Keep investing in Illinois’ Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships

By Amy Korte

12/08/2021

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.

TAGS: education, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, private schools, school, school choice, tax credit scholarships, tax credits, taxes

New study gives Illinois an ‘F’ for civics and history education standards

By Noah Shaar

07/01/2021

A recent study by the Fordham Institute critiqued Illinois’ education standards for U.S. history and civics education. Illinois’ standards lacked mention of historical concepts and did not offer goals for what each grade should learn in civics and U.S. History.

TAGS: education, Illinois, public schools

Teachers union vows to keep chasing health rules for Illinois private schools

By Patrick Andriesen

06/03/2021

After nearly 17,000 Illinois parents opposed a bill to impose state health mandates on private schools, and state lawmakers let the effort sit, it seemed the fight was over. Not quite. A teachers union lead lobbyist pledged to keep pursuing it.

TAGS: COVID-19, education, health care

Scholarships for low-income students survive Pritzker’s threat, gain a year

By Brad Weisenstein

06/03/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wanted to gut the Invest in Kids program for low-income students. Lawmakers opposed that, adding a year to the program.

TAGS: education, Invest in Kids, JB Pritzker

Strike gains less than 1% over 3 years by idling Bourbonnais students for week

By Patrick Andriesen

03/15/2021

The Bourbonnais Education Association walked out, gaining 10.25% over 3 years rather than the 9.5% the district offered before the strike. Students lost a week of school.

TAGS: Bourbonnais, education, strike, teachers union

Illinois students safe at 3-foot distance, unless they are in Chicago

By Patrick Andriesen

03/11/2021

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.

TAGS: COVID-19, education

Bourbonnais union strikes; claims to fight for students ‘out on the picket line’

By Brad Weisenstein

03/05/2021

A disagreement over final contract details caused the teachers union to strike in Bourbonnais, putting 2,452 elementary students out of class.

TAGS: Bourbonnais, COVID-19, education

Holiday scratch-offs win bupkis for Illinois students

By Ann Miller

12/23/2020

Anyone betting those lottery tickets they gifted will help education would lose.

TAGS: education, illinois lottery, pensions, public schools

Illinois school standards proposal pushes ‘progressive values’ over diverse views, critics say

12/07/2020

Illinois educators may face controversial rules encouraging teachers to review their biases and privilege, accept multiple views as correct and encourage student activism.

TAGS: education

Free resources to keep learning going while COVID-19 keeps students at home

03/30/2020

COVID-19 has forced classes to close, but children’s educations can continue with some creativity and a wealth of free resources for online learning at home.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, school choice

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Susie Warden

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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