Illinois has more teachers, fewer students than 10 years ago

By Hannah Schmid

09/07/2022

There are fewer students and more teachers in Illinois today than a decade ago, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. Teachers unions push the shortage myth to gain power.

TAGS: teacher shortage

Fact check: Pritzker claims fiscal responsibility but report shows ‘fiscal cliff’

By Justin Carlson

07/13/2022

A new report shows Illinois is likely to face financial challenges when the federal stimulus money propping up its current budget runs out. That reality is very different than the Pritzker campaign claims about fiscal responsibility.

TAGS: deficit, government spending, JB Pritzker

Chicago Teachers Union oversaw academic, enrollment drops as costs rose

By Hannah Schmid

06/17/2022

Nearly 80,000 students have left Chicago Public Schools and student proficiency rates have declined since the current leaders took over the Chicago Teachers Union in 2010. All that, and 55% higher costs.

TAGS: Amendment 1, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Primary voting begins in Illinois: Here are how-tos, FAQs

By Dylan Sharkey

05/19/2022

May 19 was the start of voting for the June 28 primary for early in-person voting and for those who’ve requested mail-in ballots.

TAGS: early voting, Election Day, primary, vote-by-mail

Illinois COVID-19 school closures hurt math, reading scores

By Hannah Schmid

03/29/2022

SAT math scores dropped nearly 15%, and reading scores dropped 9% from 2019 to 2021 among Illinois high school juniors. Low-income and minority students saw bigger losses.

TAGS: COVID-19, ISAT: Illinois Standards Achievement Test, public schools, school closures

Illinois Supreme Court denies Pritzker’s appeal of school mask mandate decisions, schools move to mask optional Feb. 28

By Amy Korte, Mailee Smith

02/25/2022

After the Illinois Supreme Court determined the state’s appeal of decisions regarding the governor’s school mask rules was moot, the governor declared schools can move to mask optional policies on Feb. 28.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court, JB Pritzker, mask mandate, public schools

What you need to know about Pritzker’s legal fight to keep students masked

By Mailee Smith

02/24/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is asking the Illinois Supreme Court to let him keep his authority to force Illinoisans to mask. But his effort to keep his COVID-19 mandate power is ignoring relevant data.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, mask mandate, public schools

Illinois teachers unions fight to keep kids masked

By Joe Tabor

02/18/2022

A Sangamon County judge temporarily ended Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s school mask mandate, and Pritzker’s appeal of that ruling lost. Yet the fight showed Illinois teachers unions want kids masked statewide on Pritzker’s say-so alone.

TAGS: COVID-19, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, JB Pritzker, mask mandate

Masks in schools: What’s next and what parents need to know

By Mailee Smith

02/17/2022

Judge Grischow’s Feb. 4 temporary restraining order isn’t the final result in the multiple cases challenging Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s emergency powers. The ultimate solution is providing permanent certainty by limiting those emergency powers through legislation.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, mask mandate, public schools

How Illinois schools are using $7.9B in COVID-19 aid

By Justin Carlson

02/09/2022

Illinois has already distributed billions in federal COVID-19 relief funds for education to school districts. The pandemic windfall should be used to help lagging students, not create programs requiring new taxes.

TAGS: COVID-19, education spending, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, Illinois

Illinois State Board of Education

Illinois has more teachers, fewer students than 10 years ago

Fact check: Pritzker claims fiscal responsibility but report shows ‘fiscal cliff’

Chicago Teachers Union oversaw academic, enrollment drops as costs rose

Primary voting begins in Illinois: Here are how-tos, FAQs

Illinois COVID-19 school closures hurt math, reading scores

Illinois Supreme Court denies Pritzker’s appeal of school mask mandate decisions, schools move to mask optional Feb. 28

What you need to know about Pritzker’s legal fight to keep students masked

Illinois teachers unions fight to keep kids masked

Masks in schools: What’s next and what parents need to know

How Illinois schools are using $7.9B in COVID-19 aid

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