Teachers unions to fight nationwide school choice bill after killing option in Illinois

By Hannah Schmid

01/30/2025

The first nationwide school choice bill to pass out of committee in U.S. history was just reintroduced. But teachers unions, which killed Illinois’ school choice program in 2023, oppose giving families education options.

TAGS: school choice, teachers union

Teachers unions lobby to limit high schoolers’ access to college credit

By Hannah Schmid

04/11/2024

The federal government sees giving high school students college credit for advanced courses as a big win. Teachers unions see it as a job threat, so they are working to limit students’ potential.

TAGS: teachers union

Students filling Statehouse to save Illinois’ school choice program

By Jess Plowman

10/24/2023

The Illinois General Assembly was greeted back to Springfield by private school students pushing them to save the state scholarship program for low-income students. Thousands more are expected Oct. 25.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, school choice, teachers union

Union bosses boost their kids’ dreams as they kill arts students’ hopes

By Dylan Sharkey

10/05/2023

The Chicago Teachers Union and the Illinois Education Association have leaders sending their children to private schools for brighter futures. So why are they working to end the hopes of two performing arts students and their 9,600 low-income peers?

TAGS: teachers union

Illinois teachers unions have threatened to strike 188 times since 2010

By Mailee Smith

08/18/2023

Illinois public school students are at a severe disadvantage. Educational unions here can strike, keeping kids out of school, but that’s not the case in other big cities or neighboring states.

TAGS: teachers union

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

Illinois Federation of Teachers spends little on representing teachers, members flee

By Mailee Smith

07/21/2023

Just 26% of IFT’s spending in 2022 was on representing teachers. IFT’s questionable spending could be why nearly 16,500 Illinois public school employees have chosen to distance themselves from the union.

TAGS: IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, teachers union

NEA, IEA spend little on representing teachers, but prioritize politics

By Mailee Smith

07/21/2023

Less than 8% of NEA and IEA’s spending in 2022 was on representing teachers, according to the unions’ federal reports. That could be why nearly 203,000 public school employees – including more than 6,000 in Illinois – have left NEA since 2017.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association, teachers union

Vallas: Here’s where Chicago Board of Education should put its focus

By Paul Vallas

07/17/2023

Mayoral appointments to the city’s school board tell the public a lot about that mayor’s philosophy. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to who Mayor Brandon Johnson is appointing. It’s also important to understand what options should be on the table when it comes to fixing the failing Chicago Public Schools system.

TAGS: Chicago Board of Education, school choice, teachers union

Welch, Harmon get millions from teachers unions before blocking school choice for poor kids

By Mailee Smith

06/16/2023

It’s a simple choice for Illinois’ top legislative leaders this fall: listen to the over $1 million each got in campaign cash from teachers unions, or back the futures of 9,600 low-income students with a tax credit that is barely a blip in the $50 billion state budget.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, teachers union

A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

Published Feb. 10, 2025 Even though federal COVID relief funds provided an unexpected windfall, that one-time jolt of cash could leave many Illinois localities even worse off than they were before. That boost in revenue allowed local governments to put off difficult budgeting decisions, and as that revenue dries up, municipalities will have to contend...

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A way out: Bankruptcy authorization would give struggling Illinois municipalities options

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Joseph Miscimarra

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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