Crespo Measure to Prevent Sexual Abuse in Schools

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, is working to strengthen the ability of Illinois schools to respond to educator misconduct by providing the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and school districts additional tools to combat bad behavior by teachers.

“Our most important job as legislators is to keep the learning environments of our children safe,” said Crespo. “We’ve seen too many recent cases, such as in the Chicago Public Schools, where children went unprotected in schools and I want that to end.”

Crespo is the sponsor of Senate Bill 456, which would require schools to check sex offender and violent offender registries every five years for all personnel and bans schools from knowingly employing people who have been found to abuse or neglect children. Additionally, the bill allows the state to suspend an educator’s license if an educator is charged with violent or sexual offenses.

“No child should face sexual abuse, especially in an educational setting, where they should feel safe and protected,” Crespo added. “I look forward to working with all of my colleagues to ensure children in Illinois are protected.”