105 ILCS 5/2-3.191

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.191)

Sec. 2-3.191. State Education Equity Committee.

(a) The General Assembly finds that this State has an urgent and collective responsibility to achieve educational equity by ensuring that all policies, programs, and practices affirm the strengths that each and every child brings with diverse backgrounds and life experiences and by delivering the comprehensive support, programs, and educational opportunities children need to succeed.

(b) The State Education Equity Committee is created within the State Board of Education to strive toward ensuring equity in education for all children from birth through grade 12.

(c) The Committee shall consist of the State Superintendent of Education or the State Superintendent's designee, who shall serve as chairperson, and one member from each of the following organizations appointed by the State Superintendent:

(1) At least 2 educators who each represent a different statewide professional teachers' organization.

(2) A professional teachers' organization located in a city having a population exceeding 500,000.

(3) A statewide association representing school administrators.

(4) A statewide association representing regional superintendents of schools.

(5) A statewide association representing school board members.

(6) A statewide association representing school principals.

(7) A school district serving a community with a population of 500,000 or more.

(8) A parent-led organization.

(9) A student-led organization.

(10) One community organization that works to foster safe and healthy environments through advocacy for immigrant families and ensuring equitable opportunities for educational advancement and economic development.

(11) An organization that works for economic, educational, and social progress for African Americans and promotes strong sustainable communities through advocacy, collaboration, and innovation.

(12) One statewide organization whose focus is to narrow or close the achievement gap between students of color and their peers.

(13) An organization that advocates for healthier school environments in this State.

(14) One statewide organization that advocates for partnerships among schools, families, and the community, provides access to support, and removes barriers to learning and development, using schools as hubs.

(15) One organization that advocates for the health and safety of Illinois youth and families by providing capacity building services.

(16) An organization dedicated to advocating for public policies to prevent homelessness.

(17) Other appropriate State agencies as determined by the State Superintendent.

(18) An organization that works for economic, educational, and social progress for Native Americans and promotes strong sustainable communities through advocacy, collaboration, and innovation.

(19) A individual with a disability or a statewide organization representing or advocating on behalf of individuals with disabilities. As used in this paragraph, "disability" has the meaning given to that term in Section 10 of the Disabilities Services Act of 2003.

Members appointed to the Committee must reflect, as much as possible, the racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity of this State.

(d) Members appointed by the State Superintendent shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses, including travel, from funds appropriated to the State Board of Education for that purpose, subject to the rules of the appropriate travel control board.

(e) The Committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson, but shall meet no less than 3 times a year.

(f) The Committee shall recognize that, while progress has been made, much remains to be done to address systemic inequities and ensure each and every child is equipped to reach the child's fullest potential and shall:

(1) guide its work through the principles of equity, equality, collaboration, and community;

(2) focus its work around the overarching goals of student learning, learning conditions, and elevating educators, all underpinned by equity;

(3) identify evidence-based practices or policies around these goals to build on this State's progress of ensuring educational equity for all its students in all aspects of birth through grade 12 education; and

(4) seek input and feedback on identified evidence-based practices or policies from stakeholders, including, but not limited to, parents, students, and educators that reflect the rich diversity of Illinois students.

(g) The Committee shall submit its recommendations to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education no later than January 31, 2022. By no later than December 15, 2023 and each year thereafter, the Committee shall report to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education about the additional progress that has been made to achieve educational equity.

(h) As part of the report required under subsection (g), by no later than December 15, 2024, the Committee shall provide recommendations that may assist the State Board of Education in identifying diverse subject matter experts to help inform policy through task forces, committees, and commissions the State Board oversees.

(i) On and after January 31, 2025, subsection (h) is inoperative.

(Source: P.A. 102-458, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-422, eff. 8-4-23.)