Illinois Valley Times

Veteran state Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) wants to make sure Senate Bill 817 does what it sets out on the school dress code front.

“It's important that we protect our funding for our schools and I understand what you're trying to do, you're looking for an enforcement mechanism I'm fine with the website, but in general if you want to take away funding from schools the schools that are most heavily reliant on state funds are schools that are your low-income schools,” Rezin said during recent comments made before a Senate Education Committee about the bill. 

Rezin said she worries many of the schools that stand to be most impacted by the proposed changes are the ones that can least afford the policy. 

Senate Bill 817 seeks to replace everything after the enacting clause and amends the School Code to provide that a non-public elementary or secondary school registering with the State Board of Education must provide assurances that the school will not prohibit hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture. In addition, the measure sets forth a penalty for noncompliance with the school uniform or dress code policy provisions and requires the State Board to make available website resource materials developed in consultation with stakeholders regarding hairstyles.

Rezin wonders if there may be another way to enforce the central provision of the boll.

“There are schools that very much need this income," she said. "You have a high property tax area that you do not rely very much on state schools. You know it's not going to affect them as much so I think that what you're trying to do is noble, but we’re affecting the schools oftentimes that are the schools that you know need it the most. I'm fine with the school's on the website because you know once they're just called out on it I do believe that they will comply. I appreciate the bill. I was just hoping we can make your bill a little bit better negotiation.”

Finally, SB 817, which is set t take effect on Jan. 1, 2022,  seeks to amend the Charter Schools Law of the School Code to require a charter school to comply with the school uniform or dress code policy provisions.

With so many mandates already on the books, Rezin said it is critical that lawmakers get it right when it comes to school codes”

"We have 100s of mandates and policy that ISBE has to enforce,” she said. "I went through the process where a school went on the financial watch list and had a whole process to get back into good standing. Most school districts I would hope would not intentionally not comply. Education is an important part of this. We feel the due process in place is a form of ISBE allowing to go to the school districts and educate why it is important and how to comply."