Bill Text: IL SR0560 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Creates the Task Force on Eliminating Racial Bias in Suspensions and Expulsions to examine the causes of the racial gap in suspension and expulsion rates and submit a report to the General Assembly by April 15, 2010.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-03-11 - Resolution Adopted as Amended 053-000-000 [SR0560 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-SR0560-Enrolled.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 560
WHEREAS, A recent analysis shows that more than half of all
Illinois children suspended from public schools are
African-American, even though they represent less than
one-fifth of the enrollment; and
WHEREAS, Expulsion rates also disproportionally hit
African-American students, causing them to miss more classroom
instruction time, which leads to increased rates of dropouts,
joblessness, and incarceration; and
WHEREAS, In the last decade, suspensions of
African-American students have escalated by 75% while those of
white students have dropped more than 5%; white students are
expelled 16% more often than they were 10 years ago, but
African-American students are expelled 56% more often; and
WHEREAS, Caucasian students make up nearly three-fifths of
public school enrollment, yet in the most recent data, they
account for one-third or fewer of both suspensions and
expulsions; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Task Force on
Eliminating Racial Bias in Suspensions and Expulsions be

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convened, consisting of 15 members, who shall serve without
compensation, as follows:
(1) one member appointed by the Governor, who shall
serve as chair;
(2) one member appointed by the President of the
Senate;
(3) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives;
(4) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
Senate;
(5) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
House of Representatives;
(6) one member appointed by the Chairperson of the
Illinois State Board of Education;
(7) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
recommendation of an association representing school
boards;
(8) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
recommendation of the Chicago Board of Education;
(9) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
recommendation of an organization representing teachers;
(10) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
recommendation of a different organization representing
teachers;
(11) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
recommendation of an association representing regional

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superintendents, who shall have expertise in administering
a regional safe school program; and
(12) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
recommendation of an organization representing collar
county school districts;
(13) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
recommendation of an organization representing suburban
school districts;
(14) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
recommendation of an organization representing large unit
school districts; and
(15) one member appointed by the Governor upon the
recommendation of an organization representing parents and
teachers; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall examine the causes of
the racial gap in suspension and expulsion rates, consider the
long-term implications of the inequity, and issue a report to
the General Assembly by May 1, 2010 that makes recommendations
for removing bias from the suspension and expulsion processes;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be dissolved upon
filing its report with the General Assembly.