Stuart Education Initiatives Signed Into Law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Students will be more empowered and prepared as they embark on their post-secondary education, under a smart package of new legislation passed by state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, that became law last week.

“Students today have many opportunities after they graduate from high school, but they can’t take advantage of possibilities they are unaware of,” Stuart said. “That’s why I took a hard look at what we can do better when it comes to supporting our young graduates as they take their first steps toward rewarding careers.”

Stuart passed House Bills 2503, 3759 and 3760, all of which are aimed at connecting students with opportunities following high school graduation. All three bills were signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on June 30.

• House Bill 2503 allows students who wish to enroll in a program not offered at their local community college to enroll in that program at another Illinois community college which does have it, while still paying the same price they would have paid at their local institution.
• House Bill 3759 requires that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) create a secure, centralized database for student language arts and mathematics assessment profiles to better enable Illinois students to be actively recruited by in-state public colleges and universities.
• House Bill 3760 creates a pilot program that requires Illinois institutions of higher learning, if they have not already done so, to implement a uniform 4-year admission system for community college students; and requires Illinois public universities to guarantee admission to all students at Illinois community colleges who meet certain requirements such as earning at least 36 transferable credits and maintaining a 3.0 grade point average.

“It’s important that students are as well informed as possible when making decisions that can impact their future,” Stuart said. “When we provide our bright, talented young people with flexibility and a clear path forward, we start them off on the right foot. After that, the sky’s the limit.”