A critical part of a child’s academic success is learning to read and developing a love of reading. For many children, developing this love is hindered by a lack of access to books in their home. Now, Open eBooks is helping educators, librarians, and program leaders working with children from in-need families get free access … Continue reading Open eBooks Provides Free Books to Children in Need
Illinois PTA Advocacy Day in Springfield a Big Success
It was a beautiful fall day in Springfield on Tuesday as Illinois PTA members gathered for Advocacy Day. The Illinois PTA table in the capitol rotunda welcomed advocates and greeted passersby all day. By the end of the day, 79 legislators or their staff had had face-to-face contact with Illinois PTA. If you couldn’t make … Continue reading Illinois PTA Advocacy Day in Springfield a Big Success
Printable List Provides Over 500 Accommodations for an IEP or 504 Plan
Navigating the process of getting your child an Individualized Education Program (IEP) can be a confusing process for families. Illinois does provide a guide for families, and Illinois PTA has covered the 10 common mistakes parents make during the IEP process. The special education parent blog, A Day in Our Shoes, has a wonderful resource … Continue reading Printable List Provides Over 500 Accommodations for an IEP or 504 Plan
Strikes and PTA
While K-12 education has been funded by the state throughout the ongoing budget crisis, uncertainty over future funding levels and potential changes to the school funding formula have made it difficult for school districts to plan their future spending. This uncertainty has made negotiating new contracts more difficult for districts. As a result, unions are … Continue reading Strikes and PTA
Turn Your PTA into a Social Media Powerhouse
Social media is the place for PTAs and other organizations to engage their members. Whether it is Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or some other platform, social media lets PTAs keep their members informed about events, share information, and connect in ways that printed newsletters in backpacks never could. Now, Skills Platform and several nonprofit social media … Continue reading Turn Your PTA into a Social Media Powerhouse
New PTA Election Guides Help PTA’s One Voice Be Heard—Add Yours
Election Day is November 8th, and given the state’s budget crisis, your school district may have a referendum on the ballot. Your PTA may also want to ask candidates about their positions on education or other issues affecting children. Illinois PTA has covered the do’s and don’ts of elections for PTAs, and now National PTA … Continue reading New PTA Election Guides Help PTA’s One Voice Be Heard—Add Yours
Join Us for Illinois PTA Advocacy Day in Springfield on November 15th
November 15, 2016 is Parents Day as part of American Education Week. It is also Illinois PTA Advocacy Day in Springfield, an opportunity for PTA members from across Illinois to speak up for children. While you may not feel like you can be a PTA advocate, you likely already have been one. If you have … Continue reading Join Us for Illinois PTA Advocacy Day in Springfield on November 15th
Another Year of Legislative Success for the Children of Illinois!
From youth safety issues to juvenile justice, from children’s health to readiness for college and the work-force, from childhood hunger to an interim budget in a year of fiscal deadlock, the Illinois PTA has advocated successfully for all our children. The highlights are below. Illinois PTA will continue to advocate for every child, and urges … Continue reading Another Year of Legislative Success for the Children of Illinois!
Understanding ESSA
President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law last December. ESSA reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and made substantial changes to the previous version of the law known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Many of these changes focused on moving responsibility for improving education from the federal government … Continue reading Understanding ESSA
September is Attendance Awareness Month
It’s been said that the first secret to success is showing up. That is certainly true for children attending school. Research indicates that missing 10% of the school year—just two or three days each month—can translate into third-graders unable to read, sixth-graders failing classes, and ninth-graders dropping out of high school. Yet many families, students, … Continue reading September is Attendance Awareness Month
News from National Convention—The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
On December 10, 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law, a significant change in how federal, state, and local governments will guide your child’s education for the next decade or more. While you can read the full 449 pages of the bill, a workshop at the 2016 National PTA Convention … Continue reading News from National Convention—The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
News from National Convention—Resolutions
At the 2016 National PTA Convention in Orlando, four resolutions were adopted by the convention delegates. PTA resolutions and position statements are official documents outlining the opinion, will, or intent of the association to address national problems, situations, or concerns that affect children and youth and that require national action to seek solutions to the … Continue reading News from National Convention—Resolutions
Illinois Atlas of Austerity Maps the Costs of the State Budget Impasse
The state of Illinois has currently been without a budget for almost one complete year. Illinois PTA focused on the budget issue at our 2016 Legislative Conference and has called for PTA members to contact their legislators and the governor to urge them to pass a budget. A new website provides an interactive visual representation … Continue reading Illinois Atlas of Austerity Maps the Costs of the State Budget Impasse
Breakfast After the Bell Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature
These days, it is hard to believe that the entire Illinois legislature could all agree on whether the sun will rise in the east tomorrow, but unanimous agreement has actually occurred. Senate Bill 2393 (SB2393), which amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act, has passed the House with a 113-0 vote and the Senate … Continue reading Breakfast After the Bell Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature
PTA Advocacy is Easier than You Think
Like many Illinoisans, you are probably concerned about the lack of a current state budget and the outlook for next year’s budget. You might be wondering if your child’s school will be able to stay open for the full 2016-2017 school year or if it will open at all. You would be willing to contact … Continue reading PTA Advocacy is Easier than You Think
News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Resolutions
Resolutions are how PTAs can make a difference for every child in Illinois. Many current policies and laws that have made a difference in the lives of children, youth, and families began as a resolution, often from a local PTA unit: establishing a Juvenile Justice System, ensuring complete vision exams for children before starting school, … Continue reading News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Resolutions
News from the Illinois PTA Legislative Conference—The Illinois Budget
At the Illinois PTA 2016 Legislative Conference, one of the focus issues was the Illinois budget situation. Today is the 280th day without a budget in Illinois, and this lack of a budget is having profound effects on the lives of children, families, and our state’s economic future. The “Do Nothing” Budget Illinois currently has … Continue reading News from the Illinois PTA Legislative Conference—The Illinois Budget
Sign the Testing Bill of Rights!
This post by Jacki Ball originally appeared on National PTA’s One Voice blog. Jacki Ball is the director of government affairs at National PTA. National PTA is pleased to join forces with the Center for American Progress (CAP), America Achieves and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), among others in support of the … Continue reading Sign the Testing Bill of Rights!
Illinois First State Chosen to Close Equity Gaps in Advanced Courses
In its 10th Annual Report to the Nation, the College Board noted that while progress has been made between 2003 and 2013, low-income and students of color continue to be underrepresented in Advanced Placement (AP) courses. In Illinois, African-American students represented 13.5% of the graduates in 2003, but only 6.9% of those taking AP exams … Continue reading Illinois First State Chosen to Close Equity Gaps in Advanced Courses
Navigating Illinois PTA’s New Advocacy Tools
You may not think of yourself as an advocate, but if you’ve ever spoken to your child’s teacher about a problem your child was having, if your PTA has ever brought a concern to your school’s principal, if you’ve ever spoken up at a school board meeting, you are an advocate. Illinois PTA has new … Continue reading Navigating Illinois PTA’s New Advocacy Tools
One Voice Illinois 