In the News

Lake Forester, May 6, 2010

State Sen. Susan Garrett (D-29th) of Lake Forest is sponsoring a measure that addresses the increasing number of instructional mandates passed from Springfield to local school districts throughout Illinois.

House Bill 4209 creates the Instructional Mandates Task Force to examine all instructional mandates governing Illinois public schools. The task force would be required to make recommendations to the General Assembly by July 1, 2011.

An "instructional mandate" is defined in the bill as any state law that requires a school district to devote any amount of time to the instruction of, or engagement by, students in any subject or course.

The initiative passed the Illinois State Senate and now awaits concurrence from the House of Representatives before it is sent to the governor.

In another school move, Garrett recently voted against a school voucher bill that was pending in the House.