NW Illinois News

State Senator Andrew Chesney is supporting the Trump Administration's initiative to end Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) lessons in Illinois schools. This follows a Presidential Executive Order mandating the cessation of these practices.

Senator Chesney stated, "Governor JB Pritzker, along with Illinois Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders, are openly defying President Donald J. Trump’s executive order that schools end radical DEI lessons and programs." He further mentioned that "the President set a February 28 deadline for schools to end DEI instruction, and our Governor is flaunting the fact that Illinois schools will not comply."

Public schools typically receive about 10% of their funding from federal sources. President Trump has warned that non-compliance with the order could result in losing this funding.

To assist in identifying non-compliant schools, the U.S. Department of Education has provided a form for parents and students to report such instances confidentially. Senator Chesney has made this form accessible on his legislative website, SenatorChesney.com.

Chesney expressed his views on education by saying, "Our schools should be providing an education that is steeped in best practices for maximum academic achievement in core subject matter." He criticized what he termed as indoctrination into "radical political ideologies" without parental oversight.

In addition to these efforts, Chesney has proposed several bills aimed at reversing recent policies in Illinois. His legislative agenda includes:

- SB 1226: Limits access to public restrooms and similar spaces based on biological sex.

- SB 2078: Bars biological males from accessing female-designated spaces and activities.

- SB 2079: Prevents biological males from participating in women's sports.

- SB 2288: Abolishes all DEI programs in Illinois and repeals the state's Commission on Equity and Inclusion Act.

- SB 2619: Establishes the Illinois Department of Government Efficiency (ILDOGE).