ROCKFORD – The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) has announced a series of grants to organizations in communities to reverse decades of disinvestment. State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) was pleased that Rockford-area organizations received more than $1.5 million for programs to boost economic development and prevent violence.

“The organizations who will receive the funds do great work that help boost up and support disadvantaged communities," Stadelman said. "I would like to commend them for all the good they do and congratulate them for earing the grants, and I look forward to seeing the additional help they’ll now be able to provide.”

Legislature passes sweeping equity reforms

In a marathon close to the 101st Illinois General Assembly last week, lawmakers considered four comprehensive bills to address equity in education, economic opportunity, health care and criminal justice. Work on the health care legislation continues while the three other bills were sent to the Governor. I want to give you an easy-to-digest overview of what I believe are the key points of these monumental, long-overdue reforms:

Education Equity

• helps ensure struggling young children get the resources they need to be ready for school and prepares all children for post-secondary education

• identifies more equitable ways to fund higher education

• expands and reprioritizes efforts to increase minority teachers

Economic Equity

• increases goals for minorities, women and people with disabilities to access state contracts

• protects consumers from predatory loans by capping interest rates

• evaluates discrimination in the state’s beauty supply industry

Health Care Equity

• evaluates the effectiveness of Illinois' managed care program

• grants a two-month stay on hospital closures

• creates a task force to undertake a review of health and human service programs with the goal of improving access and outcomes for all Illinois residents

Criminal Justice Equity

• increases police accountability, transparency and training

• promotes the use of co-responder models in a mental health crisis response

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford)     was sworn in to serve the 34th Senate District for another term Wednesday.

Stadelman, from the greater Rockford area, was originally elected   to serve in the General Assembly in November 2012. Previously,     he worked as a professional journalist and reporter in the Rockford area for two decades.

Over the past eight years, Stadelman has fought for education reform, to bring an Amtrak route to Rockford, to help upgrade local youth sports facilities, to protect Illinois’ consumers, to help abuse victims and to fight for college students.

“It’s an incredible honor to continue to serve the Rockford area,” Stadelman said. “I look forward to getting back to work to help the people of Rockford and the state of Illinois as we continue to face this public health crisis.”

Stadelman’s district office is located at 200 S. Wyman St., Suite 301, in Rockford. People can contact his office at (815) 987-7557, or at www.senatorstadelman.com. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) voted for a comprehensive measure to focus on achieving racial equity within education Monday.

“When you focus on making a more inclusive education system, everyone benefits,” Stadelman said. “This legislation will help even the playing field for students who may need additional resources.”

The overhaul of the state’s education system will require the Professional Review Panel to review funding adequacy target calculations, racial equity, and whether funding goals are     sufficient, among other things.

“There is no excuse for any child in the state to not reach their full potential solely because their ZIP code, socioeconomic background or the color of their skin,” Stadelman said. “Providing necessary services at an early age will ensure better educational outcomes for the entire state.”

The bill creates new programs to support education from early childhood to college. Students entering kindergarten would be more rigorously assessed for academic, social and emotional development skills. The state's standards for high schools would be revised to ensure more students are able to attend college. Other measures include a six-week summer program to help students in poverty and the creation of a task force to support equitable environments in Illinois schools.

The measure, House Bill 2170, has passes both chambers. It will now go to the governor’s desk for further consideration.