West Suburban Teachers Union, Local 571

06/18/2026

Today we join our members and community in celebrating Juneteenth.

Learn more about Juneteenth --https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Nwfx2cmSD/

To attend a local Juneteenth celebration https://demsforilhouse.com/2026/05/speaker-emanuel-chris-welch-and-proviso-dems-to-host-4th-annual-juneteenth-festival/

Hillside, Ill. – On Friday, June 19, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s Juneteenth Festival is the place to be with a day of family…

06/18/2026

06/17/2026

Libraries are gateways to opportunity, lifelong learning, and stronger communities. They level the playing field by giving everyone access to knowledge, no matter their background or income.

And now, the new Illinois Reliable Information Sources offers all residents:
📖 E-books & research databases
🛠️ Tools for students, college learners, job seekers, entrepreneurs, and families
ℹ️ Resources including health info, test prep, business tools, manuals, and more

Libraries are essential infrastructure. They support education, workforce development, and personal growth. When we invest in them and expand access, we invest in people.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4v12QHb

06/17/2026

📢 Standing up for strong public schools.
School voucher programs are often presented as “choice,” but research highlights several challenges worth understanding:
• 📉 Limited academic gains: Multiple studies have found little to no improvement in overall student performance for voucher recipients—and in some cases, declines in math and reading.
• 💸 Public funding impact: Vouchers redirect taxpayer dollars away from public schools, which still serve the majority of students—including those with the greatest needs.
• 🎯 Access & equity concerns: Private schools receiving vouchers aren’t always required to accept all students or provide the same services, especially for students with disabilities or language needs.
• 🔍 Less oversight: Public schools must meet strict accountability standards, while many voucher-funded schools operate with fewer transparency requirements.
Strong communities depend on strong, fully funded public schools that serve every student.

06/16/2026

Getting to the Juneteenth Festival just got even easier. Free shuttle service and free parking will be available at Proviso West High School for this year’s celebration on June 19 in Hillside. Join us for an afternoon of music, culture, food, and community. RSVP now: https://hubs.la/Q04lBxSZ0

06/16/2026

The CTU Foundation Quest Center offers many opportunities for educators to engage in professional learning that they choose!

Check out these offerings that begin in April. These courses are open to all members of the IFT in addition to CTU members.

Register at ctuf.org/pd!

06/16/2026

Student loan rules are changing as of July 1. While the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program itself still exists, the repayment landscape around it has changed significantly.

AFT has compiled resources that support you with keeping your PSLF on track. >>> https://www.aft.org/pslf.

Register here for a town hall webinar on What's Changing for Student Loan Borrowers and How We Fight Back: https://sharemylesson.com/webinars/student-loan-borrowers-how-we-fight-back.

06/16/2026

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has proposed sweeping changes to Part 50 teacher evaluation rules that represent a fundamental shift away from educators and toward unilateral district control. Our position is that evaluation systems are subjective and therefore work best when they are c...

06/16/2026

We send our condolences to our Union Siblings on the passing of Bea Lumpkin. Blessed to have been able to interact with her. What a life!

06/14/2026

This would solve a lot of problems and they would still be filthy rich.