Wendell here is what my B-N-Law sent me,
I just assumed it was true but did not dig any deeper to find out if it was true.
I just posted the info near the bottom of the article since most of the stuff didn't have to do with the topic at hand--but maybe this helps.
Senator John Jones, State Senate - 54th District
The state released its annual School Report Card on Oct. 31 said Sen. Jones, which showed that despite increased per pupil spending, Illinois schools continue to fail to meet federal standards for ?Adequate Yearly Progress? designated in the No Child Left Behind Act.
Also this week, the federal government announced its approval of a controversial Cook County Medicaid expansion, and despite an arbitrator?s ruling on the contentious state facility closures pushed by Gov. Pat Quinn the facility closure struggle continues.
State School Report Card released, shows schools fall short of federal standards
Sen. Jones said that although the state continues to increase per student spending, many Illinois schools once again to failed to meet federal standards for "Adequate Yearly Progress" set out in the No Child Left Behind Act. However, the reasons behind the statistics are complex say education experts and may say more about the challenges of educating some students than about the overall state of education in Illinois.
The Illinois State Board of Education released its annual School Report Card Oct. 31 and the results provide ammunition for all sides in the education debate.
In the latest report, 66 percent of Illinois primary and secondary schools failed to make adequate yearly progress. However, looking only at Illinois High Schools that number climbed to 98 percent. In addition, about half of all high school juniors in the state failed the Prairie State Achievement Examination. On the other hand, more than 80 percent of grade school students passed the Illinois Standards Achievement Test.
At the same time, per pupil spending averaged $11,664 statewide for the 2010-2011 school year, an increase of more than $2,000 since 2007. Average teacher salaries were $66,616, while the average administrator was paid $110,870.
Some critics point to the apparent disconnect between the cost of education and the results. Even education officials have said there is no clear link between spending and student success.
"There is really not a direct correlation between spending and achievement," former State School Superintendent Glenn "Max" McGee told the Chicago Tribune.
The ongoing debate over test scores and school evaluations has led the state to move toward new standards. Beginning next year, the Illinois State Report Cards will be revised with new standards. The state is also seeking a federal waiver from some of the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act.
For information on how school districts performed, the School Report Cards are available on the Illinois State Board of Education website. Additionally, both the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times have created special sites with tools to review local school districts.
Arbitrator's ruling gives the go-ahead for closures
Recently, Gov. Pat Quinn?s fight to close a number of state facilities was bolstered by an arbitrator?s ruling which found that the Quinn administration has taken reasonable steps to work with union workers on closing the facilities, and should be allowed to proceed with shuttering the facilities. In addition, a state board charged with reviewing healthcare facilities, gave the green light to the Governor's plan to close the Jacksonville Development Center, which houses developmentally disabled persons.
Though the arbitrator noted that ?the ideal solution? would be to keep the facilities open, he ruled the prison closures would not present a ?clear and present danger? to facility employees. However, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) questioned the arbitrator?s determination; the union has long contended that the state?s correctional system is vastly over-crowded, arguing that closing and consolidating facilities will make circumstances more dangerous for prison employees.
In response, AFSCME has asked an Alexander County judge to retain the current injunction prohibiting closures. AFSCME is also asking the judge to vacate the arbitrator?s opinion, contending state law requires employers to provide a safe work environment. A recent Associated Press investigation revealed that the state had eased security rules for prison transfers, despite promises from the administration that no changes in procedures or policies would take place.
Spurred by the ruling, the Quinn administration also turned to the courts, requesting a Cook County judge lift the order to allow the state to move forward with the long-sought closures. It is not known how quickly the judges will respond to these requests.
In a separate action, the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, which is appointed by the Governor, voted 6-1 to allow the Quinn administration to proceed with closing the Jacksonville Developmental Center as early as Nov. 21. The board ruling came despite testimony against the closure from Jacksonville's mayor, State Senator Sam McCann and State Representative Jim Watson.
Cook County Medicaid expansion approved by federal government
Late last week, the Obama Administration approved a controversial federal waiver that will allow Cook County to begin enrolling persons early in the expanded Medicaid program under the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare).
The early implementation of the Medicaid expansion was authorized by House Bill 5007, which passed the Illinois General Assembly on a largely partisan roll call in May. Most Republicans voted against the expansion, which is expected to add between 100,000 and 250,000 adults to Medicaid.
Opponents argued that, given the soaring costs of the existing program and the decision to reduce benefits for many seniors, children and chronically ill individuals already on Medicaid, it was wrong to add thousands of childless adults to the Medicaid rolls. Cook County sought the expansion, saying that the affected individuals were already receiving medical care though emergency rooms and free clinics and that the waiver would save the county as much as $100 million by forcing the federal government to help pick up the tab.
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Contact Information:
Senator John O. Jones
2929 Broadway Suite 5
Mt.Vernon, IL 62864
618-242-9511
309 H State Capitol
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-0471
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