The Weekly Roundup will take a break next week and will be back with more updates on Friday, April 4. We appreciate you being part of our community and look forward to sharing more soon!
THREE ITEMS ON OUR RADAR
Trump signs an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
The moment many have been dreading for weeks has arrived, as President Trump signed his Executive Order to dismantle the Department of Education “once and for all.” While the Trump administration claims funding will stay in place, it’s difficult to understand how, given the recent drastic cuts in staff and chaos already caused by baseless attacks on our students, teachers, research, and more. It’s easy to see why this move causes alarm, as public schools already have challenges in filling positions and ensuring student needs are met. IFT responded by calling on Congress to fight back. AFT kept it short and sweet, saying, “See you in court.” Together, we’ll keep fighting to protect our kids.
IFT members and allies advocate for students and their professions in Springfield.
IFT members made their voices heard at multiple legislative hearings in Springfield over the past week. Chicago Teachers Union, Local 1, members joined IFT staff to testify in support of continued funding for the Virtual Instructional Coach program, which provides coaching and mentoring support for early career teachers and clinicians. Members from Cook County College Teachers Union, Local 1600, testified in the House Higher Education committee hearing about a bill requiring colleges to support students’ mental health with on-campus clinical counselors. Our union coalition, We Are One, also testified in Senate hearings about fixing the unfair Tier 2 pension system.
Early voting is underway. Cast your ballot in municipal elections by April 1.
Early voting kicked off on Monday for local level elections and referendums around the state. We know full well the impacts of municipal elections on our communities and school boards, and we encourage all IFT members to vote on or before April 1! Check with your union local, chapter, or council to see if they’ve made any endorsements. Make sure you are registered and find your polling place here.
PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK
Help your neighbors! There are still two more weekends to canvass in Kenosha, WI, and help elect a pro-worker majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Next week, the AFT is offering PD credits via their ShareMyLesson Virtual Conference. And for a dose of positive news, check out IFT VP Steve Elza on WGN with his Auto Tech students, what they’ve accomplished, and why CTE is so important.