SPRINGFIELD – Senate Higher Education Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is breaking down barriers for Illinois students seeking a college education with his free textbook incentive legislation that passed committee Tuesday.

“A huge issue that students seeking a college education face today is affordability of course materials,” Bennett said. “By eliminating a significant educational expense for our students staying in-state for college, we are removing a huge financial burden for students and families.”

According to The College Board, the average student budget for college books and supplies during the 2020-2021 academic year was $1,298 at four-year public institutions. A survey conducted by the U.S. PIRG found that 65% of students decided not to buy a textbook because of the cost, and 94% of those students worried it would negatively affect their grade.

SPRINGFIELD – When survivors of abuse or domestic violence are in need of a protective order, they often hesitate due to the agonizing trauma it stirs up, or worse, out of fear of being stopped by their abuser. To give survivors a safer, more comfortable way to file for a protective order, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is leading a measure to allow people to request such documentation through virtual means.

“Survivors of abuse and domestic violence often face much grief and trauma about their situation – regardless of how much time has passed,” Stadelman said. “Having to face someone and talk about what they’ve gone through can be extremely difficult – bringing that trauma to the forefront of their mind. By allowing people to file for orders of protection at home, survivors will feel safer and more comfortable.”

 Stadelman’s measure would give people the option to file a protective order by email or online, in addition to in-person. The measure would also require any court in a county with a population above 250,000 to offer the option of a remote hearing to the petitioner for a protective order. Both the petitioner and the respondent would be allowed to appear for related hearings remotely or in-person.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) continues her longstanding efforts to make the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services a more effective agency with the introduction of a number of bills that will further protect our state's most vulnerable population.

"As a senator, one of my top priorities has been, and always will be, protecting our at-risk youth and providing them with opportunities to help their futures soar," Morrison said. "These two pieces of legislation, along with others in my legislative package, will provide additional tools that will strengthen the ability of DCFS to help those in its care."

SPRINGFIELD – Application fees may soon be waived for short-term substitute teaching licenses under a plan by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) that advanced out of the Senate Education Committee Tuesday. 

“Staffing is one of the most important, if not the most important, challenges that our schools are facing during this awful pandemic,” said Senate Education Committee Vice-Chair Loughran Cappel. “We have a responsibility to do all we can to ensure our students have access to teachers, and it’s my goal to get them there.”

SPRINGFIELD – When students struggle with reading comprehension, they often struggle in other areas of education. To address this issue, Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood), Illinois Senate Majority Leader, is sponsoring a measure to increase students' literacy and reading comprehension. 

"Children with strong reading abilities oftentimes have a confident approach to their education," Lightford said. "It’s critical for educators to focus on developing a child’s literacy development within the early stages."

Senate Bill 3900 creates the Right to Read Act in the School Code to help students achieve greater levels of literacy and reading comprehension at an early age through evidence-based literacy instruction. 

Additionally, educators will have additional professional development to ensure those teaching this new curriculum are given the proper tools to help mold our youth. A pilot program will be created to award Early Literacy Grants to districts that commit to comprehensive reform of core literacy curriculum and support for teachers implementing instruction of the new material.

Currently, only 37% of students in the third grade and 35% in the fourth grade met or exceeded learning standards in English Language Arts. Students who are not proficient readers in third grade are four times more likely not to finish high school and six times more likely if they live in a low-income family. Additionally, 85% of juvenile offenders struggle with reading, and 60% of inmates are illiterate. 

"Poor literacy can hurt a student's access to successful career opportunities which may persuade them to low-grade alternatives," Lightford said. "Reading comprehension skills are critical for success and help ensure students are prepared academically and professionally.” 

Senate Bill 3900 passed the Senate Education Committee and now heads to the Senate floor for further debate.

SPRINGFIELD – Schools fees may soon be waived for low-income students with veteran or active military parents under a measure by State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove).

“Veterans and active military members endure many hardships, and individuals with young children are finding it difficult to keep up with school fees,” Johnson said. “By offering support to our heroes and their families, we can assist them through a difficult financial time.”

SPRINGFIELD – To help eliminate the teacher shortage in Illinois, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) advanced a plan out of the Senate Education Committee to increase the number of days substitute teachers may cover for licensed teachers in the classroom.

“We need to provide our superintendents with every tool to assist with the ongoing teacher shortage,” Joyce said. “This legislation allows substitutes to stay in the same classroom for longer, giving students more consistency.”

Currently, Illinois law allows substitute teachers to cover for licensed teachers for up to 90 days. Joyce’s initiative would increase the amount of days substitute teachers can stay in the classroom to 120. This measure helps keep substitute teachers in the same classroom, instead of having to teach lessons they are less familiar with after 90 days.

SPRINGFIELD – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) passed legislation Tuesday to help the Kendall County Courthouse grow to serve the demand for additional facilities and more timely resolution of court cases for area residents.

Senate Bill 3737 would allow the county to finish space that was built but never completed, and to house additional judicial staff hired to support the increasing needs for court services in the growing county.