School Board Members can be as an essential resource for lawmakers
As key stakeholders in our educational system, board members serve as an essential local resource on educational issues. Involvement by school board members in both the state and national legislative process is imperative to shaping education policy. School board members should share their expertise with lawmakers in both Springfield and Washington DC to ensure sound education policy is included in the final product.
Governmental Relations Staff
Become an IASB Advocacy Ambassador
An elected local school board member has the opportunity to influence and inform other constituents, particularly other elected officials, of successes, needs, and issues facing the local school district and community. IASB encourages school board members to join the Advocacy Ambassador Program. IASB Advocacy Ambassadors help the Association meet advocacy goals by sharing personal stories and expertise on policies related to public education. The grassroots program is designed to foster relationships between school board members and state and federal legislators, building awareness of the critical issues faced by local school districts.
Become an Advocacy Ambassador
Stay Updated on the Issues
IASB Legislative ReportsFederal Legislative ReportsIASB Legislative Reports cover state legislative action in Springfield and are published weekly when the Illinois General Assembly is in session. School board members can stay up-to-date on committee action and bills being debated and passed by state lawmakers that impact local school districts and Illinois public education policy.
Calls To ActionFederal Legislative Reports are compiled and written with assistance from the Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA), a national group of school board associations. Usually published monthly, the reports focus on congressional action, updates and changes from national agencies, and presidential action that deals with issues that may affect school districts.
For bills and other proposals under consideration that require a quick and deliberate response from IASB members, IASB will send a Call To Action. School board members can help influence the way lawmakers view bills and give legislators and the Governor a better understanding of the local impacts legislation may have on school districts. Some Calls To Action will ask IASB members to file a committee witness slip, while others will encourage school leaders to contact their legislators and express either support or opposition for a particular bill.