Thank you for reading “Schmidt’s Spotlight.” It’s important we stay connected. This week, I’d like to update you on some Illinois news, what I’ve been up to around the district, as well as letting you know my next event coming up.
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
My prayers continue to be with President Trump, the victims, and their families following the shooting at the rally in Pennsylvania. I’m grateful President Trump is okay, thanks to swift action from first responders and law enforcement. I pray our country can come together to condemn political violence.
SENIOR ADVOCACY
I joined an expert from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office at Assisted Living at Silver Creek in Millstadt. We gave a presentation and took questions from seniors on how to better protect themselves from fraud.
Fraud targeting senior citizens is an increasingly prevalent issue across the country, and it requires our immediate attention and action. As scams become more sophisticated, the need for heightened awareness and proactive measures becomes even more critical. As your State Representative, I am committed to ensuring that you have the tools and knowledge necessary to protect yourself from these deceptive practices.
SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS
I joined the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity to present Branding Iron Holdings their Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) Grant in Sauget. This grant will go directly toward upgrading their workforce through training and development, ensuring they remain innovative and on the cutting edge.
EDUCATION
Illinois high school students to start new exams in spring 2025. When Illinois high school students sit down to take their annual state assessments next year, they will take a different exam than in recent years.
The Illinois State Board of Education recently announced that starting next spring, it will use the ACT exam rather than the SAT.
Both are standardized tests that measure students’ proficiency in core subjects such as English language arts and math. Both are also commonly used for college admissions – although many colleges and universities have stopped requiring them – as well as scholarship applications.
Illinois, however, also uses them as part of the battery of tests schools administer each year to meet federal mandates under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Results of those tests are reported each year on the Illinois Report Card and are used to hold schools and districts accountable for meeting basic academic standards.
Illinois started using the SAT with Essay as the state assessment for 11th grade students in spring 2017. Two years later, it began using the PSAT 8/9 exam for 9th grade students and the PSAT 10 for high school sophomores. Read the rest of the story by Peter Hancock on Capitol News Illinois.
TIRE RECYCLING EVENT
I’m excited to be hosting a Tire Recycling event in O’Fallon later this month! I hope to see you there! Full information below.
Saturday July 27th, 9am-12pm
O’Fallon Township
801 E. State St.
O’Fallon, IL 62269
Thank you for reading, and I’ll be back with another “Schmidt’s Spotlight” soon!