Amendment 1 will cement teacher strikes in Illinois Constitution
Amendment 1 will cement teacher strikes in Illinois Constitution
Voters will decide in November 2022 whether teachers’ unions will have a permanent right to walk out on students.
Chicago Sky standout’s rise started with scholarship to private school
Chicago Sky standout’s rise started with scholarship to private school
Allie Quigley’s team just brought Chicago the WNBA championship, but her success story started with someone donating a scholarship that let her and her siblings attend private school. The result: lessons that built a champion.
Aryana Franco
Aryana Franco
“They didn’t ask them what was going on at home. They just cared about their behavior. I know some students who couldn’t afford to do laundry or others who were in a toxic household. When you’re going through that, you can’t focus on school.”
Making Illinois’ tax credit scholarships permanent will let more students excel
Making Illinois’ tax credit scholarships permanent will let more students excel
Illinois state lawmakers can give low-income students the security of an education that best fits their needs by making the Tax Credit Scholarship a permanent fixture.
Updated ISBE policy puts private schools on probation for defying mask mandates instead of immediately revoking state recognition
Updated ISBE policy puts private schools on probation for defying mask mandates instead of immediately revoking state recognition
Private schools will be granted a 60-day probation to address COVID-19 compliance issues in line with public school standards under ISBE’s updated policy. Nonrecognized schools were put on probation status Oct. 1.
Illinois schools outspend, underperform neighbors
Illinois schools outspend, underperform neighbors
Illinois test scores lag nearby states as administrative bloat keeps money from classrooms
Chicago Public Schools have lost 25,000 students since COVID-19 hit
Chicago Public Schools have lost 25,000 students since COVID-19 hit
As enrollment declines CPS may lose its spot as the third-largest school district nationally, yet spending increases continue.
2 things Waukegan can do to nurture students’ futures
2 things Waukegan can do to nurture students’ futures
With rising costs and sinking test scores, school district efficiency and pension reform provide ways to put more money into Waukegan classrooms and improve student achievement.
Illinois bill would give ISBE authority to revoke schools’ state recognition
Illinois bill would give ISBE authority to revoke schools’ state recognition
Gov. J.B Pritzker has warned district administrators since early August that ISBE would strip state recognition from Illinois schools defying his statewide mask mandate. House Bill 4135 aims to give the state board of education that power.
Pritzker mask mandate leads to threats against 58 schools, districts
Pritzker mask mandate leads to threats against 58 schools, districts
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Aug. 4 mask mandate drew criticism from the communities he just weeks earlier promised would keep local control over student COVID-19 safety. School districts that fail to kowtow face severe state sanctions.
Classrooms First: District consolidation can improve Illinois’ education outcomes while saving taxpayers money
Classrooms First: District consolidation can improve Illinois’ education outcomes while saving taxpayers money
Classrooms First Act would benefit virtually all Illinoisans including teachers, parents and students.
Ashley Cullen-Williams
Ashley Cullen-Williams
“A lot of funding gets diverted or allocated to other things before students immediate needs are considered. Students need to be well in order to excel at life. Students need access to supportive environments, quality connections and college and career opportunities.”
Chicago Public Schools hiring 2,000 staffers, but might be missing 100,000 students
Chicago Public Schools hiring 2,000 staffers, but might be missing 100,000 students
The Chicago Board of Education approved a $9.3 billion budget that hires 2,000 new, permanent staff using temporary COVID-19 federal aid. There are also concerns about whether 100,000 students will return.
Even private schools must mask up after Pritzker flip-flop
Even private schools must mask up after Pritzker flip-flop
Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised to respect local school boards and private school autonomy, until too few were doing what he wanted. So he reversed himself, mandating masks for both private and public Illinois schools.