Blog

Letter to the editor published in Chicago Tribune on Civics Education, HB4025 and HB4024

4/21/2015

Letter: Save our democracy

Illinois is one of 10 states that doesn’t require a civics course to graduate high school despite research that civic learning translates into civic action.

State Rep. Deborah Conroy (D-Villa Park) introduced legislation to have Illinois join the majority of states that mandates civics. House Bill 4025 recommends a civics education requirement for Illinois public high schools, and House Bill 4024 requires the State Board of Education to ensure that teachers have access to professional development activities in civics education.

Studies show that students who receive effective civics learning are more likely to vote and discuss politics at home, four times more likely to volunteer and work on community issues, and are more confident to speak publicly and communicate with elected representatives. In fact, high-quality civics learning contributes to lower dropout rates. These statistics are true even with variables for income and race.

Civics learning promotes civic equality, meaning that poor, minority, urban or rural students perform considerably higher for having received civics learning than their peers do. Comprehensive civics education that aims to reach all public school students would likely decrease the “civic achievement gap” evidenced by the research.

A Paul Simon Institute poll revealed that more than 70 percent of Illinoisans favor a high school civics course requirement for graduation. Moreover, the integrity and health of democracy in Illinois depends on the active, informed and effective participation of Illinoisans. Everyone gains from a civically literate population where individuals have the knowledge, disposition and skills to make a difference in their communities and hold government accountable.

— Maryam Judar, executive director and community lawyer, Citizen Advocacy Center, Elmhurst

Published in Chicago Tribune online 4/20/15 and Voice of the People in print 4/21/15

Also published in the
State Journal Register
Letter: Support bill requiring high school civics classes in Illinois

Urgent Action: Please file witness slip for civics education HB4025-HFA2

4/15/2015

Witness slips must be submitted before 10 a.m.
on Thursday, April 16th, 2015

Please join CAC to #BringBackCivics by filing a witness slip as a proponent by following the steps below. Thank you in advance for supporting civics education in Illinois!

Go to www.ilga.gov

1. Click GA Dashboard (red link on left side under Reports & Inquiry)

2. Click House (left column)

3. Click Committee Hearings (drop down menu after clicking "House")

4. Click Week (on the top bar)

5. Click Committee Name (Hint: Click word "Committee" at top of column to put Committee names in alphabetical order)

HB 4025 Committee Name: Elementary & Secondary Committee: School Curriculum and Policies Committee

6. Click on the icon that looks like a sheet of paper at far right of page to view hearing details

7. Scroll to find HB4025-HFA2 and click on the icon at far right of page (pencil and paper) to create witness slip for that bill. There may be multiple pages.

8. Fill in all fields in Section I (unless marked optional). May put "none" for firm/business or agency and title. Or can put "Citizen" or "Concerned Citizen" for title. Section II may not apply.

9. Section III: Position Click Proponent to support this amendment

10. Section IV: Testimony: Check Record of Appearance Only -- unless you will fax a written statement to 1-217-557-2165

11. Type the text, check box: I agree to the ILGA terms of agreement, click Create Slip

12. To create another witness slip: Click Create Another Witness Slip and begin again at Step 2

FAQ for Filing Witness Slips

Note: Registration is not required to submit a witness slip. However, to keep an online log of the witness slips you've submitted, you must register from the home page by clicking on "My Legislation." The "My Legislation" tab is along the top or on the left side under Reports and Inquiry -- just above GA Dashboard. Registration will also automatically populate many of the fields on each witness slip you submit.

Quick Links

#BringBackCivics Fact Sheet

Letter to Representative Conroy from McCormick Tribune Foundation and Chicago Community Trust

House Bill 4025
aims to promote greater civic learning through a required civics course for all Illinois high school students.

FAQ for Filing Witness Slips

Task Force Final Report and Public Comments

Open Government Agenda/Legislative Session

4/15/2015

We want to keep you informed. If you have any questions, please call us at 630-833-4080.

Open Gov Agenda 2015.pdf
File Size:	376 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Protect your right to inspect financial information Help defeat HB 3621

4/14/2015

This bill would deprive you of information that is rightfully yours! It could pass the Illinois House of Representatives this week unless you contact your Representative to urge them to vote NO!

Find your IL Representatives

Download the flyer in pdf format

Oppose HB 3621 Infographic
File Size:	128 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

What is happening with Civics Education in Illinois?

4/2/2015

We last told you that HB 4024 and HB 4025 passed out of their respective committees. Before they go to the House floor, representatives are writing amendments to strengthen the bills' language. The Citizen Advocacy Center will keep you informed of developments. In the meantime, this infographic fact sheet will assist you in sparking conversation on the need for Civics Education in Illinois.

Download the flyer in pdf format to print or distribute.

Civics Education in Illinois Infographic
File Size:	306 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

#BringCivicsBack Overview of the need for civics education in IL and currently proposed legislation

3/26/2015

#BringCivicsBack is a brief two-page document with supporting links that includes:
Overview
The Need for Civic Education
We Know Quality Civic Education Works
The Proposed Legislation
Meeting the Need for Teacher Professional Development
Time to Act - Here's What You Can Do

#BringCivicsBack is a document written by Shawn Healy, Chair, Illinois Civic Mission Coalition and Chair of the Illinois Task Force on Civic Education.

Financial support for civics education professional development secured in public-private partnership

3/26/2015

Read the letter to Representative Deborah Conroy from the President and CEO of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and the President and CEO of the Chicago Community Trust describing the commitment of the corporate and foundation communities to supporting a public-private partnership to provide funds needed for professional development for a three-year transition period.

