Latest news with #SchoolCode
Forbes
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
School Choice Under Attack: Illinois' Dangerous Homeschool Law
Schoolchildren The freedom to choose how our children are educated is under assault in Illinois. This frontal attack on home schooling should alarm every parent who values educational options beyond the failing government-run system. Despite Illinois spending more per student than almost any other state, the educational outcomes are dismal. In Chicago, the majority of students cannot read at grade level. Yet instead of embracing innovation and choice, Illinois politicians are doubling down on protecting the failed status quo. The tactics are revealing. In 2023, Governor J.B. Pritzker, following teachers union directives, refused to renew the modest Invest in Kids program that offered several thousand low-income children an escape route from underperforming schools. Now, the legislature is advancing the deceptively named "Homeschool Act" - legislation designed to suffocate home education through bureaucratic strangulation. This law would force homeschool parents to submit annual "Homeschool Declaration Forms" that effectively enroll their children in the nearest public school - despite not attending. Parents would be required to provide children's names, birthdates, grade levels and home addresses. Failure to comply could result in 30 days imprisonment. Additionally, parents must submit an "education portfolio" with writing samples, workbooks and other materials to prove they're following the state's School Code, along with assessments of each child's progress. The irony is staggering. The same bureaucracy presiding over Illinois' educational collapse now wants to "oversee" homeschooling, despite abundant research showing homeschooled students excel academically. Parents choose home education precisely to provide quality instruction in an environment aligned with their values - something increasingly absent in government schools. What's happening in Illinois exemplifies modern socialism's playbook. Today's Marxists don't seize businesses outright; they control them through suffocating regulations. In education, where government already holds a near-monopoly, they fight vigorously against parental attempts to find alternatives that better serve their children's needs. Meanwhile, American students continue falling behind their international peers in reading and math. This educational failure is precisely why school choice has gained impressive momentum nationwide. The pandemic gave parents unprecedented visibility into classroom instruction - or lack thereof - and revealed how teachers unions prioritized their interests over students' education. As a result, 20 states have enacted programs giving parents control over educational funding, with more joining the movement. Homeschooling has likewise surged, growing dramatically during the pandemic, receding slightly as schools reopened, but now expanding again as parents seek better alternatives. Illinois stands as a warning of the battles ahead. The educational establishment will not surrender its power without a fight. For parents who value their right to direct their children's education, vigilance is essential. The freedom to choose may depend on it.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois bill would require schools to have more military recruitment events
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois public high schools may hold more military recruitment events thanks to a bill in the state capitol. Rep. Mike Coffey (R-Springfield) filed a bill earlier this month that would amend the School Code to require school boards to invite recruiters from branches of the armed forces to present on high school campuses annually. Bill aims to reform Illinois' child incarceration system Coffey said students should know more information on serving to make the best decision for them after high school. 'I think it's important we provide high school students with more opportunities to gain understanding of joining the military and the benefits that come from serving the Illinois armed forces,' Coffey said. 'Students can learn about the benefits that veterans receive such as property tax exemptions, education and tuition assistance, as well as hunting, fishing licenses and state park camping privileges.' The bill would require the invites to be for both the U.S. armed forces and the Illinois armed forces, which includes the Illinois Air National Guard, the Illinois Army National Guard, and the Illinois Department of Military Affairs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pa. House committee advances bill on intermediate unit facility ownership
The Capitol building in Harrisburg on July 6, 2024 (Capital-Star photo by Ian Karbal) The Pennsylvania House Education Committee approved a bipartisan piece of legislation that allows intermediate units to own land and buildings for instructional use. There are 29 intermediate units in Pennsylvania, which are regional educational service agencies created by the General Assembly that offer special education, workforce development, online learning, curriculum development and a range of other services. The units are allowed to own office space and warehouse facilities, but instructional space must be leased. That limitation does not exist for area career and technical schools or charter schools, a legislative memo says. That arrangement burdens 'IUs with rental costs that sometimes greatly exceed what it would cost the IU to purchase and own the facility themselves,' per the memo, as well as preventing 'IUs from providing facilities that are tailored for the needs of the students they serve.' House Bill 201, sponsored by state Reps. Joe Ciresi (D-Montgomery) and Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks), allows IUs to purchase and own land and buildings for instructional use. Ciresi, who served at the IU in Montgomery County when he was a school board member, argued that the legislation is 'definitely a cost saver,' during the voting meeting on Monday. Marcell, who was a school board member in Bucks County, noted that several IUs in the suburban county north of Philadelphia have been limited to leasing several facilities, including those that serve early childhood programs. 'The constraints of leasing prevent the IU from operating as efficiently as possible and from fully customizing these spaces to meet students' unique needs,' Marcell said. PAIU_Map_by_SD The legislation was approved by a 20-6 vote, with every Democrat voting to support the legislation, while Republicans were split 6-6. State Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster), the minority chair of the House Education Committee, supported the legislation because he thinks it's important that local control also comes with local financial responsibility. 'Those are the individuals that are closest to the community,' Cutler said. 'They understand their needs, they understand the financial impact, and ultimately, I trust them to make that best decision.' State Rep. Milou Mackenzie (R-Lehigh) was one of six Republicans who voted against the bill. 'I think now is not the time to go ahead and give permission to buy more real estate that ultimately the taxpayers are going to be responsible for paying and keeping up and maintaining,' Mackenzie said. 'It's just like in your own life if you can't afford to maintain your primary residence, you should not be going out and buying additional real estate.' The committee also advanced House Bill 190 by state Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Allegheny), which would add a new section to the School Code to require the Departments of Education and Health to develop educational information and make recommendations for eating disorder awareness. An amendment to the bill proposed by state Rep. Gina Curry (D-Delaware) lists the Department of Health as the lead agency rather than the Department of Education. The vote was 18-8 vote. In April 2023, legislation addressing eating disorder awareness in schools was approved by a 158-43 vote. It was last referred to the Senate Education committee in the previous session, but did not receive a vote.
