SB1787 EngrossedLRB103 25387 RJT 51733 b SB1787 Engrossed LRB103 25387 RJT 51733 b
SB1787 Engrossed LRB103 25387 RJT 51733 b
1 AN ACT concerning education.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
5 22-95 as follows:
6 (105 ILCS 5/22-95 new)
7 Sec. 22-95. Rural Education Advisory Council.
8 (a) The Rural Education Advisory Council is created as a
9 statewide advisory council to exchange thoughtful dialogue
10 concerning the needs, challenges, and opportunities of rural
11 schools districts and to provide policy recommendations to the
12 State. The Council shall perform all of the following
13 functions:
14 (1) Convey and impart the perspective of rural
15 communities and provide context during policy discussions
16 on various statewide issues with the State Superintendent
17 of Education and State Board of Education.
18 (2) Present to the State Superintendent of Education
19 the opportunity to provide an explanation to rural
20 communities about the statewide perspective with regard to
21 various policy and legal issues, to present feedback on
22 critical issues facing rural communities, to generate
23 ideas, and to communicate information to the State
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1 Superintendent.
2 (3) Provide feedback about this State's
3 pre-kindergarten through grade 20 practices and policies
4 in order that the application of policies in rural areas
5 may be more fully understood.
6 (4) Analyze and monitor the continued impact of the
7 implementation of Public Act 100-465 on school districts
8 and to provide a rural perspective on the continued
9 funding challenges faced by schools.
10 (b) The Council shall consist of all of the following
11 members:
12 (1) The State Superintendent of Education or his or
13 her designee.
14 (2) The Executive Director of the Association of
15 Illinois Rural and Small Schools or his or her designee
16 appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
17 (3) The Executive Director of the Illinois Community
18 College Board or his or her designee.
19 (4) Five superintendents of rural school districts who
20 represent 3 super-regions of this State recommended by the
21 Executive Director of the Association of Illinois Rural
22 and Small Schools and appointed by the State
23 Superintendent of Education.
24 (5) One principal from a rural school district
25 recommended by the Illinois Principal Association and
26 appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
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1 (6) One representative from the Illinois Association
2 of School Boards appointed by the State Superintendent of
3 Education.
4 (7) One representative from the Board of Directors of
5 the Illinois Association of School Administrators
6 appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
7 (8) The President of the Illinois Association of
8 Regional School Superintendents or his or her designee
9 appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.
10 (9) One student who is at least 16 years old and who is
11 from a rural school district that is eligible under the
12 federal Rural Education Achievement Program appointed by
13 the State Superintendent of Education from a list of
14 students nominated by school principals.
15 Council members shall serve without compensation, but
16 shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary
17 expenses from funds appropriated to the State Board of
18 Education for that purpose.
19 (c) The Council shall meet initially at the call of the
20 State Superintendent of Education, shall select one member as
21 chairperson at its initial meeting, and shall thereafter meet
22 at the call of the chairperson.
23 (d) The State Board of Education shall provide
24 administrative and other support to the Council, with
25 assistance from the Association of Illinois Rural and Small
26 Schools. Support shall include all of the following:
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1 (1) To collaborate with the State Superintendent of
2 Education to create a clear and strategically focused
3 agenda with expected outcomes.
4 (2) To gather input from the Council and other
5 stakeholders to ensure that meetings are productive.
6 (3) To coordinate with presenters to ensure that
7 presentations are designed to prompt discussions and
8 problem solving.
9 (4) To assist with necessary research and content
10 creation between Council meetings.
11 (5) To cooperate with other State agencies and the
12 General Assembly to assist in keeping the Council informed
13 of major policy developments that may impact rural schools
14 and students.
15 (6) To take meeting minutes and work with the Council
16 to ensure that Open Meetings Act requirements are
17 satisfied.
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