Our Stories
I’ve been casually hearing about Illinois’ proposed Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) Standards for months (like, at a board meeting or in the context of the ongoing effort to diversify Illinois’ not-very-diverse pool of educators), but it seems like over the last week, talk of the Standards has exploded. And as with many fast-moving […]
Illinois and America are facing a reckoning with the systemic racism we have maintained since the country’s beginnings. Many people seem to finally realize that it’s not enough to just “not be racist.” Systemic racism keeps racist systems alive, even if we lived in a world without any racist individuals. We must commit to being anti-racist […]
1/12/2021 UPDATE: The bill has now passed both chambers and will head to the Governor for his signature! Amendment 3 made a few additional changes before it passed, most notably removing the changes to the Invest in Kids Act altogether, launching a feasibility study to consider the appropriate agency home for the Workforce Investment Act program […]
The fight for educational equity doesn’t start or stop at the schoolhouse. The shackles of inequity extend far beyond, including to our “justice” system and the way in which courts incarcerate individuals before they go to trial — simply because they cannot afford to post bond. That’s why we are standing with Illinois Senator Robert […]
The Illinois Constitution makes clear a “fundamental goal” of the State is the “educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities.” It continues that the State “shall provide for an efficient system of high quality public educational institutions and services.” Those are high-minded ideas, but the truth is that an effective, equity-driven […]
Three years ago, education advocates flooded the state capitol with petitions, calls, and in-person visits fighting for evidence-based school funding. Thanks to your efforts, we won! Evidence-based funding has transformed classrooms across Illinois in districts that had long been deeply underfunded. What have your efforts gained? Updated curriculum. More social workers, school counselors, and classroom teachers. Modernized […]
