“Choice Act” is a voucher bill.
MAY 6, 2010
On Wednesday, May 5, 2010 a strategic vote in the Illinois House of Representatives occurred: SB2494 the School Choice Program (AKA VOUCHERS!) was able to muster 48 favorable votes, while 66 members voted NO! We applaud all those Representatives who voted NO.
We ask you to continue to urge your legislators to say NO to vouchers--an expensive experiment in education that would reach only a small segment of our student population and take valuable resources away from our under-funded public schools.
Need more information? Please see the SB2494 Fact Sheet below.
De ar PTA Advocate,
Over the past week, you have seen several pieces of information regarding SB2494--a bill that creates a voucher program in Illinois. On May 1, an amendment was offered and passed out of committee which could eventually move this from a pilot program to a permanent program in Chicago elementary schools and elsewhere in the State, as well as expanding the eligibility from low-performing schools "only" to over-crowded schools as well. There are NO program standards or benchmarks to evaluate the validity of the program inherent in the legislation, and no report required at all until one which must be done by the State Board of Education by the end of 2015.
Please take time to review the attached "fact sheet" so that you are able to tell your Representative why a NO vote on this bill is imperative. Contact your House representative and ask for a NO vote on SB2494.
Barb Quinn, State Legislation Chairman, Illinois PTA
Gretchen L. McDowell, Consultant, State Legislation, Illinois PTA
Advocacy
The role of Advocate for All Children is inherent in the purposes of the Parent Teacher Association. As we speak up and speak out for every child with one voice, our goal is to ensure the future of every child.
How can we make that goal a reality?
Here are some suggestions for our members:
• Develop an understanding of the Mission and Purposes (Objects) of the
National PTA and the Illinois PTA;
• Develop an understanding of the positions held by the National PTA and
the Illinois PTA;
• Develop an understanding of the Charter Rules of the Illinois PTA;
• Develop an understanding of how to use the resources provided by the
National PTA and the Illinois PTA;
• Develop an understanding of the Resolutions adopted by the National PTA and
the Illinois PTA; and
• Develop a sense of “shared responsibility” for reaching our goals.
The new format of the Illinois PTA website is designed to do just that: assist you in locating information regarding the Legislative Initiatives of both the National PTA and the Illinois PTA, including the National PTA Public Policy Agenda, the Illinois PTA Legislation Platform in Brief, existing Position Statements, existing Resolutions, and current “hot topics” both federal and state. Happy Surfing!
Barb Quinn, Illinois PTA Legislation Chair
