Blogs

Advocacy Alert: Senate 3rd Reading Wrap-Up & House Committee Highlights

By Michael Jacoby posted 6 days ago
Insights from Senate 3rd Reading Deadline & House Committee Updates Happy Friday! As we reflect on the events of the Senate’s third reading deadline week, it is evident that our collective advocacy efforts continue to shape the future of education policy in Illinois. From engaging discussions to pivotal decisions to filed witness slips, this week underscored the importance of making our voices heard to drive positive change for our schools and communities. Prior to finalizing floor action in the Senate this week, there were a few additional measures heard in committee that had not been previously heard. A few highlights of those bills are ...

Call to Action: Oppose HB 3907 on Mandatory Prep Time (Round 2)

By Michael Jacoby posted 8 days ago
We are reaching out today with another urgent Call to Action regarding HB 3907 (Stuart; D-Collinsville) a bill that proposes mandating 45 minutes of uninterrupted, individual preparation time per day for all educators. Thanks in large part to collective advocacy efforts last week, the bill was not called for a hearing. Unfortunately, the bill is posted again for this week and may be called for a hearing in the House Elementary and Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools Committee on Thursday, April 11th, at 2:00pm . We received a number of questions about the bill last week, so we believe it is important to ...

Advocacy Alert: House Committee Deadline Week

By Michael Jacoby posted 13 days ago
Happy Friday! Amidst the gray clouds that have blanketed our skies this week, there has been a whirlwind of activity echoing through the halls of the Capitol. As we bid farewell to House Committee Deadline Week, numerous pieces of legislation have successfully progressed out of committee, marked by collaborative agreements to refine and further discuss these important matters. Below is a recap of this week's education-related bill movement. House Appropriations: Elementary and Secondary Education Committee Ann Whalen , the Transition Director for the Department of Early Childhood, presented the FY25 budget request for a brand new state agency, ...

Call to Action: Oppose HB 3907 on Mandatory Prep Time

By Michael Jacoby posted 16 days ago
We are reaching out today with an urgent Call to Action regarding HB 3907 (Stuart; D-Collinsville) a bill that proposes mandating 45 minutes of uninterrupted preparation time per day for all educators. This bill has been scheduled for consideration by the House Elementary and Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools Committee on Wednesday, April 3, at 2:00 pm . Despite initial indications that the bill might not progress this session, it has recently been amended via House Amendment 1 . Unfortunately, the amendment fails to address the concerns expressed by management groups. While it stipulates that prep ...

Advocacy Alert: Election Week Update

By Michael Jacoby posted 27 days ago
Happy Friday! As the dust settled from the primary election on Tuesday, the General Assembly reconvened in Springfield on Wednesday afternoon to resume the committee process for a variety of bill proposals. Today’s Advocacy Alert provides updates on the week’s legislative developments that impact education, including bills addressing school curriculum, policies and crucial funding matters. See below for a recap of another exciting week in the capital city. General Primary Election Recap Tuesday's General Primary Election shed light on intriguing insights into party politics. Over 20 primary races took place in the House, and amidst the ...

Advocacy Alert: Senate Committee Deadline Week

By Michael Jacoby posted 03-15-2024
As the curtains draw to a close on Senate Committee Deadline Week, and with the primary election looming on Tuesday, the corridors of government and the intricacies of politics have been bustling with anticipation. We experienced another somewhat understated week at the Capitol - legislatively, that is. You have likely heard by now that the Capitol did experience a lockdown on Tuesday following a possible threat. All was clear within about an hour and legislative activities resumed, uninterrupted for the remainder of the week. Below is a recap of this week’s education-related bill movement. House Appropriations - Elementary & Secondary Education ...

