Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SJR0002

SJ0002 LRB104 08170 ECR 18219 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Professional Review Panel is responsible for evaluating and recommending modifications to the Evidence-Based Funding Formula to ensure all students have access to a quality education, including special education resource services; and

WHEREAS, Special education resource services are provided by special education resource teachers who work outside of the general education classroom, providing specialized support to students with disabilities in one-on-one or small group settings or by providing support through other forms of specialized instruction such as co-teaching; and

WHEREAS, High caseloads, meaning the number of students assigned to an individual special education resource teacher, are contributing to Illinois' teacher shortage and are adversely impacting the special education resource services districts can provide; and

WHEREAS, California, for example, has a maximum caseload of 28 students for special education resource specialists; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Education Association, in alignment with California and the California Teachers Association, recommends a maximum caseload of 28 students for special education resource specialists; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we direct the Professional Review Panel and the Illinois State Board of Education to conduct the analysis and financial modeling required to evaluate the effects of implementing the recommended maximum caseloads for special education resource teachers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Professional Review Panel and the Illinois State Board of Education shall submit their findings in a written report to the General Assembly and Governor by December 31, 2026.