Classrooms First Act could put millions into Illinois schools

By Dylan Sharkey

01/17/2022

A bill to cut Illinois’ redundant school district bureaucracy could offer over $300 per student for classroom instruction. No schools would close as Illinois strived to cut administration costs that are double the U.S. average.

TAGS: Classrooms First Act, education spending, school district consolidation

How to expand success of Illinois’ tax credit scholarships

By Dylan Sharkey

01/14/2022

The Invest in Kids scholarship tax credit program helps low-income families pay for private schools. Making the program permanent and expanding it would help more students attend schools that best fit their needs.

TAGS: Illinois, Invest in Kids, school choice

Illinois teachers sue Pritzker over COVID-19 school mandates

By Patrick Andriesen

12/14/2021

A class-action lawsuit filed by 88 Illinois teachers seeks to block Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 mandates on shots, tests and vaccinations for school personnel.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, masks, teachers union

Holiday scratch-offs are no gift to Illinois schools

By Dylan Sharkey

12/13/2021

Some states promote holiday scratchers as a way to help schools, but in Illinois that claim would land you on the naughty list.

TAGS: illinois lottery

Keep investing in Illinois’ Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships

By Amy Korte

12/08/2021

Illinois state lawmakers resisted efforts to cut tax credit scholarships in Illinois, instead extending the program. Now low-income and minority students need them to make the scholarships permanent so they can get the educations that best fit their needs.

TAGS: education, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, private schools, school, school choice, tax credit scholarships, tax credits, taxes

Invest in Kids Act could reduce inequality, lower crime in Illinois’ big cities

By Orphe Divounguy

12/03/2021

A solid education and satisfying employment will go a long way toward reducing crime in Illinois. State lawmakers already have a solution in place, but it needs a boost.

TAGS: crime, Illinois, Invest in Kids, school choice

Nearly 1 in 3 Illinois students didn’t take assessment tests

By Dylan Sharkey

12/03/2021

Lots of Illinois students missed lots of school during 2021, meaning state test scores suffered. Chronic truancy led to drops across demographics.

Chicago schools prep for omicron, let some unvaccinated students test out of COVID-19 quarantine

By Dylan Sharkey

12/02/2021

Chicago Public Schools will increase testing and give unvaccinated students a chance to test out of quarantine after exposure to COVID-19. Administrators are bracing for the omicron variant

TAGS: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, vaccine mandate

Statewide COVID-19 school mandates draw ire of superintendents

By Patrick Andriesen

11/22/2021

A group of school district superintendents called on the Illinois State Board of Education to oppose statewide mask and other mandates, letting local schools decide how best to handle COVID-19 mitigation.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, JB Pritzker, masks

Equating parents with terrorists leads Illinois Association of School Boards to quit U.S. group

By Patrick Andriesen

11/22/2021

The Illinois Association of School Boards is among 15 state boards to terminate their National School Boards Association membership after the national group sent a letter to President Biden asking that upset parent be monitored as domestic terrorists.

TAGS: COVID-19, IASB: Illinois Association of School Boards, NSBA: National School Boards Association