Ever more digital data is collected about and from students in public school, and the security and privacy of this data is a major concern for parents. We would love to see robust legislation passed in Illinois that builds on the protections of our existing student privacy law in this new era of big data and ed tech. But SB1796, the Student Online Privacy Protection Act, is not that legislation.

Update: It's still not too late on HB768!

The bill was pulled from the hearing today 5/17 due to pressure from charter industry and has now been moved to the Executive Committee for a 2pm hearing tomorrow 5/18. You must fill out a new witness slip as a PROPONENT here.

Prompted by a group of 21 community and advocacy organizations, 34 legislators have signed a letter to Governor Bruce Rauner to urge him to keep school voucher programs out of Illinois and to keep public dollars within the public education system not to be diverted to private and religious schools.

On Friday, former Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for defrauding students and taxpayers with a no-bid contract with SUPES, her former employer---a contract approved unanimously by the unelected Chicago Board of Education. BBB's connection to SUPES was considered "a plus, not a negative" by the Board, according to Andrea Zopp, board member at the time.

An important bill is moving to the House floor for a vote next week. This bill, HB768, would prevent the unelected state charter commission from approving charter schools that have been rejected by local school boards. Our existing schools are underfunded and in need of more resources, not fewer. Help stop this appointed commission from forcing charters on districts that don’t want or need them.

Fill out a witness slip as a PROPONENT for HB3567, a bill that prohibits charter schools from opening in financially distressed school districts in IL. There is a hearing for this bill Tuesday, 3/28 at 2pm in the Appropriations Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.

Please see below for detailed instructions.

There is a hearing this Wednesday, March 29, in the IL House for HB3786, the LSC Empowerment Bill. Take 2 minutes to fill out a witness slip and share with your contacts.

Even if you filled out a witness slip for this bill recently, you should do so again. While this bill was on the hearing schedule previously, it did not come up for a vote and therefore the witness slip process needs to start over again.

Please see below for detailed instructions.

There is a hearing this Wednesday in the IL House for HB 1774, the elected school board bill.  Take 2 minutes to fill out a witness slip and share with your contacts who care about having more democracy, transparency, and accountability in our public education system.

Even if you filled out a witness slip for this bill recently, you should do so again. While this bill was on the hearing schedule previously, it did not come up for a vote and therefore the witness slip process needs to start over again. 

Updated: Neither of these bills will be heard this morning. Thanks to everyone who's filled out a slip so far. 

Please take a moment to file two witness slips for bills that will be heard in one of the IL House Education Committees this morning. We are asking people to oppose HB213 and support HB1774. Detailed instructions below.

We are going to be asking you often to complete a Witness Slip to support or oppose bills in Springfield. Trust us... this is a super easy action and can be impactful! This week we are asking you to file three witness slips. Even if you filled out a witness slip for one of these bills last week, you should do so again.  Bills have two chances to get voted out of committee but they require new witness slips for each hearing, as they don't get carried over.   

Please see below for detailed instructions.