Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) opposed a bill that changes the process for third-party driver's education instructors who contract with the public school system
House Bill 247, sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook), ensures that third-party driver's education instructors receive the same training as regular instructors in the school system. Batinick questioned why the bill had so much opposition.
"People are opposed to the bill as amended, correct? What’s the nature of the opposition?" Batinick asked, to which Carroll said that no one had brought their opposition up to him.
"This is driver's education," Batinick said. "There’s a standard for teaching this. I’m not sure why we need to do this tweak just within the classroom. if there is a problem it affects everybody no matter where they’re taking driver's education. The Secretary of State has a standard. There has to be an ulterior motive for this bill. I urge a No vote."
The bill passed with 70 Yes votes and 34 No votes. One member, Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Champaign) voted Present.
The bill states that a school district that contracts with a third party to teach a driver education course must ensure that the teacher meets the educator licensure and endorsement requirements under Article 21B. It states that the third-party instructors must have the same evaluation and observation requirements that apply to non-tenured teachers under Article 24A.
"The teacher evaluation must be conducted by a school administrator employed by the school district and must be submitted annually to the district superintendent and all school board members for oversight purposes," the bill states.
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