SPRINGFIELD – To ensure all educators, including substitute teachers, know what to do in case of an emergency at school, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel passed a bill out of committee that requires them to be trained in evacuation and lockdown procedures.

“Parents send their children to school expecting their teacher to know what to do if there’s an emergency,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Ensuring every teacher, substitute or full-time, is trained for emergency response situations is the logical thing to do.”

House Bill 1787 would require school districts in Illinois to provide training to all substitute teachers on school evacuation drills and law enforcement lockdown drills. Additionally, all substitutes would be given the same information as full-time employees that outlines all lockdown and evacuation procedures, and maps would be required to be displayed in every classroom showing all school exit points.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel supported a resolution in the Senate that honors the life of Wadee Alfayoumi, a six-year-old American-Palestinian boy from Plainfield who was fatally attacked in 2023.

“This was a terrible act of violence against a child and no child should ever be made a target because of who they are, where they come from or how they pray,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “May the memory of Wadee be a blessing and a reminder we must rise against hate and continue the work of building a better and safer state.”

International Day of Peace is recognized across the world each year on Sept. 21. In honor of Wadee Alfayoumi, Senate Resolution 265 renames this year’s observance in Illinois as Wadee’s Day to inspire individuals to work together to make the world a more peaceful place.

The Senate adopted the resolution on Tuesday.

CREST HILL – Thanks to State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, three school districts in the 49^th 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.”

SPRINGFIELD – 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.