CHICAGO - Dec. 12, 2013. Nearly 65 percent of participating school district superintendents believe state funding for education is poor or in need of improvement, according to an online survey that will be released Thursday by Lt. Governor Sheila Simon's office and Illinois State University.

The survey, required by statute, asked district superintendents to evaluate the services of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and Regional Offices of Education (ROEs) and posed several policy questions developed by ISU researchers. The survey will be released at the P-20 Council's Joint Education Leadership Committee meeting in Chicago on Thursday afternoon.

"This survey collects helpful insights on what is important to local school districts and administrators," said Simon, who serves as the state's point person on education reform. "This information shows that people on the front line of education are concerned about school funding. This is an issue that is not going away and deserves our attention."

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor is required by state law to annually conduct a Service Evaluation Survey that allows school districts to provide anonymous feedback on the quality and importance of services provided by ISBE and ROEs. Distributed with the help of the Illinois Association of School Boards, the 2013 survey was conducted in partnership with Illinois State University's Center for the Study of Education Policy and their annual Superintendent Survey. This year, a total of 355 districts participated, with 277 completing the Service Evaluation portions and 100 completing the ISU portion of the voluntary survey.

Among the numerous findings of the survey were that 65 percent of respondents would support an increase in the income tax with or without a corresponding decrease in property tax, 75 percent of participants would support a local sales tax for the Education Fund voted upon by a district referendum and over 90 percent of contributors supporting a two year state budget cycle to improve fiscal planning. Respondents rated most services as being important to critically important, and gave ISBE and ROEs high marks in several areas, including leadership, communication, and responsiveness to requests for assistance. Participants indicated that they will need more support in the future for Common Core implementation, professional development, testing technology, and educator evaluations.

Simon serves as the chair of the Joint Education Leadership Committee for the P-20 Council, the state's top educational advisory body.  Unlike other states, Illinois does not have a single official or cabinet position that oversees preschool through higher education efforts. The Joint Education Leadership Committee, whose membership includes top education and workforce agency officials, encourages cross-agency collaboration and cooperation.

A copy of the report and its findings can be found here.

Simon surveys storm recovery in Gifford, Brookport

Urges Illinois residents to make donations to support recovery

GIFFORD - Nov. 22, 2013. Less than a week before Thanksgiving, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today surveyed storm damage in the towns of Gifford and Brookport and urged Illinois residents to donate to recovery efforts. A total of 15 Illinois counties have been declared disaster areas by the Governor in the aftermath of Sunday's tornadoes.

"The work to rebuild these communities is just beginning," said Simon, who chairs the Governor's Rural Affairs Council. "As we get ready to celebrate the holidays, I urge people to honor the spirit of the season by reaching into their pockets to help support ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts."

Officials from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began preliminary assessments Thursday that will enable towns to apply for federal disaster aid. Earlier this week, Simon participated in the Help on the Homefront Telethon, which raised more than $786,000 for the American Red Cross, and fund raising efforts are ongoing.

More than 22,000 meals have been provided by the Red Cross, which deployed 21 emergency response trucks from around the country and operated nine overnight shelters until residents could find alternative housing, said Kelly Formoso, manager of the Champaign office of the Red Cross.

The National Weather Service reports that 24 tornadoes swept across Illinois on Sunday, killing six people, injuring 180 residents and devastating rural communities. The Governor expects the total  number of homes damaged and destroyed to exceed 1,500. However, residents in the areas affected are beginning to see signs of recovery. Power has been restored in several areas, and schools are open.

In order to donate to the American Red Cross, click here or visit www.redcross.org. Donations designated for "Illinois tornadoes and storms" will remain local.

CHAMPAIGN - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon on Tuesday will urge stakeholders, lawmakers and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to work together to pursue a bold, long-term solution to the structural problems of the state school funding system at an ISBE public budget hearing being held at the Champaign Public Library.

"The current system is unsustainable and unfair," said Simon. "We have to ensure that all of our students can learn and thrive through a fair and equitable education funding model."

The second of five planned public hearings conducted by the Illinois State Board of Education, the Champaign meeting is aimed at soliciting ideas and recommendations from local community members on education funding priorities for K-12 in the upcoming fiscal year. ISBE is also encouraging resident to voice their opinions and thoughts on the state's current funding formula. ISBE is currently working with the Illinois Senate Education Funding Advisory Committee to examine statewide education funding distribution. Testimony from the public hearings will be shared with the Senate committee as it works to prepare recommendations on an equitable and transparent funding system by February 2014.

According to a Rutgers University study, Illinois has the second largest funding disparity between well funded and poorly funded schools, and is one of the lowest in the nation in terms of state spending on public education in relation to state wealth.  Simon is backing a long-term solution to school funding that will reduce inequities and build up to adequate funding. Simon will discuss ideas to revise funding formulas to help low-income and rural communities, examine the possibility of creating a constitutional amendment designating education as a fundamental right, and explore the possibility of ISBE seeking legislative authority to modify the state aid formulas when funding falls short.

Simon serves as the state's point person on education reform. In this capacity, Simon is working to increase the proportion of working-age adults with college degrees or certificates to 60 percent by 2025. As chair of the 25-member Governor's Rural Affairs Council, Simon is also working to improve the delivery of state services and education opportunities to rural Illinois.

Tuesday, Nov. 12 

EVENT: Illinois State Board of Education Public Budget Hearing

TIME: 4 p.m.

LOCATION: Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St., Champaign

Illinois becomes 15th state to pass marriage equality

SPRINGFIELD - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today congratulated the Illinois House on its historic vote to pass marriage equality. Illinois is now poised to become the 15th state recognizing marriage fairness.

"Today Illinois has made history. We will treat all families equally," said Simon. "This has been a personal fight for me, and I am looking forward to celebrating with friends who will finally be able to share in the same rights my husband and I have."

Last month Simon joined thousands of marriage equality proponents, religious leaders and families in Springfield to rally and march in support of marriage equality. In January, Simon recruited Jesse Tyler Ferguson, star of ABC's "Modern Family" to push for passage of SB 10. Ferguson and his then-fiancé Justin Mikita visited Springfield to lobby legislators in support of marriage equality. Ferguson and Mikita, who wed this year, are founders of the non-for-profit, Tie The Knot. The foundation sells limited-edition bow ties with proceeds going to organizations nationwide that are working toward marriage equality. The collection is designed and sold by The Tie Bar, a popular Naperville-based online men's neckwear company.

"Justin and I would like to congratulate our friends in Illinois, who today have made history by recognizing all loving, committed relationships," said Ferguson. "Justin and I join you in celebrating equality for all."

Senate Bill 10, sponsored by Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), passed the Senate in February. The legislation was amended on the House floor today to change the effective date and will be sent to the Senate again for approval before heading to Governor Quinn's desk. The governor's signature will make Illinois the 15th state in the nation to recognize marriage equality.

"I would like to thank the bill's sponsors, Sen. Heather Steans and Rep. Greg Harris for their tireless work on this issue," added Simon. "Their unwavering leadership in the General Assembly has led us to this moment."

"It has been a long and difficult road, and I am proud that we have finally arrived at this historic day in Illinois," said Steans, chief Senate sponsor of SB 10. "We have demonstrated what we know to be true ? that Illinois is a state that opposes discrimination, welcomes diversity, supports families, respects religious freedom and ensures that all its residents are treated fairly under the law."

Though Illinois already has civil unions, only marriage affords couples the ability to file joint tax returns, participate in spousal Social Security and veterans' benefits, and benefit under the Family and Medical Leave Act.