SPRINGFIELD — Student teachers across Illinois will now have greater opportunities to receive compensation for their classroom contributions, thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Adriane Johnson.
“Student teachers put in long hours and shoulder real responsibilities — it’s only fair they have the option to be compensated,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This law brings us one step closer to a more equitable, inclusive education system where aspiring educators aren’t pushed out due to financial hardship.”
House Bill 3528 prohibits public universities from enforcing rules that bar student teachers from receiving payment during their placement. While the law does not require student teachers to be paid, it eliminates longstanding prohibitions that blocked school districts, higher education institutions and nonprofit partners from providing stipends, wages or other forms of compensation.
Under previous policies, many student teachers worked full-time without pay for an entire semester — a financial burden that often discouraged talented candidates from low-income or underrepresented backgrounds from pursuing teaching careers.
“This law is about fairness and flexibility,” Johnson said. “By removing outdated barriers, we empower schools and teacher preparation programs to offer support that better reflects the demands placed on student teachers and helps diversify our education workforce.”
House Bill 3528 was signed into law Friday.
BUFFALO GROVE – State Senator Adriane Johnson announced that 12 school districts across the 30th District will receive over $8 million in evidence-based funding, in addition to the base funding that the state provides.
“We have to make investments into our schools to ensure our students have the best educational opportunities available,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “With evidence-based funding, we can identify the school districts that need more funding and direct resources toward educators and institutions that need and deserve assistance.”
The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.
BUFFALO GROVE — State Senators Adriane Johnson and Mary Edly-Allen are hosting a State of Transit Town Hall on Monday, alongside Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart and special guest State Senator Ram Villivalam, to share updates about the state of transit in Illinois.
“Public transit connects our community – getting residents where they need to go, when they need it,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “We need to continue to speak with residents to learn more about how they use public transit and provide them with updates on our work.”
The Northeastern Illinois transit region is expected to hit a $771 million fiscal cliff as federal pandemic relief funding runs out. Public transit riders are currently facing issues with the system, including delayed service, a lack of routes and limited coordination of services between providers. This presents an issue for many, as they are left without reliable transportation to reach health care appointments, jobs, school and more.
SPRINGFIELD — To improve access to critical support services for Illinois families, State Senator Adriane Johnson has passed a new law enhancing oversight, transparency and statewide coordination of the 2-1-1 helpline system.
“The 2-1-1 helpline connects people to housing, food, mental health care and so much more — often during their most vulnerable moments,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This law will ensure that those seeking help aren’t met with delays or dead ends, but with compassionate, effective support.”
Senate Bill 2194 requires the lead entity managing 2-1-1 in Illinois to submit regular reports to the Department of Human Services on key service indicators — including caller demographics, referral gaps, coverage areas and outcome data. These insights will help state leaders identify areas for improvement and better tailor services to meet community needs.
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