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

HB 3772 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.

Fortunately, both the Illinois Senate and House agree. Just one step remains for HB 3772 to land on Governor Pritzker's desk - the House needs to vote on a few updates to the language of the bill to pass.

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 your Representatives know that you support kids - you support HB 3772!