NEWS

from the Illinois Senate

State Senator Susan Garrett
Majority Caucus Whip, 29th Senate District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2010

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Susan Garrett (847) 433-2002

GARRETT LEGISLATION ADDRESSES MANDATES ON SCHOOLS
State Senator Susan Garrett sponsors bill to create task force

HIGHWOOD, Illinois – State Senator Susan Garrett (D – 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 regarding the effectiveness and sustainability of current as well as future mandates.

“Because schools are struggling, we must find the most effective, cost-saving solutions to ensure that students receive a quality education,” State Senator Garrett said. “No longer can Springfield require teachers to provide instruction on unnecessary subject matter.”

The bill also imposes a moratorium on the passage of instructional mandates for one year after their effective date. 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 today and now awaits concurrence from the House of Representatives to be sent to the governor.