Advocacy Alert: A Busy Week in Committee

By Michael Jacoby posted 03-08-2024
Happy Friday! It has been an action-packed week here in Springfield! We have seen a number of bills advance past their initial hurdle and receive a favorable vote in their substantive committees. Updates are available below from several Senate and House Committees. House Appropriations - Elementary & Secondary Education Committee On Tuesday, the House Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee continued a series of subject matter hearings to discuss FY 25 budgetary proposals. During the subject matter, the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education (IAASE) discussed the needs of high-cost students ...

Advocacy Alert: March Outlook

By Michael Jacoby posted 03-01-2024
Happy Friday! With the General Assembly on break this week, there's a sense of calm amid the spring sunshine. Yet, behind the scenes, negotiations are active, making this a pivotal time for deals. Tasks such as refining bill language, gaining support from key stakeholders and resolving disagreements can be tackled with greater focus during this hiatus from formal proceedings. In Springfield, where politics is a blend of art and science, the break between sessions underscores the importance of patience and persistence in achieving progress, even during quieter periods. Despite the General Assembly not being in session this week, governance continues ...

Advocacy Alert: Retirement Plan Legislation and Senate Committee Updates

By Michael Jacoby posted 02-23-2024
Happy Friday! It has been an interesting week in Springfield to say the least. Although we did not see many committee cancellations, the committees that did convene heard only a handful of measures. Retirement Plan Legislation On Wednesday morning, the Senate Labor Committee heard testimony regarding SB 2568 (Villa-D; West Chicago), a bill aimed at imposing substantial restrictions on the administration of 403b plans within Illinois schools. Notably, this measure has garnered support from 403bwise.org, the IEA and the IFT. Key provisions of SB 2568 include the elimination of the current practice of offering multiple vendors ...

Advocacy Alert: FY25 State Budget Address

By Michael Jacoby posted 02-21-2024
With the delivery of Governor Pritzker’s combined State of the State and State Budget Address, it is evident that a resolute commitment to enhancing educational opportunities has been affirmed. We know that all of our members are educational leaders who are deeply invested in the betterment of your communities; therefore, we are pleased to highlight the promising outcomes unveiled in the Governor's FY25 budget recommendation. Overview of Education Budget Recommendation Highlighted increases in Governor Pritzker’s FY25 recommended education budget compared to the current FY24 enacted appropriations are as follows: $350 million Evidence-Based ...

Advocacy Alert: Filing Deadline Updates and Upcoming Events

By Michael Jacoby posted 02-19-2024
We hope this message finds you in high spirits following a rejuvenating weekend! As we embark upon the journey of navigating the intricate pathways of the upcoming legislative landscape, it is our goal to help you stay informed and engaged with the latest developments. Today, we have some notable updates regarding recent filings and upcoming events that directly impact our educational community. Final Filing Numbers In our recent Advocacy Alert, we highlighted the unprecedented surge in legislative activity witnessed during the filing deadline week. There was a staggering total of 735 bills filed on the final filing day, with 324 bills filed ...

Illinois Legislature Awakens for the 103rd General Assembly's Second Year

By Michael Jacoby posted 02-09-2024
Illinois Legislature Awakens for the 103rd General Assembly's Second Year Happy Friday! The Illinois legislative chambers have sprung to life once again as the second year of the 103rd General Assembly began committee work this week! With a buzz of activity, lawmakers returned to Springfield, eager to dive into the business of governance. This week, the committee rooms hummed with discussions and deliberations, as legislators embarked on the task of shaping policies and laws they believe will contribute to the betterment of our state. Despite an initial flurry of scheduled hearings, the week gradually settled into a rhythm, marked ...

Veto Session Action (or perhaps, Inaction)

By Michael Jacoby posted 11-13-2023
Veto Session Action (or Perhaps, Inaction) Happy Monday! The veto session has indeed been surprisingly tranquil, with the legislative body displaying a noticeable lack of activity when it comes to voting on new proposals. One cannot help but notice the marked contrast from the usual bustling atmosphere within the chambers. The quietness of the veto session has given rise to questions about the reasons behind this approach. Is it a strategic move to deliberate more thoroughly on complex issues, or is it indicative of a larger legislative spring session? Only time will tell. Property Tax Omnibus HB 2507 (D-Kifowit), which was issued ...

