Lawmakers consider renewing Invest in Kids scholarships
Lawmakers consider renewing Invest in Kids scholarships
A new bill would revive a scholarship program that was stripped from 9,600 low-income Illinois students, ending their best chances to attend schools of their choice.
By Dylan Sharkey
Our perspective: Parents, schools scrambling without low-income scholarships
Our perspective: Parents, schools scrambling without low-income scholarships
State lawmakers failed to save the Invest in Kids program allowing nearly 10,000 low-income students to attend a school that better fit their needs. Now some of those schools are being forced to close and families are left with poor options.
By Hilary Gowins
Vallas: Want democracy in Chicago Public Schools? Elect all 21 board members
Vallas: Want democracy in Chicago Public Schools? Elect all 21 board members
The Chicago Teachers Union for decades pushed to elect the school board, but with their former employee in the mayor’s office they rather he choose most of the board for a little while longer.
By Paul Vallas
Chicago’s chronic school absences hit Hispanic students hard
Chicago’s chronic school absences hit Hispanic students hard
Absenteeism rates among Hispanic students in Chicago Public Schools are chronically high. Proficiency in reading and math is low.
By Hannah Schmid
2-in-5 Illinois low-income students chronically absent
2-in-5 Illinois low-income students chronically absent
Chronic absenteeism rates among Illinois public school students increased after the pandemic-era school closures. Rates are even higher among low-income students, limiting their futures.
By Hannah Schmid
More than 2-in-5 Chicago low-income students chronically absent
More than 2-in-5 Chicago low-income students chronically absent
Chronic absenteeism rates are higher in Chicago than statewide, with 44% of low-income Chicago students missing at least 10% of their days in school.
By Hannah Schmid
4 Illinois schools closing without Invest in Kids scholarships, others at risk
4 Illinois schools closing without Invest in Kids scholarships, others at risk
With Invest in Kids scholarships expiring, four schools across Illinois already decided to close their doors for good. Futures for nearly 10,000 low-income students remain uncertain.
By Dylan Sharkey
18 states embrace school choice as Illinois hurts low-income families
18 states embrace school choice as Illinois hurts low-income families
Seven states enacted new private school choice programs in 2023 and 11 states expanded existing programs. But Illinois killed its Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarship program, ending the only help for nearly 10,000 low-income students.
By Hannah Schmid
Illinois bill would give unions platform for indoctrination in Illinois schools
Illinois bill would give unions platform for indoctrination in Illinois schools
House Bill 4417 requires an annual “Workplace Readiness Week” in all Illinois high schools, which focuses not on getting kids ready for jobs but on the labor movement’s role in the workplace.
By Mailee Smith
Over $23 million in tech devices missing from Chicago Public Schools
Over $23 million in tech devices missing from Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools Inspector General’s report showed 77,505 devices were lost or stolen during the 2021-2022 school year. At 36 schools, every single student device was gone.
By Hannah Schmid
Chicago Board of Education wants to take police out of schools
Chicago Board of Education wants to take police out of schools
The Chicago Board of Education is preparing to remove police officers from public high schools. Local School Councils already have the power to remove officers, but district leaders are taking away that local control.
By Hannah Schmid
1 in 5 Illinois adults is illiterate, but it’s 1 in 4 in Cook County
1 in 5 Illinois adults is illiterate, but it’s 1 in 4 in Cook County
Research shows income and adult literacy are strongly related. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show 20% of Illinois adults are “functionally illiterate.” Cook County’s rate is 25%.
By Hannah Schmid
Vallas: How to empower Chicago communities to save failing schools
Vallas: How to empower Chicago communities to save failing schools
Innovation can help Chicago Public Schools improve academic proficiency, but it requires breaking up the centralized power built by the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools. Local control can improve student outcomes.
By Paul Vallas
Illinois mandated annual reports on Invest in Kids: 4 years, no reports
Illinois mandated annual reports on Invest in Kids: 4 years, no reports
The Illinois State Board of Education failed to publish diagnostic reports required by the Invest in Kids Act to track scholarship recipients’ progress starting in 2019. State lawmakers are letting the program expire without seeing a single report.
By Patrick Andriesen