Founded in 1853, the Illinois Education Association (IEA) and its predecessors have played a vital role in shaping the Illinois public school system. Thomas J. Suhrbur's history covers the lifespan of the IEA within the larger story of state public education as a battleground for contentious social and economic issues. Suhrbur pays particular attention to the impact of race, gender, religion, and tax policy on the IEA and public schools. He also examines the IEA's evolution from a professional organization controlled by administrations and officials through its radical transformation into a teacher-led independent labor union. As a workers' organization, the IEA successfully fought for collective bargaining and organized K-12 and higher education while continually standing against right-wing efforts to privatize education and undermine public schools with vouchers, for-profit institutions, and tax credits.

Multifaceted and up to date, Public Education and Social Reform tells the story of the organization and figures dedicated to sustaining and advancing Illinois public education.