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Dear Parents,
As a dedicated public servant, licensed teacher, parent of a college student majoring in education, and advocate for education, I would like to address you directly and emphasize the importance of our role as parents in supporting our child's education. Education is the foundation upon which our society is built, and we must work together to ensure our children receive the best possible opportunities for learning and growth. As parents, we are the first and most influential teachers in your child's life, and our support can make a significant difference in their academic journey.
First and foremost, I encourage you to get to know the teachers and entire staff and be actively involved as much as possible in youth and your child's education. Attend parent-teacher conferences, openly and regularly communicate with your child's teachers, and stay informed about their progress. By showing an interest in their education, you are sending a powerful message that education matters and that you are there to support them every step of the way. Create a positive learning environment at home. Set aside a designated study area, establish a consistent homework routine, and encourage regular reading habits.
Providing a structured and supportive environment, you are helping your child develop good study habits and a love for learning. Encourage your child's curiosity and interests. Support their extracurricular activities, whether joining a sports team, participating in a club, or exploring artistic endeavors. These experiences enhance their development and foster essential teamwork, leadership, and creativity skills. Promote a healthy work-life balance. While academic success is essential, it is equally crucial to prioritize your child's well-being.
Please encourage them to engage in physical activities, maintain healthy sleep habits, and spend quality time with family and friends. A balanced lifestyle contributes to their overall happiness and academic performance.
Lastly, as a politician, I am committed to advocating for quality education and providing the necessary resources and support for our schools. Together, we can work towards creating an educational system that prepares our children for the challenges and opportunities of the future. I appreciate your dedication to your child's education. Your involvement and support are invaluable in shaping their success. Let us work hand in hand to ensure that every child receives the education they deserve.
Working with you,
La Shawn K. Ford
IL. State Representative, Eighth District
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Illinois Kicks Off School Year with Exciting New Updates | |
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Chalkbeat Chicago Reports
August 5, 2024
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Get free school supplies, food, and more at these 42 back-to-school
events in Chicago
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Chicago Public Schools students head back to class Aug. 21 — parents, hold your applause — and many community groups, churches, businesses, and schools are pitching in to prepare students
for the school year.
School supplies can be expensive, so many families rely on events where organizers give away notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, and other essentials.
Our partners at Block Club Chicago rounded up more than 40 giveaways or fundraisers you can check out in your area before the first day of school.
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NBC News Reports
August 5, 2024
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Does Illinois have a back-to-school sales tax holiday for 2024? What to know
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Illinois parents hoping to purchase certain back-to-school items during a sales tax holiday will be disappointed this year.
In 2022, Illinois parents saw some financial relief during back-to-school season in August, thanks to a state law that reduced tax rates on qualifying school supplies, clothing and footwear.
That law, known to many as a "sales tax holiday," didn't occur in 2023 -- and it won't in 2024 either, according to state officials.
The 2022 sales tax holiday, which brought the tax rate down from 6.25% to 1.25%, began on Aug. 5 and ended on Aug. 14. Qualifying purchases included certain clothing and footwear with a retail selling price of less than $125 per item. Eligible school supplies items were not subject to the $125 threshold.
Though Illinois will not hold a sales tax holiday in 2024, many other states will, including Iowa, Florida, Missouri, Ohio, Texas and Tennessee, NerdWallet reported. Eligible items and maximum costs per item vary in each state, ranging from clothing and footwear to books, backpacks and computers.
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Keeping expenses down for back-to-school shopping | |
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CBS Chicago News Reports
August 5, 2024
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Chicago college freshmen get back to school sendoff with supplies and more
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CHICAGO (CBS) — Having the right school supplies might be a small part of the college experience, but for hundreds of Chicago students, their college send-off came with a big surprise announcement, bringing them one step closer to that event.
| | Click the Image Below to Find Free and Affordable School Supplies Near You | |
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Rep. Ford’s Ongoing Push for
Education Reform
| Reforming Educational Funding for a Brighter Future | |
Illinois Democratic Caucus Reports
January 23, 2023
| Ford to Again Lead House Appropriations-Higher Education Committee, Wants to Maintain Historic Investments | |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, will continue to chair the House Appropriations-Higher Education Committee, which last year advocated for $2.9 billion in state funding toward higher education.
