Elev8 Chicago Makes Strides with Illinois Legislature

Recognizing the important role schools play in building vibrant communities, the Illinois State Senate recently passed a bill that will greatly benefit community schools, including the five Elev8 Chicago schools.

With the help of Elev8 Chicago, the community schools bill (HB684) passed 117-0 in both houses.

The bill will enable the Illinois Board of Education to award grants to strengthen and support community schools, defined in the legislation as traditional schools that "actively partner with their communities" and incorporate out-of-school-time learning, local advisory groups and documented collaboration with stakeholders like local government, families, businesses and social service providers.

Elev8 Chicago played a crucial role in the bill's passage--staff, students and parents from Elev8 schools sent letters of support and advocated for the bill in Springfield, and Michael Johnson, principal of Reavis Elementary School, testified before the Illinois House Education Committee about the Elev8 model and the impact he is seeing in his students. The Governor's P20 Council, composed of nonprofit, business and government leaders, will provide oversight of the state's community schools.