Report: Low-income scholarship students score better than public school peers

By Hannah Schmid

03/08/2024

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.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Report: Illinois tax-credit scholarship students see largest year-over-year learning gains

By Hannah Schmid

03/05/2024

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.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Pritzker wants to spend record amount but needs $898M in tax hikes to do it

By Bryce Hill

03/01/2024

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s record-setting $52.7 billion 2025 spending plan needs massive tax increases. Tax changes will hurt individuals, businesses and local governments.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Lawmakers consider renewing Invest in Kids scholarships

By Dylan Sharkey

02/19/2024

A new bill would revive a scholarship program that was stripped from 9,600 low-income Illinois students, ending their best chances to attend schools of their choice.

TAGS: ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Invest in Kids, school choice

Chicago Teachers Union ignores own mandate for financial transparency

By Mailee Smith

02/14/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union hasn’t released an annual audit, required by its internal rules, for at least four fiscal years. What’s happening with members’ dues?

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Our perspective: Parents, schools scrambling without low-income scholarships

By Hilary Gowins

02/12/2024

State lawmakers failed to save the Invest in Kids program allowing nearly 10,000 low-income students to attend a school that better fit their needs. Now some of those schools are being forced to close and families are left with poor options.

Illinois bill would give unions platform for indoctrination in Illinois schools

By Mailee Smith

01/15/2024

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.

TAGS: education, government unions, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly

Chicago Teachers Union kills excelling schools to force students into dysfunction

By Hannah Schmid

12/15/2023

The Chicago Board of Education approved a resolution on Dec. 14 which will eliminate selective enrollment schools in the Chicago Public Schools district. It is yet another attempt by the Chicago Teachers Union and its allies to limit parents’ choices in their children’s educations.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois mandated annual reports on Invest in Kids: 4 years, no reports

By Patrick Andriesen

11/22/2023

The Illinois State Board of Education failed to publish diagnostic reports required by the Invest in Kids Act to track scholarship recipients’ progress starting in 2019. State lawmakers are letting the program expire without seeing a single report.

Vallas: City budget passes, next fiscal crisis looms

By Paul Vallas

11/21/2023

Now that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has passed his first budget, attention should be on the Chicago Public Schools. School leaders claim it will have a budget hole of over $600 million by 2025.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

Investment

Report: Low-income scholarship students score better than public school peers

Report: Illinois tax-credit scholarship students see largest year-over-year learning gains

Pritzker wants to spend record amount but needs $898M in tax hikes to do it

Lawmakers consider renewing Invest in Kids scholarships

Chicago Teachers Union ignores own mandate for financial transparency

Our perspective: Parents, schools scrambling without low-income scholarships

Illinois bill would give unions platform for indoctrination in Illinois schools

Chicago Teachers Union kills excelling schools to force students into dysfunction

Illinois mandated annual reports on Invest in Kids: 4 years, no reports

Vallas: City budget passes, next fiscal crisis looms

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