Standing for all children, especially right now

Stand As One | 10/9/2025

Stand for Children

Every person, regardless of their immigration status, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Every child deserves to live without the fear that their home will be raided in the middle of the night. Without the fear that their parents will be taken from them during school drop-off. Every person, whether a citizen or non-citizen, has the right to due process in the United States.

And yet, over the past several weeks, we have seen a rapid escalation of these rights and dignities being violated as ICE has increased its presence in the city of Chicago. Their recent activity in Chicago has brought intimidation, harassment, and the violent detainment of hundreds of residents. Those residents are our neighbors, our small business leaders, our community organizers, our students and teachers.

The federal government has stated that these agents and the National Guardsmen that arrived this week are targeting criminal behavior, but even in the pursuit of addressing illegal activity, the safety and stability of the city should be prioritized. Detaining children and separating them from their parents is not keeping Chicagoans safe. Shooting pepper balls at protesters exercising their First Amendment rights is not keeping Chicagoans safe. We should be able to count on the federal government to support states and municipalities in their endeavor to serve and improve their communities. It is alarming to see that the opposite is happening.

We are shaken and deeply saddened by the current environment, but we are also firm in our mission. All students deserve access to a high-quality education. All students deserve to feel safe both in and out of school. In the face of adversity, the work to create a better future for all Illinois students does not stop – it grows. We stand for every child in Illinois and with every advocate working towards a more just future for us all.

Bill To End School-Based Ticketing Passes Both Houses

Youth Justice | 05/28/2025

Stand for Children

BILL TO END SCHOOL-BASED TICKETING PASSES BOTH HOUSES

Senate Bill 1519, which Prohibits Municipal Tickets as a Disciplinary Consequence in Public Schools, Will Now Head to the Governor’s Desk

(Springfield) – Senate Bill 1519 (Villa/Ford) passed the House, marking the culmination of years of advocacy and negotiations to end municipal ticketing in Illinois schools. The measure prohibits students from receiving a ticket as a disciplinary consequence for municipal ordinance violations during school and requires the public reporting of law enforcement referrals. “This bill helps create an environment where students can learn from their mistakes without being unnecessarily funneled into the justice system,” said Aimee Galvin, Government Affairs Director with Stand for Children.

“Black and Latino students are disproportionately ticketed, and the result is more students being pushed into a system designed for adults, placing financial hardships on working families while not addressing the root cause of misbehavior,” said State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago). “This bill will once and for all prohibit monetary fines as a form of discipline for Illinois students.”

Stand for Children and the Debt Free Justice Coalition have been working to ban municipal ticketing as a form of school-based discipline because of its ineffective and discriminatory nature. “The practice of municipal ticketing is not an evidence-based way to discipline students or curb student behavior,” said Angie Jimenez an Attorney with the National Center for Youth Law. “Tickets are administered at unequal rates between districts, resulting in a patchwork of justice across the state.” In 2022, ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune analyzed ticketing data for 86% of all public high school students in Illinois and reported that 11,800 tickets were issued across 70% of those school districts between 2019-2021. These tickets not only had a disproportionate impact on Black students but also forced students to miss class to attend municipal hearings, placed an undue financial burden on families with fines up to $750, and put students in the municipal court system with limited protections.

SB 1519 eliminates the unjust consequences of municipal ticketing in schools while not disrupting the relationship between school resource officers, law enforcement, and schools. “We wanted to ensure students are able to receive discipline that matches their behavior while maintaining law enforcement’s ability to address criminal offenses within schools,” shared State Representative La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago). The bill represents a significant milestone for Illinois as community organizations continue to collaborate on how to create better futures for all children. “Ultimately, schools are a unique setting where students can learn accountability and responsibility in a place that prioritizes their wellbeing. Senate Bill 1519 creates more opportunities for schools to exercise that ability and opens up the door for more restorative practices that teach students how to be better members of their communities.”

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Stand for Children Illinois is a non-partisan education advocacy organization that fights for educational equity. Stand partners with parents to support their education journey and become strong advocates, and it advocates for proven policies and funding so that all students receive a high-quality, relevant education. Learn more about our work at stand.org/illinois.

