Classrooms First Commission Legislation Passes House

The House of Representatives passed classrooms first commission legislation that will make it easier for school districts to voluntarily consolidate. 

House Bill 2267, sponsored by Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria), passed with a strong vote of 106-3 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

The bipartisan classrooms first commission examined ways to help school districts reduce duplicative spending and improve educational offerings.  The resulting legislation approved by the House would allow non-contiguous school districts to consolidate, for faster reorganizations in some qualifying districts and high school districts to tie consolidation dates to capital funding.

The classrooms first commission was comprised of P-20 stakeholders including teachers, administrators, legislators and parents and it held public hearings across the state on school district consolidation last year.