4 things to know about Chicago Public Schools’ new strategic plan

By Hannah Schmid

10/01/2024

The Chicago Board of Education’s five-year plan includes redefining student success and ending school ranking based on performance. It also includes expanding sustainable community schools, which record among the lowest student outcomes.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Candidate survey: who is running for Chicago School Board?

09/26/2024

More than a dozen candidates filled out an Illinois Policy questionnaire to give voters a better idea of who is running for office. Read their answers below.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Illinois part of national epidemic, with only 1 in 3 students reading well

By Hannah Schmid

09/19/2024

Student literacy is in trouble nationally, which is why Illinois is one of 35 states where just 1 in 3 – or fewer – of its fourth graders met reading standards in 2022.

Will back to school in Chicago Public Schools be back to same-old, same-old?

By Hannah Schmid

08/22/2024

Chicago Public Schools students return to class Aug. 26. Here’s what parents should know about academics, building use, enrollment, absenteeism and finances.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

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

Illinois Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers spend a lot, but not on teachers

By Mailee Smith

08/07/2024

The federal filings of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and its national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, reveal questionable spending, with little spent on representing teachers, millions spent on politics and deficit spending while the big boss got $500K.

TAGS: AFT: American Federation of Teachers, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, unions

Illinois Education Association puts union bosses’ agenda ahead of teachers’

By Mailee Smith

07/30/2024

Just 13% of IEA’s spending was on representing teachers in 2023. But the spending of its national affiliate – the National Education Association – was even worse, with less than 8% of its spending on representing teachers’ interests.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association

Chicago school spending nearly doubles as scores drop

By Kurtis Karg

07/12/2024

As Chicago Public Schools spending per student continues to rise, test scores and proficiency levels among students continue to drop.

TAGS: education

3-in-10 seats are empty at Chicago Public Schools

By Hannah Schmid

07/12/2024

Hundreds of Chicago Public Schools buildings have a space-use problem – they’re too empty. Nearly 60% of schools are underutilized while 5% are overcrowded. Only 37% are at ideal capacity. The Chicago Teachers Union wants to add staff to the empty schools.

TAGS: education

Illinois State Board of Education

4 things to know about Chicago Public Schools’ new strategic plan

Candidate survey: who is running for Chicago School Board?

Illinois part of national epidemic, with only 1 in 3 students reading well

Will back to school in Chicago Public Schools be back to same-old, same-old?

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

Illinois Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Teachers spend a lot, but not on teachers

Illinois Education Association puts union bosses’ agenda ahead of teachers’

The Policy Shop: 3-in-10 seats empty at Chicago Public Schools

Chicago school spending nearly doubles as scores drop

3-in-10 seats are empty at Chicago Public Schools

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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