LM Nov-Dec 2022

Message From the Executive Director Illinois Outpaces Other Stateswith Number of Bills Introduced Each Session

Dr. Brent Clark

The easiest way to illustrate the amount of red tape and regulations school administrators have to navigate today is to show a picture of the Illinois School Code from 1992 versus 2022. The School Code book from 1992 is literally half the size as the School Code book today. A recent article in the Illinois School Board Journal provides insights into why the Illinois School Code continues to grow exponentially. IASB examined how Illinois compares to a handful of other states in terms of how many bills are introduced each legislative session. The findings are staggering. Since January 2021 and the start of the 102nd Illinois General Assembly, 10,022 substantive bills have been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly. The other states examined— California, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Ohio—had less than half of that amount. Digging deeper into the number of bills that impact public education, IASB tracked 1,126 House and Senate bills during the 102nd General Assembly. Of that total, 289 have become law. In contrast, Ohio enacted a mere 101 total pieces of legislation. Like it or not, that’s how lawmakers in Illinois do business. And it’s unlikely a reprieve is coming anytime soon. WhySupport IPAC Democrats maintained their super majorities in both chambers, giving them the ability to pass legislation without bipartisan support. Furthermore, Democrats have historically introduced a higher volume of bills than Republicans, especially when it

comes to issues like curriculum, school discipline, meals and reporting requirements. While public education was spared in this most recent veto session, I expect the trend to continue in the 103rd General Assembly. At IASA, we can’t prevent lawmakers from introducing bills. However, we can fight to block or amend those unfunded and curricular mandates that surface every year. An essential tool to get legislators to listen to our challenges and support our mission is a well-funded IPAC. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to donate to IPAC. Your $100 donation is used by IASA to make strategic campaign contributions and pay costs associated with attending legislative outings and events. Attending these events increases our face-to-face time with legislators, enhancing our overall advocacy efforts. NearingHalfwayPoint of School Year Now that Winter Break is on the horizon, we are nearing the halfway point of the school year. I remain enthused by the positive reports I continue to hear from administrators across our state. I want to commend you for making this school year rewarding and impactful for students across our state. As we know, our students needed districts to step up and provide extra support. Educators answered that call and helped many students get back on the right track. Keep up the great work and try to relax and recharge over the Winter Break. You definitely deserve some time off with your families and loved ones.

3 LM Nov/Dec 2022