Chicago Fact Sheet

08/28/2023

Chicago is one of the nation's greatest cities, but it has challenges. An outline of four of the most significant problems.

Mapes corruption conviction again shows need for 4 Illinois ethics reforms

By Joe Tabor

08/26/2023

Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s former chief of staff and confidant was found guilty of perjury. His conviction is a reminder Springfield has a long way to go on ethics reform.

TAGS: Mike Madigan, Tim Mapes

Vallas: Chicago Teachers Union out to destroy superior performance of charter schools

By Paul Vallas

08/25/2023

Charter schools give low-income and minority students a better shot at success. So why is the Chicago Teachers Union trying to hurt charter schools’ better academic performance at lower cost?

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Former Madigan chief of staff found guilty on perjury charges

By Dylan Sharkey

08/24/2023

Tim Mapes, former chief of staff to ousted Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, was convicted on perjury and obstruction of justice charges.

TAGS: Mike Madigan, Tim Mapes

3 ways Chicago Mayor Johnson is likely to repay unions for bankrolling him

By Mailee Smith

08/24/2023

Nearly 83% of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s funding has been from unions, according to data obtained from Illinois Sunshine. More than half of that came from teachers unions. Here are three ways we could see him pay them back.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Midwest states expand school choice while Illinois fights to save scholarships for low-income students

By Hannah Schmid

08/22/2023

Five Midwest states have enacted or expanded school choice programs since the Invest in Kids Act was enacted in 2017. Now Illinois’ scholarships are set to expire while other programs thrive.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, school choice

Illinois teachers unions have threatened to strike 188 times since 2010

By Mailee Smith

08/18/2023

Illinois public school students are at a severe disadvantage. Educational unions here can strike, keeping kids out of school, but that’s not the case in other big cities or neighboring states.

TAGS: teachers union

Illinois recovered pandemic-era job losses in July – a year later than the rest of the country

By Bryce Hill, Justin Carlson

08/17/2023

The state finally surpassed January 2020 job levels after 37 states had already done so, including all of Illinois’ neighbors except Michigan.

Pritzker signs charter neutrality bill, Chicago Teachers Union fights to weaken charter schools

By Hannah Schmid

08/15/2023

Contracts at 35 Chicago charter schools represented by the Chicago Teachers Union are up for negotiations this year. CTU, with the help of Gov. J.B. Pritzker and House Bill 1120, is positioning itself to grow its power by diminishing charter schools as an alternative for parents and students.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

August is teacher opt out time: know your rights as an Illinois public school employee

By Hannah Schmid

08/11/2023

Educators and other public school employees in Illinois can opt out of union membership in August and stop paying dues.

TAGS: IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers, opt out

Illinois

Chicago Fact Sheet

Mapes corruption conviction again shows need for 4 Illinois ethics reforms

Vallas: Chicago Teachers Union out to destroy superior performance of charter schools

Former Madigan chief of staff found guilty on perjury charges

3 ways Chicago Mayor Johnson is likely to repay unions for bankrolling him

Midwest states expand school choice while Illinois fights to save scholarships for low-income students

Illinois teachers unions have threatened to strike 188 times since 2010

Illinois recovered pandemic-era job losses in July – a year later than the rest of the country

Pritzker signs charter neutrality bill, Chicago Teachers Union fights to weaken charter schools

August is teacher opt out time: know your rights as an Illinois public school employee

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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