Senate Democrats lead school funding debate

Two Senate Democrats are keeping the conversation going about overhauling Illinois’ outdated, worst-in-the-nation school funding formula.

Senator Kimberly A. Lightford of Maywood is leading a group of lawmakers and stakeholders on developing a plan to revamp the current formula, which experts say fails to prioritize the schools that need the most help from the state.

Lightford’s group is looking at strategies to achieve both adequate and equitable state funding for Illinois’ public K-12 schools, many of which struggle to make ends meet because of high numbers of students who live in poverty, have special needs or speak English as a second language. These students cost more to educate because they require more resources to meet the learning standards set by the state.

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ILHA Hardest Hit Program

Lightford: Incident at U.S. Rep. Davis’ office highlights the mental health crisis

CHICAGO- A woman walked into U.S. Rep. Danny Davis’ office yesterday, drank out of a bottle of hand sanitizer, poured the hand sanitizer on herself and used a lighter to set herself on fire. The unfortunate incident highlights the mental health crisis in our state and across the country.

“We need to fully fund our state’s mental health services,” said Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood). “The story about this woman inflicting pain on herself should move us to acknowledge and support solutions for the mental health issues so many people are struggling with.”

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Rauner vetoes expansion of program that helps working mothers on Women’s Equality Day

SPRINGFIELD- A proposal led by Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford that would have made child care more accessible to working parents and parents seeking a higher education was vetoed by Governor Bruce Rauner today.

“I’m disappointed that the governor chose to turn his back on parents working to give their children a better life,” Lightford said. “This legislation was meant to empower hardworking people and help them reach self-sufficiency.”

Senate Bill 730 increased the income eligibility threshold for the Child Care Assistance Program to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level in 2016 and 250 percent by 2017. The change would have allowed thousands of families to qualify for the program.

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