Rahm Emanuel

Kotkin to Chicago: Look to New Orleans for School Reforms

11/08/2011
by Michael Wille Joel Kotkin, an author and futurist, recently spoke at the Institute on what Illinois might look like in 2050. He had a number of insights on different areas of public policy, including a commentary on the reforms that have affected New Orleans’ public school system. Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in...

Rahm’s First Budget Address

10/13/2011
by Amanda Griffin-Johnson Yesterday, Chicago’s new mayor, Rahm Emanuel, released his first budget proposal. In his prepared budget address, he acknowledged that Chicago’s history of unbalanced budgets could not continue, and he recognized that “What we cannot do, however, is to protect the status quo by asking more of Chicago’s taxpayers. Raising taxes will drive more people...

Charter High Schools Deliver: When Given the Chance, Chicago Students Can Compete

By Collin Hitt
09/30/2011
The Problem Chicago high schools have long held a tragic reputation. For years, district-wide dropout rates have hovered near 50 percent. High school test scores remain low. Only a relative few students have been able to attend selective schools, where seats are reserved for students with exceptional records in elementary school. Now, a new group...

CPS Votes to Put Students First, Lengthen School Day

09/21/2011
by Michael Wille With the CPS graduation rate hovering around 55%, you would think that teachers would be supportive of giving kids more time in the classroom.  After all, according to a new website started by CPS to promote the longer school day, 14 of 15 studies have confirmed positive results between lengthening time in the classroom...

How much does Mayor Rahm Emanuel make?

By Chris Andriesen
06/09/2011
by Mark Cavers Mayor Rahm Emanuel has decided to put salary information for all 34,218 city of Chicago employees online for the public to see, analyze, and download. In the past, the information has been provided through news organizations and non-profits but this is the first time the data is available directly from the city. This level...

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Government Mandated Housing: Intentions and Outcomes

06/02/2011
by Sameer Warraich A recent news headline on Housing Action Illinois’ website reads: “Recession over, but poor renters still at risk of homelessness” After proposed state budget cuts for shelters, Housing Action Illinois has advocated maintaining federal and state funding for affordable housing programs. The ultimate irony, however, is that government intervention in the housing market has...

Government Monopolized Education Is Ineffective

05/25/2011
by Sameer Warraich New leadership is set to take control over Chicago Public Schools, and parents and students are pondering whether these new policy makers will be successful in reforming Chicago’s public school system. With a deficit that exceeds $720 million, CPS is in dire need of reformers who can simultaneously reduce costs while increasing the...

Congratulations to the New Mayor of Chicago

05/16/2011
Inauguration day carries a spirit of optimism. Changes are needed in Chicago, and we can all hope today is the day that those changes begin to take place. Chicago is a great city, and in almost every way it could become the greatest city in America. But sober realities await the new mayor. The city...

An End to Taxpayer-Funded Advertising for Politicians?

04/26/2011
by Brian Costin One of my biggest pet peeves of all times is how some politicians have an insatiable need to put their name on things at the expense of the taxpayers. The open road tolling signs with former Governor Blagojevich’s name and the Richard M. Daley signs at O’Hare Airport come to mind. However, a...
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Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

Occupational licensing requirements present one of the steepest barriers to low-income Illinoisans starting careers in beauty services. Illinois requires anyone seeking to become a barber, cosmetologist, nail technician or hair braider to obtain a state license, essentially a permission slip to work. Unlike 45 other states, Illinois offers only one pathway to licensure for each...

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Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014

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

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016