Lightford: Today’s votes prevent more suffering

• Budget

SPRINGFIELD- Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) released the following statement after supporting a number of measures approved in the Senate today that would enact a full balanced budget for the first time in nearly two years:

“When we continue to do nothing our children lose, our seniors lose and our neediest residents lose. We made an effort today to prevent Governor Rauner from causing more suffering to our most vulnerable populations with a plan that gives our state stability.”

Lightford: Children should not be expelled before kindergarten

• Education

SPRINGFIELD- Children in public preschools are more than three times more likely to be expelled than children in kindergarten through 12th grades, according to a report by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois. Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) leads a proposal that would keep more at-risk preschool students in the classroom.

The proposal, which was approved in the Senate today, would prohibit the expulsion of children enrolled in early childhood programs receiving grants from the Illinois State Board of Education. The legislation focuses on transitioning children to programs that better fit a child’s needs.

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Lightford defends Chicago children in education funding reform debate (VIDEO)

• Education
• Education Funding Reform

SPRINGFIELD- The Illinois Senate recently approved legislation that would restructure the way money is distributed to school districts throughout the state based on need. Senate Bill 1 uses an evidence-based model to determine where state dollars are most effective by placing school districts in three tiers and prioritizing those with the most need, which is determined by reviewing 27 elements of education.

Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) gave the following speech during debate on Senate Bill 1:

6th Annual Mammograms for Mother's Day Event

Please click the image or click here for a list of participating salons.