“Maintaining a strong public higher education system is critical in providing an affordable education experience available to all residents,” Ford said. “Following the pandemic and the budget impasse Rauner years, it’s important that we make significant investments in these institutions. These colleges play a critical role in the long-term health of our state, and it’s important we listen to them to make sure they are able to meet their demands now and moving forward.”
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Illinois Democratic Caucus Reports
January 23, 2023
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Ford Backs Budget Plan, Emphasizes Investments to Support Education
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Ford, who serves as chair of the House Appropriations-Higher Education Committee, was a leading advocate for increases to higher education funding. In this year’s budget, school funding will increase by $350 million under the evidence-based funding formula. Additionally, there are multi-million increases headed toward early childhood education, childcare and MAP grants. Higher education institutions are also in line to see an increase in funding.
“Education must always be a top priority because it touches every life and every corner of our state,” Ford said. “The decisions we make today have a long-term domino effect, which is why we must make the right investments now. This budget is a positive and responsible step forward we should continue to build on.”
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Austin Weekly News Reports
September 1, 2023
| State funding set, so city colleges plan new community center |  | |
With state funding secured, the new Community Center for Teaching and Learning is on track to open in Austin, next to the City Colleges of Chicago’s West Side Learning Center.
The new facility will provide additional meeting areas for learning center students and Austin area residents and organizations. This is part of the larger effort to expand Malcolm X College’s satellite campus and do more to support the surrounding community. Design and engineering work will kick off later this fall, with the goal of starting construction in fall 2024 and finishing construction by early 2026. The current facility is on Madison Street just east of Cicero Avenue.
Earlier this summer, the $9.5 million project got $5 million in state funding to help make the project a reality – a bill sponsored by local State Rep. La Shawn Ford (8th). He joined other West Side elected officials and city college officials on Aug. 29 to mark the milestone. They all described it as a much-needed investment in the community and its students.
| Revitalizing Disenfranchised Schools to Promote Equity | |
The Crusader Reports
September 8, 2023
| Ford backs Davis Gates, encourages development of a new neighborhood high school in Austin | |
The decision Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) President Stacy Davis Gates made regarding her children’s education is the same decision many West Side families must make as a result of inequitable investment in public school infrastructure, said state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, who is also reiterating his call for a new high school to serve families in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.
“President Davis Gates had to make a choice that is familiar for families across the South and West sides of the city,” Ford said. “In the Austin community, we struggle to access resourced schools to meet the quality standards parents are looking for. So instead of unfairly questioning an educator’s lifetime of commitment to public schools, we should be asking what more needs to be done to strengthen our commitment to public education in these communities of color.”
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Austin Weekly News Reports
June 6, 2024
| Rep. La Shawn K. Ford pushes for construction of high school in Austin | |
La Shawn K.Ford, who represents the 8th District in the Illinois House of Representatives, filed a resolution in May calling for immediate construction of a high school in Austin.
The resolution is an effort to support educational equity on Chicago’s West Side, where student enrollment has been declining for years as a result of school closures and the rise of magnet and charter schools.
“Students go outside of Austin to find schools to meet their needs,” Ford said.
| Diverse Representation in Reading School Materials | |
FOX 32 News Reports
March 29, 2023
| Illinois twins push for more diverse reading assignments in schools | |
CHICAGO - A pair of Illinois twins are on a mission to make school reading assignments more diverse.
The Pierce twins, Phallon and Kyra, wrote legislation last year that passed the Illinois House but failed in the Senate.
The twins have teamed up with state Representative La Shawn Ford to introduce House Bill 24-01, which would require school districts to include authors from all ethnicities and backgrounds in reading assignments for grades kindergarten through 12th.
"We want to make sure that everybody knows that it's not a book ban. It’s simply adding books and adding context with books that kids are reading in schools," said Phallon and Kyra.
