Illinois teachers get no respect from state government

By Austin Berg

05/11/2017

Illinois has been using its teachers as a piggy bank.

Illinois Corruption Watch: October 2015

11/04/2015

October saw a former Chicago Public Schools CEO plead guilty to wire fraud and several other instances of criminal charges and civil lawsuits against public officials, as well as crony deals between businesses and government.

TAGS: corruption

Full text: Gov. Rauner’s State of the State address

By illinoispolicy

02/04/2015

Gov. Bruce Rauner's State of the State Address. February 4, 2015

The high graduation rates of Illinois’ lowest-performing schools

02/15/2014

Here’s a startling statistic: despite having only 11 percent of students performing at grade level in math and reading, Illinois’ lowest-performing high schools graduate more than 60 percent of their students within four years. And only 6 percent of these students are college-ready according to the ACT. All of this indicates that the state’s lowest-performing...

Chicago Tribune calls for honesty in college-readiness standards

11/08/2013

The Chicago Tribune is calling on the state to be honest about how well its students are performing academically: “Illinois has a track record of massaging its school performance numbers to mask reality and make everybody feel good. Last year, 849 schools could boast that 90 percent or more of their students passed statewide reading...

TAGS: college readiness, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, No Child Left Behind

The truth behind CPS’s graduation rate rise

06/03/2013

by Josh Dwyer Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union both patted themselves on the back this week for a two percentage point increase in CPS’s graduation rate over the past year, up to 63 percent from 61 percent. Here’s what they said: “We are happy to see increased graduation rates for CPS. It proves those...

When will the whining end and the reforming begin?

12/31/2012

None of the plans Illinois lawmakers are considering will go anywhere near solving the states long-term pension crisis.

Four common myths about charter schools

10/12/2012

The Chicago Teacher

Top ten charters outperform top ten open enrollment, non-selective, traditional high schools in Chicago

10/08/2012

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. In Chicago that is. In Chicago’s traditional public schools, the teachers’ union was on strike. Parents were scrambling to find a safe place for their child to stay during what would otherwise be a school day. Some were taking time off, even at...

A model of success: Chicago’s charter schools hold the top nine spots for 2012 ACT scores

10/08/2012

The problem Too many of Chicago’s children don’t reach their full potential because traditional public schools are failing them. Our solution Chicago’s charter schools are proving, once again, that low-income children can succeed if given a chance. Why this works In 2012, charter schools held the top nine spots for open-enrollment, non-selective public high schools...

English

Illinois teachers get no respect from state government

Illinois Corruption Watch: October 2015

Full text: Gov. Rauner’s State of the State address

The high graduation rates of Illinois’ lowest-performing schools

Chicago Tribune calls for honesty in college-readiness standards

The truth behind CPS’s graduation rate rise

When will the whining end and the reforming begin?

Four common myths about charter schools

Top ten charters outperform top ten open enrollment, non-selective, traditional high schools in Chicago

A model of success: Chicago’s charter schools hold the top nine spots for 2012 ACT scores

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