K-2 Students Need Support, Not Exclusion (Illinois)

The Illinois Senate agrees. The Illinois House agrees. Just one last step remains to make HB 3772 law - we need Governor Pritzker's signature!

The bill aims to improve educational outcomes by banning Illinois public schools from expelling Kindergarten through 2nd grade students. The bill also requires the superintendent's involvement if a K-2nd grader is to be suspended for more than three days, with a strong emphasis on alternatives to exclusion.

In recent years, Illinois reported that 27,000 kindergarteners, first graders and second graders, were suspended from school. And, this is a clear civil rights issue: Black students who made up 16.5% of school enrollment received 40% of suspensions, while special education students made up 16% of enrollment, but accounted for 36% of suspensions.

Excluding students from school early predicts expulsion or suspension in later grades and contributes to students’ poor academic performance and failing to graduate on time. The early grades are the most essential time when children need to be in the classroom, as they build their educational foundation and learn to read.

And, states and districts that have implemented exclusion bans are already seeing evidence of their effectiveness - notably, Maryland and Chicago Public Schools.

Let Gov. Pritzker know you support kids - ask for his signature on HB 3772 today!