LM Nov-Dec 2025

Message From the Executive Director

Illinois Vision 2030: A Year of Progress and What’s Ahead

Dr. Brent Clark

A year ago, IASA asked Illinois superintendents to have their Boards of Education adopt resolutions supporting Illinois Vision 2030. Nearly 550 school districts/entities have since signed on to the statewide advocacy initiative that provides a roadmap for public education in Illinois. As 2025 draws to a close, it’s worth reflecting on how Illinois Vision 2030 has shaped the year — and what lies ahead. What is unique about Vision 2030 is that the partners recognized early on that success in schools goes beyond changing a law or policy. It’s also about creating opportunities to help schools around the four core ideas that form the basis of Vision 2030: • Keep students safe • Keep high-quality educators in front of students • Enhance post-secondary success • Improve the measurement of what is working well in schools. Throughout 2025, IASA used that framework as a guide, from professional learning to school safety to legislative advocacy. Here’s Last winter, IASA adopted AI as a focused learning topic and designed a series of workshops that emphasized future-focused learning, a Vision 2030 pillar. We have continued that series throughout 2025 and will offer another round of workshops in February 2026 on how AI is redefining how schools operate, communicate, and prepare students for the world they’ll enter. We also bolstered our AI focus with a new virtual series, QuickCharge AI 15. The recurring virtual meeting brings together educators the first and third Wednesday of each month for a 15-minute session. We also expanded our partnership with ECRA through the promotion of virtual AI assistants and even added an AI administrator academy. School Safety School safety has also been a focus area. IASA recently partnered with the Illinois Fire Safety Institute (IFSI) to raise awareness of free, comprehensive crisis response and reunification training available to school districts across Illinois. Approximately 30 districts have signed up to bring IFSI to their area as a first step toward hosting large-scale simulation drills. In addition, IASA continued our Spotlight series. The most recent session, featuring our partners at CrisisGo, explored practical ways a look back at areas of focus: Future-Focused Learning

to bridge the gap between schools and local first responders through direct, real-time communication. Shared Accountability This past year will also be remembered for the work, headed by the Illinois State Board of Education, to make substantive changes to the state’s Accountability System. IASA superintendents have been a strong voice so far, and I encourage anyone who hasn’t weighed in to make your voice heard. ISBE has scheduled four additional sessions in its Listening Tour, all virtual from 4-6 p.m.: Jan. 15, Jan. 21, Feb. 11, and March 16. Predictable Funding Every superintendent recognizes the importance of knowing what local and state revenue will be for the fiscal year, which is why a key pillar of Vision 2030 is Predictable Funding. Unfortunately, the continued pro-ration of payments for mandated services — such as student transportation and special education reimbursements — is reaching a breaking point. Earlier this month, IASA announced a statewide advocacy effort — Driving Success: Completing the School Funding Puzzle — to help ensure Illinois continues to fulfill its funding commitments to our public schools. The goal of the campaign is to make the case that fully funding mandated services and continuing the state’s investment in EBF are not competing priorities — they are complementary commitments that sustain strong, equitable public schools. More details about this effort will be shared in a webinar at noon on Tuesday, December 10. Illinois Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents Finally, I want to highlight that the Illinois Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents has joined the coalition of education organizations in support of Vision 2030. We greatly appreciate their support as we continue our advocacy efforts. As this eventful year comes to a close, thank you for your support and partnership. I hope you have a relaxing and rewarding winter break.

3 LM Nov–Dec 2025