Educational Equity
Educational Equity within a school or school system is understood here as consisting of three indispensable conditions:
- Equal Access to all available benefits and services
- Equal Treatment within schools, in terms of quality of social interaction
- Equal Educational Outcomes for both genders and all racial/ethnic sub-groups identified within the school population.
Public Act 91-304 expands the membership and purpose of the Gender Equity Advisory Committee that was initially established in 1989 through Public Act 86-560. (105 ILCS 435/2.1.)
The purpose of the committee is to advise and consult with the Illinois State Board of Education in all aspects relating to ensuring that all students have equal educational opportunities to pursue high wage, high skill occupations leading to economic self-sufficiency. Committee members need to be appointed on a two year basis on odd number years.
Pursuant to
Public Act 102-0863 (effective 1/1/2023), on or before December 15, 2023, the Committee shall submit recommendations to the Governor, General Assembly, and State Board of Education regarding how school districts and the State Board of Education can better support historically disadvantaged males, including African American students and other students of color, to ensure educational equity.
The legislation states that membership shall include without limitation:
- One regional gender equity coordinator
- Two State Board of Education employees
- An appointee of the Director of Labor
- Five citizen appointees, who have expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- nontraditional training and placement
- service delivery to single parents
- service delivery to displaced homemakers
- service delivery to female teens
- business and industry experience
- and Education-to-Careers experience
Committee Information
