(105 ILCS 5/22-45)
Sec. 22-45. Illinois P-20 Council.
(a) The General Assembly finds that preparing Illinoisans for success in school and the workplace requires a continuum of quality education from preschool through graduate school. This State needs a framework to guide education policy and integrate education at every level. A statewide coordinating council to study and make recommendations concerning education at all levels can avoid fragmentation of policies, promote improved teaching and learning, and continue to cultivate and demonstrate strong accountability and efficiency. Establishing an Illinois P-20 Council will develop a statewide agenda that will move the State towards the common goals of improving academic achievement, increasing college access and success, improving use of existing data and measurements, developing improved accountability, fostering innovative approaches to education, promoting lifelong learning, easing the transition to college, and reducing remediation. A pre-kindergarten through grade 20 agenda will strengthen this State's economic competitiveness by producing a highly-skilled workforce. In addition, lifelong learning plans will enhance this State's ability to leverage funding.
(b) There is created the Illinois P-20 Council. The Illinois P-20 Council shall include all of the following members:
(1) The Governor or his or her designee, to serve as
chairperson.
(2) Four members of the General Assembly, one
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the President of the Senate, and one appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.
(3) Six at-large members appointed by the Governor as
follows, with 2 members being from the City of Chicago, 2 members being from Lake County, McHenry County, Kane County, DuPage County, Will County, or that part of Cook County outside of the City of Chicago, and 2 members being from the remainder of the State:
(A) one representative of civic leaders;
(B) one representative of local government;
(C) one representative of trade unions;
(D) one representative of nonprofit organizations
or foundations;
(E) one representative of parents' organizations;
and
(F) one education research expert.
(4) Five members appointed by statewide business
organizations and business trade associations.
(5) Six members appointed by statewide professional
organizations and associations representing pre-kindergarten through grade 20 teachers, community college faculty, and public university faculty.
(6) Two members appointed by associations
representing local school administrators and school board members. One of these members must be a special education administrator.
(7) One member representing community colleges,
appointed by the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents.
(8) One member representing 4-year independent
colleges and universities, appointed by a statewide organization representing private institutions of higher learning.
(9) One member representing public 4-year
universities, appointed jointly by the university presidents and chancellors.
(10) Ex-officio members as follows:
(A) The State Superintendent of Education or his
or her designee.
(B) The Executive Director of the Board of Higher
Education or his or her designee.
(C) The Executive Director of the Illinois
Community College Board or his or her designee.
(D) The Executive Director of the Illinois
Student Assistance Commission or his or her designee.
(E) The Co-chairpersons of the Illinois
Workforce Investment Board or their designee.
(F) The Director of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity or his or her designee.
(G) The Chairperson of the Illinois Early
Learning Council or his or her designee.
(H) The President of the Illinois Mathematics and
Science Academy or his or her designee.
(I) The president of an association representing
educators of adult learners or his or her designee. Ex-officio members shall have no vote on the Illinois P-20 Council.
Appointed members shall serve for staggered terms expiring on July 1 of the first, second, or third calendar year following their appointments or until their successors are appointed and have qualified. Staggered terms shall be determined by lot at the organizing meeting of the Illinois P-20 Council.
Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments, and any member so appointed shall serve during the remainder of the term for which the vacancy occurred.
(c) The Illinois P-20 Council shall be funded through State appropriations to support staff activities, research, data-collection, and dissemination. The Illinois P-20 Council shall be staffed by the Office of the Governor, in coordination with relevant State agencies, boards, and commissions. The Illinois Education Research Council shall provide research and coordinate research collection activities for the Illinois P-20 Council.
(d) The Illinois P-20 Council shall have all of the following duties:
(1) To make recommendations to do all of the
following:
(A) Coordinate pre-kindergarten through grade 20
(graduate school) education in this State through working at the intersections of educational systems to promote collaborative infrastructure.
(B) Coordinate and leverage strategies, actions,
legislation, policies, and resources of all stakeholders to support fundamental and lasting improvement in this State's public schools, community colleges, and universities.
(C) Better align the high school curriculum with
postsecondary expectations.
(D) Better align assessments across all levels of
education.
(E) Reduce the need for students entering
institutions of higher education to take remedial courses.
(F) Smooth the transition from high school to
college.
(G) Improve high school and college graduation
rates.
(H) Improve the rigor and relevance of academic
standards for college and workforce readiness.
(I) Better align college and university teaching
programs with the needs of Illinois schools.
(2) To advise the Governor, the General Assembly,
the State's education and higher education agencies, and the State's workforce and economic development boards and agencies on policies related to lifelong learning for Illinois students and families.
(3) To articulate a framework for systemic
educational improvement and innovation that will enable every student to meet or exceed Illinois learning standards and be well-prepared to succeed in the workforce and community.
(4) To provide an estimated fiscal impact for
implementation of all Council recommendations.
(e) The chairperson of the Illinois P-20 Council may authorize the creation of working groups focusing on areas of interest to Illinois educational and workforce development, including without limitation the following areas:
(1) Preparation, recruitment, and certification of
highly qualified teachers.
(2) Mentoring and induction of highly qualified
teachers.
(3) The diversity of highly qualified teachers.
(4) Funding for highly qualified teachers, including
developing a strategic and collaborative plan to seek federal and private grants to support initiatives targeting teacher preparation and its impact on student achievement.
(5) Highly effective administrators.
(6) Illinois birth through age 3 education,
pre-kindergarten, and early childhood education.
(7) The assessment, alignment, outreach, and network
of college and workforce readiness efforts.
(8) Alternative routes to college access.
(9) Research data and accountability.
(10) Community schools, community participation, and
other innovative approaches to education that foster community partnerships.
The chairperson of the Illinois P-20 Council may designate Council members to serve as working group chairpersons. Working groups may invite organizations and individuals representing pre-kindergarten through grade 20 interests to participate in discussions, data collection, and dissemination.
(Source: P.A. 98-463, eff. 8-16-13; 98-719, eff. 1-1-15.)
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Last modified: February 18, 2015