SB 3070, Signed by Governor Pritzker, Lets High Schoolers Continue to Choose Career Technical Education
SCHAUMBURG, IL – Governor JB Pritzker has signed Senate Bill 3070 into law, securing the future of Career Technical Education (CTE) classes in Illinois high schools. The bipartisan legislation, drafted by the Technology & Manufacturing Association and its small and midsize manufacturers, ensures that thousands of students will retain access to the hands-on training that launches needed careers in manufacturing.
Beginning in 2028, high school students will be able to complete a CTE sequence, including advanced manufacturing, CNC machining, welding, and other accredited courses, as an alternative to the two-year foreign language graduation mandate. Students who wish to take foreign language courses may still do so, but this new law protects choice, provides new options, and clears pathways into skilled careers.
“For many students, completing a CTE sequence can literally determine whether they walk into a $60,000-a-year career with benefits after graduation, or walk out of high school without a clear path at all,” said TMA Executive Vice President Dennis LaComb. “With Governor Pritzker’s signature, Illinois has made a decisive choice to keep those doors open for our next generation of manufacturers. TMA and our small and midsize manufacturers are proud to have led this effort, and we thank our bipartisan partners in the General Assembly for standing with US manufacturing’s future.”
The legislation earned strong bipartisan support, led by chief co-sponsors Senator Willie Preston (D-Chicago) and Representative William Davis (D-East Hazel Crest).
“This is a win for every student in Illinois, particularly those who may not be college-bound yet seek lucrative careers in high-demand fields now being offered by manufacturers – AI technologies, the trades, and many others,” said State Representative William Davis. “TMA brought forward a real solution and never stopped fighting. I’m proud to have championed this effort alongside them and prouder still of what it means for our next generation of Illinois workers.”
With SB 3070 now law, students across the state will have a protected pathway to pursue careers in advanced manufacturing and the skilled trades. TMA and its members will continue working with schools, educators, and lawmakers to expand access to CTE opportunities and strengthen Illinois’s manufacturing workforce for years to come.
About TMA: Founded in 1925, TMA is an independent trade association whose mission is to partner with small and midsize manufacturers to help protect, promote, and grow their businesses through practical products, programs, services, and solutions. TMA has nearly 900 members representing approximately 39,000 manufacturing employees and more than 27 million square feet of manufacturing plant.