Illinois Outlines Top Local Education Priorities

Education is the top concern for voters in this fall's gubernatorial campaign and Speak Out for Illinois Schools gave citizens the opportunity to share their concerns with the candidates. At each Speak Out event community leaders and area residents concerned with education discussed local education issues and developed the following list of local education priorities for the gubernatorial candidates.

In Moline, the top priorities developed were:

1. Provide equitable funding for schools by reviewing the tax structure and reallocating and/or raising taxes for schools and social services. Candidates should revisit "No New Tax" pledges, as well as fully fund education mandates;
2. Reduce class sizes;
3. Support policies for teacher retention, provide incentives to encourage students to become teachers and protect the teacher retirement fund;
4. Focus on capital improvements and build new schools;
5. Develop a better system to measure achievement under No Child Left Behind and report results in a timely manner.

In the Chicago South Suburbs, the top priorities developed were:

1. Provide long-term sustainable and equitable funding for schools across the state and fully fund education mandates.
2. Find a statewide revenue source for schools that provides property tax relief and protects teacher pensions.
3. Offer tuition aid for new teachers, support staff, and on-going professional training, as well as a living wage for support staff.
4. Fund capital improvements, infrastructure maintenance, and new school construction, as well as technology improvements.
5. Support smaller class sizes with adequate resources and more resources for schools not making "Adequate Yearly Progress" under No Child Left Behind.

In Rockford, the top priorities developed were:

1. Require that education be funded first ("first draw") in the state budget. Provide adequate, equitable and sustainable funding through a reliance on the sales and income tax and a reduction in property taxes.
2. Develop an equitable funding model that treats communities appropriately, but not identically.
3. Remove unfunded mandates or provide full funding for state mandates.
4. Adequately fund a capital grant program for new school construction and to upgrade existing schools.
5. Work closely with federal legislators to fully fund and improve federal mandates such as No Child Left Behind.

In Peoria, the top priorities developed were:

1. Move away from reliance on property taxes and provide adequate resources and facilities for all students to succeed.
2. Cap class sizes to provide individual attention, resources, and life skills.
3. Provide teachers with competitive salaries, mentoring, and on-going training.
4. Expand workforce, technical, and vocational programs.
5. Encourage diversity in teachers and administrators and provide cultural sensitivity training for all.

In Edwardsville, the top priorities developed were:

1. Provide adequate, stable funding that relies on a income tax instead of solely on property taxes to "bring up" under-funded schools and still maintain local control.
2. Support buildings, facilities, technology, and quality teachers to provide an environment conducive to learning.
3. Develop environments in communities and schools that will ensure discipline, supported teachers, and involved parents.
4. Lobby the federal government to fully fund education mandates, including the No Child Left Behind law.
5. Equip every student with the skills necessary for post-graduation employment or further education.

In Champaign/Urbana, the top priorities developed were:

1. Reduce reliance on property taxes to provide an equal quality education for all students.
2. Improve access to social and support services for students both in the schools and in the community.
3. Look at "best practices" in the state and nation for education.
4. Reorganize school districts for greater efficiency.
5. Lobby the federal government to be accountable on the No Child Left Behind law: focus on growth measurements and full funding.

Click on your locality to sign on to your top local education priorities:

• Chicago - South Suburbs
• Moline
• Rockford
• Peoria
• Champaign County
• Edwardsville