Three Important Bills Affecting Public Education

Dr. Jacoby offers his perspective on three important pieces of legislation that will impact districts across Illinois.  SB 28 (Bertino-Tarrant, D-Plainfield) would reinstate the five clock-hour provision. Current law gives school districts the flexibility to address the needs of students, and allows learning to be the main factor in determining a school day rather than the clock.  House Bill 3053 (Mayfield, D-Waukegan) was approved by the House this week. It creates the School District Efficiency Commission and requires the commission to make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on the number of school districts in this State with the goal of reducing the number of school districts by 25 percent, the optimal amount of enrollment for a school district, and where reorganization and realignment of school districts would be beneficial in this State. The commission would consist of 20 members, and by a majority vote of its members, would have the ability to put consolidation proposals on the ballot all across Illinois.  The Alliance will continue to actively engage in attempting to amend the proposal as it heads to the Senate. HB 2234 (Harper, D-Chicago) includes provisions restricting the flexibility of school districts to provide physical education, including: requiring that at least 150 minutes of P.E. be provided weekly for each elementary school pupil and 225 minutes for each middle school, junior high school, or high school pupil; limiting P.E. waivers to remain in effect for no more than two years (currently five years) limits and be renewed no more than two times.