New bill promises up to 50% property tax relief for Illinoisans

By Patrick Andriesen

02/09/2024

The bill introduced by state Rep. Tim Ozinga would redirect savings from shrinking pension payments to support local school districts and reduce Illinois’ second-in-the -nation property taxes. Some districts could see their tax bills cut in half.

Illinois bill would give unions platform for indoctrination in Illinois schools

By Mailee Smith

01/15/2024

House Bill 4417 requires an annual “Workplace Readiness Week” in all Illinois high schools, which focuses not on getting kids ready for jobs but on the labor movement’s role in the workplace.

TAGS: education, government unions, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly

Vallas: ‘Illinois is back,’ but only in Pritzker’s active imagination

By Paul Vallas

12/08/2023

Gov. J.B. Pritzker told Crain’s Chicago Business, “Illinois is back.” But with a long list of state and local fiscal and economic problems, that is more spin than reality.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

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.

2 in 3 Chicagoans disapprove of Mayor Brandon Johnson on crime

By Dylan Sharkey

11/17/2023

When it comes to crime, 66% of Chicago voters disapprove of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s job performance, according to the newest Lincoln Poll. Just 25% of Democrats approve.

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

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

Democratic state lawmakers file bill extending school choice

By Dylan Sharkey

10/25/2023

Chicago state Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar filed a bill that would extend Invest in Kids scholarships through 2028 but would cut total tax credits by one-third and therefore the number of scholarships. Another bill would make the program permanent.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Democratic Party

New bill promises up to 50% property tax relief for Illinoisans

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

Illinois bill would give unions platform for indoctrination in Illinois schools

Vallas: ‘Illinois is back,’ but only in Pritzker’s active imagination

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

2 in 3 Chicagoans disapprove of Mayor Brandon Johnson on crime

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

Chicago Public Schools dysfunction hits low-income, minority students

Democratic state lawmakers file bill extending school choice

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