Belt: Illinois students are more than their ACT scores

SPRINGFIELD – Students could choose whether or not to submit their ACT and SAT scores when applying to Illinois colleges under a measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville), which passed committee on Tuesday.

“It’s simple: Students are more than a test score. We know standardized tests are not always the most reliable scope of a student’s academic capabilities,” Belt said. “This measure ensures our universities take more than one score into account when considering applicants.”

The measure creates the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act, which prohibits Illinois’ public universities from relying solely on a student’s ACT or SAT score to make an admissions decision.

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Bennett continues work to improve children’s higher education savings program

SPRINGFIELD – To help children and families build savings and open the door to college, Senate Higher Education Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) advanced a measure through the committee Tuesday to improve the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program.

“This program gives families the opportunity to start planning for higher education from day one,” Bennett said. “In addition to giving these families a head start on college savings, this legislation gives the Illinois treasurer the necessary tools to implement the program.”

In 2019, the Illinois Higher Education Savings Program, established as part of the Illinois treasurer’s existing Bright Start and Bright Directions programs, was signed into law. Under this law, the treasurer will automatically deposit $50 into a college savings account for every child born or adopted in Illinois after Dec. 31, 2020.

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Senator Holmes measure would prevent access to animals by those who engage in abuse, cruelty

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) carries on her attention to legislation supporting animal welfare with House Bill 168 in the Illinois Senate this week, allowing a court to prohibit an animal abuser from owning or living with others who own animals.

“Individuals who have been convicted of felony offenses like torture, mutilation and animal fighting have proven they should have no privilege to own an animal for a reasonable period of time,” Holmes said. “Sadly, just as some people who are domestic violence perpetrators continue their behavior, animal abusers may have multiple offenses. No animal should be subjected to this violence.”

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Stadelman: Students need to understand the consequences of sexting

SPRINGFIELD – Schools that teach sex education would be required to include a lesson about the risks of sexting under a measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford), which passed committee Tuesday.

“The last time this curriculum was updated, technology was not as advanced as it is today,” Stadelman said. “This measure would modernize our state’s education standards to include sexting so our children know the long-term effects and consequences of what may seem like a harmless act.”

The measure would require schools that offer a sex education course or unit to modify their current curricula to include an age-appropriate lesson on sexting and its potential consequences.

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