Stand Policy Fellowship 2024-25

Youth Justice | 08/16/2024

Natasha Dunn Digital Organizing Manager

If this sounds like you…

Interested in school discipline and restorative justice practices
Wish your school would implement and provide a clear outline of restorative practices that support the whole child
Want to connect with other people with a range of perspectives and experiences…all with a shared goal that promote safe school communities

…then the 2024-2025 Stand for Children Policy Fellowship is for you!

Stand for Children is a unique catalyst for educational equity and racial justice, to create a brighter future for us all. Our mission is to expand equitable access to public education opportunities for all children – especially those who are furthest from privilege and justice.

We believe the most effective solutions in education policy are achieved through the power of everyday people. When people who are personally impacted by the issues show up, speak up, reach out, and vote, they can have a profound and positive impact on policy decisions.

This year’s Policy Fellowship will explore school discipline practices including municipal ticketing with an eye towards improving equity and education outcomes throughout the state. Fellows will collaborate with subject-matter experts and practitioners, study data, share stories of impact, and make policy recommendations.

Past Fellows have:

Presented recommendations to the Secretary of Education on the “Every Student Succeeds Act” (ESSA).
Joined legislators, advocates, and practitioners from across the state at a legislative dinner with insightful guest speakers.
Attended regional townhall meetings to weigh in on the “End Student Based Ticketing” Coalition recommendations.
Contributed research, writing, and local interviews to our Brain Drain report detailing four critical policies that would help students graduate high school prepared for college and a career.
Heard presentations from and talked to experts like leaders from the State Board of Education, school principals, Professional Review Panel members, lobbyists, and policy analysts for education organizations.
Written blog posts and letters summarizing issues or advocating for change and spoken with reporters.
Toured the state Capitol and met legislators.

Read more about the contributions they have made towards improving the odds for Illinois students at https://stand.org/illinois/policy-fellowship-alumni/.

Apply to the Fellowship

A Naperville teen spent years in court over a misunderstanding

Youth Justice | 08/13/2024

Mea Anderson Marketing and Communications Manager

Students in Illinois can be fined up to $750 by the police for non-criminal, school-based behaviors, requiring them to attend local administrative hearings that lack any due process protections. This process is called ‘municipal ticketing.’

Meet Marla and Amara

Marla Baker’s daughter, Amara Harris, was having a normal day at school until she was accused of stealing another student’s AirPods in 2019. Despite Amara explaining to school administrators that the incident was a simple misunderstanding, the school’s resource officer still issued her a municipal ticket accompanied with a fine. Marla, a Naperville resident and staunch advocate for her daughter’s rights, decided to fight the ticket with Amara instead of letting her daughter be punished for something she didn’t do.

Hear Their Story

Transcript

Hello, my name is Marla Baker.

On August 19th 2023 Amara, our family, and I experienced an emotional milestone. After four long years of legal battles, countless court appearances and enduring the scrutiny of five judges and six jurors, a jury found Amara not liable for theft, a charge that had been wrongly brought against her by her school resource officer in Naperville, Illinois.

The case began when Amara, as a high school junior, unknowingly identified another student’s AirPods as her own while in the midst of searching for hers. Even after the dean clarified the mix up and Amara provided proof she owned a pair herself, the school resource officer still issued her a municipal ordinance violation for theft, citing his own discretion to do so, as he stated in trial. This unjust charge caused Amara immense stress and anxiety.

Despite her achievements as a high honor roll student, teacher assistant, and excelling as a cheerleader, her future was clouded by the threat of legal repercussions that could jeopardize her collegiate prospects and scholarships. She developed severe anxiety, depression, and lost trust in authority. This experience revealed a systemic issue. The harsh and often discriminatory practices affecting students, particularly Black and brown children.

Our children need leaders with hearts, not punitive measures that erode their trust in the system and cause them to feel demoralized.

Affirm you stand against predatorial and damaging practices and your commitment to justice and support for all of our children. Be their heroes and sheroes. Thank you.

Take Action

Stand Illinois is committed to preventing more cases like Amara’s where students are unjustly ticketed and forced to endure court hearings, time away from the classroom, and steep fines. The first step toward this goal is making known the impact this practice has on our communities. Join us in sharing Marla and Amara’s story so we can raise awareness about municipal ticketing in our schools.

