How teachers took control on reform

The "Union Table" at the legislative reform hearing in Aurora in December,2010. From left, CTU President Karen Lewis, IFT President Dan Montgomery, IEA President Ken Swanson, Alton High School teacher Annice Brave, IEA Executive Director Audrey Soglin

This past spring, IEA helped secure the passage of an important school reform bill that improves our schools, keeps the best teachers in classrooms, and ensures the teachers’ voice remains strong at the bargaining table.  It was the result of months of negotiations and represented a remarkable victory for IEA and our members across the state.

The reform legislation, Senate Bill 7 (SB7), was supported by IEA, the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU).  At the table, the unions advocated for proposals that teachers knew could improve teaching and learning.  At the same time, teachers beat back attempts to eliminate tenure and seniority rights while preserving the right of education employees to strike.

Watch this video

Learn more about Senate Bill 7, how it could impact you and your school, and the process of how it came to be a law.

Quinn holding reform bills

“The lesson of the school reform bill is that teachers know what is best for students and for schools,” said IEA President Cinda Klickna.”

“We have a long history of leadership on education improvement and we refused to be silent when Stand For Children, an out of state group with an anti-union bent, tried to take away our ability to advocate for students and education. We fought for our students and fought for our members and ended up with a bill that we believe will make a difference for schoolchildren statewide.”

Read more about the education reform bill (SB7).

Listen to the recent IEA electronic town hall meeting on the reform law