Literacy epidemic hits Illinois as fewer than 1 in 3 students read well

By Hannah Schmid

03/28/2025

Student literacy is in trouble nationally. Illinois is one of 41 states where just 1 in 3 or fewer of its fourth-graders met reading standards in 2024.

TAGS: public schools

Illinois’ low social mobility: causes and cures

01/28/2025

Published Jan. 28, 2025 Illinois Policy Institute Center for Poverty Solutions, in partnership with the Archbridge Institute By Joshua Bandoch, Ph.D., head of policy, Illinois Policy Institute and Justin Callais, Ph.D., chief economist, Archbridge Institute EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A low-income person’s ability to move up in society is worse in Illinois than in any other Midwestern...

Illinois part of national epidemic, with only 1 in 3 students reading well

By Hannah Schmid

09/19/2024

Student literacy is in trouble nationally, which is why Illinois is one of 35 states where just 1 in 3 – or fewer – of its fourth graders met reading standards in 2022.

Chicago Teachers Union sets a radical example for nation’s teachers unions

By William O’Keefe

04/19/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union prides itself as a leader in “bargaining for the common good” – unionspeak for contract demands related to its political agenda rather than teachers’ wages and benefits. This year’s negotiations could reverberate across the nation.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

18 states embrace school choice as Illinois hurts low-income families

By Hannah Schmid

01/22/2024

Seven states enacted new private school choice programs in 2023 and 11 states expanded existing programs. But Illinois killed its Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarship program, ending the only help for nearly 10,000 low-income students.

TAGS: school choice

Illinois again taxing your groceries starting July 1

By Dylan Sharkey

06/28/2023

Illinoisans will notice more expensive food July 1 when Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s election-year suspension of the grocery tax expires. Only Illinois and 12 other states will tax groceries then.

Illinois grocery tax returns July 1

By Dylan Sharkey

06/06/2023

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s temporary tax relief expires July 1 when Illinois reinstates the grocery tax instead of joining the 37 states that don’t tax groceries at all.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

‘Ballot selfies’ are a felony in Illinois

By Dylan Sharkey

03/23/2023

Voters wanting to show their Election Day pride should be careful. Sharing a voting-booth selfie on social media is a felony in Illinois.

TAGS: Chicago, election

Illinois lawmaker pay 4th-highest in U.S. after Pritzker OKs $12,000 raises

By Bryce Hill

01/13/2023

State lawmaker pay has increased by more than $17,000 during Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration. State representatives and senators make the most for jobs considered less than full time, 4th in U.S. overall.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, lawmaker pay

CTU-backed Amendment 1 would give teachers unions power over Illinois parents

By Mailee Smith

02/15/2022

Chicago Teachers Union takes credit for spreading the “new gospel” of union strike power across the nation. If the CTU-backed Amendment 1 passes in November, it will lock the union’s militant tactics into the state constitution, to the detriment of children and parents statewide.

TAGS: Amendment 1, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Oklahoma

Literacy epidemic hits Illinois as fewer than 1 in 3 students read well

Illinois’ low social mobility: causes and cures

Illinois part of national epidemic, with only 1 in 3 students reading well

Chicago Teachers Union sets a radical example for nation’s teachers unions

18 states embrace school choice as Illinois hurts low-income families

Illinois again taxing your groceries starting July 1

Illinois grocery tax returns July 1

‘Ballot selfies’ are a felony in Illinois

Illinois lawmaker pay 4th-highest in U.S. after Pritzker OKs $12,000 raises

CTU-backed Amendment 1 would give teachers unions power over Illinois parents

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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