News You Can Use - October 2026 Edition
Your next Region Council Meeting...
Region 8
- November 5th, 5:30-7:30pm at the Champaign IEA Office
- December 3rd, 5:30-7:30pm at the Champaign IEA Office
- February 4th, 5:30-7:30pm at the Champaign IEA Office
Region 9
- October 5th, 5:00-7:00pm at the Champaign IEA Office
- November 2nd, 5:00-7:00pm at the Champaign IEA Office
- December 7th, 5:00-7:00pm Location TBD
Upcoming Trainings & Events
Bargaining Training: A Three Part Series
Tuesday, October 13th 5:30-7:30pm at the Champaign IEA Office
If you are bargaining this year, this training will help you get ready for it. We will discuss timelines for getting started, issuing a demand to bargain, building an effective bargaining team, what roles there are for members to play, and options for identifying the bargaining priorities of your membership. Being well prepared is half the battle, so don't miss this training!
Tuesday, October 27th, 5:30-7:30pm at the Champaign IEA Office
In this second session of the bargaining training series, we will cover where to look for good contract language and why it's good. We will talk about how to format contract proposals and what to do about ground rules. And we will also discuss communicating with members through the bargaining process and all the way to ratification. As we discuss our current contracts together, we end up learning a lot from one another and can coordinate our bargaining for success!
Tuesday, November 10th, 5:30-7:30pm at the Champaign IEA Office
Wages, salaries, stipends, insurance premiums, raises, and other money related bargaining topics. Bargaining session III is all about money. It is often issue #1 for your members, and in this training we will look at all forms of compensation: how to structure salary schedules, the pros and cons of different kinds of raises, approaches to health insurance costs, and the truth about the 6% threshold for the pension systems.
Year-Round Organizing Virtual Training: 1:1 Conversations
People join people! One-on-one conversations are the heartbeat to organizing. Let’s show you how to start the conversation and break the ice. Join us for this virtual training on Thursday, October 8th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM! Click here to register.
Point of Contact: Brian Gavilan
Local Leaders - What You Need to Know
Membership Chairs/Contacts
- Enrolling New Members: New members enrolling on or after October 1st should have their annual dues prorated. Please make sure you are using the prorated dues tables. Updated membership enrollment forms, regular dues tables, and prorated dues tables can be accessed here.
Local Presidents
- Local Presidents Dinner: All Region 8 and 9 local presidents will be receiving an email inviting you to the Local President’s Dinner on Thursday, October 15th! Please join us and fellow local presidents for a closed-door gathering where we can share pressing workplace issues, membership engagement, and best practices for running an effective local association!
- Member Drops: As is typical for the beginning of a new school year, our office has seen an increase in member opt-outs/drops. Member opt-outs are individuals who wish to drop their membership. This would apply to an individual who was a dues paying member of your local, but is choosing to voluntarily drop their membership while remaining in your local bargaining unit/in a position covered by your contract. Reminder: to opt-out, the member must deliver a notice in writing with an original signature to the local president. It is important that you ensure the member fully understands the rights and privileges they are giving up when dropping. The IEA Membership Drop Checklist can be a helpful resources for talking to a member who wishes to drop their membership.
Recent Resources
Click here to watch a recorded elections training presentation.
Click here to access the 2026-2027 IEA Elections Handbook.
Click here to access the IEA elections page. This page contains much more elections resources including sample elections forms, guidelines and procedures, checklists, and FAQs!
IEA School Board Election Toolkit
Use the interactive toolkit as a guide through the most important parts of a school board election or referendum. The toolkit was designed to be brief and easily digestible. You can read the whole thing or skip to the sections you need!
School Board Referendum Request Form
One stop shop for design, print, and distribution of postcards, fliers, door hangers, and yard signs.
Local IPACE Rebates
Local IPACE funds are to be used for local campaign expenses, local election activities, school bond/tax referenda, and related expenses, and as direct contributions to recommended candidates for local elections. See the links below for more information on your local IPACE rebates.
- IPACE Rebate Sample Request Letter (Level I)
- IPACE Rebate Sample Request Letter (Level II)
- FAQs Local IPACE Rebates
- Local IPACE Rebate Guide
Local Campaign Disclosure Reporting Guide
Any local IPACE unit that collects or disburses $5,000 or more in any 12-month period must file and comply with state disclosure laws. Federal legislation, signed into law on July 1, 2000, imposes new registration and reporting requirements for political action committees with annual gross receipts exceeding $25,000. The latest campaign disclosure information is available from the Illinois State Board of Elections or from your county clerk. You may also wish to follow these links for D-1 and D-2 reports. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact an IPACE member or consultant.
