SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Governor Pritzker signed legislation that expands access, equity, and opportunity in Illinois’ education system.
The Education and Workforce Equity Act 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 education, was an important focus of mine for more than 20 years prior to holding this office, and it’s my great honor to carry forward that mission as governor. I was proud to collaborate with the Black Caucus to help build a bill that truly does more for the students of Illinois, with a mission to make progress toward eliminating racial inequities and structural barriers that hold our learners back. Much has been accomplished here, but there’s more work to be done.”
The legislation, passed during the General Assembly’s lame duck session in January, addresses early childhood, primary, secondary, and higher education.
Early Childhood Education
The legislation expands access to the Early Intervention program by allowing children who turn 3-years old between May and August to continue receiving services until the beginning of the next school year. It also requires the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to annually assess all public-school students entering kindergarten to measure their readiness and requires that behavioral health providers use diagnostic codes and descriptions that are developmentally and age appropriate for children under the age of 5.
Primary and Secondary Education
The legislation adds new graduation requirements that will better prepare students in computer literacy, laboratory science, and foreign languages.
It also increases access to accelerated placement programs for students meeting or exceeding state standards in English language arts, math, or science.
Additionally, the Education and Workforce Equity Act expands the required Black history coursework to include pre-enslavement of Black people, why Black people came to be enslaved, and the American Civil Rights renaissance.
A Whole Child Task Force will be set up to focus on expanding trauma-responsive school services.
Higher Education
The legislation establishes the Developmental Education Reform Act, which requires community colleges to use certain measures to determine the placement of students in introductory college-level courses.
It also increases the percentage of grant funds prioritized for Black males and incorporates consideration of financial need in awarding grants; and establishes priority in grant funding for students wanting to become bilingual teachers.
Additionally, the law expands the Illinois Teaching Excellence Program to cover programs working with diverse candidates.
The bill also requires the Illinois Workforce Investment Board to conduct a feasibility study of all workforce development programs funded with dollars from the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Pritzker was joined by members of the Black Caucus at Proviso East High School in west suburban Maywood for the bill signing.
“As I see it, our work isn’t done until equity and fairness is a guiding principle at all of our schools, until every child has the educational tools available to them, that will allow them to attain the future that they dream of,” Pritzker said, moments before signing the bill.
“Even when times are tough, we have to look over the horizon and invest in our long-term goals — especially when times are tough. We have to let our families and our children know that we’re fighting for them."
Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton said the legislation “will pay dividends for generations to come."
“With the signing of this legislation today we will make history, but we will also facilitate a diverse knowledge of history,” Stratton said, adding “this legislation that makes education in Illinois stronger and more inclusive.”