Tag Archives: Michelle Mussman

Illinois Adopts the Nation’s First Mandatory Mental Health Screening for Students

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Alyssa Sonnenburg

This summer, Illinois became the first state in the nation to require public school students, grades three through twelve, to be screened for mental health issues, beginning the 2027-28 school year.

Posted in Education, Illinois Politics | Tagged Abigail Shrier, Adam Niemerg, Anna Moeller, Dave Smith, Dave Vella, education, Governor Pritzker, Kelly M. Cassidy, Kevin John Olickal, Kimberly A. Lightford, Laura Faver Dias, Laura Fine, Lindsey LaPointe, Mary Gill, Michael Crawford, Michael J. Kelly, Michelle Mussman, Nabeela Syed, New York Post, Nicolle Grasse, public school, Sara Feigenholtz, SB 1560, Stephanie A. Kifowit, Terra Costa Howard, Tracy Katz Muhl | Comments Off

Step Up, Illinois Homeschoolers

Posted on February 27, 2025 by David E Smith

As of this week, 15 Illinois House members are willing to sign onto the 45-page legislation and support an unprecedented attack on parental rights. HB 2827 would diminish homeschool freedoms in the state.

Posted in Education | Tagged Cherry Pie Day, COVID, education choice, HB 2827, homeschooling, Kelly M. Cassidy, Michelle Mussman, National Household Education Survey, Ricca Slone, Terra Costa Howard, The Homeschool Act | Comments Off

Illinois Homeschool Freedoms at Risk!

Posted on February 15, 2025 by David E Smith

Over the years, we have loved being able to tell people that Illinois was among the best states with homeschooling freedoms. That is thanks, in part to a 1950 case (People v. Levisen) in which the Illinois Supreme Court determined that the term "private school" included instruction given to a child at home, as long as the instruction was adequate.

Posted in Education | Tagged Home Education, homeschooling, Kelly Cassidy, Michelle Mussman, People v. Levisen, Terra Costa Howard | Comments Off

Gaslighting, Smoke, Mirrors, & Money

Posted on April 19, 2024 by David E Smith

Some Illinois lawmakers recently joined the licensed cannabis industry in calling for a ban on Delta-8 hemp products. This partnership has been a match made in heaven for the industry since Illinois lawmakers did their bidding by legalizing high-potency marijuana for recreational use.

And if you’re paying attention to the numerous, pro-drug bills still being filed (see below), you’ll conclude that these legislators are still in cannabis companies’ back pockets.

Hemp is the cousin of marijuana. It is used in food products, natural remedies, fabric, rope, and more. Hemp-derived CBD products are also sold widely.

You might have heard that …

Posted in Drugs/Alcohol/Addictions | Tagged Barbara Hernandez, Curtis Tarver, Delta-10, Delta-8, Delta-9, Eva-Dina Delgado, hemp, Kambium Buckner, Kevin Olickal, LaShawn Ford, Marcus Evans, marijuana, Mary Flowers, Michelle Mussman, Nicholas Smith, Norine Hammond, Schedule I, THC | Comments Off

Time to File Witness Slips & Make Your Voice Heard

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Kathy Valente

Many bills have been filed since the start of this second half of the legislative session. IFI is keeping a close watch on which get assigned to a committee so that you, as an Illinois voter, can make your position known by filing a witness slip.

Posted in Illinois Politics | Tagged Buddhism, Dave Vella, Hindu Darshana, Jainism, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, John Cabello, Julie Morrison, Margaret Croke, Michelle Mussman, Rachel Ventura | Comments Off

Institutional Grooming in Illinois

Posted on February 1, 2023 by David E Smith

It has been almost 20 years since it has been documented that children in our schools are in grave danger of being sexually abused by teachers. In 2004, Charol Shakeshaft completed a U.S. Department of Education sponsored study on Educator Sexual Misconduct. The seminal findings showed that 9.6% of children in our schools, public and private, are victims of educator sexual misconduct sometime between kindergarten and 12th grade.

Posted in Education | Tagged Advocates for Youth, Answer, Charol Shakeshaft, Chicago Public Schools, Educator Sexual Misconduct, Faith Colson, Faith’s Law, institutionalized grooming, Michelle Mussman, National Sex Education Standards, Office of Inspector General, Planned Parenthood, SB 818, SIECUS, teacher unions, u.s. department of education | Comments Off

Parental Rights Usurpers in Springfield Aren’t Done with Our Children Yet

Posted on March 2, 2020 by David E Smith

Last month, two terrible bills were introduced to amend Illinois’ already offensive comprehensive sex ed law. Then, last week, the so-called "Responsible Education Adolescent and Children's Health" (REACH) Act was introduced. It is heartily endorsed by Planned Parenthood of Illinois and by Illinois' premiere "LBGT" activist organization, Equality Illinois, which should tell you everything you need to know about it.

Posted in Education, Sexuality | Tagged Ann Williams, Celina Villanueva, Comprehensive Sex Ed, HB 5012, Ipsos Mori, Kelly Cassidy, Laura Fine, Michelle Mussman, SB 2762, SB 3788 | Comments Off