Villanueva champions measure for students seeking need-based education financial assistance
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SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Celina Villanueva championed a measure that prohibits students from changing their guardianship in efforts to qualify for need-based financial aid for college.
“Students that are experiencing financial hardships should not feel pressured to change their guardianship in order to receive need-based financial aid,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “It is imperative that legislation is put in place to ensure that students who are seeking need-based financial receive the resources they need without being penalized due to of their financial hardships.”
Senate Bill 195 is a direct response to previous public reports that Illinois students became eligible for need-based education financial assistance through the practice of "Opportunity Hoarding." Opportunity hoarding is the practice of exploiting a loophole in the Probate Act by transferring legal guardianship from a parent to a relative or friend in lower income brackets or by declaring financial independence.
Pacione-Zayas, Turner support strong proposal for early education investments
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senators Cristina Pacione-Zayas and Doris Turner stood in support of the governor’s proposed budget that would make a strong investment in early childhood education at a press conference on Thursday.
“I am pleased to join Governor Pritzker in leading Illinois to be the best state to raise young children. Together with my colleagues in the General Assembly we will make historic investments to optimize early childhood development, support families, and bolster early childhood professionals,” said Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago). “Delivering this message directly to providers and families will be crucial for gaining support to advance the proposal to victory.”
The proposal would put a total of $250 million toward a new program – SMART Start Illinois – a multi-year program to provide investments in preparing children to be lifelong learners. The plan laid out Wednesday included a $75 million investment for the Illinois State Board of Education’s Early Childhood Block Grant to increase preschool availability and provide every Illinois child with access to a preschool spot if they want one.
Read more: Pacione-Zayas, Turner support strong proposal for early education investments
Black Caucus outlines vision for upcoming session
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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus announced they will focus on passing a balanced budget that uplifts low-income and working families and enhances classroom and early childhood education.
“The governor’s proposed budget showcases a continual dedication to fund programs that promote public safety and equity for all Illinois residents,” said State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago). “A budget proposal that contains investments in schools, small businesses, working families and our environment reframes key investments that have traditionally left out Black and Brown communities and is a step toward progress.”
After Governor JB Pritzker outlined his legislative priorities, the Black Caucus highlighted the importance of putting the voices and needs of Illinois’ Black communities at the forefront of upcoming budget negotiations.
Read more: Black Caucus outlines vision for upcoming session
Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus reacts to governor’s budget address
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SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus expressed support for a number of proposals outlined in the governor’s budget address Wednesday.
“We need a budget that addresses the lack of immigration rights, health and education equity, economic justice for workers, and proper representation for Latino communities,” said joint Latino Caucus Chair Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago). “One of our top priorities in this year’s budget is to ensure that equitable opportunities are created for Latino communities in Illinois to live a healthy and sustainable life.”
Latino Caucus members were pleased to hear the governor commitment to increasing education and health equity. The governor is proposing a $350 million investment to HOME Illinois, a program through the Department of Human Services that targets the prevention of homelessness, provides crisis response, expands housing support and increases job opportunities for the homeless. To ensure equity in education, the proposed budget would continue the $350 million increase toward the evidence based funding model for k-12 education.
Read more: Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus reacts to governor’s budget address
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