SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) passed a measure out of the Senate today that would create additional avenues for preschool teachers to get licensed while still maintaining criteria to ensure teachers are highly qualified.

“We know the importance of ensuring that every child from every zip code has access to high-quality preschool programs,” Hutchinson said. “Data confirms that access to these vital programs can have lifelong positive effects, leading to lower chances of becoming a teen parent or being arrested for violent crime and leading to higher rates of high school graduation and college attendance.”

Hutchinson’s proposal, contained in Senate Bill 1829, would allow an instructor to teach preschool children in early childhood programs if he or she holds a Professional Educator License or is working towards his or her license and has been credentialed by the state.

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) released the following statement this afternoon after attending the governor’s budget address in Springfield:

“Today’s budget address acknowledges the devastating impact of the past three years of chaos in Illinois. Fewer working families are taking advantage of child care assistance to work or further their education. Fewer individuals suffering with mental illness are receiving care. And fewer Illinoisans struggling with the pains of addiction are receiving life-saving treatment.

“The governor failed today to convey the seriousness of the issues facing Illinois and the tragic effects the budget impasse is continuing to have in our communities. We must continue our bipartisan progress made over the last several months to bring increased stability and certainty to the many residents who today do not have faith that their government is working for them.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) released the following statement this afternoon after attending the governor’s State of the State address in Springfield:

“The governor once again did not come up short on laying out numerous policy positions he would like to see enacted into law. However, the problem has always been the distance between those positions and reality as well as the inability to stop campaigning long enough to govern.

“Every problem Illinois had was made worse over the historic budget impasse.

“I am hopeful this year will be different, because the governor cannot continue to operate the way he has for the last three years and expect a different result. The governor has a chance to lay out specifics during his budget address. I look forward to those details. I’m here and ready to work.”

SPRINGFIELD – Fifteen school districts in the 40th Senate District have been awarded library grants from the Illinois Secretary of State’s School District Library Grant Program. The program is designed to help provide more library books and materials for public school students in Illinois.

More than $24,200 will be awarded to the fifteen school districts.

“Having access to resources that broaden horizons and improve reading skills is paramount to future success as a student and as an adult in the workplace,” said State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights).

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