North Cook News

Illinois State Rep. Mary Beth Canty (D-Arlington Heights) celebrated the enactment of legislation that would require school districts to offer a full-day option for kindergarten students. 

Canty shared her excitement about the passage of House Bill 2396 in an August 3 Facebook post.  

"CHECK IT OUT! Governor JB Pritzker signed HB2396 into law yesterday, the bill I introduced expanding access to full day kindergarten and providing the foundation our kids need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally," Canty wrote in her post. "The input of advocates, particularly Advance Illinois, and partners in the legislature, including Leader Kimberly Lightford who carried it in the Senate, made this law as strong as it is."

According to the bill, "beginning with the 2027-2028 school year (instead of the 2023-2024 school year), each school board must establish a kindergarten with full-day attendance." It went on to add that full-day kindergarten "should be developmentally appropriate and provide opportunities for play-based learning." The law also created a task force to conduct a statewide audit to inform the planning and implementation of full-day kindergarten in Illinois that will, collect, analyze, and report specified criteria. It was signed into law on August 2 and took effect immediately. 

Full day kindergarten has been on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s (D-IL) radar for some time. It was a prominent feature during his February budget address. He addressed it once again after signing the legislation. "Full day kindergarten is an essential step towards getting young Illinoisans off to the best possible start in their education, which has long-lasting positive effects on reading, math, and social skill," Pritzker said in a statement. "From Smart Start to school funding to early childhood, we're investing heavily in our state's youngest residents because we know that every investment we make now is paid back multiple times over by engaged and educated citizens.".

Rep. Canty was elected in 2022 to represent the residents who live in Illinois 54th House District. She was assigned to the Public Safety Appropriations Committee, the Child Care Access and Early Childhood Committee, Public Health, and several other committees. Professionally, she’s an attorney and consultant. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from William and Mary, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona, according to her legislative biography.