Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: State finally making major progress on funding ‘four core services’
Next Post: When RETAIL Succeeds, Illinois Succeeds
Posted in:
* ProPublica…
A new Illinois bill aims to add some oversight of families who homeschool their children, a response to concerns that the state does little to ensure these students receive an education and are protected from harm.
The measure, known as the Homeschool Act, comes after an investigation by Capitol News Illinois and ProPublica last year found that Illinois is among a small number of states that place virtually no rules on parents who homeschool their children. Parents don’t have to register with any state agency or school district, and authorities cannot compel them to track attendance, demonstrate their teaching methods or show student progress.
Under the new bill, families would be required to tell their school districts when they decide to homeschool their children, and the parents or guardians would need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. If education authorities have concerns that children are receiving inadequate schooling, they could require parents to share evidence of teaching materials and student work. […]
Homeschool families and advocates said they will fight the measure, which they argue would infringe on parental rights. Past proposals to increase oversight also have met swift resistance. The sponsor of a 2011 bill that would have required homeschool registration withdrew it after hundreds of people protested at the Illinois State Capitol. In 2019, a different lawmaker abandoned her bill after similar opposition to rules that would have required curriculum reviews and inspections by child welfare officials.
Three bills introduced in Springfield in mid-February aim to make housing development simpler in Chicago and Illinois.
Drafted by local state Rep. Kam Buckner (D-26th) with suggestions from the grassroots group Abundant Housing Illinois, the legislative package consists of the Affordable Communities Act, the Local-Accessory Dwelling Units Act and the People over Parking Act. Together, these bills aim to increase housing stock in cities, thereby bringing down costs of living, organizers behind the proposals say. […]
The Affordable Communities Act, or H.B. 3288, allows for the construction of multifamily housing by-right in any residential zone in cities with populations of 100,000 or greater. By-right development is development that can be built without needing discretionary review or approvals from planning commissions, zoning boards or other regulatory bodies. Advocates argue that this approach is faster and reduces overall development costs. […]
The Local-Accessory Dwelling Units Act, or H.B. 3552, allows accessory dwelling units to be constructed by-right in all residential zones statewide. An accessory dwelling unit can be an apartment above or in place of a garage, often known as coach houses or “granny flats,” or a separate unit inside the main structure on a property.
The final bill in the package, People over Parking Act, or H.B. 3256 and S.B. 2352, bars cities from imposing minimum parking mandates on development projects located within a half mile of a transit hub. A parking reform page on the city’s website, based on research done by advocacy group the Center for Neighborhood Technology, says that that city still “mandates specific amounts of off-street parking for new commercial and residential developments, even where it’s not needed.” These mandates, the site continues, leave less space for housing itself and increase construction costs, which may drive up rents.
* Illinois Environmental Council…
At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 4, Representative Ann Williams and environmental and consumer advocates will introduce the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (SB2473/HB3779) – legislation that addresses urgent challenges facing our electric grid while also prioritizing affordability for consumers and businesses. The grid is struggling to keep pace with a surge in demand for energy, largely caused by data centers, and Regional Transmission Organizations PJM and MISO have been woefully inadequate in connecting clean energy projects to the grid that could power millions of homes with clean, affordable electricity. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act offers a comprehensive suite of commonsense solutions that prioritize affordability, grid resiliency, and Illinois’ climate and clean energy goals.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 11am CT
WHAT: Press conference to introduce the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (SB2473/HB3779)
WHERE: Blue Room, Illinois State Capitol Building, 401 S 2nd Street Springfield, IL 62756
An Illinois state legislator suggests a proposed amendment to the Prevailing Wage Act could drive up costs for taxpayers.
House Bill 1189 says if there is a federally-funded construction project that is run by the state or a unit of local government that the higher of the federal prevailing wage or the state prevailing wage will apply to that project.
