Time to take back conversation about Illinois public education

<p class="p1">It’s time for educators and members of the community to take back the conversation about public education in Illinois. </p><p class="p2">That’s why we are excited to share with readers a new initiative called Vision 20/20. It’s a blueprint for the future of public education that has been developed by Illinois educators from all regions of the state.</p><p class="p2">The goal of Vision 20/20 is summarized in its tagline: “Fulfilling the Promise of Public Education.” Education is an investment in our children’s future, our state’s future, and our nation’s future. It is our responsibility as educators to reflect upon the current state of education in Illinois and take action to create an education system that meets the needs of all students. </p><p class="p2">We endorse Vision 20/20 because we believe it is our collective duty to ensure that every student, no matter his or her demographic or geographic identity, has equal access to a quality education. </p><p class="p2">Although we reject the notion that public education is currently failing, we believe that strides need to be made to continually improve our public education system.</p><p class="p2">Vision 20/20’s policy platform is divided into four main pillars:</p><p class="p2"><strong>21st Century Learning:</strong> Not just knowledge of reading and math, but providing the technology and tools for learning in today’s world as well as a commitment to the “whole child."</p><p class="p2"><strong>Highly Effective Educators:</strong> Policies to help attract, develop and retain the highest quality of teachers and administrators.</p><p class="p2"><strong>Shared Accountability:</strong> Creating a shared accountability model that includes more input from educators, increases collaboration with legislators and restructures mandates to allow more flexibility for local school districts and communities.</p><p class="p2"><strong>Equitable and Adequate Funding:</strong> An evidence-based funding model that takes into account what it actually costs to educate a student in various parts of our state and utilizes research to identify those things that have the most impact on student success.</p><p class="p2">This plan is representative of educators’ opinions and expertise from the southern tip of Illinois through the northern Chicago suburbs. </p><p class="p2">This vision is the result of input from more than 3,000 diverse stakeholders, discussions with field experts, and a review of current literature on best practices. The organizations that collaborated on Vision 20/20 include school superintendents, school board members, principals and school business officials. </p><p class="p2">The plan already has been endorsed by the Illinois PTA and the Ounce of Prevention Fund, an organization dedicated to providing children in poverty the best chance for success in school.</p><p class="p2">We believe educators should be held to the highest standards, but also be given the flexibility to apply their experience and knowledge to match local needs in order to best support each individual student.</p><p class="p2">We invite you to learn more about Vision 20/20 by visiting the website at www.illinoisvision2020.org and to sign the petition in support of these policies. You also can follow the progress on Twitter at @ILVision2020. </p><p class="p2">Changing the course of public education in Illinois can only happen with grassroots support, and we are asking you to help us fulfill the promise of public education to children in the Anna-Jonesboro community and the more than 2 million schoolchildren in our state.</p>