Sarah Tafoya
Sarah Tafoya
“It's so nice, and comforting, to know that there are people out there who want to help families like ours, and want to make sure that the next generation of kids get the education that is best suited to them.”
Keep investing in Illinois’ Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships
Keep investing in Illinois’ Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships
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.
Sheila Passehl
Sheila Passehl
“Private education has positively impacted my children in so many ways. They’ve built friendships. They attend Mass together as a school community weekly and on holy days.”
Lucas Stangler
Lucas Stangler
“The tax credit scholarship program has enabled so many families that want to come to St. Jude to be able to do it financially. I think that’s the most important impact that the program has had."
Invest in Kids Act could reduce inequality, lower crime in Illinois’ big cities
Invest in Kids Act could reduce inequality, lower crime in Illinois’ big cities
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.
Nearly 1 in 3 Illinois students didn’t take assessment tests
Nearly 1 in 3 Illinois students didn’t take assessment tests
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
Chicago schools prep for omicron, let some unvaccinated students test out of COVID-19 quarantine
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
Statewide COVID-19 school mandates draw ire of superintendents
Statewide COVID-19 school mandates draw ire of superintendents
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.
Equating parents with terrorists leads Illinois Association of School Boards to quit U.S. group
Equating parents with terrorists leads Illinois Association of School Boards to quit U.S. group
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.
Jeremiah made it, but 2 Illinois education reforms could help others
Jeremiah made it, but 2 Illinois education reforms could help others
Illinois has too much school district administration. It has too much education pension debt. There are ways to solve those problems to help students facing challenges and taxpayers facing ever-increasing demands.
Chicago schools cancel class for COVID-19 ‘Vaccine Awareness Day’
Chicago schools cancel class for COVID-19 ‘Vaccine Awareness Day’
Chicago Public Schools declared a day off for students ages 5 to 11 to get their COVID-19 shots. But little notice and the fact the vaccines were just approved for younger children mean parents face challenges to actually getting shots for their kids.
1-in-5 Illinois students chronically truant thanks to COVID-19 mandates
1-in-5 Illinois students chronically truant thanks to COVID-19 mandates
Illinois students were missing – in masses – during the COVID-19 restrictions on in-person learning. As a result, nearly 20% fewer students met math and English proficiency standards.
Amendment 1 will cement teacher strikes in Illinois Constitution
Amendment 1 will cement teacher strikes in Illinois Constitution
Voters will decide in November 2022 whether teachers’ unions will have a permanent right to walk out on students.
Chicago Sky standout’s rise started with scholarship to private school
Chicago Sky standout’s rise started with scholarship to private school
Allie Quigley’s team just brought Chicago the WNBA championship, but her success story started with someone donating a scholarship that let her and her siblings attend private school. The result: lessons that built a champion.