Hirschauer Pushes Expanded Emergency Preparedness for Teachers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, is continuing her efforts to make classrooms safer, advancing a new bill to ensure more teachers are prepared to prioritize student safety in an emergency situation.

“My work in Springfield is rooted in the kitchen table issues discussed in my neighborhood every night. Parents, teachers and students alike are more fearful than ever to attend school without the thought of ‘Will I be safe today?’ This bill reflects a serious effort to close gaps we see locally that will have an impact statewide—ensuring every community, school, and student feels seen and protected.”

Hirschauer passed House Bill 1787 out of the Education Policy Committee last week, ensuring substitute teachers and semi-permanent educators receive the same lockdown and emergency preparedness training as full-time teachers. As a former teacher and champion of commonsense gun safety laws, Hirschauer developed this measure in coordination with Moms Demand Action in order to continue developing a more comprehensive approach to student safety.

“I’m a staunch advocate for protecting our schools, and this measure is another way we can prioritize our students’ safety,” said Hirschauer. “I’ll continue to work toward policy that intersect the dangers of firearms, children, and schools—because our kids deserve to enjoy the same safety that we once did when we were growing up.”