Delivered via email: January 14, 2022
Even though formal meetings of the General Assembly have not occurred as scheduled before the Omicron variant of COVID-19, several IASB initiatives are being drafted and introduced into law. IASB staff continues to meet with members of the General Assembly on important issues impacting school districts, including staffing shortage concerns, special education student placement, student privacy, and school board operations.
SB 2943 Villa (D-West Chicago) Grants the Community and Residential Services Authority the authority to provide to youth in this State who are eligible for placement in a residential facility, but who have not been placed in a facility with the opportunity to be placed in a residential facility through the use of an individual agreement.
HB 4203 West, (D-Rockford) Requires a school district to develop and implement a plan to provide additional instructional services, or special accommodations to students who suffer from trauma related to experiencing the death of a family member by suicide or homicide.
House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools, Virtual Room 1, January 19, 2:00 p.m.
HB 2859 Swanson, (R-Woodhull) Provides that a school district seeking to employ a substitute teacher may use information in the Educator Licensure Information System rather than initiating its own criminal history records check.
HB 4241 Scherer, (D-Decatur) Removes the requirement that educator licensure candidates pass a teacher performance assessment.
HB 4246 Scherer, Provides for the reinstatement of a lapsed Professional Educator License upon the payment by the applicant of a $50 penalty (rather than a $500 penalty).
General Assembly Cancels Session, Committees
As discussed in the previous IASB Report, the Illinois General Assembly canceled session this week as well as the week of January 17. Many committee hearings have also been canceled but are once again scheduled for the upcoming week. Unlike session days, committee hearings can be cancelled with little advanced notice. The Senate and House committee schedules will be updated regularly throughout the week.Even though formal meetings of the General Assembly have not occurred as scheduled before the Omicron variant of COVID-19, several IASB initiatives are being drafted and introduced into law. IASB staff continues to meet with members of the General Assembly on important issues impacting school districts, including staffing shortage concerns, special education student placement, student privacy, and school board operations.
IASB Introduces Advocacy Fridays
IASB is proud to announce a new way to help school board members strengthen legislative work to support school district success, IASB Advocacy Fridays. Volunteer school board members are an essential local resource on educational issues and can influence and inform constituents and other elected officials of successes, needs, and issues facing the district. IASB Advocacy Fridays will provide access to special briefings and exclusive information presented by the IASB Governmental Relations staff and guest speakers to help school board members represent public schools at home, in Springfield, and in Washington, D.C. Join us on the last Friday of each month for timely and practical advocacy strategies via a webinar. Discover how to use your voice to represent your district by attending IASB Advocacy Fridays.Bills in Senate Committees Week of January 17
Senate Behavioral and Mental Health, Virtual Room 3, January 18, 3:30 PMSB 2943 Villa (D-West Chicago) Grants the Community and Residential Services Authority the authority to provide to youth in this State who are eligible for placement in a residential facility, but who have not been placed in a facility with the opportunity to be placed in a residential facility through the use of an individual agreement.
Bills in House Committees Week of January 17
House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum and Policies, Virtual Room 1, January 19, 9:00 a.m.HB 4203 West, (D-Rockford) Requires a school district to develop and implement a plan to provide additional instructional services, or special accommodations to students who suffer from trauma related to experiencing the death of a family member by suicide or homicide.
House Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools, Virtual Room 1, January 19, 2:00 p.m.
HB 2859 Swanson, (R-Woodhull) Provides that a school district seeking to employ a substitute teacher may use information in the Educator Licensure Information System rather than initiating its own criminal history records check.
HB 4241 Scherer, (D-Decatur) Removes the requirement that educator licensure candidates pass a teacher performance assessment.
HB 4246 Scherer, Provides for the reinstatement of a lapsed Professional Educator License upon the payment by the applicant of a $50 penalty (rather than a $500 penalty).