Illinois’s primary election is coming up on March 15th and the presidential election is November 8th. While most local elections in Illinois are in odd years, your school district may have a bond referendum on the ballot. With elections dominating the news, it’s a good time to review what PTAs can and can’t do as … Continue reading Do’s and Don’ts of PTAs and Elections
Why PTA? Advocacy!
It is a question that is often heard—why be a PTA? Why not be an independent parent organization rather than paying PTA dues? For many PTAs, the answer is because of the many PTA programs like Reflections, the online training courses and other leadership resources, or even the member benefits. But the one thing that … Continue reading Why PTA? Advocacy!
Destination: Family-Driven Care
Today we feature a guest blog post from the Family Consumer Specialists of the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Mental Health (DMH) Child & Adolescent Services, on family-driven care. At the end of the article is a list of Parent Empowerment Calls offered free to all parents in Illinois who have a … Continue reading Destination: Family-Driven Care
10 Common Mistakes Parents Make During the IEP Process
When you begin the process to get your child an Individualized Education Program (IEP), it can be an overwhelming, emotional, confusing, stressful, and frustrating time. While Illinois does provide a guide to help parents navigate special education services, you still may feel lost while everyone else involved has been through the process many times and … Continue reading 10 Common Mistakes Parents Make During the IEP Process
PTA Supports the Bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act
Yesterday, a U.S. Senate and House of Representatives conference committee released the final text of the Every Student Succeeds Act. The bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left Behind (ESEA/NCLB), the primary law governing the federal role in K-12 education. The bill will now be considered by all members of … Continue reading PTA Supports the Bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act
A Summer of Legislative Success for the Children of Illinois
The Illinois PTA is pleased to announce another success on Illinois PTA-supported legislation: Senate Bill 1793, Suicide Awareness Policy, was signed into law by Governor Rauner on August 21, 2015. Now known as Public Act 99-0443 or Ann Marie’s Law, requires that the State Board of Education: Develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention … Continue reading A Summer of Legislative Success for the Children of Illinois
20 Important Questions Families Should Ask Teachers
It’s back-to-school time, which means new teachers for most students and families. It’s easy to find information online supporting teacher-student interaction and family-student interaction, but not much is available on the third side of the triangle, the teacher-family interaction. Students are best supported when families and teachers are working together as a team. Part of … Continue reading 20 Important Questions Families Should Ask Teachers
Governor Signs Two More Illinois PTA-Supported Bills
Governor Rauner continues to take action on bills that were passed by the legislature this past spring, including two more that were supported by the Illinois PTA. Multiple Measure Index Bill House Bill 2683, the Multiple Measure Index Bill, now known as Public Act 99-0193, was signed into law on July 30, 2015 by Governor Rauner. … Continue reading Governor Signs Two More Illinois PTA-Supported Bills
Resources to Help Navigate Special Education in Illinois
As the new school year approaches, parents of children with special needs may be a little more nervous than most parents about sending their child to school. Navigating the special education system can be a confusing and frustrating process for parents. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has a parents’ guide, Educational Rights and … Continue reading Resources to Help Navigate Special Education in Illinois
Advocacy in Action—Legislative Update
Every Child Achieves Act Thank you to those in our membership who took action on the Every Child Achieves Act and the proposed Family Engagement Amendments to that bill. With our combined advocacy efforts, the Every Child Achieves Act (previously known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA/No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)) has … Continue reading Advocacy in Action—Legislative Update
News from National Convention—Resolutions
One of the important business items at the National PTA Convention is adoption of resolutions. 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 require national action to seek resolution on the issue. They … Continue reading News from National Convention—Resolutions
The 2014 KIDS COUNT Data Book
The KIDS COUNT Data Book is an annual publication that assesses child well-being nationally and across the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia andPuerto Rico. Using an index of 16 indicators, the 2014 report ranks states on overall child well-being and in four domains: economic well-being education health family and community For 2014, the … Continue reading The 2014 KIDS COUNT Data Book
A Parents’ Guide to Student Data Privacy
Students are online now more than ever, both academically and socially, allowing students to learn about virtually any subject and connectwith people and places around the world. Teachers are also using technology to enhance instruction to meet the needs of every child while also making curriculum more engaging. However, as recent headlines remind us, online … Continue reading A Parents’ Guide to Student Data Privacy
Is Your Child Learning for the 21st Century?
Your child will graduate into a world far more complicated than the one you did. What will they face? An innovation and creativity-driven economy with a job market that rewards creativity, flexible thinking, on-the-job learning, and comfort with technology. A more globally-connected world where their classmates and co-workers may live in the same zip code or … Continue reading Is Your Child Learning for the 21st Century?
Family Engagement and the Renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Today’s guest post is by Jacki Ball, the Director of Government Affairs for National PTA®. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which remains the most comprehensive federal education legislation in the United States today and is a key legislative priority of National PTA. ESEA was first … Continue reading Family Engagement and the Renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Social and Emotional Learning Pays Off
In 2009, Illinois PTA convention delegates adopted a resolution stating that based on Illinois PTA’s legislative positions, we would: actively distribute information on and promote the inclusion of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) content, skills, evaluation and assessment standards within school curricula as has been developed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE); encourage … Continue reading Social and Emotional Learning Pays Off
Speaking Up for Children—Juvenile Justice
Illinois PTA has teamed up with Juvenile Justice Initiative and several other associations to share our positions on Juvenile Justice with Governor Bruce Rauner. Through a recently sent letter, we have encouraged the governor to support: The expansion of Redeploy Illinois, an effective community-based alternative to incarceration. Returning to the judiciary the authority to make … Continue reading Speaking Up for Children—Juvenile Justice
Illinois PTA Supports Vision 20/20
A coalition of six statewide education organizations have joined forces behind Vision 20/20, including the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), the Illinois Principals Association (IPA), the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO), the Superintendents’ Commission for the Study of Demographics and Diversity (SCSDD), and the Illinois … Continue reading Illinois PTA Supports Vision 20/20
Advocacy in Action: What Parents and Caregivers Need to Know about the Choking Game
Today we can celebrate our recent progress on our 2013 Resolution on Prevention of Asphyxiation Games (the Choking Game). Today we are another step closer to eliminating participation in this dangerous activity. The joint efforts of the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Illinois PTA have brought two important publications in this … Continue reading Advocacy in Action: What Parents and Caregivers Need to Know about the Choking Game
Answer the Call for Resolutions – and Make a Difference for Illinois’ Youth!
As we begin the 2014-2015 school year, think about how you can make a difference for our children in Illinois with a Resolution for the Illinois PTA! Each year at the Illinois PTA Convention we have an opportunity to vote on Resolutions that have been proposed by our Membership – and every year that one … Continue reading Answer the Call for Resolutions – and Make a Difference for Illinois’ Youth!
One Voice Illinois 