New technology for old problems: 10 elements of high quality digital learning
New technology for old problems: 10 elements of high quality digital learning
The Problem For years, the same common challenges have escaped solutions in even the best public schools: classes move too slowly for some students but too quickly for others; course offerings in foreign language or Advanced Placement are very limited in small and rural schools; and, especially in elementary schools, the school day leaves too...
By Collin Hitt
Tax Amnesty for Online Sales Ends Saturday
Tax Amnesty for Online Sales Ends Saturday
by Kristina Rasmussen October 15 — this Saturday — is the last day of Illinois’s amnesty program for consumers to pay use tax for Internet purchases where sales tax was not collected. From an oldState Journal-Register article: The state will offer a sales tax amnesty from Jan. 1 through Oct. 15. Under legislation passed last year and...
Illinois’s Job Creators and Workers: “Complainers”?
Illinois’s Job Creators and Workers: “Complainers”?
by Emily Dietrich After a weeklong excursion to Asia, Gov. Quinn made a splash last Wednesday with his first public statement in 20 days. Quinn said that those expressing concern over Illinois’s economy are “complainers” and “naysayers.” As evidence of a positive jobs market, Quinn pointed to the job growth the state experienced last year. True, the...
Basic Math – Teacher Pensions
Basic Math – Teacher Pensions
by Kristina Rasmussen Illinois is still broke. Teachers, listen up. It is time for the truth.
Putting Up New Curtains When Your House Is On Fire
Putting Up New Curtains When Your House Is On Fire
by Kristina Rasmussen The state is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on renovating the capitol building in Springfield. That money is being spent even as Illinois state government faces billions in past-due bills. As one of my colleagues noted, it’s like putting up new curtains when your house is on fire. Here’s a run down...
Desperation at the Post Office
Desperation at the Post Office
by Kristina Rasmussen While standing in a very long line at the Post Office yesterday, I noticed this placard advertising their PhotoStops Kit. Basically, you get to put a photo of your choice on a legit stamp. We all know that USPS is facing major fiscal issues. Things are bad. So bad, apparently, that they’re asking customers...
America’s Hero: The Entrepreneur
America’s Hero: The Entrepreneur
by Emily Dietrich In page after page of Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand depicts her real life hero – the entrepreneur. After a Library of Congress survey revealed that readers of Atlas Shrugged rate the novel only second to the Bible as the most influential book in their lives, it’s no surprise that this way of thinking has taken root. Entrepreneurs...
If Illinois Members of Congress had their way, how much would government spending increase or decrease?
If Illinois Members of Congress had their way, how much would government spending increase or decrease?
by Kristina Rasmussen If Illinois Members of Congress had their way, how much would government spending increase or decrease? The National Taxpayers Union Foundation keeps a running tally of each Congressman’s net spending agendas as measured by their bill co-sponsorships. Last week I asked them to share preliminary data on the spending agendas of members of the Illinois...
School Districts Lead the Way in Bloomington
School Districts Lead the Way in Bloomington
The Illinois Policy Institute recently completed aAi??local government transparency projectAi??focused on government units in McLean County, Illinois. The results range from high scores of 87.5 to a low score of 5.625. To see how the scores breakdown,Ai??click here for the full scorecard Paroxetine withdrawal treatment Ai??or see the table below. Bloomington Public School District 87Ai??andAi??McLean...
By Mark Cavers
Nation’s Highest Spike in Unemployment Seen in Illinois Metro Division
Nation’s Highest Spike in Unemployment Seen in Illinois Metro Division
by Emily Dietrich Today the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the majority of U.S. metropolitan areas decreased their unemployment rate from last year. Unfortunately for the largest metropolitan division in Illinois – Chicago-Joliet-Naperville – this was not the case. With unemployment spiking 0.7 percentage points from a year earlier, Chicago-Joliet-Naperville experienced the largest unemployment rate increase...
Repeal the Tax Hike?
Repeal the Tax Hike?
by Mark Cavers Last week, the Illinois Policy Institute partnered with the Manhattan Institute to release a poll measuring the public’s mood on a wide range of issues including: Pensions, the state’s budget, the economy, taxes, unions, and collective bargaining. According to our poll, 63% of people still oppose the tax hikes that were passed in January. Even more...
CPS Votes to Put Students First, Lengthen School Day
CPS Votes to Put Students First, Lengthen School Day
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...
Illinois Business Climate Ranks in Bottom
Illinois Business Climate Ranks in Bottom
by Emily Dietrich Yesterday’s headline in the Chicago Tribune, “Illinois Among Worst States to do Business,” encapsulates what’s been on the minds of countless job creators and job seekers across the state. A new study by the Development Counsellors International reports that of the 322 U.S. corporate executives surveyed, nearly one quarter viewed Illinois as having one of...