CHICAGO- A Cook County judge rejected a CPS injunction request in its state education funding lawsuit today. Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) reacted to the ruling with the following statement:

“The General Assembly has a responsibility to make sure the academic progress of Chicago’s children is not disrupted due to our governor’s unwillingness to help them. His rhetoric has done nothing but alienate these children, and their education is not a political pawn.”

SPRINGFIELD- More minorities could soon be eligible for the Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program under a plan led by Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) that was approved in the Senate today.

Senate Bill 1739 allows licensed teachers pursuing additional teaching endorsements or a master’s degree in an academic field related to the subject they currently teach or plan to teach to apply for the MTI scholarship.

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. Today, Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) joined a group of law enforcement officials and colleagues from both chambers to discuss a proposal that would keep more at-risk preschool students in the classroom.

The proposal, which was approved in the House with significant bipartisan support 95-20, 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.

SPRINGFIELD- The National Association of Social Workers’ Illinois Chapter honored Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) with the 2017 NASW IL Social Work Senator of the Year Award. The award was presented in appreciation for her support of the 7,000 NASW IL members and over 20,000 social workers statewide.

Senator Lightford has a record of supporting social workers and the work they do to enhance human well-being and helping meet the basic needs of all people.