Chicago Public Schools will stay open May 1

By Lilly Rossi

04/17/2026

School will be in session despite the Chicago Teachers Union’s relentless efforts to push students out of school and leverage labor for political gains.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois students could boost ACT scores with scholarships

By Lilly Rossi

11/25/2025

Federal scholarships could give low-income students access to ACT tutors and study materials to help them improve on the college exam.

TAGS: Federal Scholarship Tax Credit

Scores down, absences up for Chicago low-income, minority students

By Hannah Schmid

11/12/2025

Chicago Public Schools’ low-income and minority students recorded lower proficiency rates than the state average. They are also missing more school.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Just 2-in-5 Chicago students read at grade level under lowered proficiency standards

By Hannah Schmid

10/30/2025

Chicago Public Schools students struggle in reading and math as just 2-in-5 read at grade level and about 1-in-4 do math proficiently. And that’s after Illinois lowered proficiency standards to make the numbers look better.

Fewer than 1-in-3 Chicago Public Schools students read at grade level

By Hannah Schmid

11/01/2024

Chicago Public Schools third- through eighth-grade state test scores increased in 2024, with reading finally surpassing 2019 levels. But for Chicago’s 11th grade students, both reading and math remained below pre-pandemic levels.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Illinois schools see small academic gains, but still need improvement

By Hannah Schmid

10/30/2024

New Illinois public school test data shows reading and math proficiency rates for third- through eighth-grade students increased since 2023. Not so for 11th graders, who performed worse in reading and math.

What to know about Illinois education as students head back to school

By Hannah Schmid

08/20/2024

Students in Illinois are steadily returning to class across Illinois’ 852 school districts, where improvement is needed on the 35% of elementary students who can read at grade level. What to know about how well the state’s public schools are preparing students for life.

TAGS: public schools

Vallas: ‘Social promotion,’ grade inflation destroying achievement, accountability in schools

By Paul Vallas

09/12/2023

Higher grades are being awarded for less achievement in our schools, which helps hide our students’ struggles since the pandemic. Combine that with teachers unions pushing for fewer accountability measures, and the needed push for academic excellence withers.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois’ teachers pay for representation, but union priorities rarely focus on members

By Mailee Smith

06/21/2019

A detailed review of teachers union spending, 2013-2018

Budget Solutions 2020: A 5-year plan to balance Illinois’ budget, pay off debt and cut taxes

By Adam Schuster

02/04/2019

Gov. J.B. Pritzker inherited a $2.8 billion budget deficit the moment he stepped into office. Next year, that deficit is projected to be $3.4 billion1. It’s the same story every budget season. But Illinois’ budget crises could be a thing of the past if the state would adopt pension reform, right-size its union contracts and...

Illinois School Report Card

Chicago Public Schools will stay open May 1

Illinois students could boost ACT scores with scholarships

Scores down, absences up for Chicago low-income, minority students

Just 2-in-5 Chicago students read at grade level under lowered proficiency standards

Fewer than 1-in-3 Chicago Public Schools students read at grade level

Illinois schools see small academic gains, but still need improvement

What to know about Illinois education as students head back to school

Vallas: ‘Social promotion,’ grade inflation destroying achievement, accountability in schools

Illinois’ teachers pay for representation, but union priorities rarely focus on members

Budget Solutions 2020: A 5-year plan to balance Illinois’ budget, pay off debt and cut taxes

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