One Week to Lobby Day—Join the IFT in Springfield
- May 20
- 2 min read
In one week, IFT members from across Illinois will head to Springfield for our final Lobby Day of the spring legislative session.
Lawmakers are making decisions right now that will shape whether our schools, colleges, and public services are fully funded or continue to fall short while corporations receive special deals. We need you there.
WHY THIS LOBBY DAY MATTERS
Right now, Illinois is facing a clear choice.
The House has already advanced a megaprojects bill that would allow corporations to negotiate lower property taxes for decades, shifting the burden onto school districts and working families and causing big losses to communities. At the same time, Illinois still owes billions in promised funding to students and educators.
We’ve been saying it everywhere, because it’s true: when corporations pay less, students get less. We cannot let that be the final word.
WHAT YOU’LL FIGHT FOR
On Lobby Day, members will meet directly with lawmakers and demand:
Full funding for preK–12 schools, higher education, and public services
No more megaproject giveaways that drain school revenue
Real tax justice so the wealthiest and largest corporations pay their fair share
Vital support for educators - as the Virtual Instructional Coach/We Care teacher mentor program is at risk for losing funding - again.
These are the choices that determine class sizes, staffing levels, and whether students from pre-K to Ph.D. get the support and opportunities they deserve.
You don’t need to be an expert in policy. You just need to be willing to show up and speak from your experience. Lawmakers need to hear our stories of what underfunding looks like in our communities, what our students need, and what’s possible if we had full funding.
LET’S FINISH STRONG
May Day showed the power of educators and public workers standing together in Illinois and across the country. On May 27, we will take that energy directly to the Capitol. Our students and communities are worth the investment.
Comments