Marla Baker and Amara Harris

Share this Post

Help us raise awareness around municipal ticketing by sharing Marla and Amara’s story.

teacher in a blue shirt helping student wearing a jean jacket with her school work

Sign the Petition

Join us in signing a pledge to stand up against the unjust practice of municipal ticketing and work toward creating learning environments that leave students and teachers feeling supported.

black girl sitting in her doorway while on her laptop

Share Your Story

How have you, your student, or your family been impacted by unfair punitive discipline practices? Share your story using our online video collector!

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Learn More

Learn about our Youth Justice initiatives, including advocacy around municipal ticketing, and find out how you can get plugged in.

Add Your Voice for a Better Illinois

Youth Justice | 05/12/2023

Aimee Galvin Government Affairs Director

Together, we are making progress in our work toward economic justice for all Illinois families through the elimination of juvenile court fees and fines.

Now that bill to eliminate juvenile court fees and fines is up for final approval on the House floor. We must take a stand and urge our representatives to support this bill. We can fix this problem and move our state closer to economic justice.

TELL SPRINGFIELD: ELIMINATE FEES & FINES

We know that these fees and fines are not an effective accountability tool and can actually increase recidivism. They punish families living in poverty and deepen the economic injustice they already face.

Removing fees and fines does not impact a judge’s ability to order victim’s restitution, community service, or other appropriate non-monetary conditions that provide better opportunities for young people to take accountability for their actions.

We can hold young people accountable without pushing them into a deep financial hole. With your help, we can fix this problem! It’s on us to stand up and do what’s right. Tell Springfield to eliminate juvenile court fees and fines.

Let’s get this done – for Illinois youth, families, and communities.

We’re Halfway There

Legislation | 03/29/2023

Jessica Handy Interim Executive Director

Last week was a whirlwind at the Capitol and we’ve got progress to show for it! The pace was fast and furious all week, with a Friday deadline spurring legislators to debate bills well into the night.

The good news? Three bills in the ‘Literacy and Justice for All’ bill package passed the House or the Senate on Friday!

We couldn’t have done this without you! Advocates continue to send a strong signal to Springfield that these initiatives have deep support across the state. This month, we’ve sent over 1,500 emails to legislators in support of literacy and youth justice. (Did you send yours yet? Click these links and check it off your to-do list!)

A quick update on where things stand with these (and a few other momentous bills we’re supporting!):

Early Literacy: HB2872 and SB2243, bills instructing the State Board of Education to create a statewide literacy plan, and HB3147, the comprehensive Literacy and Justice for All bill to help fix the literacy crisis, passed their first major hurdle! (That is, the House bills passed the House and the Senate bill passed the Senate. Now they will switch places and work their way through the other chamber.)
Youth Justice: SB1463 and HB3120 passed committee and we anticipate a floor vote in the Senate this week. The bills would eliminate juvenile court fees and fines, a step toward economic justice for our state.
Full-Day Kindergarten: HB 2396 requires school districts to offer full-day kindergarten by 2027. It passed the House and moves to the Senate.
Trauma-Responsive Schools: HB 342 responds to the Whole Child Task Force, created by the Legislative Black Caucus’s historic “education pillar” two years ago. Under the bill, which passed the House, the state would develop a Children’s Adversity Index, make licensure recommendations to ensure teachers are prepared to support children with trauma, and add ratios of social workers to the school report card.
Dual-Credit Teacher Shortage: HB 1213 passed the House, creating a scholarship program for teachers to pursue the coursework needed to teach Dual Credit.

We will keep you posted as things continue to move in Springfield. Get ready for more advocacy opportunities to keep up the growing momentum on our legislative priorities!

Thank you for your partnership and support.

This Kind of Discipline is Wrong. Let’s End It.

Youth Justice | 03/15/2023

Aimee Galvin Government Affairs Director

Last summer, ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune analyzed data that found nearly 12,000 tickets were issued to students from August 2018 through June 2021. Despite recent laws designed to prohibit schools from issuing fines and fees as discipline and referring truant students to police, school personnel referred thousands of students to local municipalities for the purpose of issuing fines and fees as a disciplinary consequence for school-based behaviors.

This is flat out wrong. Students should NOT be punished this way. Fines and fees can also vary widely across municipalities. The system is unfair to students, who must miss school to attend a municipal hearing that does not guarantee right to due process, like access to legal counsel.

