Illinois lawmakers get 26 seconds per page to read 2025 budget

By Patrick Andriesen

05/20/2025

Illinois state lawmakers must be super speed readers, because who would vote on something they hadn’t read? They were given an average of 67 seconds per page to read the past nine state budgets, but last year received only 26 seconds per page.

Lawmakers seek to strengthen student literacy through teacher training

By Hannah Schmid

05/08/2025

House Bill 1368 builds on previous literacy efforts by state lawmakers in 2023. If passed, professional development for literacy instruction would be aligned with “science of reading” strategies.

TAGS: public schools

Illinois House helping health care shortage by easing volunteer requirements

By Lauren Zuar

05/05/2025

A new bill would remove an unnecessary rule forcing health care volunteers to get additional licensing. House Bill 1270, sponsored by state Rep. William E. Hauter, R-Morton, and state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, D-Oakbrook Terrace, addresses medical worker shortages.

Testimony: Illinois teachers need ‘science of reading’ training to fix illiteracy

By Mailee Smith

04/29/2025

Illinois students will struggle throughout their educations when 7 in 10 third-graders cannot read at grade level. Illinois Policy supports and submitted testimony in favor of a bill to train Illinois teachers in ‘science of reading’ methods to boost early-grade literacy.

TAGS: public schools

Illinois close to ending strict hair braiding requirements

By Dylan Sharkey

04/08/2025

Hair braiders across Illinois may face fewer restrictions on their trade. The Illinois House unanimously passed a bill changing the state’s hair braiding laws.

Chicago Teachers Union spreads attacks on charter schools across Illinois

By Hannah Schmid

04/08/2025

The tentative agreement between the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools will further damage charter schools in Chicago. CTU also has been working in the Statehouse to hinder charter schools and place more restrictions on them statewide.

Teachers unions don’t want teachers evaluated on how well students are learning

By Hannah Schmid

03/04/2025

Democrats in the Illinois Senate filed a bill to remove student academic growth data as a measure for teacher evaluations. The Illinois Federation of Teachers backs the bill – another effort by the union to obstruct accountability.

TAGS: public schools

How to stop unfair elections in Illinois

By Dylan Sharkey

02/27/2025

Some Illinois voters April 1 will tell state lawmakers what to do about some of the state’s most pressing problems. One of the issues is the process of deciding legislative and congressional districts. Here’s what to know about gerrymandering.

Illinois Forward 2026: How the state can spend responsibly

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

02/12/2025

After years of splurging with revenue boosted by temporary federal aid, future deficits over $5 billion await the Illinois state budget. It’s time Illinois state leaders learn from past mistakes and manage other people’s money responsibly.

Illinois government workers’ union dues being diverted to swing-state politics

By Mailee Smith

09/19/2024

Illinois government workers’ union dues fund Democratic Party campaign committees, which are now seeking to tip the presidential election outcome in swing states. That fails to align with at least 40% of members’ politics.

TAGS: SEIU: Service Employees International Union

Illinois Senate

Illinois lawmakers get 26 seconds per page to read 2025 budget

Lawmakers seek to strengthen student literacy through teacher training

Illinois House helping health care shortage by easing volunteer requirements

Testimony: Illinois teachers need ‘science of reading’ training to fix illiteracy

Illinois close to ending strict hair braiding requirements

Chicago Teachers Union spreads attacks on charter schools across Illinois

Teachers unions don’t want teachers evaluated on how well students are learning

How to stop unfair elections in Illinois

Illinois Forward 2026: How the state can spend responsibly

Illinois government workers’ union dues being diverted to swing-state politics

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students