SPRINGFIELD – Businesses and schools will team up to provide students with work-based training under a bill passed by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights).

House Bill 2868 would require the State Board of Education to develop a work-based training database to help facilitate relationships between school districts and businesses. The database would be used to provide students with employment opportunities to apply their academic and technical skills.

“Young people need to enter the workforce with all the training they need,” said Gillespie. “By having work-based training experiences early on, students can develop the skills they need to be productive and marketable to employers.”

The Illinois State Board of Education would begin compiling the database immediately and would have one year to complete it.

“When businesses are looking where to locate, they look to where the skilled employees are,” noted Gillespie. “This database will help businesses find the programs that are creating the skilled workforce they need.”

House Bill 2868 awaits the governor’s signature.