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Click the Image Below to
Read HB2401
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The Pierce Twins Reports
March 29, 2023
| Illinois State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford Leads Monumental Press Conference With Pierce Twins | The Pierce Twins have teamed up with IL state Representative La Shawn Ford to introduce House Bill 24-01, which would require school districts to include authors from all ethnicities and backgrounds in reading assignments for grades kindergarten through 12th. The girls addressed the media alongside Rep Ford and Illinois State Representative Dagmara Avelar as part of the effort | Addressing the Link Between Poverty and Higher Education Success | |
The Center Square Reports
February 4, 2024
| Illinois lawmakers lay out their plans to fight poverty | |
"Most of the time, people who are born into poverty will stay in poverty for the rest of their lives if they are not provided an opportunity to go into a trade or a higher education degree," Ford said.
Illinois is listed as the 7th state in the nation in terms of most residents currently living under the poverty line. California finished first. Ohio and Michigan were the only other Midwestern states in the top ten.
| Advocating for a Comprehensive American History Curriculum | |
The Daily Northwestern Reports
June 25, 2020
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State Rep. La Shawn Ford, Evanston community discuss anti-racism in K-12 education
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State Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) and Evanston community leaders advocated for a bill at a Thursday press conference that could address systemic racism in Illinois K-12 education.
HB4954, sponsored by Ford, amends the Illinois School Code on several accounts including mandating black history. An amendment, authored by Evanston resident and advocate Meleika Gardner, calls for adding pre-enslavement content to the black history canon.
The amended bill was brought before the Illinois House Committee in March and passed with 14 in favor and seven opposed. Ford held the conference in Fountain Square to raise awareness for the legislation ahead of the second House reading.
“One of the reasons we celebrate Black History Month is because this nation knows that we’re not teaching black history,” Ford said, calling the bill “the most important bill we could pass in Illinois.”
| Click the Image Below to Read HB4954 | |
The Daily Northwestern Reports
August 2, 2020
| State Rep. calls for a diverse history curriculum and the suspension of Illinois history classes until that is achieved | |
State Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) called for the replacement of history classes with civics lessons until the state’s curriculum and textbooks are updated to be adequately diverse as he stood alongside Evanston community leaders at a press conference Sunday.
The event, co-hosted by Evanston resident Meleika Gardner, was a follow-up to a June press conference regarding Ford’s bill that, among other things, would amend the Illinois School Code to mandate black history in K-12 education. This time, the conference discussed a curriculum that highlights a wide array of minority experiences.
| Rep. La Shawn Ford Demands Major Changes To History Teaching | |
The New York Post Reports
August 4, 2020
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Illinois lawmaker wants to abolish history curriculum that leads
to ‘racist society'
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An Illinois lawmaker is calling on schools to abolish history classes until a new curriculum can be created that doesn’t create a “racist society.”
State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford has argued that “current school history teaching leads to white privilege and a racist society,” NBC5 reported.
“When it comes to teaching history in Illinois, we need to end the miseducation of Illinoisans,” the Democratic representative said in a statement.
“I’m calling on the Illinois State Board of Education and local school districts to take immediate action by removing current history books and curriculum practices that unfairly communicate our history.”
| State Representative La Shawn K. Ford Fights for Inclusive American History Education in Illinois |
"Without an educated citizenry, democracy cannot survive."
-Thurgood Marshall, Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and Lead Attorney for NAACP in Brown v. Board of Education
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District-Wide Back-to-School Update
Key Information for All Schools in the Eighth District of Illinois
| Connect with the Superintendent | |
School Calendar
2024-2025
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Berwyn North and Brookfield: No transportation services for students
Riverside statement regarding student transportation: "Given the size of the district and the overall proximity of our neighborhood schools, we do not offer general transportation services. Students who qualify for transportation through the IEP process may be provided with transportation."
| Special Education esources | |
Nourishing Success
How Proper Nutrition Supports
Academic Achievement
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Dear Parents,
As we get ready for a successful 2024-2025 school year, it's important to keep in mind that the nutrition your child receives during the school year is just as vital as the school supplies packed in their backpacks. Research consistently shows a strong connection between proper nutrition and enhanced academic performance and behavior.
