Chicago Teachers Union maintains legislative assault on low-income parents

By Mailee Smith

09/25/2023

The Chicago Teachers Union has registered opposition to just one bill in the Illinois General Assembly’s current legislative session: one that would have created opportunities for low-income parents to send their children to private schools.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Invest in Kids

Fact check: 7 things school choice opponents got wrong about Invest in Kids

By Hannah Schmid

09/22/2023

Illinois Families for Public Schools released a pamphlet with misleading information about the Invest in Kids Tax-Credit Scholarship program and its effects on the public school system in Illinois. Here are corrections to seven things they got wrong.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

How you can help save school choice in Illinois

By Dylan Sharkey

09/22/2023

Some Illinois lawmakers and the Chicago Teachers Union want to cut off 9,600 students across the state from attending a school of their choice. Here’s how you can save their scholarships before they expire at the end of 2023.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Union bosses pay lobbyist big bucks to kill school choice as he sends his kids to private school

By Mailee Smith

09/20/2023

Sean Denney, director of government relations at the Illinois Education Association, makes four times more than the average family receiving an Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship. He can afford private school for his children but is trying to end that option for others.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association, Invest in Kids

Why support Illinois school choice? Let them tell you.

By Brad Weisenstein

09/18/2023

Hear from those involved in Illinois' only school choice program about why Invest in Kids matters and should be saved.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, school choice, The Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship program

Where 9,600 low-income students find private-school choices

By Dylan Sharkey

09/15/2023

Invest in Kids scholarships helped more than 9,600 low-income students across Illinois attend a private school that better fit their needs. Here’s who represents their interests in Springfield.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Midwest states expand school choice while Illinois fights to save scholarships for low-income students

By Hannah Schmid

08/22/2023

Five Midwest states have enacted or expanded school choice programs since the Invest in Kids Act was enacted in 2017. Now Illinois’ scholarships are set to expire while other programs thrive.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, school choice

Over 4 of 5 Illinois lawmakers get money from teachers unions

By Mailee Smith, Jon Josko

07/31/2023

Since 2010, teachers unions have funneled nearly $20 million to current lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly, with the Chicago Teachers Union alone spending over $1.25 million.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, teachers union

Poll: Illinois voters 3-1 in support of scholarships for low-income students

By Dylan Sharkey, Jon Josko

07/20/2023

Illinois voters polled were 3 to 1 in support of the state’s only school choice program, Invest in Kids. But unless lawmakers act, the program ends this year.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Vallas: Pritzker flips again on low-income scholarships – signals he’s open to killing program

By Paul Vallas

07/13/2023

Last fall when he wanted to get reelected, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he supported extending a scholarship program available to low-income and working-class families – Invest in Kids.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

America’s War on Poverty has been an abject failure. Nearly $12 trillion and 60 years later, official poverty rates remain basically unchanged. While the nation waged a well-intentioned assault on poverty, it inadvertently launched a far more sinister war: on dignity. While attempting to eradicate poverty, America created countless government welfare programs. In doing so,...

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Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

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Wilbert Adams Jr.

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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