Sean Stott, the director of governmental affairs at the Laborers’ International Union of North America, said the bill ensures Illinois workers protection from action on the federal level in regards to wage setting. […]
“Several other states follow this method including: Minnesota, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and even Missouri’s Department of Transportation follows this method,” [Rep. Jay Hoffman, the bill’s sponsor, said. “As you know, the prevailing wage in Illinois is set by what is in a collective bargaining agreement. That agreement is sent to the Illinois Department of Labor and they will change and update the prevailing wage in a given area and for a given trade. Unfortunately the federal government has not changed the prevailing wage to reflect the most recent collective bargaining agreement.” […]
HB 1189 passed out of committee 18 to nine.
A new Illinois bill championed by Gov. JB Pritzker would allow community colleges to offer four-year degrees, a move bill authors say would make baccalaureate degrees more accessible and mitigate workforce shortages.
“This is a natural extension of what we’re focused on as community colleges, (which) is our commitment to help improve career pathways for students,” said Ken Trzaska, president of Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey.
But universities in southern Illinois are apprehensive.
“We’re certainly 100% supportive of anything we can do to improve access for students who want to get a degree. We need to find, I think as a state, a way to provide that education,” said Dan Mahony, president of the Southern Illinois University system. “The question is, ‘What is the best way to do that?’”
Both Mahony and McKendree University President Dan Dobbins praised the existing collaboration between their institutions and community colleges. However, opening the door for community colleges to offer four-year degrees could lead to what Mahony called “unproductive competition.”
posted by Isabel Miller
Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 8:52 am
Previous Post: State finally making major progress on funding ‘four core services’
Next Post: When RETAIL Succeeds, Illinois Succeeds
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
” H.B. 3288, allows for the construction of multifamily housing by-right in any residential zone in cities with populations of 100,000 or greater.”
This is a good compromise, in contrast to allowing this everywhere.
“H.B. 3552, allows accessory dwelling units to be constructed by-right in all residential zones statewide.”
These are currently allowed in my county with zoning approval, and I haven’t seen any problems with it. Usually the zoning approvals are related to asking for variances to change sideyard setback limitations by a few feet. Even in changing this to by right, many will likely still need a zoning variance for setback distances. There’s one going through this process through the county right now and the plans look reasonable and still fit in with the neighborhood.
Overall, that package of housing bills seems reasonable and with minimal unintended consequences.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 9:05 am
The “prevailing wage” is published by the Illinois Department of Labor. Each county establishes the prevailing wage for the various work types and labor classifications.
The published rates are the same for the Federal Davis Bacon Act (federal prevailing wage act) and the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act.
The prevailing wage acts apply to contracts issued by public bodies expending public funds.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 9:37 am
RE: Community Colleges
I understand there is fiefdoms involved. But there are many little liberal arts colleges which dot the Illinois educational landscape. No one is running to decertify these colleges. (Nor do they have particularly rigorous oversight of their educational quality.) If a community college thinks it has the resources and finances to offer a four year degree instead of two year degree, let them do it. As long as the community colleges are pushing to offer four year degrees for the betterment of their students and it will not result in the canabilizing their existing programs that work, let them do it.
Comment by Unionman Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 10:03 am
If community colleges are going to offer a 4 year degree, they must be an ABET accredited college.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 10:11 am
We put solar up a few years ago, and the company that put it up said we would only have a service charge with our power company Illinois Electric Cooperative. We’ll am sure you can guess the power company said we don’t need to net meter you power and pay for the excess because we don’t have to, and until the state makes them they are not. Our neighbor is on Amren and pays 15 bucks a month for power. You know you try to do the right thing and it still bites you in the you know where. Yes it’s on me assuming, but seriously.
Comment by Taken advantage of Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 10:15 am
=which they argue would infringe on parental rights.=
I wish they would name the “rights” that are being infringed upon. They don’t because they are not.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 10:19 am
The Community College Bill is a total slap in the face to the 4 year institutions. Western, SIUC, SIUE, Eastern, NIU, UIC, should all be hollering from the rooftops about this.
