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Coming from a family of educators Representative Berrios is very aware and involved with education issues in Illinois. She has fought for many after school programs and for better wages for teachers. Some of the legislation that she has worked on are outlined below, House Bill 18, House Bill 438, Senate Bill 1224, House Joint Resolution 24 and Senate Bill 715.

MONITORING THE BULLIES
One of the issues that came up repeatedly in 2007 in our schools was bullying. Many parents had questions in regards to how to prevent it and stop it. House Bill 18 amends the School Code and provides that each school district shall craft and maintain a policy on bullying. The policy created by each district must be filed with the State Board of Education. It must be updated every two years and the execution of these policies shall be monitored by the State Board of Education. The next piece of legislation that was passed in order to prevent the formation negative influences in our schools is House Bill 438. This bill also amends the School Code. It adds to the bullying policy, that each school must also create gang resistance education and training for all grades. The schools are to create this training and its instructional materials in collaboration with State and local law enforcement agencies.

TEACHER ASSISTANCE
Representative Berrios understands the value of teachers and the impact that a teacher can have on her students, accordingly she supported Senate Bill 1224. This bill creates the Teacher Homebuyer Assistance Act. It requires the Illinois Housing Development Authority to establish and implement a program to provide down payment assistance to public school teachers who teach in hard-to-staff schools or hard-to-staff positions for purchasing residences within the school district. Rep. Berrios feels that this bill not only gives teachers some financial assistance but, it is also creates an incentive for teachers to stay at the hard-to staff schools.

EVERYONE HAS SOMEONE SPECIAL
With the number of children being diagnosed with developmental disabilities skyrocketing in the last 15 years Representative Berrios realizes that there must also be an increase in special education schools. Rep. Berrios supported House Joint Resolution 24 which creates a task force to study special education funding. This task force is to report its findings and give it’s recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by August 1, 2008.

KEEPING OUR KIDS HEALTHY
Protecting our youth from sickness and infection is important because they are one of the most vulnerable segments of our society. Therefore we must do all we can to help them live long and healthy lives. Representative Berrios supported Senate Bill 715 to help ensure that our children’s health is not over looked. SB 715 is legislation that creates the School Health Center Act. It requires the Department of Human Services to initiate 20 new school health centers over a 5 year period in the state of Illinois.