Education finance solutions

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

02/09/2017

Making Illinois’ system fairer through pension reform, consolidation and accountability to parents and students.

Budget Solutions 2018: Balancing the state budget without tax hikes

By Ted Dabrowski, Craig Lesner, John Klingner, Michael Lucci

01/31/2017

A set of structural reforms that protect taxpayers and put Illinois on the path to prosperity.

Teacher pension pickups cost taxpayers $380 million per year

01/27/2017

Nearly two-thirds of all school districts – and by extension, taxpayers – pick up some or all of each teacher’s required contribution.

TAGS: education, pensions

Taxpayers forced to pay $421 million more for teacher pensions

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

08/29/2016

The Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System’s actuarial changes will drive up taxpayer contributions by $421 million in 2017. These latest changes prove Illinois’ pension math doesn’t work.

TAGS: education, pensions, teacher salaries, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Illinois taxpayers on the hook for pension failures

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

08/25/2016

More realistic investment return assumptions by the Teachers’ Retirement System mean Illinois taxpayer contributions to the fund could rise by hundreds of millions of dollars. Ending teacher pension pickups would alleviate the burden on Illinois taxpayers.

TAGS: education, pensions, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System looks to lower its expected investment rate of return

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

08/25/2016

The Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System’s adoption of more realistic investment return assumptions would cause the system’s unfunded liabilities to grow by about $6 billion above their current $62 billion level.

TAGS: education, pensions, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Palatine school-district contract a case study in how closed-door, government-union deals hurt taxpayers

By Mailee Smith

06/03/2016

Palatine-area Community Consolidated School District 15 posted its 10-year contract with its teachers union more than a month after it had been signed, ensuring that potentially harmful contract provisions can only come to light after it is too late for students, parents and taxpayers to do anything about it.

TAGS: education, labor

Springfield couldn’t bail out Chicago Public Schools even if it wanted to

By Ted Dabrowski

02/05/2016

State-run teacher pensions have a shortfall of $37,000 per student, while Chicago's shortfall totals $24,000.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, pensions

Pensions vs. schools

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

01/26/2016

Since 2009, 89 cents of every new dollar for education goes to teacher pensions

Coming up short: What if Illinois’ pension funds miss their investment targets?

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

11/02/2015

Without real reforms, low investment yearly returns of 4 to 6 percent over the next 28 years could cost Illinois taxpayers anywhere from $100 billion to $200 billion above what they’re already expected to pay in contributions.

Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Education finance solutions

Budget Solutions 2018: Balancing the state budget without tax hikes

Teacher pension pickups cost taxpayers $380 million per year

Taxpayers forced to pay $421 million more for teacher pensions

Illinois taxpayers on the hook for pension failures

Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System looks to lower its expected investment rate of return

Palatine school-district contract a case study in how closed-door, government-union deals hurt taxpayers

Springfield couldn’t bail out Chicago Public Schools even if it wanted to

Pensions vs. schools

Coming up short: What if Illinois’ pension funds miss their investment targets?

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