Evidence-based funding coming to local schools with Cervantes support

• Evidence-Based Funding
• Schools

CHICAGO – State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes is proud to announce that several schools in the 1^st Senate District will receive investments thanks to the evidence-based funding model, in addition to the base funding that the state provides.

“Young people in our community have the potential to achieve great things—they just need the resources in their schools to reach it,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “Thanks to the evidence-based funding formula, students will be given more opportunities for success, and be able to access the high-quality education that all children deserve, regardless of their zip code.”

Since 2017, the Illinois Senate Democrats have utilized the evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. By calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing state revenue on those needs, the formula makes school funding more equitable. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

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Dental insurance payments now streamlined thanks to new Cervantes law

• Insurance
• SB 1392
• Dental Care

SPRINGFIELD – Dental patients will no longer have to worry about footing the bill for an appointment while waiting to be reimbursed by their insurance plan, thanks to an initiative led by State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes that was signed into law on Friday.

“Thousands of Illinoisans rely on receiving a check in the mail from their insurance company to cover an appointment they had to pay for themselves — a method that can cause financial strain for patients,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “Thanks to this new law, Illinoisans will no longer face trouble accessing care due to this payment method.”

Without this legislation, dental insurance carriers are only required to cover the cost of the visit — but it is unspecified if they need to pay the providers directly, or just reimburse the patient for their visit. This means many insurance plans do not immediately pay for a patient’s treatment, leaving them to cover the bill after the visit, only to reimburse them months later.

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ICIJA grant approvals to have quicker turnaround times under Cervantes law

• ICIJA Grant
• SB 106

SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to a new law led by State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes, applicants for grants through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICIJA) will soon see faster turnarounds on their approvals.

“The current bureaucratic process around grading ICIJA grant applications puts an unnecessary burden on workers and can delay the grants being awarded,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This measure is a long overdue update that will ensure the grant application process is efficient for all parties.”

ICIJA utilizes volunteer workers to score grant applications — a rule intended to keep the process unbiased. However, this can lead to lengthy delays due to dips in volunteer work, or unreliable expertise levels in the grading process.

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Cervantes to host Back to School fair Aug. 9

• Education
• In the District
• Back to School Fair
• Early Childhood Education

CICERO – To help students and families prepare for the start of the fall semester, State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes is hosting a Back to School Fair providing essential supplies for children in the community.

“No child should feel insecure about their lack of school supplies when they walk in to the first day of school this fall, but far too often, that’s a reality,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “Lacking supplies can negatively impact performance and self-esteem. I am proud that my office and other local organizations have come together to help prevent young people from experiencing this, and to be able to focus on their education, not economic status.”

Cervantes’ office is hosting their Back to School Fair on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Early Childhood Center of Cicero District 99, located at 5330 W. 35^th St. in Cicero. In partnership with La Casa Norte, Youth Crossroads, Family Focus, and El Valor, the senator’s team will be giving out backpacks, school supplies, and other resources for students and families to help get this school year off to a good start.

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