Comment by James Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 10:26 am
==The Community College Bill is a total slap in the face to the 4 year institutions. Western, SIUC, SIUE, Eastern, NIU, UIC, should all be hollering from the rooftops about this.==
If CC’s are able to offer these 4 year programs at a lower tuition then those other colleges should maybe look at their tuition rates. Tuition is completely out of hand and the colleges and universities don’t seem to have a solution to it other than asking for more money.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 11:14 am
Re: Homeschool bill — is there data that shows there is a problem this bill will work to solve?
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 11:16 am
=The Community College Bill is a total slap in the face to the 4 year institutions. Western, SIUC, SIUE, Eastern, NIU, UIC, should all be hollering from the rooftops about this.=
Not sure how providing more accessible, more affordable baccalaureate degrees to students at the community college level is a slap in the face to the 4 years. This practice is commonplace in many states across the country.
Comment by Magic Dragon Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 11:32 am
The bill allowing community colleges to offer four-year degrees seems to address an issue that many downstaters would rather ignore: Illinois’ current four-year colleges are mostly where the students ain’t.
Do I wish that everyone who wanted a bachelor’s degree could pick up and move to a college town to dedicate four years to academics?
I certainly do.
But that isn’t the reality for most college students in 2025. (Much less the reality of all of those who wish to be college students.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 11:33 am
In the past, some state universities have offered some 3rd and 4th year classes in classrooms rented from community colleges. The selection of programs was limited to specific programs. SIU had a program for teacher certification that was held on weekends. This allowed people with an associate degree to take the additional 2 years on weekends. This allowed the students to get their degree without re-locating and without giving up their income from employment during the week. That saved the students a lot of money.
Comment by Dupage Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 11:43 am
Western SIUC and Eastern are suffering from major enrollment declines and significant financial pressures. This is not a sustainable trend.
I think some type of partnership agreement with community colleges and state universities is a better deal for both.
Also I wonder how the “more affordable” guarantee would last over time. Still waiting for the tollways to become freeways.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 11:43 am
== The Community College Bill is a total slap in the face to the 4 year institutions. Western, SIUC, SIUE, Eastern, NIU, UIC, should all be hollering from the rooftops about this. ==
No, they should be applauding it for the most part.
Community colleges offer the Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Sciences (AS) degrees, which are largely targeted to being pre-baccalaureate degrees that provide the direct pathways to BA and BS degrees in their respective programs. The courses taken are largely gen-eds but also prerequisite courses for the advanced 300/400 level courses offered at the state universities.
They also offer the Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) degree, which is currently a terminal degree in most programs; meaning there are generally no higher degrees beyond that. The courses there are the opposite: a few gen-eds but largely targeted 100/200 level courses in a specialized trade/technical field. If these students want to change some gears later in life and go get a BA/BS degree, it often requires going back and taking all of the gen-ed courses they didn’t get the first time around.
The completion rate for students who take this route is horrendously low, with many not even making it to the four-year school and instead dropping out while taking Psych 101 with a bunch of 19 year olds at their community college. Many don’t even start because they’re looking at doing it part-time, and are facing down what amounts to close to 8 years of classes to go from their AAS to BA/BS degree, because most technical classes from programs like welding, automotive maintenance, IT, etc. don’t count toward a traditional BA/BS program.
My understanding is that the four-year degree programs going to be offered at community colleges are filling THIS gap, creating Bachelors of Applied Science (BAS) programs to let student advance in those technical fields without having to start all over to go the BA/BS route, cutting the time in half and recognizing the credit earned for their technical degree. It may cut into the student base of the directionals a little bit, but largely this is for those who want/need a four year degree but work in specialized fields that rely a whole lot more on applied skills than theoretical skills and don’t want to start all over because despite having a 60-credit hour AAS degree, only 9-15 of those hours count toward the BA/BS degree.
Right now, we’re losing those students who want to do this to out-of-state schools that offer these kind of technical degree completion programs, or we’re losing those students to them not even starting it in the first place.
