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

Committee passes Senate bill taking aim at ‘golden parachute’ severance payouts

By Vincent Caruso

04/26/2018

The Government Severance Pay Act would restrict outgoing officials from exiting office with excessive severance pay.

TAGS: pensions, salaries, Tom Cullerton

Senate bill aims to deflate ‘golden parachute’ payouts for public officials

By Vincent Caruso

04/14/2018

The Government Severance Pay Act would restrict outgoing officials from exiting office with excessive severance pay.

TAGS: College of DuPage, NIU: Northern Illinois University, salaries, Tom Cullerton

Real relief: What Illinoisans looking for property tax reform can learn from Virginia

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

03/08/2018

If Illinois adopted Virginia’s spending habits along with policies that can reduce costs and raise home values, the Prairie State could vastly reduce the property tax burden that Illinois homeowners currently face.

Southern Illinois University chancellor urges administrative spending cuts

By Vincent Caruso

11/24/2017

Despite objections from faculty, one university chancellor is pressing for a campus restructuring that includes curbing the tuition-heightening costs of administrative bloat.

TAGS: budget, higher education, taxes

National Center for Education Statistics

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

Committee passes Senate bill taking aim at ‘golden parachute’ severance payouts

Senate bill aims to deflate ‘golden parachute’ payouts for public officials

Real relief: What Illinoisans looking for property tax reform can learn from Virginia

Southern Illinois University chancellor urges administrative spending cuts

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students