SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Senate passed legislation Friday morning to help make schools safer by improving procedures for student discipline.
Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) said many teachers and administrators across the state have asked lawmakers to step in and address school safety.
Lightford's proposal could require the Illinois State Board of Education to draft and publish guidance for development of reciprocal reporting systems between schools and law enforcement. It also calls on ISBE to publish guidance for re-engagement of students suspended, expelled or returning from an alternative school setting.
"There's so much happening in our schools," Lightford said. "We want to make sure that kids are learning and getting the best education they can. But we also want the teachers and the management, the whole building, to feel safe and to feel like it's an institution for learning."
The measure also requires new guidance for school bus safety and evidence-based intervention procedures on or before July 1, 2025.
Senate Bill 1400 passed out of the Senate on a 54-2 vote. The proposal now moves to the House for further consideration. State representatives could pass the plan before scheduled adjournment on May 24.Â
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