Illinois families catching crossfire in scholarship fight

By Austin Berg

05/17/2018

Despite that booming demand, there are political efforts afoot to crush the scholarship program.

TAGS: education, Invest in Kids, school choice, tax credits

Lawmakers seek to dismantle school-choice scholarship program for low-income students

By Vincent Caruso

04/25/2018

A bill in the Illinois Senate could axe the state’s first-ever tax credit scholarship program.

TAGS: education, Invest in Kids, opportunity scholarships, school choice

House committee passes tackle football ban for Illinoisans under age 12

By Brendan Bakala

03/01/2018

The CTE Prevention Act would forbid any child under the age of 12 from playing tackle football.

TAGS: CTE Prevention Act, education, football, regulations

Illinois spends more on education, but outcomes lag

By Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

02/25/2018

Misplaced priorities in Illinois' education system may be the reason students are less prepared for college than peers in other states.

TAGS: college readiness, education, property taxes, Spending, taxes

In need of a comeback story, Illinoisans give thanks to their champions

By Austin Berg

11/30/2017

In a state that can seem devoid of hope, Joe Ocol’s empathy and generosity are something we all should cherish.

TAGS: education, Joe Ocol

Illinois General Assembly passes cursive writing mandate

By Joe Kaiser

11/08/2017

Despite the potential for imposing new costs on school districts, Illinois lawmakers overrode Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto on a bill mandating cursive writing instruction.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Chris Welch, education

Report: City Colleges of Chicago watered down standards, issued thousands more degrees

By Brendan Bakala

11/04/2017

Illinois’ largest community college system saw a decrease in enrollment, but a doubling of degrees.

TAGS: BGA: Better Government Association, Chicago, Chicago City College, higher education

Rauner signs school funding plan, tax credit scholarships into law

By Austin Berg

08/31/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed a school funding reform bill containing Illinois’ first-ever tax credit scholarship program.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, property taxes

Rahm’s celebration of test results ignores how CPS is still failing students

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

08/31/2017

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is touting a specific set of test scores showing improving student performance, while sweeping larger achievement problems under the rug.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, Rahm Emanuel

Is your family eligible for Illinois’ tax credit scholarships?

By Mindy Ruckman

08/30/2017

The tax credit scholarship program included in the school funding proposal passed by the General Assembly would be the first of its kind in Illinois, and one of the largest of such programs in the nation.

TAGS: education, school choice, tax credits