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Advocacy Group Fights for Illinois Public Education

Monmouth-Roseville Superintendent Ed Fletcher said one of Illinois Vision 20/20's goals is to get public education on a two-year budget cycle
T.J. Carson
Monmouth-Roseville Superintendent Ed Fletcher said one of Illinois Vision 20/20's goals is to get public education on a two-year budget cycle

Educators in Illinois hope a large support group can deliver results in Springfield.

The initiative is called Illinois Vision 20/20. It began in 2012 when various education groups in the state came together to set a direction for improving public education.

The radio story.

The groups involved include:

  • Illinois Association of School Administrators
  • Illinois Association of School Business Officials
  • Illinois Principals Association
  • Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools
  • Illinois Association of School Boards
  • Superintendents’ Commission for the Study of Demographics and Diversity


Illinois Vision 20/20 said it's received support from more than 360 school districts. In west central Illinois those districts include West Prairie, Abingdon-Avon, VIT, and Astoria.  In addition, the Macomb Board of Education voted this week to support the initiative.

Macomb Superintendent Patrick Twomey said Illinois Vision 20/20 will give educators a chance to control the message.

“For years, we’ve just stood by the sidelines and let the reformers bash teachers in public education.  And now, we’re going to be out there on the forefront, telling the facts about public education and how good it is here,” Twomey said.

Illinois Vision 20/20 plans to focus on a few issues during each legislative session.  One of this year's issues is funding equity.  It's being addressed through another attempt to pass legislation by State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill)  that would provide more money for rural and poor districts.

Copyright 2015 Tri States Public Radio

T.J. Carson is the Galesburg correspondent for Tri States Public Radio. His duties include reporting on current events in the cities of Galesburg and Monmouth, and Knox County. He returns to TSPR after serving as a student reporter and host in 2006. Before Tri States Public Radio, he was a news reporter for WSPL-AM in Streator, IL. At WSPL, T.J. earned two awards from the Illinois Associated Press; Outstanding Single Story Contribution in 2011, and Contributor of the Month for February 2008. T.J. is a native of Lacon, IL. He is a graduate of Midland High School in Varna, IL, where he participated in baseball and football all four years, as well as the Scholastic Bowl team. He received his bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University in the fall of 2006, where he participated in numerous activities for the student-run radio station, as well as public address announcing for the Western Illinois Leatherneck baseball and softball teams. In his spare time, T.J. enjoys baseball, golf, watching animation, and drawing. He has also been a Guest of Honor at fan-created conventions for the television program 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'.