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On August 9th, education stakeholders from across Illinois
gathered to reflect on achievements and plan for new
initiatives in the public-policy education platform Vision
20/20. Representatives from the Illinois Association of
School Administrators, Illinois Association of School Boards,
Illinois Principals Association, Illinois Association of School
Business Officials, Illinois Association of Regional School
Superintendents and Superintendents Commission for the
Study of Demographics and Diversity attended the planning
meeting to review the four pillars of Vision 20/20 with the
intended goal of providing a more equitable and adequate
education for Illinois school children.
The meeting was held at the Illinois Association of School
Administrators headquarters. The stakeholders outlined some
of the successes achieved since the initial launch of Vision
20/20, including the enactment of the state Evidence-Based
Funding Formula, Illinois Balanced Accountability Measures,
teacher reciprocity as a means to deal with the current
teacher shortage, school safety initiatives and expansion of
high-speed internet for districts.
While it was identified that much has been accomplished
in the five years since Vision 20/20 was launched in the
summer of 2013, stakeholders reviewed successes as work
begins to refocus efforts on other public education priorities
and advocacy initiatives.
“There definitely was an affirmative outcome from this
meeting to continue advancing the positive momentum of the
Illinois Vision 20/20 Initiative that was started in 2013,” said
Ralph Grimm, Vision 20/20 Director. “The ideas generated at
this meeting will become the foundation for future planning
discussions about public education in the state.”
Dr. John Gatta, Chief Executive Officer of the ECRA Group,
facilitated the discussions, inviting attendees to think about
the future vision of public education and to review, what kinds
of legislative actions might need to be accomplished to help
advance initiatives for public education in the future.
“The stakeholders’ job is to continue to tell the story and keep
Vision 20/20 alive and also rebrand and remind individuals
this is about change and putting students at the center of
all policy making,” said Gatta. “Vision 20/20 is always about
how we can advocate for students by advancing policies that
remove barriers.”
Attendees reviewed the four pillars outlined in the Vision
20/20 policy platform to determine what additional action
needs to occur in these areas. The four pillars include:
Equitable and Adequate Funding, Highly Effective Educators,
21st Century Learning and Shared Accountability.
“Throughout the day-long meeting, education stakeholders
together laid the foundation for future education goals and
potential legislation for the next two years,” said Grimm.
“There was a tremendous amount of discussion and positive
creativity in the room to help guide some of the remaining
work that needs to be considered over the next few years as
we align advocacy efforts in Illinois.”
Gatta reminded all that the Vision 20/20 website is accessible
at: ECRA will continue to track
all of the outcomes and results of the program’s initiatives
and continue to tell the story of the positive work being done
including continuing to build upon the brand of Vision 20/20.
“We want to keep the energy level of Vision 20/20 high as we
continue on the course to advocate for students and public
education in Illinois,” said Gatta.
By Mary Schaefer
IASA Director of Communications & Marketing
Vision20/20
StakeholdersMeet to
PlanNewInitiatives