See how well your local 3rd graders can read

By Hannah Schmid

05/30/2024

Third grade is a critical year for young readers, predicting the success of their entire educations. See how well your local schools are doing at producing proficient readers by the end of third grade.

TAGS: ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, public schools

SAT scores in decline across Illinois, Chicago since 2017

By Hannah Schmid

03/08/2023

SAT scores are dropping for high school students in Illinois and Chicago. Here’s how Illinois’ 20 largest school districts compared to the state average in reading and math.

TAGS: ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education

Illinois teachers push back on COVID-19 vax mandate

By Dylan Sharkey

01/21/2022

Illinois teachers currently face mandated COVID-19 testing if unvaccinated. The Illinois State Board of Education might remove that option depending on whether it follows Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mandate or a high court decision.

TAGS: ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, public schools, vaccine mandate

Statewide COVID-19 school mandates draw ire of superintendents

By Patrick Andriesen

11/22/2021

A group of school district superintendents called on the Illinois State Board of Education to oppose statewide mask and other mandates, letting local schools decide how best to handle COVID-19 mitigation.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, JB Pritzker, masks

Illinois elections board gives state leader’s campaign a pass for $225K spent on cars

By Dylan Sharkey

11/16/2021

A former state lawmaker’s campaign committee was not aware it couldn’t spend $225,109 on personal vehicles, according to Illinois State Board of Elections members. That lawmaker now oversees public spending for the state.

TAGS: campaign finance, Frank Mautino, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education

2 ways to fix Illinois’ too-high property taxes, teacher shortage

10/21/2021

Redirecting some of Illinois’ school district administrative overhead could attract top talent to the more than 4,100 teacher openings. The savings could be $1,317 per taxpayer in one veteran teacher’s hometown. Reform pensions, and that amount grows.

TAGS: Classrooms First Act, education spending, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, taxes, teacher shortage

Updated ISBE policy puts private schools on probation for defying mask mandates instead of immediately revoking state recognition

By Patrick Andriesen

10/07/2021

Private schools will be granted a 60-day probation to address COVID-19 compliance issues in line with public school standards under ISBE’s updated policy. Nonrecognized schools were put on probation status Oct. 1.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, masks, private schools

Illinois bill would give ISBE authority to revoke schools’ state recognition

By Patrick Andriesen

09/02/2021

Gov. J.B Pritzker has warned district administrators since early August that ISBE would strip state recognition from Illinois schools defying his statewide mask mandate. House Bill 4135 aims to give the state board of education that power.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, masks

7 things to know about new COVID-19 school guidance from CDC, Illinois

By Amy Korte

07/09/2021

New federal and state health guidance adjusts policies on masks, distancing and quarantines in Illinois’ K-12 schools. Many students will again be masked in the coming year.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education

Illinois school superintendents demand immediate COVID-19 guidance

By Mailee Smith

06/25/2021

Illinois schools will be treated more restrictively than any other public venues, threatening students’ educations across the state. Superintendents are demanding up-to-date, commonsense COVID-19 guidance to prep for the upcoming school year.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education