IL SJR0020

Local School Councils were established under the Chicago School Reform Act of 1988 to empower parents, community members, teachers, and students in Chicago Public Schools governance.

Research from Designs for Change and the Consortium on Chicago School Research indicates that Local School Councils have been critical to school improvement and are viable governance organizations actively building school-community partnerships.

The resolution acknowledges insufficient institutional support for Local School Councils despite research showing no evidence they are ineffective as vehicles for local school leadership.

The Illinois Senate and House of Representatives support empowering Local School Councils as effective, publicly-elected decision-making bodies in Chicago.

The General Assembly commits to sponsoring subject-matter hearings on Local School Council needs to ensure their continued success.