We’re all familiar with the term “hangry,” a blend of hungry and angry that describes how people can become irritable due to hunger. But is being hangry real? Indeed, it is. Research shows that low blood sugar and the resulting hormonal changes can lead to irritability and anger. Hunger triggers hormonal shifts similar to those seen in anger, fear, and sadness, as the brain responds to the lack of glucose by signaling the body to correct this imbalance.
Hunger can lead to behavioral challenges, such as disrupting other students, and can create emotional and social difficulties. It affects a student’s ability to concentrate, which can lower performance in reading, math, vocabulary, and other areas. Teachers have noted that hungry students might lose up to an hour of learning each day. Studies show that 80% of teachers see hunger impacting concentration, 76% observe decreased academic performance, 62% notice increased behavioral issues, and 47% see more frequent illnesses.
Moreover, consuming unhealthy foods can impair cognitive function and memory. Excessive refined sugars, saturated fats, and processed foods can lead to what’s known as “brain fog,” making it harder for students to focus and retain information. On the other hand, nutritious meals and snacks that are high in fruits and vegetables can support steady energy levels, improved focus, and better academic performance.
Unfortunately, not every child has consistent access to nutritious food. Black communities, in particular, face higher rates of food insecurity. In 2022, nearly 23% of Black Americans experienced food insecurity, nearly 2.5 times the rate of white Americans. Additionally, 29% of Black children lived in food-insecure households, meaning one in three Black children lacks reliable access to food.
A significant factor contributing to this issue is the racial wealth gap, which impacts Black families' ability to afford and prepare healthy meals. The racial pay gap means Black workers earn 76 cents for every dollar earned by white workers. This disparity often necessitates longer working hours, leaving less time for meal preparation. Consequently, many families rely on fast food and processed options that are more convenient but less nutritious.
To boost your child’s academic success, focus on healthy eating by incorporating more whole foods, such as fresh fruits (like apples and berries), vegetables (like leafy greens and carrots), and lean proteins (like chicken breast and tofu). At the same time, reduce intake of processed foods high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fats. Examples of these less healthy options include sugary snacks (such as cookies and candy), sugary beverages (like soda and sweetened juices), processed meats (such as bacon and sausages), and fried foods (like chips and fast food).
A good rule of thumb is to shop for foods located around the perimeter of the grocery store, which typically feature whole foods, as opposed to the aisles, which are often stocked with highly processed and sugary items.
Healthy eating doesn’t have to be costly or time-consuming. By planning your grocery budget, making a list of nutritious meals (such as quinoa salads and vegetable stir-fries), and using store coupons, you can save money while ensuring your family enjoys balanced meals. Additionally, investing in food preservation tools like airtight containers and vacuum sealers can help cut down on waste and streamline meal preparation, making it easier to freeze and store meals for future use.
While these practices might seem challenging at first, they will ultimately have a profound and lasting impact on your child’s behavior, academic success, and overall well-being. For additional support, be sure to explore the employment section of Rep. Ford's daily newsletter for information on educational and job opportunities that could boost your household income. Additionally, consider engaging with your local representatives about strategies to address food deserts and promote health equity in our communities. By working together, we can create a healthier and stronger future for our children.
For more information on building a healthier household, please refer to the resources below.
Take care,
Dr. Chezalyn Grant, ND
Health Equity Coordinator for State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
| Resources to Support Family Nutrition | Click Image Below to Apply for SNAP Benefits | Click Images Below to Read More About Nutrition Resources in Illinois | |
Click the Images Below to Discover How to Prepare Quick, Nutritious, and Budget-Friendly Meals that the Whole
Family will Love
| Click the Images Below to Discover How to Safely Store Fresh Food and Leftovers Efficiently to Prevent Food Waste | Rep. Ford's Job Highlights | Click Below to View Rep. Ford's Job Highlights of the Week | | | | |
