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Springfield – This week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is ending a well-established federal policy that regulated how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could operate in and around schools and churches. Previously, schools were classified as “sensitive locations,” which meant ICE agents were generally prohibited…

Tinley Park – The Kirby Education Association (KEA) and the Kirby Para-Educator Association (KPEA) are recommending Carol DeMichael, Lucy Shalash, Aileen Mullee and Thomas Martelli in the upcoming Kirby School District 140 school board election. KEA represents 331 members, including preschool through eighth grade teachers, media directors, school counselors, social…

For 40 years, educators have been fighting to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) laws that have deprived educators of earned Social Security benefits. That advocacy work has now paid off. This law denied more than 2.7 million of American public sector employees their hard-earned…

ELK GROVE VILLAGE – Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison toured schools in Community Consolidated School District 59 (CCSD59) on Tuesday. Morrison made the visit at the request of the District 59 Education Association (DEA). He met with students, staff and visited two schools. “We think it’s important for all of our…

The following statement can be attributed to Al Llorens, president of the Illinois Education Association: “It is long past time to repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). This measure denies Illinois educators who are part of either the Teachers’ Retirement System or State Universities Retirement…

CRYSTAL LAKE – The Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers’ Association (CLETA) ratified a new contract with Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 School Board that will help address inequities and student safety. “This is definitely a step in the right direction. When surveyed, a majority of our teachers said they…

MINOOKA –  Minooka Transportation Association (MTA) members will be attending tonight’s Minooka Community High School District 111 Board of Education (BOE) meeting. MTA’s president plans to address the board regarding several safety concerns on buses and call on the district to be more transparent about the transportation budget and the…

One in four IEA members has at least one additional job SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Education Association (IEA), the largest education organization in Illinois, released data from a Red for Ed membership poll showing nearly 60% of teachers, higher education professors and education support staff are considering leaving the…

AUBURN – The Auburn Education Association (AEA) recently surveyed its members and found 75% have considered leaving teaching. Of those who are thinking about leaving, the majority cite pay as the reason. The new data come as the AEA and Auburn Community Unit School District 10 (BOE) are negotiating a new…

This new charge comes after District 47 entered into a settlement for illegally hiring education support staff. CRYSTAL LAKE – The Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association (CLETA) this week filed an unfair labor practice (ULP) with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB) after Community Unit School District 47 administrators…

CRYSTAL LAKE – After several federally mediated bargaining sessions between the District 47 Board of Education and the Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association (CLETA), CLETA is declaring impasse and initiating the public posting process. Once the public posting process is initiated by the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB) the union…

CRYSTAL LAKE – Crystal Lake elementary school teachers and community members plan to wear red and rally before tonight’s District 47 Board of Education meeting. Rallygoers will then pack the board meeting and plan to speak about the importance of a fair contract. “The community support has been truly incredible.…

CARBONDALE – Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) and the Southern Illinois University Faculty Association (SIU-FA) have reached a collective bargaining agreement that has been ratified by the SIU-FA membership, the university and the association announced today (Aug. 5). The agreement is effective July 1, 2024. “Our most valuable resource is our…

Teachers and community will rally ahead of tonight’s federal mediation session CRYSTAL LAKE – The Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers’ Association (CLETA) recently surveyed its members and found 73% are considering leaving teaching and 89% of those surveyed say their jobs have gotten harder in the last year. This new data…

SPRINGFIELD – The following statement is attributable to Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Al Llorens: “On July 6, 36-year-old Springfield resident and mother of two, Sonya Massey, called 911 to ask police to come to her house to check for a prowler. Within minutes of entering her home, a Sangamon…

MORTON – The Morton Education Association (MEA) recently surveyed its members and found nearly 75% are considering leaving teaching. Of those who are thinking about leaving, 80% cite pay as the reason. The new data comes as the MEA and Morton Community Unit School District 709 Board of Education (BOE) are…

CRYSTAL LAKE – Crystal Lake elementary school teachers are preparing to enter federal mediation after contract negotiations with the Crystal Lake Community Consolidated District 47 Board of Education (BOE) stall. The Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers’ Association (CLETA), which represents the teachers and other licensed staff in District 47, has been notified…

Poll shows Illinoisans are increasingly worried about the teacher and education employee shortages and support policies that could alleviate the shortages SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Education Association (IEA) will release its fifth annual IEA State of Education report today, the only bipartisan poll monitoring Illinoisans’ views on all aspects of public…

Data from IEA’s Annual Bipartisan State of Education Poll shows where Illinoisans stand on key education issues SPRINGFIELD — To coincide with the first day of early voting for Illinois school board elections the Illinois Education Association (IEA) is releasing a portion of its bipartisan annual State of Education poll. The…

IEA President Kathi Griffin looks forward to governor’s plans for preschool for all, $100 million increase in funding for higher education and solving the teacher shortage SPRINGFIELD – The following statement on Gov. Pritzker’s FY24 budget address is attributable to Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin: “Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s…