The Chicago Teachers Union hosted a press conference to begin contract negotiations at one of the sustainable community schools it wants to replicate 180 times. The Ellen H. Richards Career Academy has zero students proficient in reading or math.

A report shows low-income students receiving Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarships were more proficient in reading and math in nearly every grade in 2023 than low-income students in Illinois public schools. Their high school reading bested statewide scores.

The Illinois State Board of Education released a late, flawed report on the Invest in Kids scholarship program. Despite comparing apples to oranges, the report shows the Invest in Kids program worked for low-income kids.

Chicago Teachers Union leadership will use this summer’s contract negotiations with Chicago Public Schools to push for expansion of “sustainable community schools” in the district. The model doesn’t work: students perform worse, absenteeism rises.

Chronic absenteeism rates are higher in Chicago than statewide, with 44% of low-income Chicago students missing at least 10% of their days in school.

House Bill 4417 requires an annual “Workplace Readiness Week” in all Illinois high schools, which focuses not on getting kids ready for jobs but on the labor movement’s role in the workplace.

The Chicago Board of Education is preparing to remove police officers from public high schools. Local School Councils already have the power to remove officers, but district leaders are taking away that local control.