Abstract
The paper describes Illinois General Assembly bill HB0759. In particular, the paper looks at why the bill was proposed, who championed the bill (and why), what changes (if any) have been made to this important piece of legislation and why Illinois state senator Edward Petka voted as he did. In the end, the paper concludes that the bill is an exemplary one insofar as it seeks to protect the most vulnerable members of Illinois society.

Tags:illinois, assembly, advocacy

Abstract
This paper examines the issue of universal preschool, especially as it pertains to the state of Illinois. The paper takes a look at the history of the universal preschool movement across the country, at large, and the current movement toward universal preschool in Illinois, in particular.

Background
What is Universal Preschool
The History of the Universal Preschool Movement
Current Research in the Universal Preschool Issue
Arguments in Favor of Universal Preschool
Arguments Against Universal Preschool
Why Has There Been Such an Increase in the Interest in Universal
Current Research in the Universal Preschool Issue
Arguments in Favor of Universal Preschool
Arguments Against Universal Preschool
Why Has There Been Such an Increase in the Interest in Universal
Preschool
The State of Universal Preschool in the United States Today
Current Universal Preschool Initiatives
The Perry Preschool
The Carolina Abecedarian project
The Quest for Universal Preschool Illinois
The Work that has Already Been Done
The Work that is Currently Being Done
The Cost of Universal Preschool in Illinois
The Quest for Universal Preschool Illinois
The Work that has Already Been Done
The Work that is Currently Being Done
The Cost of Universal Preschool in Illinois
Illinois State Legislators
Senators
State Representatives
Likert Scale for Identifying State Legislators to Target for Universal Preschool Support

From the Paper
"Universal pre-school is what happens when a state implements a state-wide pre-school system in the public schools. This means that all parents in the state then have access to pre-school for their four-year-olds, and sometimes their three-year-olds, if they choose to send their child to pre-school. In a universal pre-school system, all school districts in the state are required by state law to include free pre-school programs as a part of their educational offerings. Those who advocate universal pre-schools do so in part because universal pre-school seamlessly melds child care and early childhood education."

Tags:disadvantaged, children, educational, opportunities, academically, kindergarden, prepared

Abstract
The purpose of this work is to show whether or not Continental Illinois rescue and restructuring efforts were successful and if so, why. The paper also attempts to discover if the decision to restructure was justified and explains why or why not. Furthermore, this work attempts to discover to what extent did the OCC contribute to the management failing of Chairman and CEO, Mr. Roger E. Anderson and the management team of Continental Illinois and what short and long-term benefits were expected from appointing David Taylor as the new CEO and Edward Bottum as President in the run-up to the restructuring of Continental Illinois. Finally, the current status of Continental Illinois is is examined as well the main sectors of banking and how these sectors have changed since the collapse of Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company.

Introduction
Background and Overview of Continental
Results of the Method used by FDIC in the Rescue
Critics Opinion of the Open Bank Assistance
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper
"Continental employed over 12,000 and held the approximate amount of $40 billion in assets. In May of 1984, at the time of near collapse the company had office in 14 states as well as 29 foreign countries with offices numbering 57. During the years 1976 and 1981 CCI experienced a jump in lending from $5 billion to over $14 billion with the company's total assets increasing from $21.5 billion to $45 billion with the loans-to-assets ration increasing from 57.9 percent to 68.8 percent between 1977 and 1981. The organizations return on assets stayed at 0.5 percent during the same time span and the return on equity was approximately 14.4 percent during those same years. (FDIC, 1997) The problems came under notice during 1982 when the Penn Square Bank, N.A. in Okalahoma City closed. The loans were underwritten poorly and it was clear that Continental had not used due diligence on the purchasing of the loans as well as Continental's loan portfolio beginning to experience problems specifically in the energy sector. It was reported by Continental in the second quarter of 1982 an amount of $1.3 billion in loans and assets that were 'nonperforming.'"

Tags:big, fail, federal, deposit, insurance, company, fdic, runs, collapse, comptroller, assets

Abstract
This paper looks at how, on May 18, 2003, Illinois became the fifth state in the country to offer in-state tuition rates to illegal residents. It examines the legal basis of this controversial law and looks at its possible economic, social, and political and economic effects on the state of Illinois. The first part of the paper is a history and overview of House Bill 60. The next part then details the law?s objectives and the number of students who stand to benefit in Illinois. It shows how, despite its objectives, this controversial law has generated spirited criticism, and it examines the various objections, which include debates regarding the legality of the law and the economic effects of this law on Illinois taxpayers.

Outline
History of House Bill 60
Overview and Objectives
Critics of the Measure
Benefits of House Bill 60
Beyond House Bill 60
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Much of the opposition centers how these laws will limit opportunities for United States citizens and legal residents. For many low-income American families, state universities present the only option for higher education. Because many state universities are already limiting enrollment, groups like the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) contend that "when public universities admit an illegal immigrant and provide subsidized tuition, some other student who is also deserving is denied an opportunity" (FAIR Issue Brief). These alien students, in effect, will gain an education at the expense of legal American residents or citizens."