School Board Election Budget Template
Recommended School Board/Board of Trustees Election Procedures
NEA Member Benefits with Dave
Hi everyone, welcome to Save with Dave! Each month I will be sharing with you a NEA Member Benefit which you have access to. The purpose of this communication is to provide information about benefits which you have access to and also help remind you that by visiting www.neamb.com/start you can access all of your IEA/NEA Member Benefits. This month we are taking a look at complimentary life insurance which is already active for each of you. Every active non-retired member has Complimentary Life Insurance. NEA Member Benefits pays for this and renews it every year that you remain an active non-retired member. Please be sure to visit our website www.neamb.com/start and register your beneficiary or update your beneficiary if anything in your life has changed. If this is your first time visiting our website, then you will need to create a free account. Please use your personal email address as your username. If you run into any challenges, please contact the Member Advocacy Team at 1-800-637-4636 (they can assist in English or Spanish).
You’ll receive four levels of coverage
- $1,000 of life insurance
- Up to $5,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage; $1,000 per year benefit up to maximum
- $50,000 AD&D benefit for any covered accident that occurs on the job or while serving as an Association Leader†
- $150,000 Life Insurance benefit for unlawful homicide while on the job
Thank you for being an IEA Member and please be sure to take advantage of your NEA Member Benefits!
Local Spotlight
- Prairieview-Ogden EA is still currently fighting for a fair contract! Check out their social media page below! If your local association is interested in creating a social media page, or would like help using a current one, our communications department can help! Click here to submit a Communication Tool Request!
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More News You Can Use from NEA & IEA
Recognizing the power we already hold and grows when we use that power to help others act together toward a shared purpose. This three-part series invites participants to strengthen their confidence, deepen their understanding of leadership and power, and develop practical strategies for leading through challenge and uncertainty.
- October 20, 2026, Part 1: Personal Power – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- November 17, 2026, Part 2: Leadership & Power – 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
- December 8, 2026, Part 3: Leading Through Challenges – 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Click Here for Additional Information: Personal Power to Purposeful Leadership
Please encourage your members to take the IEA Home Language Survey.
In Illinois, the enrollment of any new student to a district must include ISBE’s Home Language Survey. The survey asks parents/guardians two questions: (1) “Is a language other than English spoken in your home?” and (2) “Does your child speak a language other than English?” If the answer is “yes” to either of these questions, the district is required to assess a student’s English language proficiency.
The IEA Multilingual Committee would like to know about your district’s use of the Home Language Survey and their process for identifying multilingual learners. Please take ten minutes to answer the following questions.
Survey Link: https://site.ieanea.org/survey/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=p74Jl7m4
Don’t miss out, register today!
This is an opportunity for IEA Education Support Professional, Higher Education and Retired to development professional skills, earn professional development credit and network with colleagues around the state.
- Session will begin on Friday, October 16 at 5:00 p.m. and run through Saturday, October 17 at 1:00 p.m.
- Keynote Speaker will be Mary Kusler, Senior Director, Center for Advocacy and Political Action with NEA
- Registration link – 2026 One Conference Registration
- Hotel Reservation link – 2026 One Conference Hotel Registration Link
Registration Cost $20.00, plus the cost of your hotel room.
Build spreadsheet confidence across Excel, Excel for Mac, and Google Sheets, from core setup through stronger formulas, formatting, analysis, and collaboration.
These courses do not qualify for ISBE Professional Development Hours but do provide verified learning and a certificate of completion. Self-register for an account then login to access these courses.
Calling all NBCTs! Are you interested in serving as a mentor or leading a cohort for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards program in the 2026-27 school year?
ISBE is now accepting Intent to Mentor Applications. The Application period is now through October 9, 2026. Interested NBCTs are encouraged to apply early and review the program requirements and eligibility information available through ISBE. To access the Intent to Mentor Application, click here: Illinois’ National Board Teaching Excellence Intent to Mentor Application FY27
For more information about National Board Certification, visit the ISBE National Board Certified Teachers webpage.
ISBE is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2027 National Board Component Subsidy through October 1st. The agency assumed responsibility for the Illinois National Board Teaching Excellence Program in July.
Eligible Illinois educators pursuing or maintaining National Board Certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards may receive financial support through the component subsidy to help cover certification costs. Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to availability.
Visit ISBE’s National Board Component Subsidies webpage for more information. Apply for the Illinois National Board Teaching Excellence Program Candidate Component Subsidy.