Seven states enacted new private school choice programs in 2023 and 11 states expanded existing programs. But Illinois killed its Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarship program, ending the only help for nearly 10,000 low-income students.
Chicago Public Schools Inspector General’s report showed 77,505 devices were lost or stolen during the 2021-2022 school year. At 36 schools, every single student device was gone.
The Chicago Board of Education is preparing to remove police officers from public high schools. Local School Councils already have the power to remove officers, but district leaders are taking away that local control.
Research finds less than one-third of Chicago Public Schools graduates earned their bachelor’s degree in the expected four years compared to nearly half nationally. That means more are likely to live in poverty.
A recent study found less than one-third of Chicago Public Schools graduates earn their bachelor’s in four years. Yet back in 2018, the Chicago Teachers Union tried to kill legislation giving students a head start on college.
Research shows income and adult literacy are strongly related. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show 20% of Illinois adults are “functionally illiterate.” Cook County’s rate is 25%.
The Chicago Teachers Union and its president – Stacy Davis Gates – have offered lots of controversy this year. Their lack of accountability and politicking have consequences: residents suffer, students can’t read or do math at grade level.