implementation with respect to varying student and teacher needs related to diversity of geography, wealth, and background;

(3) revise assessment guidelines for special needs students so that such students are more fairly assessed considering their specific individualized education programs and, therefore, better served;

(4) resolve other contradictions between NCLB and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA);

(5) address issues arising from students who are counted in multiple groups when determining adequate yearly progress;

(6) allow schools to offer, and provide full funding for, important supplemental education services before schools are forced to offer choice;

(7) provide greater flexibility when determining the sizes of groups regarding assessment subgroups;

(8) school improvement grants must be funded so that the sanctions placed on schools will result in improved student achievement and the reversal of negative trends;

(9) seek greater consistency in state certification criteria and the federal "highly qualified" designation;

(10) the highly qualified teacher provisions of NCLB require clarification, greater flexibility regarding alignment with state certification, and appropriate, specific, technical assistance in order to ensure compliance; and

(11) resident school districts of special needs students attending private schools must pay for IDEA services delivered at a private school; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to President of the United States George W. Bush, United States Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, and each member of the Illinois congressional delegation.