SPRINGFIELD — Future educators  may soon see new opportunities for fair compensation thanks to State Senator Adriane Johnson. House Bill 3528, which recently passed the House, would change the Illinois School Code to ensure that institutions of higher education cannot require student teachers to work without pay.

“Student teachers are doing real work in real classrooms, and they deserve the chance to be compensated,” said Johnson (D- Buffalo Grove).

BUFFALO GROVE – State Senator Adriane Johnson secured more than $35,500 in funding to support public school libraries in Lake County through the Secretary of State’s School District Library Grant Program.

“Libraries are foundational spaces for discovery, learning and imagination,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “By investing in our school libraries, we are investing in the academic and personal growth of every student who walks through their doors.”

More than $1.3 million was awarded to 2,484 Illinois public school libraries through the Secretary of State’s School District Library Grant Program. The funding will support library materials such as books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual resources, technology and programs.

The following school districts in the 30th District received a total of $36,446:

• Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 (Buffalo Grove) – $2,121
• Kildeer Countryside School District 96 (Buffalo Grove) – $2,982
• Oak Grove School District 68 (Green Oaks) – $850
• Gurnee School District 56 (Gurnee) – $1,557
• Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 (Lincolnshire) – $4,021
• Lincolnshire Prairie View School District 103 (Lincolnshire) – $1,630
• Mundelein Elementary School District 75 (Mundelein) – $1,306
• North Chicago Community Unit School District 187 (North Chicago) – $1,369
• Community High School District 128 (Vernon Hills) – $2,812
• Hawthorn School District 73 (Vernon Hills) – $2,945
• Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 (Waukegan) – $11,000

The grants, awarded once every fiscal year, will support school library services for over one million students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade across the state.

View a list of the school libraries that received funding here.

SPRINGFIELD — To improve coordination and oversight of the 2-1-1 helpline that connects Illinois residents to vital health and human services, State Senator Adriane Johnson championed legislation to bolster reporting standards and statewide collaboration.

“Families across Illinois rely on 2-1-1 to get help during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “We have a responsibility to make sure this system is responsive, transparent and consistently high quality across every community.”

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to bring transparency and dignity to end-of-life care in Illinois correctional facilities, State Senator Adriane championed a measure that would require the Illinois Department of Corrections to publish annual reports on its hospice and palliative care programs.

“No one should face death alone and without dignity, regardless of where they are,” said Senator Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This legislation will help us understand how the state is treating people at the end of their lives and allow lawmakers to make informed decisions on how to improve care for incarcerated individuals.”