The Illinois Federation of Teachers has poured more than $11 million into state lawmakers’ campaigns. Lawmakers then did IFT’s bidding on more than 2-in-5 bills in 2025, with what they wanted often hurting students’ and parents’ best interests.
The Illinois Federation of Teachers has funneled more than $11 million into the campaign coffers of 135 current members of the Illinois General Assembly, according to data from the Illinois State Board of Elections.
That political spending appears to be paying off.
It’s not quite the halfway point in the 104th Illinois General Assembly, but IFT has already seen lawmakers do its bidding on more than 40% of the bills on which the union registered its official position.
But Illinoisans – and many of IFT’s own members – may be surprised at some of the ideas IFT supported or opposed.
IFT’s legislative stances work against students’ and parents’ interests
From supporting the weakening of educational accountability to opposing transparency when a teacher is being investigated for sexual misconduct, some of IFT’s stances may concern many Illinoisans, including IFT’s own members.
For example, IFT worked to push the following:
- Supported delaying law enforcement access to schools: House Bill 3247 (enacted) relates to immigration, but it also requires districts to develop policies on the review of warrants that could delay the entrance of law enforcement on nonimmigration matters as well.
- Supported weakening educational accountability: Senate Bill 28 (enacted) removes student growth components from the evaluations of principals and teachers. An additional bill which did not pass would have watered down the categories of evaluation ratings, changing an evaluation of a teacher who “needs improvement” under the previous system to now being considered “effective.”
- Supported restricting school district flexibility during emergency situations: Senate Bill 1799 (enacted) further restricts when school districts can hire third-party non-instructional services during emergency situations.
IFT worked against the following:
- Opposed transparency related to school district employee misconduct: Senate Bill 1329 (enacted) amends the school code to allow the State Superintendent of Education to notify a teacher’s school if he or she is being investigated for serious physical injury or sexual misconduct. The introduced version, on which IFT filed its opposition, would have allowed a notice of hearing regarding the situation to be made public to third parties. It is the only bill IFT opposed that was passed by lawmakers.
- Opposed parental rights: HB 1269 would have required written parental consent before students participate in any school survey that includes “personal, protected information.”
- Opposed literacy help for schoolchildren: HB 2918 would have required school districts to screen students in kindergarten through second grade for risk factors of dyslexia using a universal screening and included next steps and required framework for support or intervention. HB 3009 would have required districts to notify parents of their child’s reading deficiency.
While these are just a handful of bills IFT supported or opposed in 2025, they provide a glimpse into the union’s agenda. It does not focus on students or teachers, but on promoting policies that run counter to the opinions of many Illinoisans and even many of its own members.
IFT has given more than $11 million to current members of the Illinois General Assembly
Like its affiliate the Chicago Teachers Union, IFT is a big political spender in Springfield. Since 2010, IFT has contributed at least $11,450,007 to current lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly.
Of the 177 members in the legislature, at least 135 have received IFT money. That’s more than 3-in-4 lawmakers.
IFT’s contributions include:
- $6,672,697 to current Illinois state representatives.
- $4,777,310 to current Illinois state senators.
- Donations to 117 of the 118 Democrats.
- Donations to just 18 of the 59 Republicans.
Of that over $11.4 million, $11,334,632 – or 99% – went to Democratic politicians.
Lawmakers did IFT’s bidding on 2-in-5 bills
The 2025 regular session of the 104th Illinois General Assembly ran from Jan. 8 through May 31. During that time, IFT filed its official position on 43 bills and resolutions, according to data from the Illinois General Assembly.
Lawmakers followed IFT’s lead on more than 2-in-5 of those bills and resolutions:
In total, IFT got lawmakers to do its bidding on 18 of the 43 bills it lobbied over.
In Springfield, money seems to be the best amplifier of special-interest voices. Too bad it drowns out the needs of the state’s struggling students.
