Utah makes life easier for job seekers; Illinois can, too

By Chris Coffey

06/21/2024

Utah consolidated and integrated government job and social services into a one-stop shop. Illinois can follow that example and efficiently pull more people out of poverty and into the working world.

TAGS: employment

Literacy in Illinois: Low third-grade reading proficiency warns of trouble ahead

By Hannah Schmid

05/30/2024

Third grade marks a critical reading milestone: if students struggle then, they will face greater problems during the rest of their educations. State data shows 7 of 10 Illinois third graders can’t read at grade level, meaning there’s trouble awaiting most Illinois students.

TAGS: public schools

Chicago’s chronic school absences hit Hispanic students hard

By Hannah Schmid

02/06/2024

Absenteeism rates among Hispanic students in Chicago Public Schools are chronically high. Proficiency in reading and math is low.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

2-in-5 Illinois low-income students chronically absent

By Hannah Schmid

02/01/2024

Chronic absenteeism rates among Illinois public school students increased after the pandemic-era school closures. Rates are even higher among low-income students, limiting their futures.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

By Josh Bandoch

01/25/2024

Published Jan. 25, 2024

1 in 6 Chicago third graders can read at level, signaling dismal futures

By Hannah Schmid

10/04/2023

Few Chicago third-grade students can read at grade level. Even fewer low income and minority students are at grade level in reading. Research shows this is a warning sign for Chicago students’ academic success and subsequent earning potential.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Low 3rd-grade literacy is warning for future learning, earning potential

By Hannah Schmid

10/02/2023

Few Illinois third-grade students can read at grade level. Even fewer low-income and minority students are at grade level in reading. Research shows this is a warning sign for Illinois students’ academic success and adult earning potential.

TAGS: public

Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

By Bryce Hill

09/26/2023

Published Sept. 26, 2023 America’s War on Poverty has been an abject failure. Nearly $12 trillion and 60 years later, official poverty rates remain basically unchanged. While the nation waged a well-intentioned assault on poverty, it inadvertently launched a far more sinister war: on dignity. While attempting to eradicate poverty, America created countless government welfare...

Pensions put Illinois’ 2024 budget in red by over $4B

By Bryce Hill

05/27/2023

Illinois state lawmakers shorted pensions by $4.1 billion and killed scholarships for low-income students, but gave themselves pay raises and a new office building. Their budget leaves no room for error as revenue projections drop.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, budget, pensions

Pritzker blind trust companies hold $20 billion in state contracts

By Dylan Sharkey

09/01/2022

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s blind trust of investments includes 12 different companies with $20 billion in state contracts since he took office.

TAGS: corruption, JB Pritzker

Medicaid

Utah makes life easier for job seekers; Illinois can, too

Literacy in Illinois: Low third-grade reading proficiency warns of trouble ahead

Chicago’s chronic school absences hit Hispanic students hard

2-in-5 Illinois low-income students chronically absent

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

1 in 6 Chicago third graders can read at level, signaling dismal futures

Low 3rd-grade literacy is warning for future learning, earning potential

Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

Pensions put Illinois’ 2024 budget in red by over $4B

Pritzker blind trust companies hold $20 billion in state contracts

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

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