Yang Rohr Bills Seek to Create Opportunity for Learners

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville, is working to help Illinois students succeed by advancing new legislation creating additional paths for students seeking to expand the scope of their education, and empowering advanced middle schoolers to get a head start on their high school coursework.

“The global landscape is forever changing, and our students need to be prepared to meet those challenges,” Yang Rohr said. “The Global Scholar Certification allows students to do just that, and appreciate the global nature of their passions. My legislation will create more opportunities for students to pursue an education that positions them to succeed, innovate and lead in a global job market.”

Yang Rohr House Bill 3250 gives students more options for completing the Illinois Global Scholar Certification by expanding their ability to use digital badges and online micro-credentials to meet criteria for their capstone project. These methods allow for more affordable ways for students to verify that they have met Global Scholar requirements. This bill received bipartisan support in committee and now awaits consideration before the full House.

Yang Rohr also advanced House Bill 3039, which allows students in 7th or 8th grade taking high school-level courses to receive high school credits if they pass the end-of-course exam at the high school granting credit. This expands credit-earning opportunities, which are currently limited based on a teacher's certifications or a student's physical attendance at the high school.

Currently, students can receive high school credit during middle school, if the course is offered by the high school the student would otherwise attend, and the course is taught by a teacher who holds a valid teaching license and is endorsed in both the content area and grade level for the course.

“School officials in my community came to me with a problem: acing every exam for high school courses isn't a guarantee you'll receive credit for that course. But House Bill 3039 provides a solution,” Yang Rohr said. “My legislation would allow these students more opportunities to pursue coursework that interests and challenges them. Illinois students are bright and driven; our state needs to support that and eliminate barriers to their success.”