Education Leaders Back Jesiel in 61st House District

WINTHROP HARBOR - State Representative Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor) has received the backing of several prominent education organizations. Stand for Children Illinois, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) and the Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance have all expressed their support for Jesiel.

"Representative Jesiel has demonstrated her commitment to ensuring every child in Illinois receives a high-quality education, regardless of their zip code," said Adam Rogalski, Director of Government Affairs for INCS Action. "Jesiel shares our focus on working with families to meet the individual education needs of every child and we look forward to continuing to work with her to improve Illinois' education system."

"The gap between what we spend for our richest and poorest school districts is the worst in the country; that is unconscionable," said Mimi Rodman, Chairperson of Stand for Children Illinois PAC. "The need is urgent for education champions like Representative Jesiel who are bold, courageous leaders for all Illinois students."

Jesiel serves on the School Funding Reform Commission, tasked with providing recommendations to reform the state school funding formula by the start of 2017. The commission's aim is not only to create a more effective education funding structure for every child across the state, but also to ensure school funding isn't disproportionally carried by local property tax payers. Jesiel also serves on the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, has sponsored legislation to help college bound students save on costs (HB 4330), improve opportunity for special needs students (HB 4352), increase access to trade skill training (SB 3104) and reevaluate PARCC testing (HR 404).

"The state of Illinois is one of the worst in the country at providing adequate funding for local school districts," said Jesiel. "For too long Illinois' school funding formula has picked winners and losers, placed undue burden on local property tax payers and failed to ensure every child has access to a quality education regardless of their zip code. I'm honored to have the support of education leaders who understand the immediate need to reform our education system and look forward to continuing to work with them to reestablish Illinois as the education leader it should be."