Vallas: All Illinois parents deserve school choice because it works

By Paul Vallas

04/12/2024

Private education excels and school choice help students across race and income demographics. So why are teachers unions working against parents having choices and students excelling?

Nearly all Illinois public universities report higher costs, less money to operate

By Patrick Andriesen

03/11/2024

Every Illinois public university received about one-third less operational funding from the state in fiscal year 2024 than 15 years ago. University of Illinois spending per student dropped by nearly half.

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

Illinois shorts higher ed by nearly $530M compared to 15 years ago

By Patrick Andriesen

02/01/2024

Illinois’ institutions of higher education will get nearly $530 million less from lawmakers to run this year than they did in fiscal year 2009, adjusted for inflation. Coupled with rapidly rising pensions, students and their families can expect ever-higher tuition costs.

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

1 in 5 Illinois adults is illiterate, but it’s 1 in 4 in Cook County

By Hannah Schmid

12/26/2023

Research shows income and adult literacy are strongly related. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show 20% of Illinois adults are “functionally illiterate.” Cook County’s rate is 25%.

TAGS: Cook County

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

CTU told lawmakers what to do over 1,360 times in just 6 legislative sessions

By Mailee Smith

06/08/2023

The Chicago Teachers Union pours money into political campaigns, but that isn’t all. It also pressures lawmakers to abide by its legislative agenda. It’s a one-two political punch: helping elect lawmakers and then telling them what to do.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Pritzker fact check: Prime working-age Illinoisans leading exodus, not students

By Bryce Hill

04/30/2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker inaccurately identified students leaving for college as the reason for Illinois’ population decline. Illinoisans between the ages of 26 and 54 made up 64.5% of the net decline in population from 2017-2018, the most recent year of available data.

TAGS: Illinois, outmigration, population, U.S. Census Bureau

National Center for Education Statistics

Vallas: All Illinois parents deserve school choice because it works

Nearly all Illinois public universities report higher costs, less money to operate

Chicago’s chronic school absences hit Hispanic students hard

Illinois shorts higher ed by nearly $530M compared to 15 years ago

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

1 in 5 Illinois adults is illiterate, but it’s 1 in 4 in Cook County

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

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

CTU told lawmakers what to do over 1,360 times in just 6 legislative sessions

Pritzker fact check: Prime working-age Illinoisans leading exodus, not students

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