Executive Order

              x.fJds.9' ::Z-OZge;c
~C70c:2
No I
Q... .3
!VIAl( U1 iUOL
ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 1 (2002)
EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATING
THE ILUNOIS AGENDA FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
WHEREAS, in 1998 the top priority of this administration was established as "excellence in education" for all Illinoisans of all ages who need training to keep pace in the skills required in the 21" Century economy, and
WHEREAS, the top budget priority for this administration was established as "education and workforce training," with a four-year pledge to earmark at least 51 percent of all new general revenue to these areas, and
WHEREAS, since January of 1999, this administration, on behalf of the people of the State of Illinois, has fulfilled its commitment to these top priorities and made significant strides in improving education and workforce development at all levels, including:
More than $1 A billion in new funding for education
The construction of 12,000 new classrooms
The hiring of 10,423 new teachers, strengthened efforts to recruit, traifl and retain
good teachers
A renewed emphasis on high standards for students and regular testing to "measure
success against those standards
An expansion of and greater commitment to early childhood education
The creation of educational incentives for childcare workers
An expansion of reading instruction, particularly in the lower primary grades"
The promotion of parental involvement
An increase in educational "choice" for families
A strong investment in classroom technology
The creation of three career academies for high school students to facilitate
advanced education in economics and finance, international studies and public policy
Improved leadership in education and policy coordination under the auspices of a
Deputy Governor for Education and Workforce Training and a Joint Education
Committee composed of the Governor's Office, the Illinois State Board of Education,
the Illinois Board of Higher Education the Illinois Community College Board and the
Workforce Investmen,t Board, and
WHEREAS, Illinois' system of higher education is rated as the best in the nation by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, and
WHEREAS, Illinois received an "A" in Education Week's "Quality Counts 2002" survey in recognition of the learning standards and accountability procedures that have been put in place since 1999, and since 1999, on average more than 60 percent of Illinois students tested have met or exceeded Illinois learning standards, and
WHEREAS, Illinois students and schools are headed in the right direction toward educational excellence, and it is imperative that the progress in educational excellence made over the last three years by the students of Illinois be maintained and strengthened, and
FILED
INDEX DEPARTMENT
FEB 26 2002
IN THE OFFICE OF
SECRETARY OF STATE