ROCKFORD – Fulfilling the evidence-based funding commitment for Illinois schools, State Senator Steve Stadelman announced that school districts in the 34th District will receive over $13 million additional dollars to help address the financial challenges schools have faced.

“Our students deserve the best educational opportunities, and by offering evidence-based funding, we are ensuring our schools have the funding they need,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “I am glad that Illinois is investing in the future and providing every child the opportunity to succeed.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

Local schools set to receive funding through the formula:

• Belvidere Community Unit School District 100: $2,841,080
• Rockford Public Schools: $10,214,014
• Alternative and Safe Schools (Boone-Winnebago Regional Office of Education): $36,504

The Fiscal Year 2025 budget invested $350 million in new funding into students’ success through the evidence-based funding model.

For more information on the FY 25 evidence-based funding distribution, visit the Illinois State Board of Education’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – Driver education courses must now include instruction on worker safety protocol in highway construction zones, thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Steve Stadelman.

“Ensuring the safety of workers in highway construction zones is of utmost importance,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “By integrating these safety protocols into driver education, we are taking a proactive step to protect both drivers and construction workers. This law will help reduce accidents and fatalities, making our roads safer for everyone.”

In order to reduce accidents and protect the lives of both drivers and construction workers, the law requires public school districts to educate new drivers on the critical safety protocols necessary in highway construction zones.

“Our goal is to foster a culture of safety and awareness on our roads,” said Stadelman. “By instilling these values in new drivers from the beginning, we are laying the groundwork for safer driving habits that will benefit everyone on the road in the long term.”

Senate Bill 3151 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law championed by State Senator Steve Stadelman will combat Illinois’ shrinking newsrooms and support aspiring journalists.

“Local journalism is the heartbeat of our communities, shining a light on local issues in a way corporate media isn’t interested in,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “By requiring notice prior to the sale of a local news organization, we are creating an opportunity to protect the livelihoods of employees and preserving the continuity of community-focused journalism.”

To address the steady decline of local journalism, Stadelman’s law requires local news organizations to notify its employees and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity 120 days before the organization is sold. The goal is to give other businesses, newspapers and nonprofits the opportunity to acquire the publication, preserving local journalism and preventing its sale to a private equity firm.

SPRINGFIELD – Families will now have enhanced college savings opportunities thanks to State Senator Steve Stadelman.

“This law gives families peace of mind, knowing that their hard-earned savings will not go to waste,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “By enabling the rollover of unused funds into a retirement account, we are helping young adults build a secure financial foundation for the future.”

The law allows parents with 529 college savings plans to utilize unused or leftover college or trade school funds by adding them to a retirement account. This provision ensures that savings intended for educational purposes can continue to benefit the student, even if their educational expenses are less than anticipated.