Tags:taxpayers, economy, illegal, residents, students, american, dream

Abstract
This paper relates that the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD)
was founded as the Illinois Association of Conservation and Park Districts 75 years ago to establish and protection parks and to conserve wildlife. The author points out that the historic "Park Law Codification Bill", signed in 1951, combines all the various laws pertaining to the issues of park conservatism into one single section of the state law. The paper relates that, today, each of the more than 40 park districts, forests, and conservation parks in the state of Illinois has a police force to patrol, routinely enforcing laws regarding recreation, hunting, and boating, and especially the use of drugs and alcohol.

From the Paper
"The DNR or the Illinois Department of Natural Resources states that its mission is to protect and manage and to conserve the various natural resources that the state of Illinois can very proudly boast of, and to provide those recreational opportunities to interested people that would not harm or spoil these natural resources in any manner. The Educational Department of the DNR was launched in the year 1995, with the primary aim of the development of educational methods and of the training methods involved in the conservation of natural resources of Illinois. It also was to provide hands on training for those persons wanting to indulge in the various outdoor activities that Illinois offers, such as snowmobiling, boating and hunting methods."

Tags:proect, codification, laws, police, dnr

Abstract
This paper explains why Illinois General Assembly Bill HB0759 was proposed, who championed the bill and what changes have been made to this piece of legislation. The paper is of the opinion that this bill is an exemplary one insofar as it seeks to protect the most vulnerable members of Illinois society.

From the Paper
"Naturally enough, it is vital that any reader have a solid understanding of just what bill HB0759 entails. For one thing, the original bill, as introduced, amends the state Children and Family Services Act by providing that every eligible child with a diagnosis of a mental illness shall receive mental health services. More specifically, the bill calls for the state Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) to assess each mental health community network in the State to ascertain what needs to be done in order for each network to provide appropriate mental health services for vulnerable children. At the same time, the bill mandates that the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) must submit a report detailing the department's assessment of the health community networks as well as a plan outlining the identified needs; this plan must be submitted to the Governor and to the General Assembly."

Tags:mental, health, services, children, Petka, Collins, Garrett

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that the Illinois Children's Mental Health Act of 2003 creates legislative policy in relation to mental health and mental health services for the children of the State of Illinois. The writer notes that the children referred to in the act include all children from the age of birth to 18 that are residents of the state. The writer describes and discusses the Act.

From the Paper
"In Section I of the act the policy stipulates that a mental health plan will be developed in the state for children and that "provider services and inter-agency referral networks" will assist in the aid to children regarding mental health. Within Section I it is also indicated that the issue of mental health will also become part of the "social and emotional development" plan in the school systems."

Tags:policy, education

Abstract
This paper focuses on the types of instruments, data and instructional strategies available to raise the students' scores in reading on the Illinois standard achievement test and the standardized testing the state requires of all students. The writer believes that standardized testing should not be abolished but rather that it measure what the students are actually learning. The Wilson School in Chicago Heights, Illinois, is used as an example of the standardized testing issues faced by this state and its children. The writer recommends adjusting the testing program to meet five goals, which are much more important for students than their specific scores on a test.

From the Paper
"The third grade students have been the focus group tested by the state in reading on the ISAT for years. The existing data records for 1999-2001 show the percentage of students at the local (Wilson School), state, and district levels who have failed to meet the state standards in reading at the third-grade level. Data for the third-grade teachers at Wilson can also be found through their university transcripts and professional development records kept in the central office files."

Tags:learning, self-esteem, parents, assessment, reading

Abstract
This paper describes the contentious issue in the state of Illinois regarding firearms, their possession and use and what constitutes the unlawful use of a firearm.

From the Paper
"And what constitutes unlawful use of a firearm? Certainly one of the most common acts associated with gun violence is murder (intent to kill). If a person uses a gun to intentionally kill another human being and no justification (e.g., self-defense), excuse (e.g., insanity), or mitigating circumstance (e.g., sudden heat of passion) is involved, he has acted with malice aforethought - a social harm prohibited by the offense with either of two mental states: (1) intent to commit the social harm; or (2) recklessness in committing the social harm. As may be observed from this definition, the term ordinarily is not employed in its popular, non-legal sense as meaning "ill-will" or "spite." In this case, the unjustly intent to kill or intent to cause great bodily harm which resulted in a death would impel the unlawfulness of using a gun. Although in 1976 the U.S. Supreme Court reasoned that the death penalty for such murders is constitutional, both the U.S. and state Constitution require that the procedures used to determine who will be executed be fair. The death penalty is not permitted unless the state can prove beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of one or more "aggravating circumstances" - facts beyond those necessary to prove first-degree murder that "reasonably justify the imposition of the more severe sentence on the defendant compared to others found guilty of murder.""

Tags:concealed, handgun, violence, illegal, keep, bear, arms, infringed, constitutional, felony

Abstract
This paper presents a detailed discussion about the book "Sugar Creek: Life on the Illinois Prairie" and its main points. It also critiques a review of the book and presents several points that were lacking in the opinion of this paper's author.