Crespo Appointed to Pritzker's Educational Success Committee

STREAMWOOD, Ill. - State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, was appointed by Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker to serve as a member of his transition team's Educational Success Committee. The committee is made up of 35 subject-matter experts who will advise the incoming administration on the needs of Illinois' education systems.

"We've made tremendous progress in Illinois with K-12 education funding reform, expanding access to early childhood education, and making college more affordable for working families," Crespo said. "However, much more work remains to be done, which is why I am honored to have been asked to serve with our state's top minds in education."

Crespo serves as chairman of both the House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum and Policies Committee and the House Appropriations-General Services Committee. As chairman, Crespo worked closely with the Illinois State Board of Education on legislation to implement the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). He was also part of a bipartisan School Funding Task Force, and led the effort to secure, for the first time, full funding for bilingual education. Additionally, Crespo serves as a member of the Council of Chief State School Officers' (CCSSO), Diverse and Learner-Ready state team, which works to achieve greater diversity in teacher recruitment, and to ensure that all educators demonstrate a culturally responsive skill set.

"In order to expand opportunity to all, we must make it our top priority to fully fund education at all levels and to ensure curricula and training programs reflect the needs of a modern economy," Crespo said. "I look forward to providing Governor-elect Pritzker with ideas on how we can continue to build on our progress and move Illinois forward."