Illinois is so much better than this. I hope you’ll join me and reach out to your state representative and urge them to support a bill in Springfield designed to end this unjust practice.

end school-based ticketing

Consequences for most student misbehavior can and should be handled through a district’s discipline policy.

Contact your representative with just a few clicks to urge their support. Then, I hope you’ll share this link with your friends and family, too.

Progress Toward Our Goals

Legislation | 03/14/2023

Jessica Handy Interim Executive Director

We saw some strong progress on Stand priorities at the Capitol last week, friends.

The pace was fast and furious all week, with a deadline spurring legislators to act at the committee level.

The good news? Bills to help fix our state’s literacy crisis and eliminate juvenile court fees and fines progressed out of committee and moved one step closer to passage.

We couldn’t have done this without you! Last week, advocates submitted nearly 800 witness slips in support of these bills, a strong signal to Springfield that these are priorities with deep support across the state. Around 1,000 emails went to legislators in support of our priority issues, another sign of the support from advocates standing up for children and families.

A quick update on where things stand:

Early Literacy: HB2872, a bill instructing the State Board of Education to create a statewide literacy plan, and HB3147, the comprehensive Literacy and Justice for All bill to help fix the literacy crisis, passed the House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee on Wednesday, March 8, with more stakeholder engagement work yet to come before a final vote in the House.
Youth Justice: SB1463 and HB3120 passed favorably out of the Senate Judiciary and House Restorative Justice committees, respectively. The bills would eliminate juvenile court fees and fines, a step toward economic justice for our state.

We will keep you posted as things continue to move in Springfield. Get ready for more advocacy opportunities to keep up the growing momentum on our legislative priorities!

Thank you for your partnership and support.

Let’s Move Toward Economic Justice

Youth Justice | 03/3/2023

Aimee Galvin Government Affairs Director

Over the last year or so we’ve updated you on a new issue for the Stand community: the elimination of juvenile court fines and fees.

Our research and advocacy has shown that these fees and fines are not an effective accountability tool and can actually increase recidivism. They punish families living in poverty and deepen the economic injustice they already face in our most vulnerable communities.

Removing fees and fines does not impact a judge’s ability to order victim’s restitution, community service, or other appropriate non-monetary conditions that provide solid opportunities for young people to take accountability for their actions. We can hold young people accountable without pushing them into a deep financial hole. And now we have a chance to fix this problem! A bill up for hearing next week in the Senate Judiciary Committee would repeal these juvenile court fees and fines. It’s on us to stand up and do what’s right. Submit a witness slip today!

Submitting a witness slip in support of this legislation is easy! Follow these simple steps to make an impact:

Click this link.
Fill in your information.
- For “Representation,” you can enter Debt Free Justice Illinois, or something like “parent” or “self”
- For “Position,” check “Proponent”
- For “Testimony,” check “Record of Appearance Only”
Agree to the “Terms of Service.”

You’re done and you just made a difference!

We’re working with a statewide coalition called Debt Free Justice Illinois. This group of advocates are dedicated to moving us toward economic justice and away from the financial burden of these fees and fines. By passing this bill, Illinois will join a bipartisan group of 20 states that have already eliminated juvenile court fees and fines.

Let’s get it done – for Illinois youth, families, and communities.

Priority Issues for Springfield

Civic Action | 01/11/2023

Aimee Galvin Government Affairs Director

Earlier today, members of the Illinois legislature took the oath of office for a new term as members of the General Assembly. On Monday, Governor JB Pritzker was sworn in for his second term as governor. I was there on Monday, along with my colleague Jessica, for the ceremony and the pomp and circumstance.

As our elected officials set their agenda and plan their ’23 goals, now is a great time for us to congratulate them and urge their support for our shared priorities.

I’m talking about common sense priorities like ensuring Illinois schools have the funding they need to give kids the education they deserve; providing evidence-based literacy instruction to boost our state’s sagging reading scores; working to ensure racial justice in the youth court system; and, working together to offer students expanded opportunities for advanced coursework.

Let’s congratulate our elected leaders on their inauguration and urge them to focus on issues that will make a positive difference for Illinois children and their families!

CONTACT SPRINGFIELD NOW

Thank you for standing with us as we start the new year. I look forward to everything we accomplish together this year.