Chicago City Wire

GOP lawmakers said another Democrat mandate on education could cause further financial hardship on already cash-strapped school districts during House floor debate April 20.

HB4205, sponsored by Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago), mandates that schools connect at-risk students with either community-based or in-school behavioral health support. 

Rep. Peter Breen (R-Lombard) asked Ford why the Statewide School Management Alliance, State Board of Education, Alliance of Administrators for Special Education, Illinois Coalition for Education of At-Risk Youth and Chicago Public Schools rejected his legislation.

“I have no idea since my analysis lists nothing but proponents and only one opponent,” Ford said.

Breen said lawmakers certainly need to provide support for at-risk youth, but why does Springfield have to put yet another mandate on school officials. 

“Can’t we just trust that schools will take care of their at-risk students, which is their duty by law,” Breen said.

Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-Hinckley) also asked Ford why numerous groups are opposed to HB4205. Ford said to his knowledge the opposition was dropped after he made an amendment regarding how schools respond to at-risk youth and services they must provide.

“When you are going forward and saying what the school must do reduces their flexibility and perhaps their resources,” Pritchard said.

Rep. Chad Hays (R-Catlin) had an issue with funding, noting districts in east central Illinois have made it clear not to send one more mandate if there is no money to back it. It is not just Danville, he added.

“It is true in the city of Chicago, it is true in Carbondale and Decatur, Aurora, Rockford and everywhere else,” Hays said.

The bill's prescriptive language rises to a clarion call that if lawmakers are not going to fund their bills, they need to get hard on the red button, Hays added. 

Rep. Patricia Bellock (R-Hinsdale)  questioned why Ford was attempting to debate the semantics that clearly state up to six guidelines.

“The school board shall require schools to connect at-risk students in need of academic support,” Bellock read of the bill analysis. “You are mandating that.”

Frustrated, Ford said his bill is clear and the needed services are already in the school so connecting an at-risk youth to them should not be an issue.

“If a school does not have services to support an at-risk student, then that is a problem and they would have to start services,” Ford said.

“Sometimes in this chamber, we try to make things more difficult than they are,” Hays said. "When the bill says 'shall require,' that means you have to do it."

Rep. Steven Andersson (R-Geneva) said mandate or not, the bill is a good piece of legislation.

“Quite honestly folks, I can understand the word 'mandate,' but this is pretty minor in my opinion and maybe it will do some good,” Andersson said.

HB4205 passed 55-44 and moved to the Senate.