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J.B. Pritzker on Education

 

 


Ban the use of cell phones during classroom instruction

Improving the classroom environment and limiting distractions is vital to student achievement, and in conversations with educators and parents around the state--there is one thing they commonly cite as an impediment to learning in the classroom: cell phones. That's why this session, I'll move forward with legislation requiring all school districts in Illinois to adopt a cell phone policy that bans the use of phones during classroom instruction.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 19, 2025

State and Pell grants make community college tuition-free

This year, every single student who is eligible for a MAP grant now gets one, and we are providing larger scholarships than ever before. With a $100 million increase to MAP, we can make history. Together with Pell grants, virtually everyone at or below median income in Illinois can go to community college tuition-free. That means higher wages and better jobs in healthcare, IT, construction management, manufacturing, accounting, and much more.

Explanation from Illinois Student Assistance Commission:MAP (Monetary Award Program) grants, which do not need to be repaid, are available to eligible Illinois residents who attend approved Illinois colleges and demonstrate financial need. To be eligible, you must:

Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 15, 2023

Allow pre-school access for every three and four year old

Smart Start Pre-K is a four year plan that will allow access to pre-school for every three and four year old in Illinois. It will increase our funding for the Early Childhood Block Grant program this year by $75 million. Smart Start Pre-K will provide new center-based and school-based classrooms, improve quality across the board, attract new professionals to the field, and ensure we reach our most vulnerable. In the first year alone, 5,000 more seats will be available.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 15, 2023

No budget cuts; focus on meeting needs of students

In March of 2020, I promised schools that they wouldn't lose funding because of the pandemic, and this budget keeps that promise. No schools will have to reduce spending, and they can instead focus on meeting the needs of students who have tried to learn in a chaotic and trying time. The increased funding from the federal government will help us overcome the learning loss so many children experienced during this pandemic.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 17, 2021

Expand college access for smart kids who can least afford it

Federal COVID relief funding will provide $740 million to post-secondary institutions in Illinois, so the most important place to invest in higher education is in expanding college access for those smart kids who can least afford it, which is why I propose a $28 million increase to MAP grants--to be sure, less than the $50 million I proposed last year, but enough to allow thousands more Illinois students to get a scholarship.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 17, 2021

Illinois will be best state for young families

We are reaffirming that our most important commitments are to our children and their education. Mark my words, Illinois will be the best state in the nation to raise a young family. Today, 20,000 more kids are getting childcare, and thousands more are going to preschool. To address our state's shortage of teachers, we raised the minimum teacher salary so we can retain educators in Illinois, and we made it more attractive for out-of-state teachers to move here.
Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address , Jan 29, 2020

Added 10,000 scholarships, free tuition at U. of Illinois

We made it easier for high school graduates to get a skilled wage by expanding vocational training and career and technical education for the first time in a decade. And after years of decline, we are turning around university student enrollment by making college more affordable, expanding scholarships to an additional 10,000 college-bound students--and this fall, more than half of the families in our state will be eligible for free tuition at the University of Illinois.
Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address , Jan 29, 2020

Include historical contributions by LGBT in curriculum

Legislative Summary: HB0246: Provides that in public schools only, the teaching of history of the United States shall include a study of the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State.

Statement in opposition by Concerned Women for America: Illinois public school K-12 history classes will include a study in the roles and contributions of LGBT people in American and Illinois history. Leftists have taken advantage of taxpayer money in public schools to promote and legitimize their LGBTQ ideology, while vilifying and stifling traditional values and beliefs.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 60-42-15 on Mar/13/19; Passed Senate 37-17-5 on May/27/19; Signed by Governor J. B. Pritzker on Aug/9/19

Source: Concerned Women for America on Illinois voting record HB0246 , Aug 9, 2019

Universal preschool is educational priority

Investing in early childhood is the single most important education policy decision government can make, and it has proven to provide a significant return on investment. That's why I'm proposing funding the Early Childhood Block Grant at $594 million, an increase of $100 million from fiscal year 2019. It will allow us to begin the march toward universal preschool so that every child in Illinois will have a real opportunity to succeed.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Illinois legislature , Feb 20, 2019

Invest in public education, not vouchers

I will invest in a public education system that improves the well-being of every child and prepares them for the jobs of tomorrow. I will oppose school vouchers and charter school expansion and will work to construct a stronger birth-to-five system of early childhood education. I will increase K-12 funding across the board because the state hasn't done enough to help children in every school thrive.
Source: 2018 Illinois Gubernatorial website JBPritzker com , Sep 15, 2017

Increase state funding for public schools

Every child in Illinois deserves a quality K-12 education, no matter where they grow up. According to the Illinois Constitution, the state has the primary responsibility for financing our system of public education. Unfortunately, Illinois ranks nearly last in the nation in the percent of state funding for education and we are last among all 50 states in funding for low-income students. We must work to achieve a system that both adequately funds and equitably serves every child in Illinois.
Source: 2018 Illinois gubernatorial campaign website JBPritzker.com , Jul 17, 2017

Invest in higher education to attract jobs & businesses

Illinois should have world-class institutions of higher learning that attract students from across the country and provide Illinoisans the education and training they need to succeed in 21st-century jobs. But without sustained, long-term investment, students of all ages will miss out on the opportunities higher education can provide. When we invest in higher education, we attract jobs and businesses that rely on a highly-educated workforce and drive economic prosperity across our state.
Source: 2018 Illinois gubernatorial campaign website JBPritzker.com , Jul 17, 2017

Other governors on Education: J.B. Pritzker on other issues:
IL Gubernatorial:
Barack Obama
Darren Bailey
Jesse Sullivan
Paul Schimpf
Richard Irvin
IL Senatorial:
Juliana Stratton
Kathy Salvi
Peggy Hubbard
Raja Krishnamoorthi
Richard Durbin
Robin Kelly
Tammy Duckworth

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Page last updated: Feb 16, 2026; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org