Illinois Families for Public Schools gives a real, regular voice in Springfield to parents and other supporters of public schools from around the state. Our goal is to defend and improve Illinois public schools as a public good for the benefit of not only of our own children, but our state as a whole.

Our vision is for every family in Illinois to have a well-resourced local public school—one that’s able to nurture and educate each and every child that comes in the door to take on the complexity of adulthood in a 21st century democratic society.

To make that vision a reality, we keep Illinois families informed about the issues that impact our public schools, connect them in hubs by legislative district and mobilize them to make policy change happen:

• Stay informed: Our blog posts, social media feeds, email blasts and webinars provide the background you need to stay up-to-date on the policies and politics that impact our public schools. We track and lobby for and against bills in the IL General Assembly and US Congress and provide you with alerts so you can take timely action.
  
• Connect by legislative district: A network of constituents means elected officials aren’t just talking to individual parents; they are hearing the collective voice of public school families in their district. We can provide you with the tools, techniques and contacts you need to connect to and coordinate with others in your area. More info here.
  
• Mobilize to take action: Phone calls, office visits, witness slips, lobby days, petitions are all tactics to get better policies and laws enacted on behalf of our schools and our kids. We train you to talk to and interact effectively with your elected officials. We demystify the legislative process by giving you a blow-by-blow of how the sausage is made.

Our work falls into six main issue areas. Here's our legislative agenda for the current year.