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
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
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
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
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
Do’s and Don’ts of PTAs and Elections
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
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
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
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
News from National Convention—New Diversity Toolkit
As our country and school communities become more diverse, our PTAs are working to become more diverse in their membership and leadership as well. Tohelp PTAs with that process, National PTA released the new Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit at the 2015 National PTA Convention at a breakfast honoring this year’s Jan Harp Domene Diversity and … Continue reading News from National Convention—New Diversity Toolkit
Engaging Teens to Start an Emotion Revolution
A recent article in the Harvard Business Review indicates that today’s teenagers may not be ready to become tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and educators—not because they lack technical skills, but because they are emotionally unprepared. The results come from work done by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence focused on the future workforce. Teens in the … Continue reading Engaging Teens to Start an Emotion Revolution
Second Annual Spotlight Celebrates Illinois’s Amazing Children
Families from across Illinois gathered this past Saturday at Millikin University for Spotlight: A Children’s Celebration of Art and Community. The event at Kirkland Fine Arts Center showcased approximately 500 PTA Reflections entries that advanced to the state level of judging, provided a wide variety of workshops, and recognized student artists and leaders from across … Continue reading Second Annual Spotlight Celebrates Illinois’s Amazing Children
Task Force on School Funding Meeting Wednesday
For decades, Illinois PTA has advocated for adequate, equitable and sustainable funding of public schools. Just a few of our specific platform statements are that the Illinois PTA supports: adequate legislative and/or financial support for operation, maintenance, and construction of tax supported schools, and opposes the direct or indirect use of public funds for non-public … Continue reading Task Force on School Funding Meeting Wednesday
October 6th is Bring Your Parents to School Day in Illinois
House Bill 129 amends the Illinois School Code to allow school boards to designate the first Monday in October of each year as “Bring Your Parents to School Day.” The law took effect January 1, 2014. Local school boards have the option of adopting the law which will allow parents to attend class with their … Continue reading October 6th is Bring Your Parents to School Day in Illinois
One Voice Illinois 