Illinois State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel
Illinois State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel
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Loughran Cappel announces funding for local school districts’ libraries

Category: Press Releases
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 02:32 PM

LibraryGrantsCREST HILL – Thanks to State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, three school districts in the 49th Senate District have secured grants to support student learning.

“Libraries are full of learning and provide educational opportunities for young minds, which is why it’s crucial we push for grants like this,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “We need to keep school libraries modern and properly equipped so all students have access to resources that further enhance their academic journey.”

Read more …

Loughran Cappel advocates for special education teachers

Category: Press Releases
Friday, April 11, 2025 11:02 AM

SJR21SPRINGFIELD – To address concerns about high caseloads that may hinder the ability of special education teachers to provide individualized care, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel presented a resolution to the Senate Wednesday.

“I know firsthand how hard special education teachers work to support their students’ diverse learning needs,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “When more caseloads are being piled onto educators, reduced effectiveness and burnout is inevitable.” 

Senate Joint Resolution 2 would direct the Illinois State Board of Education and the Professional Review Panel to conduct a study on the impact of implementing maximum caseloads for special education teachers. The resolution requests ISBE to submit a report of their findings to the General Assembly and governor by Dec. 31, 2026.

“We need to look into the impact of setting fair caseload limits so we can ensure students receive the attention they deserve while not over-burdening our teachers,” said Loughran Cappel.

Senate Joint Resolution 2 was adopted by the Senate.

Cappel-supported legislation to ban cellphones during classroom instruction

Category: Press Releases
Thursday, April 10, 2025 12:36 PM

NOPhonessSchoolSPRINGFIELD – Illinois students’ learning, engagement and test scores could be on track to improve significantly under a proposal supported by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel seeking to limit students’ use of cellphones during classroom instruction.

“Cellphones have continued to be a major distraction for students in classrooms,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Eliminating cellphone usage in schools will foster a more productive and engaging learning environment.”

Almost three-quarters of high school teachers recently polled by Pew Research said cellphone distraction is a major problem in their classes. At least 10 states currently have laws, executive orders or state education department policies restricting student use of cellphones during class.

Through Senate Bill 2474, school districts would be required to adopt a set of policies ensuring that students do not inappropriately use cellphones during instructional time. Each school district’s policy would need to allow for exceptions in cases such as emergencies and for technology used by students with disabilities. The measure would provide local flexibility by allowing school boards to implement the policy in a manner that best suits their communities.

“This legislation takes social media out of the classroom so students can focus on what’s important: learning,” said State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), chief sponsor of the bill. “This measure sets a standard to limit cellphone use during class time but prioritizes flexibility, letting schools take the lead in deciding how it should be implemented in their local community.”

Senate Bill 2427 passed the Senate Wednesday with bipartisan support.

Loughran Cappel fighting to eliminate outdated mandates in schools

Category: Press Releases
Wednesday, April 09, 2025 02:28 PM

SB 17401SPRINGFIELD — To address unnecessary and burdensome Illinois School Code mandates, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel collaborated with colleagues and multiple statewide education stakeholders to create Senate Bill 1740.

“There are many mandates in the school code that are outdated and need to be removed or revised,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Removing the outdated mandates will allow educators to adapt to students’ needs, reduce administrative burdens and allows school districts more control.”

Senate Bill 1740 initiates the reduction of unnecessary school code mandates agreed upon by statewide educational stakeholders. The bill would create the School Code Mandate Reduction Council, comprised of eight members of the General Assembly and one member from each of the 12 statewide educational organizations, to identify and recommend the removal of mandates that align with the state's goal of providing high-quality education tailored to each student.

Read more …

More Articles …

  1. Loughran Cappel strengthens advocacy for young children with disabilities
  2. Loughran Cappel law reduces delays in childcare employment process
  3. Loughran Cappel: Budget address is transparent, but we have more work to do
  4. Loughran Cappel to host Coffee with Cappel
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Welcome

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I am proud to serve as the State Senator from Illinois’ 49th District. I hope you’ll find this site a useful resource in keeping up to date with what’s happening in our district and in Springfield. Please contact either of my offices with questions or ways I can better serve you. It is my honor to represent you in Springfield.

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Senator Meg Loughran Cappel

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Office Info

Springfield Office
Wm. Stratton Building
Section C, Room M
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-0052

District Office
20660 Caton Farm Rd. Unit D
Crest Hill, IL 60403
(815) 267-6119

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