S&P hits Chicago Public Schools with credit downgrade

By John Klingner

11/10/2016

Standard & Poor’s sent Chicago Public Schools’ credit rating deeper into junk territory in the wake of the new $9.5 billion teachers’ contract. The ratings firm said the new contract will make the district’s financial crisis worse.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, credit rating, Standard & Poor's

3 reasons why Chicagoans can’t afford the latest CTU contract

By John Klingner

10/11/2016

A career teacher can expect to collect $2 million in benefits during his or her retirement.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Forrest Claypool, Karen Lewis, Rahm Emanuel

Moody’s issues another CPS credit downgrade

By John Klingner

09/28/2016

Another credit downgrade shows borrowing, taxes and bailouts can’t fix CPS’ financial crisis, but real structural reforms are needed.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, credit rating, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, municipal pensions, pensions

Chicago Teachers Union authorizes strike

By Mailee Smith

09/26/2016

Many educators are wary of a strike’s hardships and long-term consequences for students, their families and the educators themselves. These teachers can remove themselves from CTU authority and the conflict between union priorities and students’ needs.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, Karen Lewis

Teachers who oppose CTU strike can opt out of union

By Mailee Smith

09/26/2016

Resigning from the union before the potential upcoming strike can protect teachers from union discipline.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, Karen Lewis

CPS’ 2017 budget: More taxes, more borrowing, no accountability

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

08/26/2016

Chicago Public Schools officials had an opportunity to enact serious reforms addressing the district’s dire financial condition, but they instead opted to further burden Chicago taxpayers without offering any change.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, pensions

5 reasons why Illinois politicians should reject a Chicago Public Schools bailout

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

06/28/2016

Until CPS passes necessary spending and pension reforms, giving any additional money to the system will only reward officials’ mismanagement and reckless behavior.

TAGS: budget, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, Mike Madigan, municipal pensions, pensions, Rahm Emanuel

Madigan holds up budget to push bailout of Chicago Public Schools

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

06/23/2016

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s insistence that Chicago Public Schools receive more than its fair share of state education funding is putting any stopgap budget deal at risk.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Mike Madigan, Rahm Emanuel

CPS, CTU want to create new taxing districts to raise $100 million from taxpayers

By Chris Lentino

05/12/2016

Creating new special service areas for the sole benefit of Chicago Public Schools would mean hitting homeowners with an additional $100 million in taxes.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago students receive more state funding than the average Illinois student

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

04/07/2016

Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool has claimed that Chicago students are discriminated against under the state's education funding formula. But the numbers show the opposite: Chicago has received more than its fair share of education funding from the state.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools

CPS: Chicago Public Schools

S&P hits Chicago Public Schools with credit downgrade

3 reasons why Chicagoans can’t afford the latest CTU contract

Moody’s issues another CPS credit downgrade

Chicago Teachers Union authorizes strike

Teachers who oppose CTU strike can opt out of union

CPS’ 2017 budget: More taxes, more borrowing, no accountability

5 reasons why Illinois politicians should reject a Chicago Public Schools bailout

Madigan holds up budget to push bailout of Chicago Public Schools

CPS, CTU want to create new taxing districts to raise $100 million from taxpayers

Chicago students receive more state funding than the average Illinois student

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students