Illinois Valley Times

A bill intended to eliminate Illinois school discrimination due to hairstyles got support from state senators including Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris).

The bill underwent several senate committees and floor hearings, as well as amendments to ensure that non-compliant schools will not be subjected to the elimination of evidence-based funding, one concern Rezin had prior to revisions.

“You appeared before our committee and we had questions at the time you’re using funding from the evidence-based funding formula as the enforcement component to the bill,” Senate Education Committee Minority Spokesperson Rezin asked. “Is that still the case?

Bill author, Sen. Mike Simmons’ (D-Chicago) affirmed that “that is no longer the case. We have removed the evidence-based funding component and in lieu of that, we will use an annual compliance probe that ISBE will conduct.” He also explained to Rezin that the bill has been expanded to include public schools, parochial schools, and charter schools after the latter asked if the bill covers private or religious schools.

“To the bill, I appreciate you working with us regarding our concerns and other than…I would say to our members our one concern is that it includes religious schools but other than that, I am happy to support your bill,” Rezin told Simmons.

SB0817 would amend the School Code to require that “non-public elementary or secondary school that has obtained or seeks to obtain recognition status from the State Board may not prohibit hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture” setting forth “a penalty for noncompliance with the school uniform or dress code policy provisions.”

“We took a major step forward today in passing this bill out of the Senate and sent a message to our young people that we see them and respect them for who they are,” the freshman senator said in a statement. “Black youth in particular have endured decades of systemic discrimination targeting their hairstyles in schools, and it’s time to turn the page on that history. I thank my colleagues for supporting the bill.”

Though the bill still had 13 opponents during the Senate’s final reading on Wednesday, 40 voted favorably.

The bill has arrived at the House and will be championed by House Majority Leader Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago).