The Weekly Roundup | 4/11/25
- IFT
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
In Illinois, bills are making progress in Springfield as we get closer to the end of session next month. Nationally, we’re seeing shockwaves of President Trump’s executive orders begin to affect our students and schools at all levels. But we know, through our union solidarity, we will continue to fight and transform our communities.
We will continue to monitor developments that affect our members and will share regular updates, what your unions and legislators are doing in response, and how you can join the fight to protect our students, schools, and professions.
THREE ITEMS ON OUR RADAR
IFT initiatives make progress in Springfield.
This week, the Illinois General Assembly engaged in significant floor action, passing 379 bills in the house, 205 in the senate, and concluding their work before a one-week break. The Department of Political Activities actively continues to advance the IFT’s legislative agenda. Here are some key highlights:
SB 28 (Lightford/Faver Dias) allows local Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) joint committees to determine what, if any, research-based and proven performance evaluation practices should be used in place of the current student growth requirement as part of a local evaluation plan (Senate – passed).
HB 2574 (Scherer) requires ISBE to post conspicuously on its website information about assessment contracts, costs, and timelines. The bill mandates ISBE to work with stakeholders when making assessment decisions (House–passed).
HB 2378 (Kifowit) makes the College Insurance Program (CIP) accessible to retired community college employees. As amended, the bill strengthens CMS's ability to compel payment of premiums. (House – 2nd reading).
HB 3005 (Evans) makes the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) responsible for reporting specific data regarding IDOT mechanic positions and recruitment strategies. The bill also requires the department to set a goal of having 85% of these positions filled at all times. These mechanics are IFT members, and their work is being outsourced. (House – passed).
Trump’s DEI vendetta, trade war, and immigration orders impact students already.
The Trump administration policies are beginning to take effect, and our students and schools are feeling the impacts and uncertainty, including a potential rise in cost of school supplies and food because of shifting tariff plans, hits to already-strained district budgets, and a lack of clarity on Trump’s anti-DEI orders. State Superintendent Tony Sanders responded that Illinois schools were in compliance with federal law and invited the Department of Education to identify any illegal activities – see his letter here. We’re seeing similar pushback from other Democrat-led areas in an effort to protect students who need the most support. Despite that, the Trump-McMahon Department of Education continues to investigate and threaten “woke” districts around the country, and growing numbers of international students at universities in Illinois and nationwide are being forced to leave their higher education behind as they become casualties of this administration’s attacks on immigration and free speech.
YOUR UNION IS HERE TO HELP. IF MEMBERS NEED RESOURCES OR IMMIGRATION-RELATED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR FIELD SERVICE DIRECTOR.
Union momentum builds across Illinois.
Despite the attempts to divide us, people are coming together in their unions for better communities and workplaces. An overwhelming majority of the 30 Assistant Teachers and Library Assistants at Francis W. Parker School formed a union and joined IFT in late March, and educators and staff at Near North Montessori School have recently filed union cards to do the same. Welcome to the family! Our Chicago Teachers Union members reached and voted to accept a historic tentative contract agreement with Chicago Public Schools officials. After nearly a year of tense negotiations while working without a contract, members stood strong for the measures that their students need and deserve. United Faculty of Illinois State University also averted a strike and secured their first union contract, calling it “transformative for the way that our members take on their jobs.”
PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK
Legislators return home next week, and we’re adding several events to our April calendars. Registration is now open for Great Lakes Union Leadership Institute, DePaul’s College of Education is hosting a forum on immigration policies affecting our schools and students (in-person and virtual options), and Congressman Eric Sorensen is hosting a town hall on education in Peoria.