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* NPR Illinois…
The Illinois Supreme Court is considering whether Gov. JB Pritzker is legally obligated to recommend more state spending on K-12 education.
But lawyers for the state say it’s not Pritzker — or any governor — the schools have an issue with; it’s the legislature itself, which passes state budgets for the governor to sign.
On Tuesday, attorneys for 22 downstate school districts asked the state’s high court to take a fresh look at a decades-old issue the justices have ruled on before, hoping for a different outcome — and millions/billions more dollars that would come with a win. […]
Thomas Geoghegan, an attorney for the 22 districts, told justices Tuesday that Pritzker is not living up to the goals outlined in the funding formula and is therefore violating a provision in the state constitution to achieve efficient education funding.
“The full funding of this Evidence-Based funding act is a constitutional obligation of the state, and the governor has to accept it as such,” Geoghegan said.
* We talked about this last week…
The Illinois State Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday calling on all public schools to return to in-person learning during the upcoming school year.
The resolution doesn’t institute any mandates or requirements for Illinois schools to follow, but shows unified support from ISBE for an upcoming decision by State Superintendent Carmen Ayala.
In a weekly blog posted to the ISBE website, Ayala said she plans to make the mandate official “at the conclusion of the current academic year,” meaning the change will not take effect until next school year.
Once Ayala issues an official declaration, all public schools will be required to return to in-person learning for the 2021-2022 academic year with no exceptions. Only students who are both unvaccinated and under a quarantine order from the Illinois Department of Health will be eligible to continue remote learning.
* Read the whole thing if you can…
Following a February survey of school districts that illustrated a persistent teacher shortage in the state, the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools has released policy recommendations calling for better benefits and more lenient certification in an effort to reverse the trend.
The IARSS, which serves as an intermediary between local school districts and the Illinois State Board of Education, had the survey conducted between September and October to see how school districts were faring with the supply of professional and substitute teachers during the 2020-2021 school year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Illinois was split into seven regions for the purpose of the survey, and school districts reported the shortage was worst in west central and southeastern Illinois.
White papers developed in response to the survey give seven policy recommendations as ways to combat it from the local to statewide level. The two primary methods discussed in the white paper are improving teacher pay and lessening the restrictions on certifications teachers need in order to get hired.
* Other stuff with a fun one at the end…
* Abuse Allegations Lead To Closure of Aurora School: Northern Illinois Academy has relinquished its licenses after a review documented physical, sexual and emotional assault against students.
* State Senate passes legislation that would track sexual assault in schools
* Board approves new name for UIC Law: The UIC John Marshall Law School will change its name to the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law after receiving approval from the University of Illinois Board of Trustees today.
* SIU launches new college combining arts and media
* Illinois School Officials Push For More Pay, Less Certification To Stem Teacher Shortage
* School leaders discuss teacher shortage in Metro East today
* U.S. World and News Report ranks New Trier as 14th best high school in Illinois. School officials disagree.
* Dr. Derrick Smith Named Sandburg High School’s New Principal
I’m guessing that’s not the same Derrick Smith I know.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 11:26 am
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What is the total percent of school funding paid by the state? Is the money the state puts into the teachers retirement system counted in the percentage?
Comment by DuPage Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 11:39 am
=The Illinois State Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday calling on all public schools to return to in-person learning during the upcoming school year.=
Yes, and if the kids have not been vaccinated setup a system so that they can be.
Comment by Unconventionalwisdom Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 11:39 am
Wait, you’re telling me the founding fathers owned slaves?
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 11:43 am
DuPage, the answer to your second question is: no.
Comment by Third reading Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 11:44 am
I always find it fascinating that there are grown-ups that are functional enough to mount a successful campaign for state legislature that are incapable of understanding that Illinois has a revenue problem and continue to imagine that our state can some how not only continue with the current revenue amounts, but some how function with even less revenue.
Maybe I’m just jealous of their ability to so confidently live in denial of reality or their ability to believe that they and theirs are immune from any of the bad outcomes.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 11:45 am
There’s gonna be a lot of PO’d John Marshall Law School alums over the name change.
And I am pretty sure I partied at U of I with this Derrick Smith back in the day. How is this person old enough to be a high school principal? Definitely feeling the geriatric in geriatric millennial today.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 11:49 am
=== … released policy recommendations calling for better benefits … .===
cough … Tier 2 pensions … cough
Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 11:56 am
==cough … Tier 2 pensions … cough==
They recommended lowering the early retirement age of Tier 2 to 55. Not sure the best way to resolve an employee shortage is to promote early retirement.
Comment by City Zen Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 12:56 pm
=Yes, and if the kids have not been vaccinated setup a system so that they can be.=
They already have. Parents need to get it done.
=cough … Tier 2 pensions … cough=
That is a port of the issue. Insurance costs are another piece of the puzzle.
As an aside: The IARSS is hardly representative of educators or our needs. Many were never classroom educators, building admin, or district admin since they are elected. Our regional supt was a fireman and does not hold a teaching or admin license.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 1:08 pm
If they put in that mandate for not allowing virtual school for kids who aren’t out due to health, can they maybe publicize the free virtual charter schools out there? Some families have gotten used to online education and may be unwilling to change. Since IL has home school allowances, that won’t be a problem for them, but a virtual school may help with the home schooling for these families. Other reasons that families may want to not go to school is fear of being picked on, bullied, students being able to move at their own pace, etc.
Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 2:29 pm
Candy Dogood,
I disagree. Illinois has a spending problem. They don’t spend the dollars that come in appropriately. Given the chance, I will vote against any and all questions asking for more of our tax dollars.
Comment by Really Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:07 pm
=As an aside: The IARSS is hardly representative of educators or our needs. Many were never classroom educators, building admin, or district admin since they are elected. Our regional supt was a fireman and does not hold a teaching or admin license.=
Regional Supts are required by school code to hold a teaching license, admin endorsement, and 4 years teaching experience among other items.
Comment by MamaMusings Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:21 pm
“The State has the primary responsibility for financing
the system of public education.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.”
Very vague and purposely so.
This has been ruled upon in the past. Nothing has changed in the Constitution.
Comment by Unconventionalwisdom Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 3:40 pm
Because of the ISBE resolution, Champaign just canceled its planned remote learning academy for the next school year. I guess it is time for all the kids to vax up if they are eligible, and tough luck if they are not. Bet masking and social distancing also fall by the wayside.
Comment by Simple Simon Thursday, May 20, 21 @ 4:21 pm