One of the most important issues facing our state right now is what will happen at the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules meeting on Feb. 16^th. 

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules does not exactly roll off the tongue but don’t dismiss it as yet another example of government alphabet soup. This committee wields a lot of power and has a great deal of influence in how government is run in Illinois.

Coming up on Feb. 16^th, the legislators who make up this committee will be voting on controversial new rules from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) that will essentially turn our schools into far-left indoctrination camps. In this issue of my newsletter, we will look at these controversial new rules in detail. If you would like to know more about what is going on, please join me and several of my colleagues for a special event at 6 pm on Monday, Feb. 8^th at Christ’s Church, located at 2511 S. Veterans Drive in Effingham. The event is free and open to the public. 

As always if you have any questions, feel free to email me or call my office at 217-774-1306.

Sincerely,

Brad Halbrook

Overview of new ISBE rules

Illinois has certain standards for what is required to be a teacher. These standards are contained in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 24. Section 24.130 of these rules contains the minimum requirements for programs that award teachers a certificate to teach. 

On Feb. 16^th, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules will consider a new rule that will be added to Section 24. This new rule is called the “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards” and if approved will be added onto the minimums established in Section 130. 

There are many poison pills in the “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards,” but the main objection is Section 24.50 G) The culturally responsive teacher and leader will:

5) Embrace and encourage progressive viewpoints and perspectives that leverage asset thinking toward traditionally marginalized populations.

In other words, it is not only the job of prospective teachers to teach far left ideology but for them to also EMBRACE far left ideology. This is a violation of people’s First Amendment Constitutional rights. It is not the job of educators to ensure that students become the next generation of far-left radicals. What is happening here is wrong. I am urging everyone to call the members of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to urge them to vote “NO” on the “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards.”

The details about ISBE’s proposed new rules

As I stated at the outset, there are many poison pills in these new rules being considered. Here are a few to consider:

Section 24.50 The Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards:

a)  Self-Awareness and Relationships to Others – The culturally responsive teacher and leader will:

1)  Understand and value the notion that multiple lived experiences exist, that there is not one “correct” way of doing or understanding something, and that what is seen as “correct” is most often based on our lived experiences;

10)  Assess how their biases and perceptions affect their teaching practice and how they access tools to mitigate their own behavior (racism, sexism, homophobia, unearned privilege, Eurocentrism, etc.).

b) Systems of Oppression – Culturally responsive teachers and leaders understand that there are systems in our society that create and reinforce inequities, thereby creating oppressive conditions. The culturally responsive teacher and leader will:

4) Know and understand how current curriculum and approaches to teaching impact students who are not a part of the dominant culture.

5) Be aware of the effects of power and privilege and the need for social advocacy and social action to better empower diverse students and communities.

7) Know and understand how a system of inequity reinforces certain truths as the norm.

e) Leveraging Student Activism – The culturally responsive teacher and leader will:

5) Create a risk-taking space that promotes student activism and advocacy.

6) Research and offer student advocacy and activism content with real world implications.

g) Content Selections in All Curricula – The culturally responsive teacher and leader will:

5) Embrace and encourage progressive viewpoints and perspectives that leverage asset thinking toward traditionally marginalized populations.

9) Ensure teacher and students co-create content to include a counter narrative to dominant culture.

These rules if adopted will dramatically change the course of education in Illinois. I, along with many of colleagues are working to stop this from happening, but we definitely need help. 

What you can do

The members of JCAR need to hear from concerned citizens and one of the most important things you can do is to call the offices of each member of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. 

Here is the list of legislators to call:

CO-CHAIRMAN SENATOR BILL CUNNINGHAM

773/445-8128

217/782-5145

CO-CHAIRMAN REPRESENTATIVE KEITH WHEELER

630/345-3464

217/782-1486

SENATOR JOHN CURRAN

630/796-2623

217/782-9407

SENATOR KIMBERLY LIGHTFORD

708/632-4500

217/782-8505

SENATOR TONY MUNOZ

773/869-9050

217/782-9415

SENATOR SUE REZIN

815/220-8720

217/782-3840

REPRESENTATIVE TOM DEMMER

815/561-3690

217/782-0535

REPRESENTATIVE MIKE HALPIN

309/558-3612

217/782-5970

REPRESENTATIVE FRANCES ANN HURLEY

773/445-8128

217/782-8200

REPRESENTATIVE STEVEN REICK

815/880-5340

217/782-1717

REPRESENTATIVE ANDRE THAPEDI

773/873-4444

217/782-1702

Your help and input are needed and most appreciated.

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