Illinois taxpayers on the hook for pension failures

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

08/25/2016

More realistic investment return assumptions by the Teachers’ Retirement System mean Illinois taxpayer contributions to the fund could rise by hundreds of millions of dollars. Ending teacher pension pickups would alleviate the burden on Illinois taxpayers.

TAGS: education, pensions, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Illinois will soon overtake New Jersey as the state with the highest property taxes

By Austin Berg

04/14/2016

Illinois' 859 local school districts consume nearly two-thirds of the $27 billion in local property taxes collected across the state each year.

TAGS: consolidation, property taxes

Chicago students receive more state funding than the average Illinois student

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

04/07/2016

Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool has claimed that Chicago students are discriminated against under the state's education funding formula. But the numbers show the opposite: Chicago has received more than its fair share of education funding from the state.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Illinois corruption watch: March 2016

04/04/2016

Several instances of corruption and mismanagement of public property and trust came to light in March and included new developments in cases involving Chicago Public Schools’ former CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

TAGS: corruption

Landmark state report lights path toward lowering Illinois property taxes

By Austin Berg

01/05/2016

Absurdly high property taxes demand bold reforms from Illinois lawmakers. New recommendations from a state task force show exactly what kind.

TAGS: local government, property taxes, taxes

Task force to consolidate Illinois’ glut of local governments

By Mark Fitton

11/21/2015

Illinois has more units of local government than any other state in the nation. With 6,963 units of local government, Illinois beats its nearest competitor by more than 1,800.

Oportunidad: Student success, Hispanic achievement gaps and the future of Illinois

By Ted Dabrowski

08/30/2015

The achievement gaps between white and Hispanic students in Illinois’ public schools, and the need to fundamentally reform the education system.

High black imprisonment risk tied to educational opportunity

By Bryant Jackson-Green, Ted Dabrowski

07/15/2015

Fixing criminal-justice disparities means improving education as well.

64 percent of Illinois school districts pick up pension contributions for teachers

By Benjamin VanMetre

05/22/2015

Ending pension pickups is a simple, responsible way for cash-strapped school districts to free up money for the classroom.

TAGS: pensions

Corruption Watch: April 2015

By Shawn Tonge

05/08/2015

April saw two major players in Illinois education ensnared in charges of cronyism, among more than 60 other corruption-related stories.

TAGS: good government

Illinois State Board of Education

Illinois taxpayers on the hook for pension failures

Illinois will soon overtake New Jersey as the state with the highest property taxes

Chicago students receive more state funding than the average Illinois student

Illinois corruption watch: March 2016

Landmark state report lights path toward lowering Illinois property taxes

Task force to consolidate Illinois’ glut of local governments

Oportunidad: Student success, Hispanic achievement gaps and the future of Illinois

High black imprisonment risk tied to educational opportunity

64 percent of Illinois school districts pick up pension contributions for teachers

Corruption Watch: April 2015

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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