Vallas: How to empower Chicago communities to save failing schools

By Paul Vallas

12/13/2023

Innovation can help Chicago Public Schools improve academic proficiency, but it requires breaking up the centralized power built by the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools. Local control can improve student outcomes.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Chicago Teachers Union, affiliates biggest spenders on Chicago politics

By Mailee Smith

12/12/2023

The Chicago Teachers Union and its state and national affiliates spent nearly $6.5 million on Chicago political candidates between Feb. 28, 2022, and May 4, 2023.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago Teachers Union president misses deadline to pay back taxes, penalty

By Jess Plowman

12/11/2023

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates missed the deadline to pay $1,533 in back taxes and penalties on her Indiana house. She was fined for taking a homeowner’s property tax break on a South Bend house she didn’t live in.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago Teachers Union president owes city $5,579 for utilities

By Mailee Smith

12/07/2023

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates has let $5,579 in Chicago water, sewer and trash bills pile up. She makes over $289,000 and demands the “wealthy” pay a greater share. So why doesn’t she pay her fair share to a city in financial turmoil?

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

Illinois mandated annual reports on Invest in Kids: 4 years, no reports

By Patrick Andriesen

11/22/2023

The Illinois State Board of Education failed to publish diagnostic reports required by the Invest in Kids Act to track scholarship recipients’ progress starting in 2019. State lawmakers are letting the program expire without seeing a single report.

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

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

Teachers unions hand nearly $1.5 million to lawmakers ahead of Invest in Kids vote

By Mailee Smith

11/06/2023

Illinois teachers unions want to end scholarships for low-income kids. They've funneled more than $21.5 million to current lawmakers who hold the decision in their hands, with nearly $1.5 million coming just since June 1. Will lawmakers stand with unions, or kids?

TAGS: Invest in Kids

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

Vallas: How to empower Chicago communities to save failing schools

Chicago Teachers Union, affiliates biggest spenders on Chicago politics

Chicago Teachers Union president misses deadline to pay back taxes, penalty

Chicago Teachers Union president owes city $5,579 for utilities

Illinois mandated annual reports on Invest in Kids: 4 years, no reports

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

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

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

Teachers unions hand nearly $1.5 million to lawmakers ahead of Invest in Kids vote

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

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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