Senator James T. Meeks News

Meeks applauds education reform measure passing Senate

Written by Meeks Staff Thursday, 14 April 2011 18:58

Springfield, IL –Education reform co-sponsored by State Senator James T. Meeks (D-Chicago), passed today in the Senate. Senator Meeks sat in the negotiation meetings between legislators, union representatives, administrators and reformers.

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School Vouchers Legislation Passes Senate Chamber

Written by Meeks Staff Friday, 26 March 2010 15:17

Legislation that could affect thousands of students in the lowest performing elementary schools in the City of Chicago passed the Illinois Senate this week. The measure, sponsored by Senator James Meeks (D-Chicago), would offer private-school vouchers to children in Chicago’s 49 lowest performing schools – 10 percent of the schools in the city.

Senate Bill 2494 could serve as a tentative model for future development in Illinois’ educational system. If passed, the pilot program would begin in the 2011-2012. In 2014, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) would evaluate the program and report their findings to the General Assembly. Families would be able to apply for vouchers from ISBE.

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Senator Meeks Menu

Senator James T. Meeks

15th District

Years served: 2003 - Present

Committee assignments: Committee of the Whole; Higher Education; Revenue (Vice-Chairperson); Elections; Education (Chairperson); Revenue Subcommittee on Amendments; Revenue Subcommittee on Prop. Taxes (Sub-Chairperson); Subcommittee on Charter Schools.

Biography: Pastor of Salem Baptist Church; born August 4, 1956 in Chicago; Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Religion and Philosophy from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas; Executive Vice President of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; married (wife Jamell), has four children.