Kane County Reporter

In a Facebook post on March 24, Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) shared information on state-wide literacy legislation. 

"When Senate Bill 2243 came before the Senate Education Committee, I was shocked to find out that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) did not have a state-wide literacy plan put in place already!" Syverson wrote. "Today, in a bipartisan effort, we were able to change that and continue to strengthen our education system here in Illinois."

Senate Bill 2243  was proposed by Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Hillside). The bill directs the ISBE to "develop and adopt a comprehensive literacy plan for the State on or before Jan. 31, 2024." 

On March 24 the bill passed the Senate and moved to the House of Representatives. Since then, the bill has been referred to the rules committee.

In a news release from Senate Democrats, Lightford shared that a vast majority of students failed to meet their standard grade level and how it may impact their future.

"Currently, 50% of third-grade students in Illinois do not meet or partially meet learning standards for English language arts," Lightford said. "Research from the Annie E. Casey Institute found that students who are not proficient readers in third grade are four times more likely not to finish high school. If those students are from low-income families, they are more than six times more likely not to finish high school."

A lifelong resident of Illinois, Syverson was first elected to the Senate in 1993. 

In the Senate, he is spokesperson for the Insurance Committee, the Health and Human Services Committee, and the Appropriations (Health and Human Services) Committee. Syverson is also a member of the Public Health, Behavioral, and Mental Health, Licensed Activities, and Local Government committees. He serves as co-chair of the bipartisan Hospital Transformation Committee and the Medicaid Reform Committee.