E D U C A T I O N      R E P O R T E R

SEPTEMBER 1999


STW In Chains
New Illinois law prohibits mandatory requirements

SPRINGFIELD, IL - On July 16, Governor George Ryan signed into
law SB 1133, a bill prohibiting the Illinois Board of Education from
requiring a public school district or student to participate in a
school-to-work (STW) or job training program.

Introduced earlier this year by state Sen. Patrick O'Malley (R), the
bill also prohibits a school board from requiring a student to meet
occupational standards for grade level promotion or graduation unless
that student is voluntarily enrolled in a job training program. (See
Sidebar, page 2 for bill text.)

"Thanks to SB 1133, students will not be required to participate in
STW programs in Illinois," Fran Eaton of Illinois Eagle Forum said in
a statement. "We congratulate all those who worked so hard to make
this bill a state law."

Karen Hayes of Concerned Women for America noted: "The Illinois
General Assembly has called the education establishment's bluff
regarding the 'voluntary' nature of school-to-work. There was virtually
no opposition to the bill from the Illinois Board of Education or any
other pro-STW group, because to oppose it would have been to
acknowledge that STW is a new system of education that is
eventually intended for all students. The bill sailed through the
legislature with unanimous approval."

One concern that Mrs. Hayes and other education activists have is
whether SB 1133 will be enforced. "Our fear is that it doesn't have
enough enforcement teeth," she explains. "If it can be enforced, this
law will give students and school districts a genuine choice of
options, instead of forcing them into a system in which academics
takes a back seat to job training."

Despite their caution, pro-family leaders are excited about the
successful passage of the legislation and are hopeful that it will
provide an example for other states grappling with "voluntary" STW
mandates. "We want good laws like this to be enforced," Mrs. Hayes
emphasizes, "so we recommend that, when state legislatures draft
similar bills, they incorporate definite enforcement procedures."

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SEPTEMBER  EDUCATION  REPORTER may be read online:
http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/1999/sept99/er_sept99.html

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