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SPRINGFIELD – The following is attributable to Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin, IEA Vice President Al Llorens and IEA Secretary/Treasurer Tom Tully regarding the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex.: “We face another tragedy – an almost unbearable and oft-repeated incident of kids getting on a bus,…

SPRINGFIELD – The state executive committee of the Illinois Political Action Committee for Education (IPACE) has recommended four candidates in the Illinois Congressional primary races. IPACE is recommending Delia Ramirez for in the Congressional District 3 Democrat primary, Rep. Sean Casten in the Congressional District 6 Democrat primary, Brad Schneider…

SPRINGFIELD – The state executive committee of the Illinois Political Action Committee for Education (IPACE) has recommended three candidates in the Illinois primary race – two for the office of Secretary of State of Illinois and one for the Illinois Supreme Court. The IPACE Executive Committee met with candidates Friday…

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) worked with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and the governor’s office to ensure the passage of several pieces of pro-public education legislation during the 2021-22 legislative session in Springfield. This legislation will mean stronger K-12 schools and stronger community colleges and…

SPRINGFIELD – Today, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 1167 (HB 1167), a negotiated bill, that allows vaccinated teachers and support staff in Illinois schools the ability to take COVID-19 related days off, without penalty, to care for themselves and their children and makes this benefit retroactive to the beginning…

SPRINGFIELD – The following is attributable to Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin regarding the passage of the COVID Adminstrative Days and Paycheck Protection Support Bill  (HB 1167), which now heads to Gov. Pritzker’s desk for signature: “Our state is in the middle of a growing teacher and education employee…

Poll shows Illinoisans believe educators are paid too little, are concerned about the impacts the teacher and education employee shortages are having on students’ education and support teaching about racism and slavery in schools SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Education Association (IEA) today released its fourth annual State of Education report,…

SPRINGFIELD – The following is attributable to Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin regarding the 4th District Appellate Court ruling on the State of Illinois’ appeal of Judge Grischow’s Feb. 4, 2022, Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in the Sangamon County COVID school litigation: “We appreciate the clarity brought forth in the…

SPRINGFIELD – The following is attributable to Illinois Education Association (IEA) Vice President Al Llorens regarding the ruling by Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow on the temporary restraining order (TRO) that would prohibit enforcement of face masks, vaccination, and Covid testing mandates: “Our students thrive on consistency and the last two…

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin released the following statement after a ruling by Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow on the temporary restraining order (TRO) that would prohibit enforcement of face masks, vaccination, and Covid testing mandates. “This decision has the potential to shut our schools…

Administration Pledges to Work with IEA, IFT to Promote Member Vaccinations CHICAGO – After productive conversations, Gov. Pritzker, the Illinois Education Association, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and other stakeholders announced that they have negotiated  a compromise that will keep students and teachers safely in the classroom without penalizing vaccinated employees…

In the wake of the Michigan school shooting, IEA pushes for safe schools for all SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin is calling on school districts that are not adhering to Illinois school safety laws to immediately comply. Griffin made the announcement at a news conference earlier…

SPRINGFIELD – Today, the unions representing teachers and support staff in 52 school districts across Illinois will file a motion to intervene in a Sangamon County lawsuit in an effort to protect the safety of the workplaces and the health and lives of students and employees by keeping the governor’s…

House Bill 2778 creates COVID administrative days for school employees and includes paycheck protection for hourly employees. SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) worked with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to ensure the passage of House Bill 2778 (HB2778), the School Employee Benefit and Wage Protection Bill,…

SPRINGFIELD – The following statement is attributable to Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin: “Today’s announcement of the two-week deadline extension on the governor’s Executive Order on vaccines is welcome news. We have said all along that the best place for students to be is in the classroom, as…

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) President Dan Montgomery and Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin issued the joint statement welcoming Governor Pritzker’s vaccine mandate announcement for educators and school staff. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, our unions have worked hard to protect students, teachers, staff, and…

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Education Association is thankful that Gov. JB Pritzker put into effect a “mask required” order for schools starting this fall. The pandemic is not over. The numbers in Illinois are going in the wrong direction. We need to keep our students in the classroom and keep…