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.  All educational facilities should be designed with the students and the educational programs as a focal point.

State-In order to assist local districts in maintaining safe and up-to-date schools, IPA supports providing State funds directly to local school districts for school construction, renovation, maintenance and repair.

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


SPECIAL EDUCATION

State - IPA believes that all students have the right to fully develop their special gifts and talents. IPA therefore encourages the General Assembly and Governor to enact and fund opportunities that focus on the unique learning needs of all students.

Federal-IPA supports adequate funding of Public Law 94-142 (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) commensurate with the mandates required by the Act. IPA strongly encourages the federal government to fully fund the extra costs of educating children with special needs, including transportation and accessibility costs. IPA seeks changes in the current practice of reimbursing local districts for special education professional personnel at 51% of the prior year's average salary. IPA will 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 all 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 focus, 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 concept that school funding reform is necessary to assure a fair and appropriate education for all students.

State-The IPA supports legislation action that increases funding to levels necessary to implement the requirements of the 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 control of public schools. 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 breakfast, lunch and milk programs for all children in each local school district and urges federal and State governments not to reduce financial support for existing programs.

Federal-IPA opposes payments of state and federal funds directly or indirectly to private schools.

Federal-IPA opposes legislative initiatives including, but not limited to, vouchers and school choice, both of which have the effect of diverting public education funds to private schools and facilities.

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

Federal - IPA believes that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act's procedures for restructuring schools that do not meet academic standards are arbitrary and subjective. IPA supports school restructuring that is well thought out and takes into account the needs of students, parents and school staff.

CURRICULUM/ASSESSMENTS

General-IPA supports the concept that every child 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 establishing 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 on this issue.

General - IPA recognizes that we live in a diverse world, and encourages learning of different cultures, languages and customs. IPA believes that student opportunities to learn a second language come too late in the educational process to be fully beneficial to students. IPA therefore encourages that opportunities to learn a second language be made to students at the elementary school level.

State- IPA believes that data driven decision-making is the best way to advance student learning. IPA believes that the State testing structure should be revised to assure quality and reliable formative and summative student assessment data, that test scores should include data on the skills and abilities of individual students and that tests should be aligned to the State's learning standards. IPA further believes that the State should explore a comprehensive assessment system that is aligned Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade and address special education in the testing of special populations. IPA also believes that computer-based and online assessment should be explored and that these tools may allow for a timelier reporting of assessment data.

State- IPA believes that student learning standards should guide student instruction. IPA further believes that serious consideration should be given to regular reviewing & revising the current State standards to better reflect the needs of students and learning in the Twenty-First Century, and that the State standards should include the promotion of good citizenship and civic responsibility. As instructional leaders, principals should be an intregal part of this process.

PRINCIPALSHIP

General - IPA believes that 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.

General-IPA recognizes 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 principal's primary role as "instructional leader," as delineated in the Illinois School Code.

General-IPA supports the belief that effective leadership can occur only if the principal has job security when making tough, and sometimes unpopular, decisions.  Involuntary reassignment, transfer or dismissal of principals shall only be made with just cause after the principal receives full due process.

General- IPA recognizes the expanding role of the principal demands a high level of professional preparation and continuing growth. IPA believes that the principal is second only to the classroom teacher in advancing student learning and achievement. IPA therefore encourages programs and practices that assist school principals in the development and enhancement of their leadership skills. IPA supports continued funding for the Illinois New Principals Mentoring Program and the Illinois Distinguished Principal Leadership Institute.