Our Stories
It all goes hand in hand: you can’t spend money you don’t have through a formula that doesn’t exist. That’s why in order to fix our worst-in-the-nation funding formula, ensure schools open this fall, and put our education system on a path of renewed stability, we need to enact three bills: 1. Senate Bill 1, […]
Good news from the Capitol! Four long years into the conversation about fixing the worst school funding system in the nation, both the Illinois House and the Senate passed a strong school funding reform bill last night. It’s the closest we’ve seen to getting a solution! The full name of the bill is the Evidence-Based Model […]
Illinois’ plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was submitted to the federal government for review. The plan, which was adopted by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) a few weeks ago, includes plans to close opportunity and achievement gaps. Importantly, it ensures the state’s accountability plan will be inclusive, transparent, and informative […]
We usually write about developments in the legislature, but there is critical activity involving the State Board of Education with profound implications. Frankly, we’re worried about the direction they are headed. We are worried the Board is about to take major steps backward for Illinois kids by undermining the system that lets parents and educators […]
TRS Surcharge Continues Taking Federal Funds from Districts to Cover Pension Debt Today, Stand for Children Illinois released an update to its 2015 report that details how Illinois siphons federal funds earmarked for needy students away from school districts to pay pension debt. The practice of tapping federal funds through this TRS federal funds surcharge to cover […]
As the Illinois State Board of Education gets closer to finalizing regulations implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Stand for Children Illinois submitted comments offering feedback to strengthen the next draft of the plan. Stand’s suggestions include: More clearly incorporating subgroup scores in school ratings. This should be an integral part of school ratings: the new […]
