West Cook News

Kimberly A. Lightford introduced SB0028 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 13, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the School Code. In a provision regarding an optional alternative evaluative dismissal process for teacher evaluations, removes the definition of and references to "student growth components". Makes the following changes in the Evaluation of Certified Employees Article: Removes the definitions of and references to "implementation date", "Race to the Top Grant", and "School Improvement Grant". Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, each school district may incorporate the use of data and indicators on student growth as a factor in rating teaching performance into its evaluation plan for all teachers in contractual continued service and teachers not in contractual continued service (now, a school district is required to incorporate student growth data and indicators as a significant factor). Makes other changes concerning student growth. Changes the components of an evaluation plan for a teacher's performance. Makes changes concerning a principal's or assistant principal's evaluation. With respect to the types of rules the State Board of Education may adopt, removes the inclusion of rules that (i) define the term "significant" factor" for purposes of including consideration of student growth in performance ratings and (ii) establish a model evaluation plan for use by school districts in which student growth shall comprise 50% of the performance rating. Allows a school district (rather than only a school district with 500,000 or more inhabitants) to use an annual State assessment as a measure of student growth for purposes of teacher or principal evaluations. Removes and changes outdated provisions. Makes other and conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2025."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends several sections of the Illinois School Code to establish an alternative evaluative dismissal process for teachers based on Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) evaluations. It outlines specific procedures for teacher evaluations and dismissals, including creating lists of evaluators, establishing remediation plans, and selecting second evaluators who meet certain qualifications. The bill requires school districts to follow specific pre-remediation and remediation steps and provides for a detailed hearing process in cases of dismissal. The board must review and vote on dismissals based on findings from hearings. Additionally, districts must evaluate all teachers at least once every one to three years, depending on prior ratings. The bill mandates transparency in evaluation outcome data collection and reporting, with protections to prevent personal identification of teachers. The effective date is July 1, 2025.

Kimberly A. Lightford has proposed another two bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Lightford graduated from Western Illinois University with a BA.

Kimberly A. Lightford is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 4th Senate District. She replaced previous state senator Earlean Collins in 1998.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB0028	01/13/2025	Amends the School Code. In a provision regarding an optional alternative evaluative dismissal process for teacher evaluations, removes the definition of and references to "student growth components". Makes the following changes in the Evaluation of Certified Employees Article: Removes the definitions of and references to "implementation date", "Race to the Top Grant", and "School Improvement Grant". Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, each school district may incorporate the use of data and indicators on student growth as a factor in rating teaching performance into its evaluation plan for all teachers in contractual continued service and teachers not in contractual continued service (now, a school district is required to incorporate student growth data and indicators as a significant factor). Makes other changes concerning student growth. Changes the components of an evaluation plan for a teacher's performance. Makes changes concerning a principal's or assistant principal's evaluation. With respect to the types of rules the State Board of Education may adopt, removes the inclusion of rules that (i) define the term "significant" factor" for purposes of including consideration of student growth in performance ratings and (ii) establish a model evaluation plan for use by school districts in which student growth shall comprise 50% of the performance rating. Allows a school district (rather than only a school district with 500,000 or more inhabitants) to use an annual State assessment as a measure of student growth for purposes of teacher or principal evaluations. Removes and changes outdated provisions. Makes other and conforming changes. Effective July 1, 2025.
SB0013	01/13/2025	Creates the Adequate and Equitable Public University Funding Act. Provides that, after the effective date of the Act, all general operating expenses for public universities shall be distributed by the Board of Higher Education through a funding formula for eligible public institutions and shall be administered by the Board. Defines "eligible public institution". Sets forth provisions concerning the adequacy targets and resource profiles of eligible public institutions. Provides for the distribution of State appropriations and the calculation of the base funding minimum for each eligible public institution. Provides that the Board shall oversee an accountability and transparency framework for assessing the distribution and use of all funds appropriated by the funding formula and evaluating the funds' effects on institutional outcomes pertaining to student affordability, enrollment, persistence, and outcome metrics. Provides for reporting and the establishment of an Accountability and Transparency Committee. Provides that the Board shall establish a Funding Formula Review Panel tasked with studying and reviewing topics pertaining to the implementation and impact of the funding formula. Contains provisions concerning the Board's annual budget request and the collection of data. Amends the Board of Higher Education Act. Removes certain provisions concerning budget proposals. Effective immediately.
SB0020	01/13/2025	Creates the Hemp Consumer Products Act. Sets forth provisions concerning definitions; prohibitions and compliance; applications and licensing for hemp consumer product manufacturers; requirements for licensees; registration of hemp consumer CBD products; requirements of hemp consumer CBD products; packaging and labeling of hemp consumer CBD products; testing requirements; marketing and sale of hemp consumer CBD products; penalties; the administration and enforcement of the Act and rulemaking, including emergency rulemaking, by the Department of Agriculture; and other matters. Amends the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Provides that a violation of provisions concerning unlicensed practice is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Sets forth penalties for unlicensed practice as a cultivation center, infuser, or craft grower. Sets forth provisions concerning the use of hemp in cannabis-infused products. Allows a craft grower and infuser to purchase a hemp-derived intoxicating product from a hemp consumer product manufacturer and offer a hemp-derived intoxicating product for sale to another cannabis establishment, after which the product is considered cannabis and the craft grower or infuser must ensure the product meets all the requirements of the Act. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, the Illinois Procurement Code, the State Finance Act, the Industrial Hemp Act, the Cannabis Control Act, and the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.