Written by Maloney Staff Thursday, 17 December 2009 00:24
"Every year colleges and college students waste time and money on remedial courses that cover material students should have learned in high school," said State Senator Ed Maloney (D-Chicago), Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee and a major proponent of the College Career and Readiness Program. "This program combines the resources of community colleges and local high schools to identify and address students’ weaknesses while they are still in high school." Established in 2008, the College Career and Readiness Program currently includes four community colleges: South Suburban College in South Holland, Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, Moraine Valley College in Palos Hills, and John A. Logan College in Carterville. The colleges team with local high schools to use ACT scores and other indicators to identify junior-year students who need extra help. The colleges then provide support and guidance for the establishment of remedial courses, Advanced Placement courses, tutoring and other programs to help students catch up before the end of their senior year. Maloney has been working closely with Elaine Johnson, Vice President of the Illinois Community College Board, to monitor the program’s success and to find new schools to include in the pilot program. They approached Kankakee College in Kankakee and the College of Lake County in Grayslake on Monday and Tuesday nights. Officials at both colleges seemed extremely enthusiastic about joining the program. "The College and Career Readiness Program should ultimately increase retention and graduation rates and save the State and college students money," Maloney said. "Students who enter college prepared are more likely graduate on time, and successful college graduates are an investment in the future. I intend to introduce legislation to expand this program to the entire state in the upcoming legislative session.
CHICAGO – The State of Illinois is looking to expand the College and Career Readiness Program—a partnership between community colleges and local high schools to ensure that students are properly prepared to attend college classes when they graduate. A successful pilot program has already demonstrably improved retention rates and college success for students in four communities.
Senator Maloney Menu
18th District
Years served: 1992-1993 (House); 2003 - Present (Senate)
Committee assignments: Committee of the Whole; Higher Education (Chairperson); Labor; Appropriations II; Consumer Protection; Redistricting; Deficit Reduction.
Biography: Senator Ed Maloney is a full-time legislator. His professional experience includes being an assistant principal and dean of faculty at Brother Rice High School in Chicago, manager and professional development director for the Chicago Park District, and a teacher, counselor and administrator at Oak Lawn Community High School. He has a bachelor's degree in political science from Lewis University and a master's degree in education from Chicago State University. Senator Maloney is married to Norine, and they have four sons and ten grandchildren.