SPRINGFIELD – State Senators Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the West Rogers Park Jewish community suffered a series of targeted attacks over the weekend:

“This kind of hate is appalling and unacceptable anywhere, let alone in our own backyard.

“Illinois must live up to its commitment of being a welcoming state and prioritize protecting our most targeted neighbors. With hate crimes reaching the highest point in over a decade, Jewish and other diverse communities are in need of safe spaces to come together.

SPRINGFIELD –To celebrate Career and Technical Education students across the state, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) is leading the charge to establish February 2022 as Career and Technical Education Month.

“Career and Technical Education programs not only provide quality education, but also offer real-world work experience that is invaluable to students,” said Joyce, a chief co-sponsor of Senate Resolution 698. “They play a vital role in setting their students up for success in and out of the classroom, and should be celebrated for their innovative approaches to teaching.”

Career and Technical Education, or CTE, are programs designed to prepare students for careers in major industries, such as finance, health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing and education. Coursework includes both academic and technical materials, allowing many students to use their knowledge from the programs to earn industry-recognized credentials or college credits. This makes careers in these fields much more accessible for many students who may struggle to complete coursework in traditional academic programs.

SPRINGFIELD – To raise awareness of the role that Career Technical Education has in preparing learners for college and career success, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is backing the effort to establish February 2022 as Career and Technical Education Month.  

“In communities throughout the state, CTE provides Illinois students with hands-on experience and real-world skills to better prepare them for jobs,” said Bennett, a chief co-sponsor of Senate Resolution 698. “The goal of this resolution is to raise awareness and recognize the important role CTE plays in our workforce.”

Career and Technical Education, or CTE, are programs designed to prepare students for careers in major industries, such as finance, health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing and education. Coursework includes both academic and technical materials, allowing many students to use their knowledge from the programs to earn industry-recognized credentials or college credits. This makes careers in these fields much more accessible for many students who may struggle to complete coursework in traditional academic programs.

SPRINGFIELD – February 2022 may soon be Career and Technical Education Month in Illinois, thanks to State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood).

“Career and technical education is another tool to give our children real-world skills to excel in their future careers,” Loughran Cappel said. “CTE connects and creates a pathway for Illinois students to be prepared for the jobs of the future.”

Approximately 12.5 million high school and college students are enrolled in CTE courses across the country. Advance CTE reports that the high school graduation rate for CTE concentrators is about 90%– 15 percentage points higher than the national average.

Loughran Cappel’s district is served by the Wilco Area Career Center, which works with area students to develop skill sets that provide a pathway to college and career readiness.

SPRINGFIELD - As the ongoing teacher shortage persists, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III is leading a measure to allow retired teachers to return to the classroom for a longer period of time.

“The ongoing teacher shortage is affecting our children but allowing retired teachers to bring their expertise back to the classroom for longer would help students thrive,” Harris said. 

Senate Bill 3201 allows retired teachers to return to the classroom for 150 days or 750 paid hours. Currently, retired teachers are only allowed back in the classroom 120 days per year.  

SPRINGFIELD – To help patients seeking Medicaid community mental health services, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) has introduced a measure setting new guidelines to create a more user-friendly and noninvasive assessment.

“Mental health services are essential for many people in today’s society,” Feigenholtz said. “Creating an easier way for Medicaid patients to get these services will streamline the process and help patients get the services they need in a timely manner.”

Senate Bill 3438 would create the Mental Health Assessment Reform Act to set new guidelines and minimum criteria for the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish for patients seeking Medicaid community mental health services.

SPRINGFIELD – To combat rising utility bills for Illinoisans, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) has introduced legislation to end a surcharge used by natural gas companies to fund projects some argue are unnecessary, she announced in a Monday news conference.

“Utility bills are on the rise, which is hurting our consumers who have already had a difficult two years with the ongoing pandemic,” Castro said. “This legislation is about oversight. Natural gas companies have a responsibility to upgrade their systems efficiently to ensure the burden doesn’t fall on their ratepayers.”

SPRINGFIELD – To increase accessibility and attainability in higher education, Senate Higher Education Committee Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is championing a measure that would make textbook and course materials free for in-state students at public universities and community colleges in Illinois.

“Textbooks are one of the most overlooked costs of going to college, but they can be a barrier to attaining a college education,” Bennett said. “This legislation would give our state a competitive advantage for students who stay in Illinois for their secondary education and would help relieve the financial burden associated with obtaining necessary course materials.”  

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.