Advocacy Alert – Summary of Signed and Vetoed School Interest Bills

By Michael Jacoby posted 08-28-2023
Summary of Signed and Vetoed School Interest Bills We hope you are all having a fantastic start to this new school year! While you all have been preparing to open your school buildings this summer, the Governor has been busy signing bills. He has officially signed (or vetoed) every piece of legislation that passed both chambers in May. Below please find information about important education bills that have been vetoed or signed into law. VETOED BILLS The Governor issued several vetoes for a variety of measures, but one in particular did impact an education bill. HB3643 (Rashid; D-Berwyn) would have required ISBE to enter into ...

Legislators Wrap-Up Spring Session

By Michael Jacoby posted 05-27-2023
Legislators Wrap-Up Spring Session One Week After Scheduled Deadline Happy Weekend! One week past the scheduled adjournment date, the General Assembly has wrapped up the Spring 2023 session with a budget that once again is positive for K12 schools, and also includes a historic investment in Early Childhood Education for the state’s youngest learners. The budget bill ( SB0250 ), which was filed on Wednesday evening, allocated an additional $350 million for Evidence-Based Funding — $300 million of which will flow into the formula via tier money, with $50 million being allocated for another round ...

103rd General Assembly Update

By Michael Jacoby posted 05-19-2023
103rd General Assembly Update Happy Friday! We had hoped to also be wishing you a “Happy End of Session Day,” but unfortunately, we won’t be able to do that because today will not be the last day of session as originally scheduled. As of this morning, neither a budget bill or a budget implementation bill have been filed. Wednesday, May 17 was the final day a budget could be introduced and still see the legislature adjourn as scheduled. Nothing happened on Wednesday, but there was still hope that if a bill was dropped yesterday, Thursday the 18, legislators could wrap up in the early morning hours on Saturday. Unfortunately, Thursday came and went without ...

Protect Local Control - Oppose SB 990

By Michael Jacoby posted 05-10-2023
Protect Local Control - Oppose SB 990 Happy Wednesday, Despite ongoing lobbying efforts against SB 990 by school management and labor groups, the measure is set to be heard in the House Executive committee today. If it passes out of committee, the bill may be called for a full vote on the floor before the end of the week. As we have written previously in calls to action, SB 990 represents a significant infringement on local control in that it would drastically limit a school district’s ability to sell property at its highest potential value. Additionally, the bill would incentivize municipalities and townships to view district property ...

Call To Action: Opponent Witness Slips Needed

By Michael Jacoby posted 04-24-2023
CALL TO ACTION: OPPONENT WITNESS SLIPS NEEDED Good Afternoon & Happy Monday! This week marks the week of deadlines for bills to be passed out of House and Senate committees, and as a result, we are expecting a large amount of bill movement in the next few days. We are writing today to request your help in demonstrating opposition to several bills that we expect to be heard this week. Please file a witness slip IN OPPOSITION to SB 990 . The legislation was filed on a shell bill in the Senate by Senator Curran (R-Lemont) before it moved over to the House. Representative Burke (D-Oak Lawn) now has the legislation and it is scheduled ...

Make Your Voices Heard!

By Michael Jacoby posted 04-17-2023
Call to Action: Make Your Voices Heard! Happy Monday! We are writing today with a call to action for four pieces of legislation that are scheduled to be heard in committees this week when the General Assembly returns to action from their spring break. We have two legislative measures that we are requesting you to demonstrate OPPOSITION to related to teacher tenure and employment. We also have two measures that are initiatives of Illinois ASBO and IASA that we are asking for you to sign PROPONENT witness slips for. OPPONENT WITNESS SLIPS NEEDED We have written about the bills related to teacher tenure a few times over the last few ...