Comment by Leap Day William Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:01 pm
- re homeschooling -
I’m all for more oversight. There are absolutely good, well-intentioned, and effective parent teachers that teach their kids well, but it’s honestly seeming like loads of far right parents are using home schooling as a front for indoctrinating their kids against perceived issues with society and public education (in reality, against just basic politeness, learning to interact with students of other races and backgrounds, and general science) that can’t otherwise afford private indoctrination chambers that fundamentalist religious institutions front as. If parents are raising their kids to be scientifically illiterate, culturally intolerant, and generally ignorant on basic matters needed for students to progress, they’re hurting both their kids specifically and society at large. By all means, additional oversight is needed, and if parents that homeschool are actually good then just is just one extra hoop to jump through in an attempt to prevent actual abuse. Small cost there.
- re housing -
We flat out need more affordable housing everywhere in this state, so I’m all for any move that removes the ability of NIMBYs to prevent multi-family units or, heavens forbid, starter homes in any neighborhood. We need to financially incentivize the construction of far less expensive homes, too, but I’m not sure any move suggested will meaningfully tackle this problem.
- re community colleges -
Community colleges are important in providing more affordable access to higher education, and with traditional universities getting more expensive by the year the need for them to provide something more than only associates degrees becomes more and more needed.
I agree that several of the directional public schools are in trouble, but barring them becoming way more affordable this provides a good framework for making higher education more available while hopefully being less cost prohibitive.
I do likewise agree that we need to make existing public universities more attractive to potential students; but speaking as someone that was only an above average student twenty years ago, even then I viewed Eastern as my safety school in case I was rejected by the other five schools I applied to (which was not the case, so I did not attend Eastern). We’re a few decades into a public image and reality problem that schools like EIU and WIU have been experiencing, community colleges being allowed to expand into an unfulfilled niche isn’t their death knell unless they were already dying.
Comment by TJ Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:41 pm
==Re: Homeschool bill — is there data that shows there is a problem this bill will work to solve?==
There is plenty of of data that being educated is good and that not being educated is not good.
There are plenty of examples of homeschooling denying children an adequate and appropriate education.
But in order for there to be actual data on homeschooling that is not generated by homeschool proponents, there would have to be oversight.
There is none.
Comment by Stephanie Kollmann Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 1:12 pm
Somewhat ignored in the proposal to allow Community Colleges to offer BA/BS degrees is the funding formulas. Community colleges rely on local property taxes to regulate pricing. Four year public universities do not. In some cases, creating four-year degrees (not one or two, but the whole gamut of four year programs) will require new funding formulas. Until we see that sort of econometric modelling, it would be foolish to simply jump on the bandwagon.
Comment by H-W Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 1:25 pm
@1:25pm===Community colleges rely on local property taxes to regulate pricing.===
I clipped a newspaper article back in the late 1960s on the new laws on creating community colleges in Illinois. The funding was to be 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. 1/3 local, 1/3 tuition and fees, and 1/3 STATE FUNDING. I saw a summary of the actual funding about a year ago and it was over 50% local, 7% STATE, 4% federal and the rest tuition and fees. The STATE needs to increase their portion the funding of the community colleges.
Comment by Dupage Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 2:37 pm
Dupage, IIRC the agreement was that when new revenues came in that k-12 would get two-thirds of the allotted education pot and universities would get one-third.
That lasted through George Ryan.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 2:45 pm
I’ll try this again since my comment seems to have not been posted.
Many families of children with sever special needs home school their kids because the local school district refuses to appropriately serve them.
We should not punish families who already have a lot of their plates.
Comment by Madigan's Apple Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 3:10 pm
Curious on the opinion of JS Mill.
It appears the Homeschooling bill would give additional administrative duties to ROE’s and School Districts over potential Truancy issues of non-reporting students. Is this an additional duty that public schools would want, considering many have their own attendance issues?
Comment by Oldtimer Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 3:50 pm
– There is plenty of of data that being educated is good and that not being educated is not good –
Indeed. Maybe public educators could start doing their jobs, get their students - and especially minority students - up to grade level in math and reading, and leave alone the parents who undertake the responsibility of educating their kids themselves?
Nah. Let’s threaten those parents with jail instead, and give the failing teachers big pay raises and even less accountability because of a “teacher shortage.”
Great plan.
Comment by JB13 Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 6:58 pm