SJ0059 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0059 LRB095 12320 NHT 36966 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has a responsibility to educate its citizens for success in the global economy; and

WHEREAS, Postsecondary education plays an increasingly important role in preparing Illinois residents for the demands of the modern workforce; and

WHEREAS, It is essential for Illinois' schools and colleges and universities to collaborate on measures to ensure that students are well-prepared to succeed in postsecondary education and in the workplace; and

WHEREAS, Nationally, one in 3 first-year students in postsecondary education require remedial coursework; and

WHEREAS, The senior year of high school could be profitably used by students to become better prepared for college or to take advanced coursework for college credit; and

WHEREAS, All Illinois high school juniors take the Prairie State Achievement Examination, which assesses college readiness; and

WHEREAS, Data on student performance, both in kindergarten through grade 12 schools and in higher education, is crucial for improving curriculum, teaching, and learning; and

WHEREAS, The data available in the existing High School Feedback Report reported by public universities could be improved as a guide to high schools and policymakers in improving curriculum and pedagogy, but is currently inaccessible to State policymakers; and

WHEREAS, Implementing an effective feedback report can provide valuable tools for the assessment of student performance, the improvement of teaching and learning, and the alignment of graduation standards and curriculum with collegiate demands and expectations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Community College Board, the State Board of Education, and the Board of Higher Education are directed to develop a plan for using the Prairie State Achievement Examination to gauge students' college readiness, including the ability to place in college-level courses; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Board of Higher Education shall develop a plan to use Prairie State Achievement Examination results to shape students' senior-year curricula, including any necessary remediation, in order to ensure college readiness upon high school graduation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Board of Higher Education, in conjunction with testing services, shall develop a new high school feedback report to better inform high school administrators and education policymakers about students' performance during their first year at postsecondary institutions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the new high school feedback report be available to the State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Board of Higher Education and that it be made public; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board, and the Board of Higher Education.