HR0172 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0172 LRB096 11974 KXB 23609 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Every hour, every school day, 16 students become dropouts in Chicago, and the majority of these students are African-American and Latino; and

WHEREAS, Youth Connection Charter School is a not-for-profit charter school association that caters to drop-out students, allowing them a second chance to earn a degree and providing them with professional skills to achieve rewarding careers; and

WHEREAS, The average dropout rate for Chicago Public Schools for the past five years was 41%; alarmingly, the average age of a student who drops out is 18 or 19, and the average reading comprehension is at the 7th grade level; forty percent of these dropouts read below a sixth grade level; and

WHEREAS, 75 percent of America's state prison inmates are high school dropouts; additionally, young adults who become dropouts are more than three times more likely than high school graduates to be arrested in their lifetime; and

WHEREAS, It is tragically clear that a high number of high school dropouts do not achieve at the same level that people with high school degrees, more frequently are incarcerated, and are predominately African-American or Latino; and

WHEREAS, The Chicago Public Schools has been battling the problem of high drop-out rates, but sadly the number has not been able to drop below 40%; and

WHEREAS, Youth Connection Charter School re-enrolls high school dropouts, and achieves a higher graduation rate than Chicago Public Schools with this already marginalized population; and

WHEREAS, Youth Connection Charter School has a current waiting list of 1,200 students; sadly, these students who are unable to enroll face the same challenges and negative consequences that other drop-outs face, despite the fact that they are trying to obtain a degree; and

WHEREAS, It is our obligation as a society to ensure that all students regardless of race or socioeconomic status have the right to achieve a high quality secondary education, and Youth Connection Charter School has the ability and the capacity to help more young adults reach the achievement of obtaining a high school diploma; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we request that Chicago Public Schools allocate 2,100 seats to Youth Connection Charter School over a seven-year period to address the immediate and urgent need to help as many young adults as possible achieve an education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman.