Medicaid enrollment, spending soar in Illinois as Congress weighs cuts

By Chris Coffey

03/27/2025

Expansions to Medicaid because of the Affordable Care Act and COVID-19 have increased the program in Illinois as Congress considers potential cuts or work requirements.

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...

Chicago’s hidden housing solution: How additional dwelling unit expansion can make city more affordable

By LyLena Estabine

01/23/2025

Published Jan. 23, 2025 Chicago’s 2020 Additional Dwelling Unit Ordinance, while well-intentioned, has stifled development. Despite 71% of Chicagoans being in favor of putting additional dwelling units on existing residential lots – higher than the national average – restrictive and inequitable regulations have ensured very few are built.1 Only 44% of pre-approved applications have received...

5 solutions for Illinois schools to fight literacy crisis

By Hannah Schmid

01/08/2025

The first three years of elementary school are critical in building reading skills so a student succeeds in school and life. Illinois lawmakers can push five proven literacy reforms to give the state’s students a better start.

TAGS: literacy, public schools

Where on Chicago Transit Authority are you most likely to be crime victim?

By Patrick Andriesen

12/26/2024

Chicago Transit Authority Green Line riders were the most likely to be crime victims for the 12 months ending in September. The most dangerous CTA stop had nearly 7 crimes per 100,000 riders compared to 1.3 systemwide.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority

5 ways Illinois can learn from Colorado’s ‘blue state’ literacy reforms

By Hannah Schmid

12/25/2024

Colorado lawmakers passed an act in 2012 to focus on early literacy development and the science of reading. Its fourth graders are now in the Top 5 states for reading proficiency. Illinois can benefit from adopting five of their tactics.

TAGS: literacy, public schools

What Illinois can learn from Florida’s emphasis on early literacy

By Hannah Schmid

11/21/2024

Florida state lawmakers began mandating science-based literacy education in the early 2000s. It improved reading proficiency among early grades and cemented Florida as a leader in early literacy education. Illinois should do the same.

TAGS: Florida, literacy

Cracking down on fare evasion can help deter Chicago transit crime

By Chris Coffey

10/31/2024

Washington, D.C., and New York City have cracked down on fare evasion because it is linked to serious and violent crime. The Chicago Transit Authority should do the same to curb its growing crime problem.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority

Illinois’ tax credit scholarship program for low-income students saved taxpayer dollars

By Hannah Schmid

10/23/2024

The Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship program saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars before it was killed by teachers’ unions, according to a new study.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Illinois can learn from Massachusetts, Washington D.C. for career programs

By Aayush Goodpaty

10/22/2024

Illinois can learn from other programs on how to prepare residents facing a benefits cliff, where low-income families are penalized for advancing in their careers.

Washington

Medicaid enrollment, spending soar in Illinois as Congress weighs cuts

Illinois’ low social mobility: causes and cures

Chicago’s hidden housing solution: How additional dwelling unit expansion can make city more affordable

5 solutions for Illinois schools to fight literacy crisis

Where on Chicago Transit Authority are you most likely to be crime victim?

5 ways Illinois can learn from Colorado’s ‘blue state’ literacy reforms

What Illinois can learn from Florida’s emphasis on early literacy

Cracking down on fare evasion can help deter Chicago transit crime

Illinois’ tax credit scholarship program for low-income students saved taxpayer dollars

Illinois can learn from Massachusetts, Washington D.C. for career programs

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

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