HB 2170: What s Included in the New Law Aimed at Improving Equity in Illinois Education System nbcchicago.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nbcchicago.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Illinois Legislative Black Caucus law broadens school programs for diverse rolls
By AP NEWS
CHICAGO - The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus celebrated another victory Monday in its multi-pronged approach to equity and fairness when its proposal to bolster public education became law.
The plan expands early childhood learning, invests in vocational training, aims to expand the teacher workforce and is intended to make college more affordable.
It’s another part of the so-called four-pillar approach the Black Caucus developed last summer to achieve equity after the police-involved deaths of George Floyd and other people of color. Other legislation addresses criminal justice, economic opportunity and health care.
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature made it law.
Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, a Democrat from Maywood, said the measure takes “a step toward ridding Illinois of the damaging policies and procedures built into our state’s systems of law and government that have created deep inequities and opportunity gaps in education for Black students.”
She said it would help children “accelerate their education” throughout their school years to qualify them for successful careers.
The law addresses all levels of public schooling. It expands early intervention for 3-year-olds and requires the Illinois State Board of Education to assess all children entering kindergarten for school readiness.
Black Caucus law broadens school programs for diverse rolls | WOOZ z100fm.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from z100fm.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Press release…
Building on efforts to improve education and career outcomes, Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation that expands access, equity and opportunity in Illinois’ education system. This legislation strengthens the state’s priorities in delivering high-quality learning from cradle to career by supporting public schools, making college education more affordable, investing in vocational training, and expanding the teacher workforce –all with a heightened equity focus on communities that have been disproportionally impacted by longstanding disinvestment.
“This legislation accomplishes so much to expand access – from early childhood services to AP courses; To achieve equity – by addressing learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic; And to broaden opportunity – by evaluating and streamlining our workforce programs so more students might choose a career in education,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Improving education, and especially early childhood educat