SPRINGFIELD – Thousands of K-12 students are arrested in Illinois schools every year for minor offenses such as drawing on desks, not participating in class, walking past a fight or having a tantrum caused by separation anxiety or depression.

Assistant Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) is working to reverse this trend by proposing legislation to create grant funding for schools to implement evidence-based alternatives to law enforcement involvement for in-school offenses.

“Our children are facing awful lifelong consequences due to the overuse of arrests as in-school disciplinary measures,” Lightford said. “We cannot continue to let children suffer when there are methods available that not only help them deal with their behavioral issues, but increase their academic achievement as well.”

The Smart Energy Hubs at ComEd (Chicago & Rockford) – Transportation is NOT provided.
ComEd offers field trips to two interactive education centers, located within view of its area training centers. It is open to grades K-12, participants learn about the history and science of electricity, how energy relates to their daily lives, ways to save energy and better manage of their energy use, and the benefits of the Smart Grid. Each field trip is 90 minutes long. To book the fieldtrip you can do it through the link: https://www.fieldtripfactory.com/Program?event=198&banner=1022#!tab=tab214
 
Super Savers
ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas have partnered to offer schools the opportunity to teach students and their families how to use less energy at home. Teachers will receive FREE energy efficiency curriculum and resources. Students will receive a free take-home kit that includes energy-saving products to install at home that result in electricity, natural gas and water savings. This information will allow the students to share money- and energy-saving tips with their families. To Enroll in the Super Saver you can go to: http://supersaverskids.com/teachers.php

The Exelon African-American Resource Alliance (EAARA) - Chicago Chapter has made a scholarship opportunity available.  EAARA is accepting applications for the 2018 Frank M. Clark/John T. Hooker Scholarship! They will award twenty-seven scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to support students who are currently attending or plan to attend a 2-year or 4-year college or university in the Fall of 2018.  
                                                                
Eligibility requirements:
 
•    African-American currently residing in ComEd’s Illinois service territory
•    Attends or plans to enroll in a 2-year or 4-year accredited college or university
•    Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
 
Application packages are due on or before midnight CST on June 3, 2018. Click the application link below and submit all materials per the instructions to insure your submission receives full consideration. Incomplete and/or late submissions will not be considered.
 
CLICK HERE TO START THE APPLICATION
 
Access the application at http://comed.com/2018EAARAScholarship
 
Questions can be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SPRINGFIELD – As the national call for more school resource officers grows, Illinois Senate Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) is working to ensure Illinois provides proper training for the all-in-one law enforcement, counselor and community liaison position.

Senate Bill 2925, which was approved by the Senate today, requires the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to develop or approve a certified training program for school resource officers by Jan. 1, 2020.

Leader Lightford joined her colleagues during a walkout on March 14 in solidarity with young people across the country demanding action on gun control and safety in schools. Lightford is holding up a photo of Peter Wang, who lost his life while helping his classmates escape the recent Florida shooting.

“We want all school resource officers to have the proper training to be a supplement to our children’s education,” Lightford said. “They have tough jobs, and the only way to make them easier is setting training standards that prepare these officers for the situations they may face in a school.”

The training will be developed with consultation from organizations with expertise in the areas of youth and adolescent development, educational administration, child abuse and exploitation prevention, youth mental health treatment, and juvenile advocacy.

The legislation also allows law enforcement agencies to request a waiver of the training for any officers who may already be qualified as an SRO.

The proposal will now head to the House for consideration.