WHAT TO DO

In the lead-up to January’s veto session, the teachers, PSRPs and school clinicians of Illinois faced a vicious attack. Out-of-state campaign money had poured into the state legislature with the goal of wiping our union off the map, no matter the consequences for our students and communities. This Performance Counts proposal had a lot of money behind it, but not a lot of evidence-based research. Read more facts about it here.

Officials from the three largest organizations representing educators in Illinois worked tirelessly to mobilize our membership under difficult circumstances. Our members responded without hesitation to fend off the attack. This mobilization accomplished what seemed impossible just weeks before. We taught the billionaire lobby groups that in Illinois they can’t simply buy legislation that will trample education.

Union officials were determined to turn this challenge into an opportunity to forge unity and hammer out differences in good faith. Together with student, parent and community partners, they crafted Accountability for All, a legislative proposal and presented it to our state’s legislators. The aim was to counter union-busting “education reform” and take our place at the table to discuss the issues that really matter in strengthening our entire educational system. In contrast to the rhetoric the so-called “reformers” use, we proved that it is really the teachers unions that listen to our students and their communities and bring them with us to the table.

Highlights of the Proposal

Student Rights:

Students must be assured:

• a limit on standardized testing
• access to a rich curriculum including art, music, physical education and foreign languages
• that all students have fully-qualified teachers on day one of each school year

Accountability For Everyone, not just teachers and PSRPs:
Evaluation-based accountability on all levels relies on the continued work of the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC) established under the Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) of 2010.

School Board Members should have at least four hours of training in:

• Education and labor law
• Financial oversight
• Fiduciary responsibilities

Districts should have annual evaluations based on:

• School climate surveys
• Teaching and learning conditions
• Full staffing
• Fiduciary responsibilities

Principals should have a second certification based on a minimum of two years of “proficient” or “excellent” annual evaluations.

Teachers should have:

• Tenure based on 3 years of “proficient” or “excellent” annual evaluations
• Evaluations to include input from peer teachers
• Consideration for certification, qualifications, years of service and performance evaluations in case of economic layoffs

This language has not yet been included in any pending legislation. It reflects both the shared and the differing priorities of our three organizations. Our members may find in this proposal elements with which they disagree. We don’t agree with everything that is in it.  Accountability for All represents a compromise balancing the political realities of the time with education policies that protect our members and the students we all serve.  It is also the only plan that was crafted in consultation with community and student groups.

The immediate threat has paused for the time being, which gives our rank-and-file members the opportunity to give input into what they want to see in the bill. In the coming weeks, CTU leaders will hold meetings across the city to hear from you about all aspects of this proposal. Our goal is to move beyond responding to attacks. We plan to craft a cohesive, comprehensive, positive blueprint to strengthen our students’ achievement. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your voice heard!

A schedule of these meetings and a more comprehensive summary of the legislative language will be available soon as well. Check back here in the next few days.