It’s the Final Countdown (maybe…)
Another week closer to adjournment, and what a week it was! Although most of the bill action is winding down with the exception of a few last second filings, budget discussions are ramping up in caucus meetings, subject matter hearings and legislator working groups. Below are highlights from committee hearings this week:
Senate Education Committee
SB 1400 (Lightford; D-Hillside) is an initiative of the education labor unions and school management groups that have been repeatedly hearing from their membership about the difficulties with implementation of SB 100. Specifically, members have expressed concerns with their ability to keep their classrooms, schools and districts safe, especially in light of escalating student behavior. The groups formed a coalition to develop legislation that is a first step in ensuring safe work environments for staff and learning environments for all students. Specifically, the legislation will direct ISBE to develop guidance on school discipline that aligns with the parameters set in SB 100 (PA 099-0456). As the escalation of school violence continues to gain attention, we anticipate many conversations on this topic moving forward.
HB 5407 (Johnson; D-Waukegan) provides that the Education of Homeless Children and Youth State Grant Program grants shall be awarded to applicant school districts based on the percentage of students experiencing homelessness in those districts. The bill aims to expand the use of grant funds to allow funding for emergency housing, transportation, and supplementing other activities under McKinney-Vento. The bill passed through committee, but it is relevant to note that the line item for the funding of this grant is currently zeroed out, so in order for the grants to be made available again, the General Assembly would need to fund the line item annually.
HB 3446 (Bennett; R-Morris) was on the agreed bill list and included an amendment that removed the provision that the Evidence-Based Funding spending plans would be included on the school report cards, and rather that ISBE will create a tool to post the plans on its website. The legislation does not propose the creation of a new report for districts, but rather a mechanism for the information to be shared with the public in a more transparent manner.
Senate Higher Education Committee
SB 3722 (Lightford; D-Hillside) is an initiative of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). The ultimate goal for the legislation is to create a “Direct Admissions” program in the state that would allow the agencies to directly notify high school students of their ability to be admitted to certain Illinois higher education institutions based on their GPA, class rank, and other academic variables. In order for the agencies to have the necessary information to alert students of their admissions ability, the bill creates a pathway for information sharing between Illinois high schools and those agencies. Although the bill was posted for committee, it was not heard as discussions for an amendment are continuing to take shape.
House Elementary & Secondary Education - Appropriations Committee
HJR 71 (West; D-Rockford) is a resolution that was filed in response to opposition and negotiations on the sponsor’s bill (HB 5617) that would have banned the use of Native American names, imagery, and logos for mascots in Illinois public schools. Although the bill was not moved this session, Representative West is committed to continuing the conversation around the use of these mascots with the ultimate goal of eliminating them from use in schools. The resolution that he filed directs ISBE to develop and send out a survey to all Illinois public schools to collect data on the use of Native American mascots in schools, and to collect estimates on the costs to school districts to eliminate those mascots from use. If your school district has a mascot that you believe may be impacted by this legislation if filed again next session, we strongly encourage you to develop an accurate cost estimate of the full financial implications to your local school community. The resolution is currently on the House Order of Resolutions docket and would need to be heard in the Senate before taking effect.
House Curriculum and Policies Committee
SB 3349 (Yang Rohr; D-Naperville) had an amendment filed to address concerns from ISBE related to the State Global Scholar Program. The amendment was adopted in committee this week and encompasses the following changes: deletes references to "units of credit,” provides that the ISBE-adopted rules shall include a list of all school courses and course codes derived from ISBE's Illinois State Course Catalog and Illinois Virtual Course Catalog that are designated as and qualify as globally focused coursework, and removes the requirement that the adopted rules include a mechanism to complete the capstone project requirement as part of an online course taught by a licensed teacher.
HB 299 (Yang Rohr; D-Naperville) is a shell bill that received an amendment creating a brand-new bill on Wednesday, and the bill was heard for a committee vote on Thursday morning. The bill adds language to the bullying statute in school code that encompasses the use of AI to create “deepfake” content. Many questions were posed surrounding the issue, specifically around the process of determining what images are fake and whether school districts have the capability to make those determinations. The ACLU was opposed to the bill, and it was supported by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Association of School Social Workers.
Senate Labor
The Senate Labor committee was held on Wednesday morning after a hearing notice was posted late on Tuesday evening. The committee only heard SB 2568 (Villa; D-West Chicago), specifically the 6th amendment, and was passed along a partisan vote of 11-3. Four Democrat members voted Yes solely to get the bill out of committee, indicating there remained concerns about calling the bill for a full vote on the floor. We sent out a Call to Action on the bill shortly after the committee hearing in anticipation of Senator Villa calling the bill for a floor vote quickly, although the week ended without the measure being taken up.
House Licensing Committee
SB 463 (Hirschauer; D-West Chicago) addresses the upcoming sunset of the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC), which is scheduled for June 30, 2024, and extends the sunset to December 31, 2024. PEAC has been integral in providing advisory support to ISBE for the implementation of the current teacher evaluation system, so the bill would create the Performance Evaluation Advisory Committee to begin a transition to take the place of the Council, effective July 1, 2024. The bill does not include a sunset date for the new committee. An amendment included language that clarifies that teachers in career and technical education programs are eligible for tenure under the same procedures as other licensed educators.
Senate Executive Committee
HB 305 (Harmon; D-Oak Park) came to the Senate with a requirement for all school districts currently under the jurisdiction of a Township School Board of Trustees to withdraw from the authority of the Board within three years of the effective date of the bill. Discussions continued as the bill was sent to the Senate, and an amendment was filed that removed opposition. The new bill will allow those districts that wish to withdraw from their current arrangement the ability to do so with a 2/3rds vote of the school board. Additionally, the bill will require school districts that participate in a trustee arrangement to appoint an individual to serve on the Township School Board of Trustees and will phase out the elected officials in those positions following the end of their existing terms. Further, the individuals appointed to the Board of Trustees on behalf of each district can be a school board member or a school employee, which may include a superintendent or business official. The bill was on the agreed bill list and no testimony on the measure was heard.
Next Week!
Although both chambers are still charging forward towards the tentative adjournment date of Friday, May 24th, it remains to be seen whether we will see any action following the Memorial Day holiday. The chambers have adjourned until Monday, and we have yet to see a budget bill filed. We will be sure to keep you all posted on what is sure to be an exciting week (or two) in Springfield!