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Read an update on January legislative activities.

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

January 22, 2010

Dear neighbor,

My time in Springfield in January was spent on three critical issues for our State – tapping more federal dollars to improve our educational system, continuing work on nursing home reform, and stopping Asian carp in Illinois waterways. Updates for each item are below.

Federal Race to the Top Education Funding
Illinois is determined to win up to $500 million dollars from the Obama Administration’s Race to the Top education funding initiative by improving our educational system. Last week, two Bills were signed into law that will support school improvement toward capturing these funds from the federal government. Ultimately, Illinois will receive Race to the Top funding from the federal government because all of our educational reforms have been achieved with broad-based consensus from the State Board of Education, teacher unions, school administrators, and educational reform advocates. Illinois is emerging as a serious school reform state where we work together for the best education for all of our children. Now we need $500 million from the federal government to keep our progress going.

Nursing Home Reform
Here in the 7th District, the federal government initiated termination action against the Somerset Nursing Home after finding 4 Immediate Jeopardy deficiencies, or threats of serious injury or death. For more details see the Tribune article on this issue here. The Governor’s Nursing Home Safety Task Force has also presented its preliminary recommendations for improving the safety and quality of care in nursing homes. To review this report, click here. I will be working with the Task Force members and interest groups to pass legislation needed to support these reform recommendations.

Asian Carp in Illinois Waterways
Yesterday, the Senate Environment Committee convened a hearing on a long-term approach to addressing the Asian Carp in Illinois waterways. Testimony at the hearing made it clear we need much more information on the causes, consequences, and ways to prevent Asian Carp invasion throughout all of Illinois. If you would like to review the testimony from this hearing, please e-mail me and I will send you the link when it comes available.

If you have any questions on these or any other issues, please contact me at 773-769-1717 or by email at heather@heathersteans.com. We do not return to Springfield until February 8th.

Best regards,
Heather A. Steans

Posted in Budget, Education, Environment, Nursing Homes

Data Quality Campaign’s 2009 State Policymaker Award Recipients

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Congratulations 2009 Award Recipients

Judy Erwin, Executive Director, Illinois Board of Higher Education
Christopher Koch, Superintendent, Illinois Board of Educatio
Geoffrey Obrzut, President, Illinois Community College Board
Senator Heather Steans, Illinois General Assembly

Building and codifying a P-20/Workforce data system to meet user’s needs through an inclusive, collaborative process

Through collaboration and leadership of state policymakers, the State of Illinois has made tremendous progress in the codification and implementation of a statewide longitudinal system. In 2009, with Governor Quinn’s signature, Illinois passed significant comprehensive legislation around building and using a statewide longitudinal data system (Senate Bill 1828, Public Act 96-0107). Introduced and championed by Senator Heather Steans, the law requires state education authorities to collect student records and integrate the data with instructional management tools that will ultimately improve instruction and enhance educational decision-making. The political and education coalition providing the driving force behind the bill’s success included Chris Koch (Superintendent of Education), Geoffrey Obrzut (President, Illinois Community College Board), and Judy Erwin (Executive Director, Illinois Board of Higher Education).

The inclusive process that Illinois pursued brought advocacy groups such as Advance Illinois together and ensured that experts including the Consortium on Chicago School Research and major stakeholders such as unions and the higher education community were heard throughout the discussions. These state data champions were able to successfully bring K-12, postsecondary, unions, and advocacy groups together to craft this important legislation, overcome obstacles, and pass it unanimously through both chambers of the General Assembly. The result of the legislation is a resounding statement about the critical role the state must play in providing education stakeholders access to important data to improve student outcomes while protecting student privacy. These state data leaders continue to work collaboratively to advance the development and implementation of a statewide longitudinal data system, as demonstrated by their collaboration on the recent IES SLDS grant, and the implementation of a MOU to facilitate the sharing of data amongst institutions and agencies.

For more information, view the press release and read the legislation.

From:

http://www.dataqualitycampaign.org/recognition_program/state_policy_makers

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Posted in Education, Legislation

Education legislative update

Monday, September 28th, 2009

September 28, 2009

Education Legislative Update

Dear Neighbor,

The quality of education in Illinois is an issue I hear about regularly from constituents and is one of my top priorities in Springfield. This update provides a brief overview of education funding in the state and highlights some of the most important education bills that passed this session.

Education Funding

By Constitution, Illinois should be the primary funder of education in the State. Historically this has meant the state pays for at least 50% of education costs. The state’s share has eroded to only about a third, however, and thus local school districts keep increasing property taxes to fund education. An over reliance on property taxes also leads to highly unequal education funding across the State — from over $18,000 per pupil in some districts to $4,600 per pupil elsewhere. It is not right that the quality of child’s education is based on his or her address.

I voted for HB174, an education funding bill, which passed the Senate, but did not pass the House. This bill would raise the income tax, triple the earned income tax credit to help low income families, and decrease property taxes. I will continue to work on addressing this fundamental unfairness in education funding as we move forward. There is a large group working to revise HB174 and bring it to a vote next session.

Education Legislation

The following important education bills passed this year.

Educational Data System (SB1828) - The national Data Quality Campaign identifies 10 essential elements of quality data systems. I introduced this legislation that passed this year that will implement a system in Illinois that includes all 10 elements, allowing us to evaluate the performance of our educational system at all levels. This legislation is considered a model by the Data Quality Campaign.
Raising the Charter School Cap (SB612) and Labor Relations at Charter Schools (SB1984) – SB 612 doubles the number of charter public schools allowed in Illinois from 60 to120. With this increase, the number of charter schools in the Chicago area moves from 30 to 75, with the ability to add 5 charter schools for students who have dropped out of high school. This increase is needed to allow the 13,000 families who are on the waiting list for charter schools the opportunity to attend. A companion bill – SB1984 – requires charter schools be subject to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act, clarifying that charter school teachers are able to unionize under Illinois law.
Innovation, intervention, and restructuring task force (SB2119) – I introduced SB2119 which would create innovation, intervention and restructuring task force to develop strategies to effectively turnaround failing schools and to provide greater flexibility for high performing schools. For more information on this and some local examples, please item below about Fresh Start Schools below.
Early Childhood Education (SB1412) – This bill increases the amount of funding that children under three would receive from Early Childhood Education Block Grants. Currently, this amount is 11% of the total funding and will rise to 20% of total funding. This is a phase in program over four years, so it is not expected to increase the state budget.
Locally Grown Food (HB 78) – This bill establishes the Farm Fresh Foods programs, which delegates funds to assisting local farms provide fresh produce to schools. This is accomplished by creating competitive grants for schools. This program also has a goal of reducing obesity and promoting healthy habits among school children.
Laptops for Students (SB 613) – If money is appropriated will create a pilot program in order to provide laptops for children grades 3-8. These would be prioritized by schools with low income students, low test scores, and little technological resources.

I welcome any additional input you may have on improving our education system in Illinois.

Sincerely,

Heather A. Steans
State Senator

Posted in Budget, Education, Legislation