How to file a witness slip -- 2 civic education bills in house committee tomorrow

3/24/2015

Witness slips must be submitted before 8 a.m. on Wed. March 25, 2015

Go to www.ilga.gov

1. Click GA Dashboard (red link on left side under Reports & Inquiry)

2. Click House (left column)

3. Click Committee Hearings (drop down menu after clicking "House")

4. Click Week (on the top bar)

5. Click Committee Name (Hint: Click word "Committee" at top of column to put Committee names in alphabetical order)
HB 4024 Committee name: Elementary & Secondary Education: Licensing Oversight
HB 4025 Committee Name: Elementary & Secondary Committee: School Curriculum and Policies Committee

6. Click on the icon that looks like a sheet of paper at far right of page to view hearing details

7. Scroll to find the bill number and click on the icon at far right of page (pencil and paper) to create witness slip for that bill. There may be multiple pages.

8. Fill in all fields in Section I (unless marked optional). May put "none" for firm/business or agency and title. Or can put "Citizen" or "Concerned Citizen" for title. Section II may not apply.

9. Section III: Position Click Proponent or Opponent -- CAC supports these two bills

10. Section IV: Testimony: Check Record of Appearance Only -- unless you will fax a written statement to 1-217-557-2165

11. Type the text, check box: I agree to the ILGA terms of agreement, click Create Slip

12. To create another witness slip: Click Create Another Witness Slip and begin again at Step 2

Call us if you need help navigating the system!

Note: Registration is not required to submit a witness slip. However, to keep an online log of the witness slips you've submitted, you must register from the home page by clicking on "My Legislation." The "My Legislation" tab is along the top or on the left side under Reports and Inquiry -- just above GA Dashboard. Registration will also automatically populate many of the fields on each witness slip you submit.

CAC Survey Underscores Need for Strong Public Notice Requirement

3/17/2015

CAC conducted a survey of over 750 local government websites to audit compliance with public notice requirements. Survey results showed that despite the legal requirement to post public notices on websites, many government bodies do not comply. Only 73% posted notices of meetings, 57% posted meeting agendas, and 48% posted meeting minutes.

When HB261 was introduced in January 2015, recent articles cited the CAC survey to demonstrate why HB261 is a bad idea and should be defeated. The bill seeks to undermine current public notice requirements in Illinois by eliminating public notices from newspapers (and from PublicNoticeIllinois.com where every public notice published in newspapers around the state is posted). It would allow notices to be posted ONLY on government websites.

The proposed changes in HB261 would limit the public's access to information, and make it difficult, if not impossible, for local citizens to act as watchdogs over their tax dollars and to monitor the more than 7,000 public bodies in Illinois.

The bill is currently stalled in committee in the Illinois House -- Counties and Townships Committee -- after an initial vote. However, the bill's sponsor is promising to bring it up for another vote and is continuing to add co-sponsors.

It takes vigilance to protect transparency. CAC is doing the work necessary to keep Sunshine Laws strong in Illinois.

Articles that cite CAC survey:

Belleville News Democrat
BND.com
Shining a light on government
3/14/15

State Journal-Register Editorial: Reasons for Sunshine Week abound at all levels of government
3/14/15

Bill eliminating local government notices in newpapers fails
3/12/15

The News Gazette
Public Information
3/5/15

Quad-Cities Online Editorial: Illinois public notice bill terrible for state's taxpayers 2/22/15

Find your IL House and Senate Representatives

Civic Education Bills Introduced by Rep. Conroy

3/5/2015

Based on the recommendations of the Illinois Task Force on Civic Education, Representative Deb Conroy introduced two new bills in the Illinois House to strengthen civic education in Illinois on Friday February 27, 2015. When introducing the legislation, Rep. Conroy said: "Many students graduate without even basic knowledge of current events and how to become active members of their communities."

House Bill 4025 aims to promote greater civic learning through a required civics course for all Illinois high school students.

House Bill 4024 supports teacher training, the greatest area of need for implementation of a new course. This new measure ensures that professional development activities align with best practices in civics education.

As these bills move through the legislature, we'll keep you informed of future developments and how you can help.

Rep. Conroy's press release announcing House Bills 4025 and 4024

Press release from above published in the Chicago Tribune

Task Force Final Report and Public Comments

About the Illinois Task Force on Civic Education

The Task Force was established by the legislature to study the status of civic education in Illinois and make recommendations for improvement.
The Task Force was comprised of legislators, educators, school administrators, and community leaders from across the state. The findings of the Task Force showed a strong need to strengthen civic education in our state.

CAC was instrumental in advocating for the Task Force and CAC Executive Director Maryam Judar served as a member.
Illinois is one of only ten states in the country that does not require a civics or government course to graduate from high school.

<<Previous

Forward>>

Follow our blog here.

Letter to the editor published in Chicago Tribune on Civics Education, HB4025 and HB4024

Urgent Action: Please file witness slip for civics education HB4025-HFA2

Open Government Agenda/Legislative Session

Protect your right to inspect financial information Help defeat HB 3621

What is happening with Civics Education in Illinois?

#BringCivicsBack Overview of the need for civics education in IL and currently proposed legislation

Financial support for civics education professional development secured in public-private partnership

How to file a witness slip -- 2 civic education bills in house committee tomorrow

CAC Survey Underscores Need for Strong Public Notice Requirement

Civic Education Bills Introduced by Rep. Conroy

Archives

Categories