SPRINGFIELD – To decrease the use of suspensions and expulsions for student discipline, Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) is leading legislation that requires school districts to report the number of days missed for disciplinary reasons.

“Losing time in the classroom has not proven to be a successful disciplinary measure for students,” Lightford said. “Our children have real issues that need addressing and taking a timeout is not going to help. They need access to resources that support their mental health, and get them on track to learn.”

House Bill 2084 requires the Illinois Board of Education to collect information from school districts on the amount of days missed to suspensions, how many arrest were made on school grounds and other related incidents for the board’s annual report.

ISBE would be required to separate that information by race, gender, age, individual grade level, English learner, disability, whether an arrest was made and the outcome of arrests made.

The measure also creates the Safe Schools and Healthy Learning Environments Grant Program to help schools struggling with disciplinary measures promote school safety and healthy learning with resources to implement restorative interventions and resolution strategies. The grant program is subject to appropriations.

The proposal was approved by the Senate and will head back to the House on concurrence.