Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter
Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter
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CAT Tracks for January 9, 2007
IEA CALL TO ACTION... |
...WORKED!
A message from IEA President Ken Swanson...
Colleagues:
The following press release was issued statewide following today's vote of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) regarding the Illinois State Board of Education's (ISBE) proposed changes to special education rules.
I would like to thank our members and staff for all their hard work in making this happen by sending e-mails or making phone calls and perhaps even speaking to JCAR board members.
Ken
Rejection of rule changes is good news for students, education employees
January 9, 2007 -- Springfield, IL -- The state's largest education employees' union applauded the actions of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), which today voted unanimously (10-0) to reject the ISBE Proposed Changes to Rule 226 on Special Education.
After the hearing, members of JCAR told the Illinois Education Association (IEA) that they will reach out to the legislative leaders about having joint chamber hearings on the proposed rules. The impact of this decision means that ISBE has 180 days to satisfactorily modify its proposed rules.
According to IEA President Ken Swanson, the organization will continue to work with the state board in this process to ensure that IEA has significant input as to how the rules are drafted.
IEA had opposed the changes on the grounds that, while well intended, they would ensure the needs of students statewide would exceed the ability of most teachers to meet those needs.
"The members of JCAR have acted in the best interests of students and education employees," said Swanson.
"In our discussions with JCAR members, we explained that, based on actual classroom experience, implementing these rules at this time would have been a recipe for failure for students who deserve an opportunity to succeed. We greatly appreciate the willingness of the JCAR members to listen to the experts, the teachers and paraprofessionals who are in classrooms every day helping children learn," he added.
The Illinois Education Association is a union of 125,000 members. IEA represents elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty and staff, educational support professionals, retired educators and college students preparing to become teachers throughout the state.
We will keep you updated on our progress and strategies for future success. Continue to check the IEA Web site for updates.
