SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A state Democratic plan to ban expulsions from kindergarten through 2nd grade passed the Illinois Senate education committee Tuesday.
This bill would also require superintendent approval if a K-2 suspension lasts longer than three days.Â
The plan had received significant opposition while it was going through the House committee and House floor. State Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) said they tried to change the bills language to remove opposition.
"We have done some negotiations," Lightford said. "There has been some removal of opposition to neutral. We were unfortunately unable to gather everyone to neutral, but we did make some significant changes."
One of those changes was the suspension ban. Originally, any K-2 suspension would require superintendent approval. The three day minimum was added after negotiations.
Opponents in the House committee in March said that lawmakers shouldn't be limiting the school with more laws. Rather, they should give them more resources to support children, especially ones with special needs.
"A kindergartener punched a principal in the face on three separate occasions this year," Andrew Hains of Illinois Education Association said. "We do not need more restrictions with additional costs."
With the policy passing the Senate education committee on a 10-3 vote, the bill will head to the Senate floor for further debate.
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