CJay Harmer
CJay Harmer
"The need for social-emotional learning has gone through the roof, and that’s what makes what out superintendent did so extraordinary."
Before fall in-person school, Chicago Teachers Union wants over 4,000 new workers
Before fall in-person school, Chicago Teachers Union wants over 4,000 new workers
The Chicago Teachers Union issued a long list of demands it wants before allowing in-person learning this fall. Union leaders seek over 4,000 new employees, including a “restorative justice coordinator” in each of Chicago’s 638 schools.
Kim Breust Neilson
Kim Breust Neilson
“One mom with a child with autism spoke up at the board meeting and said, ‘Instead of my child getting adequate speech services that he desperately needs, he has been taught how to put on a mask, how to wear a mask, how to keep his mask on his face.’"
Masks can be optional in Illinois school districts
Masks can be optional in Illinois school districts
Illinois schools can resume in-person learning without masks next month now that the state has clarified its guidance to acknowledge local school boards should decide which COVID-19 policies best fit their students.
7 things to know about new COVID-19 school guidance from CDC, Illinois
7 things to know about new COVID-19 school guidance from CDC, Illinois
New federal and state health guidance adjusts policies on masks, distancing and quarantines in Illinois’ K-12 schools. Many students will again be masked in the coming year.
CDC report: 1 in 10 Illinois students learned in-person for 8 months of pandemic
CDC report: 1 in 10 Illinois students learned in-person for 8 months of pandemic
Illinois ranked 9th worst in the nation for offering students access to full-time in-person learning between September 2020 and April 2021 – less than any other Midwest state.
New study gives Illinois an ‘F’ for civics and history education standards
New study gives Illinois an ‘F’ for civics and history education standards
A recent study by the Fordham Institute critiqued Illinois’ education standards for U.S. history and civics education. Illinois’ standards lacked mention of historical concepts and did not offer goals for what each grade should learn in civics and U.S. History.
Illinois school superintendents demand immediate COVID-19 guidance
Illinois school superintendents demand immediate COVID-19 guidance
Illinois schools will be treated more restrictively than any other public venues, threatening students’ educations across the state. Superintendents are demanding up-to-date, commonsense COVID-19 guidance to prep for the upcoming school year.
Holly Hasten Jarovsky
Holly Hasten Jarovsky
"We used to believe that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and unfortunately now particularly in the educational environment that’s all we do."
Frequently asked questions: Updated rules on COVID-19 and schools
Frequently asked questions: Updated rules on COVID-19 and schools
Breaking down the state's latest rules concerning COVID-19 restrictions in Illinois K-12 schools.
Scott + Karen Dvorak
Scott + Karen Dvorak
Scott Dvorak “I’m a father of eight kids. They range from like kindergarten to high school and there’s really no way that we can afford to pay for eight kids in Catholic school. My wife is a teacher with the Diocese, and I work in sales, so the scholarships have really helped our family. “They’re...
Teachers union vows to keep chasing health rules for Illinois private schools
Teachers union vows to keep chasing health rules for Illinois private schools
After nearly 17,000 Illinois parents opposed a bill to impose state health mandates on private schools, and state lawmakers let the effort sit, it seemed the fight was over. Not quite. A teachers union lead lobbyist pledged to keep pursuing it.
Scholarships for low-income students survive Pritzker’s threat, gain a year
Scholarships for low-income students survive Pritzker’s threat, gain a year
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wanted to gut the Invest in Kids program for low-income students. Lawmakers opposed that, adding a year to the program.
Illinois bill to impose more public health controls on private schools dies
Illinois bill to impose more public health controls on private schools dies
Private schools kept most of their students in class during the COVID-19 pandemic, making public schools look bad. Union bosses tried and failed to force through a bill to mandate state controls on private school operations in the case of a new health crisis.