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SupportRPS.org
Support RPS is made up of Rockford parents, neighbors, alumni, and volunteers. People who simply believe in our public schools and the students they serve. No membership fee. No partisan agenda. Just a shared belief that a strong, well-funded school district makes our whole community stronger.
Add your name to our public statement of support for RPS.
Help fund our outreach and advocacy work. Every dollar stays local.
Tell us about a teacher, program, or moment that made a difference.
Opt in to help with upcoming efforts as the initiative grows.
For decades, families have chosen to call Rockford home, in large part due to the quality education provided here. In a world where change is constant, one thing that remains steady is Rockford Public Schools as one of the state's best school districts. This education connects us all and inspires us to take action to ensure this tradition of excellence continues.
Support RPS is a 100% parent- and volunteer-led group committed to supporting our district and K-12 public education through service, advocacy, and accurate information. No membership fee. No partisan agenda.
Today, we ask you to join us. Sign your name. Lend your voice. Strengthen the community support our schools need to thrive.
There is strength in numbers. By signing below, you are joining a growing movement committed to the long-term strength of RPS and its impact on our entire community.
We believe all kids deserve access to safe, quality, and well-funded public schools.
These critical funds go toward the district's general operating budget and day-to-day school operations. A failure to renew this existing millage would be a substantial blow to our students: deep cuts to teachers, staff, classrooms, instructional materials, and so much more.
There is strength in numbers. By adding your name, you are joining a growing movement committed to the long-term strength of RPS and its impact on our entire community.
Add your name to stand publicly with Rockford Public Schools. No cost, no obligation, just a shared belief that our students deserve a district that keeps growing stronger together.
Privacy notice: Support RPS will never disclose, share, or sell any personal information submitted through this form. Your name and contact details are collected solely for the purpose of this initiative and will not be passed to any third party for any reason.
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Everything we do comes back to three commitments:
Every student deserves a quality, safe, and well-funded public school system. The opportunities our kids deserve don't happen without real, sustained investment. We advocate for funding and policies that protect the ability of RPS to serve every student well.
Decisions should be grounded in data and evidence. When rumors or misinformation shape opinions about our district, we are committed to providing accurate information to ensure our community has the facts it needs to stay informed.
The teachers, staff, programs, and everyday moments that make a real difference deserve to be recognized. We want to make sure the successes happening across our schools are seen and shared.
Bonds, millages, operating funds, sinking funds — what does it all mean? A plain-language guide to school funding so Rockford residents can make an informed vote on November 3.
The ballot says 21 mills, but schools only need 18. Here's a plain-language breakdown of the Headlee Amendment, the Headlee Override, and what it all means for Rockford students.
Support RPS asked every school board candidate two questions about the non-homestead operating millage. Their answers, published in full and unedited.
A deeper look at how school funding is calculated, what a failed millage renewal would mean for Rockford students, and a real-time case study from Michigan.
What exactly is the RPS non-homestead operating millage? We break down each term — what it taxes, what it funds, and who actually pays it.
85.4% of Rockford third graders achieved grade-level understanding on M-STEP ELA. Here's the full context behind that number and why it matters.
A PAC (Political Action Committee) is simply a group of people who pool resources to communicate about issues they care about. For us, it's a way to ensure accurate information about Rockford Public Schools has a voice.
Support RPS was started by a group of involved RPS parents — current and former PTO officers, classroom volunteers, room parents, and more — who have spent years supporting our schools. Over time, we have seen the district increasingly pressed to do more with less, and while they have, it doesn't mean they should. We want to fight for their ability to do more with more.
We formed a PAC, as governed by campaign finance laws, in order to reach more people through paid efforts like yard signs, mailings, and other outreach efforts. Our goals are simple: share accurate information, advocate for the strong, well-funded public school system our students and community deserve, and highlight the good happening in our schools.
We didn't have to look far. We invited an RHS student who is launching his own website design business to create our site. He generously donated his time and talents to Support RPS, giving us a beautiful website while giving him an opportunity to put his skills into practice.
We're especially proud that this site was built by an RPS student. It's a small but meaningful example of the talent, initiative, and opportunities that an RPS education can foster.
Our Leadership Committee is made up of Heather Berkenpas, Rita Proctor, Jessie Salo, Megan Scanlan, and Jenny Steele. They are all parents of current RPS students ranging from Pre-K up to 12th grade.
We love the Rockford Education Foundation and are grateful for the work of the many booster clubs throughout our community. All of these organizations play an important role in supporting students. The difference is our focus and purpose.
The Rockford Education Foundation raises funds to support educational opportunities throughout the broader Rockford community. Booster clubs typically focus on a particular school, team, activity, or program, raising money to provide additional opportunities and resources for those students.
Support RPS is focused specifically on advocacy for Rockford Public Schools as a whole. Our PAC funds are used for communication and outreach — things like yard signs, mailings, digital communication, and other efforts to share accurate information and highlight the positive things happening across RPS. We also want to have an active voice in the community. That means sharing data and facts, addressing misinformation, celebrating the work happening in our schools, and advocating for issues that affect the future of RPS, including support for the upcoming millage.
In short, REF and booster clubs raise funds to directly support students and educational opportunities. Support RPS raises funds to advocate for and communicate about the future of Rockford Public Schools. We see these efforts as complementary, and we're proud to support organizations that are working to make our community stronger.
Have a question or a story?
We'd love to hear from you.
