Highest paid superintendent in Illinois history fired for ‘pay padding’

By Vincent Caruso

11/01/2018

Following an investigation into allegations of “pay padding,” among other offenses, Calumet school district board members dismissed Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent less than a week before retirement.

TAGS: Calumet School District 155, education, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, troy paraday

Cursive mandate greets Illinois elementary school students this fall

By Vincent Caruso

08/21/2018

Lawmakers overrode the governor’s veto of a 2017 bill mandating cursive instruction in all public elementary schools in Illinois. That measure becomes law this year.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Chris Welch, ISFRC: Illinois School Funding Reform Commission, unfunded mandates

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