Illinois Principals Association
Legislative Platform Statements

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CONSTRUCTION

General-IPA supports the concept that all students have the right to attend school in a safe, clean and healthful environment.   Such facilities should be designed with the students and the educational programs as a focal point.

State-IPA supports providing funds to local school districts for purchasing or constructing additional classrooms required to provide instruction for students who reside in State facilities located within the district.

State-IPA supports the establishment of a new, predictable and stable funding source for school construction, renovation, maintenance and repair.


SPECIAL EDUCATION

Federal-IPA supports Congress in adequately funding Public Law 94-142 (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) commensurate with the mandates required by the Act; shall strongly encourage all government agencies to totally fund with new monies, in a timely manner, the extra costs of educating children with special needs including transportation and accessibility costs; shall seek changes in current practice to fund local districts for special education professional personnel at 51% of the prior year's average salary for such professionals, and shall continue to oppose any requirement that local public school districts pay room and board costs for any child with a disability placed in private facilities.

FUNDING

State-IPA supports the Governor and legislators in funding the general State aid formula at a level that reflects the cost of providing quality education for Illinois students.

State-IPA supports the Governor and legislators in meeting the costs of funding quality public education by making education the State's primary budgetary program, which may require the increase of existing taxes or establishment of new taxes to generate the necessary State revenues.

State-IPA supports the Illinois General Assembly in adopting a fair, appropriate, accurate and timely means of determining the count of low income students as used for the general aid distribution formula.

State-IPA supports the general concepts regarding school funding reform.

State-The IPA supports legislative action that increases funding to such levels necessary to implement the requirements of the N.C.L.B. (No Child Left Behind) amendment to the ESEA (Elementary & Secondary Education Act); understanding the primary responsibility for financing the system of public education is left to individual states.

State-IPA supports state funding and options to assist school districts in addressing the growing costs of health insurance, including the option for school districts to participate in the state group health insurance and prescription drug program.

Federal-IPA supports legislation that does not encroach upon local and the lay control of public schools. Any legislation that may encroach upon schools should be curtailed and the IPA urges the General Assembly to adopt legislation which would allow school districts greater flexibility in regard to state mandates and the use of grants, which would support instruction and educational improvement.

MANDATES

State-The IPA supports local control of public schools and believes any programs or services mandated by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor or the Illinois State Board of Education should provide sufficient new revenues to fully reimburse the additional costs by those programs. Statutory enactment of new mandated programs must be in compliance with and not exempted from the State Mandates Act.

State-IPA supports the General Assembly and Governor's Office in providing funding for children who are wards of the State in cases where they create a significant impact on local school district budgets when they are placed in temporary shelters and foster homes operating within school districts.

Federal-IPA supports the concept of school lunch and milk programs in each local school district for all children and urges federal and State governments to not reduce financial support for existing programs.

Federal-IPA opposes payments of Federal funds directly or indirectly to nonpublic elementary-secondary schools.

Federal-IPA opposes legislative initiatives including, but not limited to, vouchers and school choice that have the effect of diverting public education funds to support privately provided education.

Federal-IPA supports Congress and the Federal Communications Commission continuing to support discount programs, including but not limited to the "E-Rate" program created in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, to provide affordable Internet access, distance-learning, and other educational programs for school districts and libraries.

CURRICULUM/ASSESSMENTS

General-IPA supports the concept that every person in the State of Illinois should have equal access to free public education.

General-IPA supports that, as a measure of school time, quality is more important than quantity in effective educational programs.   IPA further recognizes that innovative scheduling practices, including year-round schools and trimester programs, may be instrumental in improving the quality of time devoted to the educational program. IPA supports discussion and potential implementation from the General Assembly on this issue.

General-IPA supports the role of the principal as an instructional leader who is vital to the development of sound educational programs.   Each school needs a full-time building principal and, as a minimum standard, a full-time assistant principal for each 400 students, or fraction thereof, enrolled in the school.  Sufficient support staff should also be employed to enable the principal to function as the instructional leader.

PRINCIPALSHIP

General-IPA supports for the need for positive leadership from the State Board of Education and State Superintendent of Education.   The IPA pledges active support to the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education in their efforts to seek and promote enlightened leadership.

General-IPA supports the legal definition of the principal in the Illinois School Code.

General-IPA supports the belief that effective leadership can occur only if there is job security and protection of the rights and welfare of the principal.   Involuntary reassignment, transfer or dismissal of principals shall be made with just cause and due process.

General- IPA supports the expanding role of the principalship that demands a high level of professional preparation and continuing growth: With that stated, IPA supports continued funding for the Illinois New Principals Mentoring Program and the Illinois Distinguished Principal Leadership Institute Program.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

The Illinois Principals Association believes in the importance and sanctity of the Illinois Constitution as it provides for guidance and the effective governance of the state of Illinois.  The Illinois Principals Association believes that great care, due diligence, and effective collaboration of the people of Illinois should transpire to appropriately alter and enhance Illinois’ guiding document.  Considering the current, dysfunctional political climate in our great state, the Illinois Principals Association believes that revisions to the Illinois Constitution should be postponed until a more suitable time.