State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, recently took advantage of state and regional education agencies to join a listening tour about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), passed in December 2015.
The tour’s questions and talking points took an in-depth look at how constituents’ education values could be applied to a statewide plan for improved student achievement, how student growth should factor into the system of accountability, what services are needed in school districts and what improvements are necessary to improve those services.
Brady said he attended the tour and looked forward to listening to local educators’ views.
“This program provided by the federal government allows Illinois to design supports for students that consider the unique contexts where they live, grow and learn,” Brady said.
Brady encouraged constituents to look up the legislation on his website.
In his weekly update to constituents, Brady also commended an update on Illinois State University student retention and graduation statistics provided by ISU President Larry Dietz.
“I was pleased to hear that the student retention rate of 82 percent and a graduation rate of 73.4 percent placed Illinois State among the top 10 percent of universities in the nation,” Brady said.
ESSA reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the nation’s principal education legislation. Both the Illinois State Board of Education and the Regional Offices of Education sponsored the listening tour, holding meetings across the state to gather input and let the public share ideas for education improvements and ways to best apply ESSA in Illinois.
Prior to his election as state senator, Brady served in the Illinois House from 1993 to 2001. His background ranges from business to real estate and marketing, and he belongs to industry associations and the McLean County Chamber of Commerce.
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