SPRINGFIELD - The achievements and accomplishments of Career and Technical Education programs across the state will be recognized this February under a measure supported by State Senator Paul Faraci that passed the Senate Thursday.

“By passing this resolution, we hope to bring additional awareness to the benefits of CTE programs and the high-wage careers that trades offer,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “Having a skilled workforce is one of the things companies look at when considering new development in an area.”

Senate Resolution 85 declares February as Career and Technical Education Month in Illinois. Under the resolution, high school educators and counselors will be encouraged to assist each student to determine an appropriate post-secondary plan based upon their skills, strengths and goals and help them implement the best practices that improve career readiness after high school so that they can find an appropriate pathway.

CTE offers education and advanced training to support high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand occupations, including careers in trades, health care, information technology, agriculture, finance and education. About 12 million high school and college students are enrolled in CTE across the nation. Advance CTE reports that the high school graduation rate for students who concentrate on CTE is about 90% – 15 percentage points higher than the national average.

“We need to give people opportunity to make a good living, and CTE programs provide bright futures with pathways to good-paying jobs in major industries,” said Faraci. 

Senate Resolution 85 was adopted by the Senate Thursday.

CHAMPAIGN - State Senator Paul Faraci has introduced Senate Bill 1439, which would expand the Illinois income tax credit for classroom materials to include educators at public universities, colleges and community colleges.

"Teachers and educators at all levels play a vital role in shaping our future generations, and it is important that we support their efforts in every way we can," said Faraci (D-Champaign). "Expanding the income tax credit for classroom materials to include college educators is a common-sense step towards providing them with the resources they need to enhance the learning experience for their students."

 Under current law, Illinois provides an income tax credit for classroom materials purchased by teachers, instructors, counselors, principals, or aides working in a qualified school, which is defined as a public or nonpublic K-12 school. The credit is limited to $500 per taxpayer per taxable year.

Senate Bill 1439 would broaden the definition of “qualified school” to include public institutions of higher learning, effectively allowing college educators to claim the credit starting in taxable year 2024.

The Illinois income tax credit for classroom materials is a valuable resource for educators, allowing them to offset the cost of materials such as books, supplies and technology. By expanding the credit to college educators, Senate Bill 1439 will help to ensure that all teachers, instructors, counselors, principals or aides who work in a qualified school are eligible for this valuable benefit.

Senator Faraci encourages his fellow lawmakers to support Senate Bill 1439, which will help to support our educators and promote a strong and vibrant learning environment in Illinois.

I stopped by the Illinois Technology Entrepreneur Center to attend entrepreneurship advising hours and helped coach a few teams with their startup ideas. Young entrepreneurs are the future architects of our world, driven by passion, creativity and innovation to build businesses that solve some of society's most pressing challenges. Their entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering determination inspire others to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact on the world.