CENTREVILLE – To increase the success of our youth, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) is urging schools to submit an application to receive the Early Childhood Block Grant from the Illinois State Board of Education.

“Schools need to close their student’s achievement gap sooner than later and that starts with increasing the investment in our kids at a young age,” Belt said. “We are trying to improve access to quality early childhood programs and early childhood investors need to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Last year’s $543.7 million appropriation for early childhood was the largest in Illinois history. 

CENTREVILLE — A measure that gives students time off to vote during school hours was signed into law Wednesday with the support of State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville).

“Every vote counts, which is why it is critical to make voting more accessible for students,” Belt said. “I hope this encourages our young people to vote and show them that their vote is just as important as the workers who receive time off to go to the ballot box.”

CENTREVILLE – Eighteen local school districts will receive more than $23,000 in grants through the Illinois secretary of state’s School Library Grant program, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) announced Wednesday.

The grants, which are issued by the Illinois State Library, are meant to help public schools offer more library books and materials to students.

“This grant will be very beneficial for these well deserving schools in my district,” Belt said. “It’s very pleasing to see these libraries receiving additional funds to buy materials that will increase student’s reading and language skills, which ultimately helps with developing student’s minds.”

Schools receiving school library grants include:

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) sponsored an initiative that lead to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation hiring its first military liaison to help military families through the licensure process.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation created a military liaison position to help service members and their spouses navigate the licensure process. The military liaison will enhance communication and improve the overall application process for service members and spouses when they choose to work in Illinois. If military families provide all the necessary documents in their license applications, IDFPR can expedite their licensure within 60 days.

“This change will provide better accommodation to service members and their spouses when looking to obtain work in Illinois,” Belt said. “We must continue to make the lives of our military families easier for the notable sacrifices they have made for us.”