<tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><p> </p> </td></tr></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><table class="xsl" width="100%"><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="30%"></colgroup><colgroup width="20%"></colgroup><colgroup width="40%"></colgroup><tr><td class="number"></td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" align="left">SR0308</td><td class="xsl" align="center"></td><td class="xsl" align="right">LRB104 13529 ECR 25999 r</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl"> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">1</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><center><code>SENATE RESOLUTION</code></center> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">2</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, The National Board for Professional Teaching </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">3</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Standards was established to advance the quality of teaching </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">4</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>and learning by developing rigorous standards for accomplished </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">5</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>teaching, and Illinois became one of the first states to </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">6</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>support this initiative by creating the Illinois Teaching </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">7</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Excellence Program for National Board Certified Teachers </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">8</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>(NBCTs) in 1999; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">9</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, The year 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">10</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>National Board Certification in Illinois, recognizing a </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">11</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>quarter century of commitment to teaching excellence, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">12</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>educational leadership, and student achievement across the </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">13</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>State; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">14</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, The Illinois Teaching Excellence Program has been </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">15</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>instrumental in promoting National Board Certification, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">16</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>supporting teacher candidates throughout the rigorous </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">17</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>certification process, and advocating for professional </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">18</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>development and leadership opportunities for Illinois </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">19</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>educators; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">20</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, National Board Certification represents the </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">21</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>highest standard of the teaching profession, with candidates </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">22</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>demonstrating expertise across content knowledge, pedagogical </code></td></tr></table><table class="xsl" width="650"><tr><td class="lineNum" colspan="3"><p> </p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><table class="xsl" width="100%"><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="30%"></colgroup><colgroup width="20%"></colgroup><colgroup width="40%"></colgroup><tr><td class="number"></td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" align="left">SR0308</td><td class="xsl" align="center">- 2 -</td><td class="xsl" align="right">LRB104 13529 ECR 25999 r</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl"> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">1</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>skills, and reflective teaching practices; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">2</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Research consistently demonstrates that students </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">3</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>of NBCTs achieve higher academic gains, with particularly </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">4</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>strong impacts in high-needs and Title I schools; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">5</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Illinois currently ranks among the top states in </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">6</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>the nation for the number of National Board Certified </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">7</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>teachers, with over 7,000 NBCTs statewide working across </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">8</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>public schools, charter schools, and educational cooperatives; </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">9</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">10</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, The State Board of Education and the General </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">11</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Assembly have both supported certification through candidate </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">12</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>subsidies, incentives, and recognition programs, affirming the </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">13</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>State's investment in teaching quality and student outcomes; </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">14</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">15</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, NBCTs in Illinois often serve in critical </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">16</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>leadership roles, such as mentors, instructional coaches, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">17</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>administrators, and policy advocates, leading to the elevation </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">18</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>of the profession while improving school performance; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">19</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, NBCTs are also noted for their longevity and </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">20</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>dedication, contributing to higher teacher retention rates, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">21</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>thereby helping to address workforce shortages and strengthen </code></td></tr></table><table class="xsl" width="650"><tr><td class="lineNum" colspan="3"><p> </p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><table class="xsl" width="100%"><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="30%"></colgroup><colgroup width="20%"></colgroup><colgroup width="40%"></colgroup><tr><td class="number"></td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" align="left">SR0308</td><td class="xsl" align="center">- 3 -</td><td class="xsl" align="right">LRB104 13529 ECR 25999 r</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl"> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">1</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>educational continuity for Illinois students; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">2</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, In 2024 alone, Illinois had 94 new teachers </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">3</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>achieve National Board Certification and 206 NBCTs renew their </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">4</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>certification, reflecting the ongoing growth and impact of the </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">5</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Illinois Teaching Excellence Program in the State; therefore, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">6</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>be it</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">7</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">8</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare September </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">9</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>2, 2025 as National Board Certified Teachers Recognition Day </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">10</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>in the State of Illinois in celebration of the 25th </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">11</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>anniversary of National Board Certification in Illinois and in </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">12</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>recognition of the contributions and accomplishments of </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">13</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>National Board Certified Teachers across the State; and be it </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">14</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>further</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">15</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">16</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>presented to the Governor, the State Superintendent of </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">17</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Education, the National Board Resource Center at Illinois </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">18</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>State University, and the National Board for Professional </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">19</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Teaching Standards as a symbol of our esteem and respect.</code>