Kimberly Brooks
Kimberly Brooks
"Through the Empower Illinois website you can designate which school the funds go to, so we designate the money to our children’s school so we can say with confidence that our donations go to families at the school."
Classrooms First Act unanimously passes Illinois House committee
Classrooms First Act unanimously passes Illinois House committee
A bill to channel education dollars from duplicate bureaucracy and into classrooms or back to property taxpayers won committee approval. It is headed for a full vote in the Illinois House.
Three myths about district consolidation under the Classrooms First Act
Three myths about district consolidation under the Classrooms First Act
A bill that could reduce property taxes and improve education quality faces a misinformation campaign from school district administrators seeking to preserve wasteful bureaucracy. Here are the facts about the Classrooms First Act.
Consolidating school districts could cut family’s tax bill by $1,030
Consolidating school districts could cut family’s tax bill by $1,030
House Bill 7 would create a process to review and recommend consolidating school district administration, with the goal of cutting bureaucracy so the money goes to classrooms or back to taxpayers.
113 six-figure school district administrators oppose Classrooms First Act
113 six-figure school district administrators oppose Classrooms First Act
Of the 113 school district administrators earning six-figure salaries who oppose a bill to reduce bureaucracy, 21 are above the $200,000 mark. The bill intends to put more money into classrooms or back in taxpayers’ pockets.
Illinois students safe at 3-foot distance, unless they are in Chicago
Illinois students safe at 3-foot distance, unless they are in Chicago
New COVID-19 guidance from Illinois health and education departments allows schools to reduce social distancing to three feet. But the Chicago Teachers Union intends to ‘vigorously’ keep a six-foot distance.
Bourbonnais union strikes; claims to fight for students ‘out on the picket line’
Bourbonnais union strikes; claims to fight for students ‘out on the picket line’
A disagreement over final contract details caused the teachers union to strike in Bourbonnais, putting 2,452 elementary students out of class.
Flat education spending is a cut when pensions, administration take more
Flat education spending is a cut when pensions, administration take more
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans another year of flat education spending. The reality is the cash reaching classrooms is dwindling as pensions and administration eat more.
Illinois lawmakers approve controversial ‘culturally responsive’ teaching rule
Illinois lawmakers approve controversial ‘culturally responsive’ teaching rule
Illinois state lawmakers recently approved a rule requiring Illinois teacher training programs to adopt ‘culturally responsive teaching and leading’ standards. Critics say a political litmus test is the wrong focus when students are underachieving on the basics.
Illinois education spending belongs in classrooms, not in administrative offices
Illinois education spending belongs in classrooms, not in administrative offices
A bill in the Illinois House would work to consolidate administration of Illinois’ schools without closing schools. The move would put more money in classrooms and take less from property taxpayers.
Sarah Sachen
Sarah Sachen
“This is the first time in the history of teachers’ strikes that parents across the city are uniting to speak against the union. There were ‘return to school’ rallies in both the Englewood neighborhood, and on the North Side.”
Al Molina
Al Molina
“E-learning does not work for everybody, and one size does not fit all. My children are not doing well in school.”
Illinois lawmakers to vote on controversial ‘culturally responsive’ education rule
Illinois lawmakers to vote on controversial ‘culturally responsive’ education rule
The Illinois General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules will vote Feb. 16 on whether to suspend a rule that would require Illinois teacher training programs to adopt ‘culturally responsive teaching and leading’ standards.
Returning to school: What Illinois parents, teachers, school boards need to know
Returning to school: What Illinois parents, teachers, school boards need to know
Illinois students are returning to school, but some unions are scaring teachers about their safety in the classroom. The science doesn’t support those fears, and the law may put teachers at odds with union demands.