S.B. 1728 and H.B. 3615: Ensuring Success in School Act


Make your voices heard today! The Ensuring Success in School Act (ESSA), drafted by the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law in coalition with youth, education, and violence-victim advocates, has been assigned bill numbers. The Senate bill is S.B. 1728 and the House bill is H.B. 3615.

In the Senate, ESSA is sponsored by Iris Martinez (D), Kimberly Lightford (D), Jeffrey Schoenberg (D), Martin Sandoval (D), and Jacqueline Collins (D). ESSA’s House sponsors are Karen Yarbrough (D), Cynthia Soto (D), Calvin Giles (D), Harry Osterman (D), William Delgado (D), Sara Feigenholtz (D), Deborah Graham (D), and Kevin Joyce (D).

ESSA is the centerpiece of the Shriver Center’s efforts to promote safety and school success for all Illinois students, particularly those who are expectant parents, parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence.

To learn more about ESSA. Go to www.povertylaw.org/advocacy/essa.htm for a direct link to the bill, fact sheets, and a growing list of supporters. Or visit www.ilga.gov and search for the bill by number to read the full text of the bill and to track ESSA’s status.

To support ESSA immediately. Download an endorsement sign-up sheet at www.povertylaw.org/advocacy/essa/essa_supporter.pdf, fill it out, and fax or mail it to us.

To help make ESSA Illinois law. Tell members of the Senate Education Committee and the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee that you or your organization or both support ESSA. Use the contact information below to get in touch with senators and representatives at their offices in Springfield, or find their district office contact information by visiting www.ilga.gov/senate (for senators) and www.ilga.gov/house (for representatives) and clicking on their names.

If you can contact only a few senators or representatives, you may begin at the top of each list.

For a sample message to legislators expressing your support of ESSA, go to www.povertylaw.org/advocacy/essa/sample_letter.pdf.

Senate Education Committee
Dan Cronin (R): Phone 217.782.8107, Fax 217.782.0069
J. Bradley Burzynski (R): Phone 217.782.1977, Fax 217.782.9586
David Luechtefeld (R): Phone 217.782.8137, Fax 217.782.4079
Richard J. Winkel Jr. (R): Phone 217.782.2507, Fax 217.782.9586
James T. Meeks (I): Phone 217.782.8066, Fax 217.782.6895
Deanna Demuzio (D): Phone 217.782.8206, Fax 217.782.2115
Gary Forby (D): Phone 217.782.5509, Fax 217.782.2115
Susan Garrett (D): Phone 217.782.3650, Fax 217.782.2331
Carol Ronen (D): Phone 217.782.8492, Fax 217.782.0715
Miguel del Valle (D): Phone 217.782.5652, Fax 217.782.4450
Kimberly A. Lightford (D): Phone 217.782.8505, Fax 217.782.6895

House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee
Jerry L. Mitchell (R): Phone 217.782.0535, Fax 217.782.5257
Suzanne Bassi (R): Phone 217.782.8026, Fax 217.782.5257
Roger L. Eddy (R): Phone 217.558.1040, Fax 217. 558.3481
Donald L. Moffitt (R): Phone 217.782.8032, Fax 217.557.0179
Rosemary Mulligan (R): Phone 217.782.8007, Fax 217.782.4533
Ruth Munson (R): Phone 217.782.8020, Fax 217.782.1275
Sandra M. Pihos (R): Phone 217.782.8037, Fax 217.558.1072
Robert W. Pritchard (R): Phone 217.782.0425, Fax 217.557.7205
David Reis (R): Phone 217.782.2087, Fax 217.782.1336
Jim Watson (R): Phone 217.782.1840, Fax 217.782.2289
Daniel V. Beiser (D): Phone 217.782.5996, Fax 217.558.0493
Marlow H. Colvin (D): Phone 217.782.8272, Fax 217.782.2404
Monique D. Davis (D): Phone 217.782.0010, Fax 217.782.1795
Lisa M. Dugan (D): Phone 217.782.5981, Fax 217.557.7643
Robert F. Flider (D): Phone 217.782.8398, Fax 217.782.2528
Linda Chapa LaVia (D): Phone 217.558.1002, Fax 217.782.0927
David E. Miller (D): Phone 217.782.8087, Fax 217.558.6433
Michael K. Smith (D): Phone 217.782.8152, Fax 217.557.4415
Calvin L. Giles (D): Phone 217.782.5962, Fax 217.782.2779
Harry Osterman (D): Phone 217.782.8088, Fax 217.782.6592
Kevin Joyce (D): Phone 217.782.8200, Fax 217.782.0945

Reach out to other senators and representatives. We encourage you to contact your own state senator or representative to let them know you support ESSA. If you are unsure of who your legislators are or which district you live in, go to www.elections.state.il.us/dls/pages/SelectOfficialSearch.asp and search by your address.

For more information, contact Wendy Pollack (312.263.3830 ext.238; wendypollack@povertylaw.org) or Aleeza Strubel (312.263.3830 ext.229; aleezastrubel@povertylaw.org).

Thank you for your support.

March 2, 2005