While Chicago Public Schools calls for state bailout, Chicago TIF districts bring in record $561M in revenue in 2016

By Chris Lentino

07/20/2017

Slush fund hits record amounts as Chicago looks to the state for a bailout.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education

CPS to spend an additional $200 per student for the 2017-18 school year

By Robert Brutvan

07/20/2017

Cash-strapped and debt-ridden Chicago Public Schools plans to increase per-pupil funding by roughly $200 a student over last year’s budget.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education

School district sues Mount Prospect, Ill., over TIF

By Chris Lentino

07/20/2017

The case against Mount Prospect, Ill., shows how tax increment financing districts siphon tax money from school districts and other taxing bodies, and diverts needed resources and puts pressure on taxpayers to make up the difference.

TAGS: education, property taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Illinois school finance bill bails out Chicago

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

07/18/2017

A bill that has passed the Illinois House and Senate would provide CPS with a $215 million pension bailout and other funding carve-outs.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, Senate Bill 1

7 reasons the Illinois Republicans’ budget plan fails taxpayers

By Craig Lesner, John Klingner

06/16/2017

The budget plan proposed by Republican General Assembly members would raise taxes by over $5 billion without enacting any significant spending reforms.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, education, grand bargain, Illinois House of Representatives, income tax, Jim Durkin, pensions, property taxes

3 reasons charter school teachers should vote against union merger with CTU

By Mailee Smith

06/07/2017

Unionized teachers at Chicago charter schools are voting on whether to merge with the Chicago Teachers Union – a move that would be detrimental to both teachers and students in Chicago.

TAGS: Chicago, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education

Bill regulating school buses heads to Rauner’s desk

By Brendan Bakala

06/03/2017

House Bill 3293, which would force any person or group that is not a school district, religious organization or transportation company, but that possesses a school bus, to change the appearance of the school bus, passed the Illinois General Assembly on the last day of spring session.

TAGS: Dan McConchie, education, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Kyle McCarter

Illinois Senate’s education finance bill bails out Chicago, fails at reform

By John Klingner, Ted Dabrowski

06/02/2017

Senate Bill 1 provides a $215 million annual pension bailout and other carve-outs worth hundreds of millions of dollars to CPS.

TAGS: budget, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education

Amended cursive writing mandate passes Illinois Senate

By Brendan Bakala

06/02/2017

A Senate amendment would require public elementary schools to teach cursive writing, while the original House bill would extend the handwriting instruction mandate to all Illinois public elementary and high schools.

TAGS: Chris Welch, education, regulations

Lombard school district pays more than $400,000 to dismiss 2 administrators

05/26/2017

A DuPage County school district is severing ties with two administrators before their contracts expire, and it’s going to cost taxpayers.

TAGS: DuPage County, education, Lombard, property taxes

education

While Chicago Public Schools calls for state bailout, Chicago TIF districts bring in record $561M in revenue in 2016

CPS to spend an additional $200 per student for the 2017-18 school year

School district sues Mount Prospect, Ill., over TIF

Illinois school finance bill bails out Chicago

7 reasons the Illinois Republicans’ budget plan fails taxpayers

3 reasons charter school teachers should vote against union merger with CTU

Bill regulating school buses heads to Rauner’s desk

Illinois Senate’s education finance bill bails out Chicago, fails at reform

Amended cursive writing mandate passes Illinois Senate

Lombard school district pays more than $400,000 to dismiss 2 administrators

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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