SPRINGFIELD – Thousands of adults in Winnebago and Boone may get the chance to earn their high school diploma, thanks to legislation that was signed into law today.

The new law, sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) in the Senate, effectively eliminates the existing law prohibiting school districts from awarding high school diplomas to anyone over the age of 21.

“A high school diploma is nearly essential in today’s world, but not everyone is able to complete high school in the same amount of time,” Stadelman said. “These programs will give people a second chance and help them obtain job skills. Everyone benefits in the end, because a trained workforce is good for economic development in our communities.”

Non-profit entities, including community colleges, will also be allowed to establish programs that can award high school diplomas to adult learners.

The law is effective immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) released the statement below after voting to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1.

“Today I voted to uphold Senate Bill 1, legislation that is supported by Rockford area superintendents and education experts across the state."

The Senate has approved an override of Governor Rauner's amendatory veto that changed the bill and put school districts like Rockford and Harlem at risk of losing funding in the future.

The governor's veto would remove protections from the school funding formula that take into account a school district's ability to pay. Local districts like Rockford and Harlem are impacted by property tax caps and Tax Increment Finance Districts. That makes them look better funded than they actually are, hurting their ability to get state aid.

Plus in two years, under the Governor's veto, many local school districts which have declining enrollments would see less state aid even though their costs stay the same.

Senate Bill 1 provides an additional $5 million a year to Rockford schools. Yesterday, the Governor released a plan that claimed to increase state funding. However, he did that by taking money from a handful of school districts and redistributed it around the state.

We need a new school funding formula that helps poor children across the state and doesn't create winning and losing school districts. Senate Bill 1 benefits schools today, tomorrow and for years down the line. The governor cannot say the same about his plan.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) released the statement below following Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1, an evidence-based school funding reform measure.

“I am disappointed that the governor failed to sign legislation that would ensure schools open in the fall and work towards an equal education for all children.

This legislation brings $5 million to Rockford Public Schools and puts our state’s neediest districts on equal footing with the rest of the state.

I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fix our broken school funding formula.”

State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) released the statement below urging Gov. Rauner to support Senate Bill 1.

“There is a lot of rhetoric being spread about the school funding reform measure that will soon reach the governor’s desk, but my support for it is simple: it will bring $5 million to Rockford schools.   

Our education funding system in Illinois is broken. This plan is the result of years of negotiations and work. Don’t’ be fooled by comments that it is a ‘Chicago bailout.’ This evidence-based formula will provide millions in funding to the state’s neediest districts, like Rockford Public Schools, and like the 268 districts that will receive more funding than Chicago Public Schools.

The only reason this legislation is not already on the governor’s desk is because he has threatened to veto it before even getting a chance to read it. Let’s hope these weeks of discussion have allowed cooler heads to prevail. This is a win for Rockford. I would urge the governor to support this much-needed reform.”