More than 2-in-5 Chicago low-income students chronically absent

By Hannah Schmid

01/24/2024

Chronic absenteeism rates are higher in Chicago than statewide, with 44% of low-income Chicago students missing at least 10% of their days in school.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

4 Illinois schools closing without Invest in Kids scholarships, others at risk

By Dylan Sharkey

01/24/2024

With Invest in Kids scholarships expiring, four schools across Illinois already decided to close their doors for good. Futures for nearly 10,000 low-income students remain uncertain.

TAGS: school choice

18 states embrace school choice as Illinois hurts low-income families

By Hannah Schmid

01/22/2024

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.

TAGS: school choice

Chicago Teachers Union sees plenty of scandals in 2023

By Mailee Smith

12/25/2023

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.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

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

Chicago Teachers Union

More than 2-in-5 Chicago low-income students chronically absent

4 Illinois schools closing without Invest in Kids scholarships, others at risk

18 states embrace school choice as Illinois hurts low-income families

Chicago Teachers Union sees plenty of scandals in 2023

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

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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