Julia Strehlow of the Chicago Children s Advocacy Center speaks about the REACH Act to members of the Illinois House committee for curriculum and policies in elementary and secondary education.
A bill requiring updated sex education standards in Illinois public schools has advanced out of the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on School Curriculum and Policies in the Illinois House. The vote fell along party lines.
If the Responsible Education for Adolescent and Children s Health Act, or the REACH Act, becomes law, Illinois would join 30 other states already requiring sex ed. The curriculum under the bill would vary depending on grade level.
Updated 3/17/2021 3:10 PM
SPRINGFIELD An Illinois House committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would mandate all public school districts in the state provide a comprehensive, age-appropriate curriculum on sex education, sexual abuse awareness and healthy relationships for all grades, K-12.
Illinois currently has a law that leaves the option of teaching sex education up to the discretion of local school districts, but House Bill 1736, dubbed the Responsible Education for Adolescents and Children Act, would make it mandatory.
This whole idea came about because students were reaching out and asking for this in their curriculum, Rep. Kathleen Willis, an Addison Democrat and the bill s chief sponsor, said during a virtual hearing. There are many schools that do not have this, and that is one of the most important things and one of the reasons I jumped on board.
Dangers of sexting for young people getting worse amid pandemic
Dangers of sexting for young people getting worse amid pandemic
What is surprising and frustrating is that a bill designed to educate Illinois children about the dangers of sexting remains bottled up in Springfield.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Perhaps it is no surprise that as kids spend more time in front of screens during the
pandemic, the problem of sexting is only getting worse.
But what is surprising and frustrating is that a bill designed to educate Illinois children about the dangers of sexting remains bottled up in Springfield. In our age, when the internet is like a third arm, you know for kids in particular this is just their mechanism and their way to experience how to become an adult, said Char Rivette of Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center.
Right before December began, Charles Leno Jr. had an idea.
The Bears starting left tackle decided to count down the 25 days to Christmas with a separate charitable act every day.
For his efforts as Leno Claus, the NFLPA awarded Leno with the Week 16 Community MVP Award. I don t like to look at things like awards and accomplishments as big, said Leno, but to be honored by the NFLPA and win the Community MVP Award, it means a lot to me because that s something I strive for in this profession: giving back.
While his name is on the award, Leno credits his wife, Jennifer, and infant daughter for being the driving forces behind the initiative.