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RANTOUL – State Senator Paul Faraci announced Rantoul has received a grant through the Safe Routes to School program to boost the health and safety of children by making walking, biking and rolling to school safer and more accessible.

“Encouraging students to walk and bike to school helps emphasize the importance of health, community and environmental stewardship for our youth, especially if they can gather in groups and make it a social experience with friends,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “I’m thrilled to see infrastructure funding coming to the 52nd District, supporting the safety of our students and the broader Rantoul community.”   

Administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation using federal funds, Safe Routes to School supports projects and activities that improve safety and encourage active transportation options in areas around elementary, middle, and high schools. Improvements typically include new and upgraded sidewalks, efforts to reduce speeding and other traffic offenses, public education, and outreach programs.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans who are on default on their student loan repayments may soon see increased opportunities for employment and retention at state agencies, thanks to a measure led by State Senator Paul Faraci that would remove current state rules meant to punish delinquent borrowers.  

“State hiring and procurement can already be complicated processes, both for individuals seeking employment and for our agencies,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “By removing focus from student loan repayment statuses, we can streamline the hiring process and ensure we aren’t unintentionally deterring qualified residents from applying for good jobs.” 

Under current Illinois law, any state agency employee whose student loans are in default for a period of six or more months, and in an amount of $600 or more, is required to make a satisfactory loan repayment arrangement with the loan’s cosigner or guarantor. If the employee fails to establish a satisfactory repayment arrangement prior to their sixth month of employment, the agency is required to terminate the  individual’s employment.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure backed by State Senator Paul Faraci that would provide ongoing, accessible railroad safety education to students in Illinois’ public schools passed the Senate Education Committee.

“We have students who cross a set of railroad tracks every school day, whether walking or biking, and I’ve heard from a number of community members in my district who are concerned with pedestrian safety, especially for students, at tracks near schools,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “By ensuring schools are providing education to keep students safe near railroads, we are directly empowering our youth and their families to take control of their well-being, in turn helping reduce the chance of future accidents.”

House Bill 3743 would require all K-12 public schools to include railroad safety information in their student handbooks. A school would be able to opt out of this requirement if the school board determines that railroad safety is covered in the school's curriculum.

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Paul Faraci announced the Faith and Reasoning Learning Community in Urbana received funding to take students on a field trip to study Illinois’ natural resources.

“Field trips are essential for the education of our state’s youth, helping to improve students’ retention and engagement, and no child should be denied the opportunity to obtain hands-on, real-world learning due to financial barriers,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “I’m proud to see this funding coming to aid local students, ensuring we’re fostering not only academic success but also a sense of appreciation for our environment.”

Through this round of funding, the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Conservation Foundation, awarded more than $101,000 for 108 field trip grants, allowing nearly 7,000 students across 34 counties to visit Illinois state parks, natural areas, museums and other natural resources sites. Since its inception in 2001, the program has distributed more than $1.7 million and awarded more 146,000 students the opportunity to take part in a field trip.