How Joe Ocol makes kings and queens in Englewood

By Austin Berg

05/08/2017

Joe Ocol is taking his South Side chess team to one of the nation’s premier tournaments. But he needs help paying their way.

TAGS: budget, education, Joe Ocol

Illinois on track to become first ‘junk’-rated state in nation

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

04/28/2017

Credit rating agencies have warned Illinois’ credit could slide into junk territory if the legislative session ends in May without a budget deal to get the state’s finances back on track.

TAGS: Chicago, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, credit rating, Moody's Investor Service, pensions, Standard & Poor's

Chicago Public Schools budget shortfall: a manufactured crisis

By Chris Lentino

04/26/2017

Chicago Public Schools is faced with the possibility of closing school early while Chicago sits on massive property wealth.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTPF: Chicago Teachers Pension Fund, education, Forrest Claypool, Rahm Emanuel, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Chicago aldermen propose $33 per employee ‘head tax’ on city employers

By Chris Lentino

04/24/2017

At a time when businesses are fleeing the state, a group of Chicago aldermen are attempting to revive the employer’s expense tax to bail out Chicago Public Schools.

TAGS: Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Rahm Emanuel

What Noble charter teachers need to know before unionizing

By Mailee Smith

04/21/2017

A group of teachers in the Noble Network of Charter Schools are seeking union representation. Here’s what Noble teachers need to know before voting to unionize.

TAGS: charter schools, Chicago, education, labor, unions

Noble teachers beware: Unionizing invites CTU involvement in your school

By Mailee Smith

04/18/2017

Teachers seeking union representation in the Noble Network of Charter Schools may want to think again. Unions cause more harm than good for both students and teachers. The Chicago Teachers Union provides an up close and personal look at the disastrous impact unions would have on charter schools.

TAGS: charter schools, Chicago, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education

The damaging effects of Chicagoland’s latest tax hikes

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

04/17/2017

Chicagoans have been burdened with a slew of new taxes and the full damage has yet to be felt. A state income tax hike, like the one proposed in the Illinois Senate’s so-called “grand bargain,” would only further harm struggling Chicagoans.

TAGS: Chicago

Chicago Teachers Union seeks more negotiating power, strike authority in HB 1253

By Mailee Smith

03/31/2017

While states surrounding Illinois are enacting labor reforms that benefit residents, Illinois remains a bastion of labor power. Now the Chicago Teachers Union wants even more power – including the broadened right to go on strike and strand parents and students.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, labor, unions

Illinois needs to end the third-party payer problem for teacher pensions

By Michael Lucci

03/24/2017

Illinois’ teacher pension system is structured to allow local school boards to agree to generous contracts, knowing taxpayers across the state will foot the bill. This system should change so that local school boards cover their own pension costs. That way, they will bear the full cost of salary increases they decide on, rather than pushing much of that cost onto unaware state taxpayers.

TAGS: education, pensions, teacher salaries, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Illinois has highest overall tax burden in the nation

By Brendan Bakala

03/15/2017

A new report from WalletHub finds Illinois’ combined state and local tax burden is higher than that of every other state and the District of Columbia.

TAGS: income tax, property taxes, taxes

Chicago Public Schools

How Joe Ocol makes kings and queens in Englewood

Illinois on track to become first ‘junk’-rated state in nation

Chicago Public Schools budget shortfall: a manufactured crisis

Chicago aldermen propose $33 per employee ‘head tax’ on city employers

What Noble charter teachers need to know before unionizing

Noble teachers beware: Unionizing invites CTU involvement in your school

The damaging effects of Chicagoland’s latest tax hikes

Chicago Teachers Union seeks more negotiating power, strike authority in HB 1253

Illinois needs to end the third-party payer problem for teacher pensions

Illinois has highest overall tax burden in the nation

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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