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92_HJ0010 LRB9205197NTsb 1 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, The improvement of standards for the delivery of 3 educational services has resulted in a recognition of a need 4 for programs of increased accountability, qualifications, and 5 demonstrated competency of instructional personnel in the 6 public schools; and 7 WHEREAS, Paraprofessionals in the classrooms are an 8 integral and necessary part of the instructional program of 9 public schools and must be recognized as vital partners in 10 the quest for educational excellence and reform; and 11 WHEREAS, National professional organizations representing 12 paraprofessionals have encouraged standards to ensure that 13 paraprofessionals are well prepared to work with children; 14 and 15 WHEREAS, Other states have studied and outlined 16 employment criteria and training requirements for 17 paraprofessionals; and 18 WHEREAS, The State of Illinois does not require any 19 specialized education for paraprofessionals working in 20 regular and special education programs; and 21 WHEREAS, The General Assembly has been a strong proponent 22 of education reform measures directed toward upgrading the 23 quality of public education, raising standards for teacher 24 certification, and increased responsibility and 25 accountability by instructional personnel; therefore, be it 26 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 27 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 28 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that for the purposes of this 29 Resolution, "paraprofessional" means an employee, other than 30 a teacher, in a school (i) whose position is either 31 instructional in nature or who delivers other direct services -2- LRB9205197NTsb 1 to students or their parents and (ii) who serves in a 2 position for which a teacher or another professional has the 3 ultimate responsibility for the design, implementation, and 4 evaluation of individual education programs or related 5 services and for student performance; and be it further 6 RESOLVED, That there is created the Task Force on 7 Paraprofessionals consisting of the following members: two 8 members of the Senate appointed by the President of the 9 Senate; two members of the House of Representatives appointed 10 by the Speaker of the House; one teacher who is a member of 11 the Illinois Federation of Teachers and one teacher who is a 12 member of the Illinois Education Association, each appointed 13 by the State Superintendent of Education; eight 14 paraprofessionals appointed by the State Superintendent of 15 Education, chosen from a list of nominees provided by the 16 Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education 17 Association in proportion to the membership of each 18 organization; one member appointed by the Illinois 19 Association of School Boards; one member appointed by the 20 Illinois Parent Teacher Association; one member appointed by 21 the Illinois Association of School Administrators; one member 22 from the State Teacher Certification Board appointed by the 23 State Superintendent of Education; one member representing 24 the higher education community appointed by the State 25 Superintendent of Education; one member representing the 26 Illinois Speech-Language-Hearing Association appointed by the 27 State Superintendent of Education; one member representing 28 the State Board of Education's Staff Development Division 29 appointed by the State Superintendent of Education; one 30 member representing a statewide council of special education 31 administrators appointed by the State Superintendent of 32 Education; and one member appointed by the Governor, who 33 shall serve as chairperson of the Task Force; and be it 34 further -3- LRB9205197NTsb 1 RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve 2 without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their 3 reasonable and necessary expenses from funds available for 4 that purpose; the State Board of Education shall provide 5 staff support to the Task Force; and be it further 6 RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall study and make 7 recommendations to the Governor on the licensure of 8 paraprofessionals who work with children in the public 9 schools of Illinois and shall determine entry level 10 standards, training and experience requirements for entering 11 the career, guidelines for education and experience 12 requirements for career advancement, appropriate roles and 13 responsibilities, and a mechanism to enhance job mobility 14 within and between school districts; and be it further 15 RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report its 16 recommendations to the Governor one year after the adoption 17 of this Resolution; and that upon filing its report the Task 18 Force is dissolved.