5 things you should know about putting students ahead of administration
The Illinois House of Representatives passed the Classrooms First Act by a unanimous vote March 28. If it becomes law, students, teachers and taxpayers will benefit.
Pritzker budget slashes school choice scholarships for low-income students
The Pritzker administration’s first budget proposes phasing out a school choice program for disadvantaged families. Low-income families loved the program. Public teachers’ unions decried it.
Teachers’ unions spend millions on hotels, airlines and catering – but don’t tell members why
NEA and AFT racked up millions of dollars in travel and catering expenses. Their reporting documents don’t always explain the intent, including why a cruise line received union money.
Fraction of Illinois teachers’ union dues spent representing members
Recent federal filings by Illinois teachers’ unions show as little as 13 cents of every dollar was spent for “representational activities” – which is supposed to be the central purpose of the unions.
Teachers’ union dues flow to Chicago, but rest of Illinois gets little
Illinois public school educators are charged hundreds of dollars in union dues each year – but the state and national affiliates don’t send much money back to the locals. Most money flows to Chicago, or out of state.
Highest paid superintendent in Illinois history fired for ‘pay padding’
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.
Cursive mandate greets Illinois elementary school students this fall
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.
Illinois General Assembly passes cursive writing mandate
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.