5 jobs Illinois imposes heaviest licensing burdens on

By Joe Tabor

12/04/2023

Employment is the clearest path out of poverty, but these five low-income professions face more occupational licensing burdens than others in Illinois.

3 bad decisions drive up Chicago Teachers Union dues by over $160

By Mailee Smith

11/22/2023

Chicago Teachers Union members are seeing their dues jump to more $1,400 this year – over $160 more than last year. Here are three reasons to believe CTU hiked dues to make up for its own questionable financial decisions.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Vallas: City budget passes, next fiscal crisis looms

By Paul Vallas

11/21/2023

Now that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has passed his first budget, attention should be on the Chicago Public Schools. School leaders claim it will have a budget hole of over $600 million by 2025.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

Stacy Davis Gates loses undeserved property tax break, owes Indiana $1,533

By Jess Plowman

11/13/2023

An Indiana county will seek back taxes and penalties of $1,533 after Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates claimed a property tax deduction reserved for owner occupants. Davis Gates has claimed Chicago property taxpayers aren’t all paying their fair share.

Illinois lawmakers adjourn without saving school choice, but fight will continue

By Brad Weisenstein

11/09/2023

Illinois’ Invest in Kids school choice program for over 9,600 low-income students will end at the close of 2023. But supporters vow to resurrect it during the upcoming legislative session.

TAGS: Chicago Teachers Union, Invest in Kids, school choice

Stacy Davis Gates gets a homeowner’s tax break for an Indiana home she doesn’t live in

By Mailee Smith

11/06/2023

Stacy Davis Gates is taking a property tax break on a house she owns in Indiana but doesn’t live in. She and her husband own a home and reside in Chicago. So how can the Chicago Teachers Union president claim to live in two places?

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

Chicago Teachers Union records show it paid Brandon Johnson during run for mayor

By Mailee Smith

11/03/2023

Johnson announced his bid for mayor on Oct. 27, 2022. CTU’s federal filing shows it paid him more than $75,000 during its 2023 fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2023.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago Public Schools dysfunction hits low-income, minority students

By Hannah Schmid

11/02/2023

Spring test data shows low-income and minority students in Chicago Public Schools continue to record low proficiency rates. The Chicago Teachers Union wants to kill a school choice program that could help those students.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Most Chicago students still read, perform math below grade level

By Hannah Schmid

11/01/2023

Chicago students made gains in proficiency in reading and math on 2023 state assessments compared to 2022, but most students continue to perform below grade level. Overall student proficiency rates remain worse than before the pandemic.

Illinois student proficiency up in 2023, but two-thirds still read below grade level

By Hannah Schmid

10/30/2023

Illinois state education administrators celebrated academic progress in 2023, but student achievement is still behind where it was before COVID-19 hit. Chronic absenteeism remained high. Enrollment dropped again.

Chicago Public Schools

5 jobs Illinois imposes heaviest licensing burdens on

3 bad decisions drive up Chicago Teachers Union dues by over $160

Vallas: City budget passes, next fiscal crisis looms

Stacy Davis Gates loses undeserved property tax break, owes Indiana $1,533

Illinois lawmakers adjourn without saving school choice, but fight will continue

Stacy Davis Gates gets a homeowner’s tax break for an Indiana home she doesn’t live in

Chicago Teachers Union records show it paid Brandon Johnson during run for mayor

Chicago Public Schools dysfunction hits low-income, minority students

Most Chicago students still read, perform math below grade level

Illinois student proficiency up in 2023, but two-thirds still read below grade level

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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