The president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) has reportedly received a significant annual salary increase, at a time when many students across Illinois continue to face difficulties with reading proficiency.
The IFT Executive Board approved a pay raise for IFT President Stacy Davis Gates, elevating her compensation for that position from $180,000 to $250,000 annually, according to an October 29 report. This state-level increase supplements her existing salary as president of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), where public records indicate she earned just under $195,000. Combined, her total annual compensation is estimated to be approximately $445,000.
Scrutiny Over Compensation Amid Educational Challenges
This nearly 39% pay increase for her IFT role has attracted criticism from the Illinois Policy Institute, a free-market think tank. Mailee Smith, a representative from the institute, commented on the situation.
“Davis Gates’ raise reflects the same misplaced priorities seeping into the Illinois Federation of Teachers: more dues money going toward leadership compensation instead of serving members,” Smith stated.
Smith also highlighted the considerable difference between Davis Gates' reported earnings and the salaries of typical classroom teachers.
“Teachers look for support in their classrooms and representation at the bargaining table,” Smith added. “A nearly 39% raise for a leader does not help with either of those, especially when the average Illinois teacher only makes a fraction of Davis Gates’ total combined annual salary of $445,000.”
The compensation boost comes as Illinois educational institutions grapple with questions surrounding student proficiency in both reading and mathematics.
Context of Student Achievement Data
Recent findings from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly referred to as the Nation's Report Card, indicate that only 30% of Illinois fourth graders achieved a proficient level or higher in reading. For eighth graders, this figure was slightly higher at 33%.
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) data also reveals notable gaps in student proficiency. In Chicago, 23% of fourth graders reached or surpassed the NAEP Proficient level in reading in 2024. In mathematics, 60% of fourth graders scored at or above the NAEP Basic level, marking a slight increase from 59% in 2022 and an improvement from 50% in 2003.
The Illinois Policy Institute further reported that, based on data from the 2026 Illinois Report Card, 46% of CPS students in grades three through eight met reading proficiency standards during the 2025-26 school year. Among CPS 11th graders who took the ACT, the institute noted that 44% demonstrated proficiency in reading and 28% in math.
Smith emphasized the importance of state and local leaders in Illinois prioritizing classroom needs.
“It also follows a record of double standards: Davis Gates has demanded others pay their ‘fair share,’ but let her own utility bills pile up,” Smith continued. “She chose private school for her own child while opposing scholarships for low-income families. Now she’s receiving a large raise right after local teachers rejected a dues hike to protect their paychecks.”