Illinois state lawmakers are hearing from parents who want to see the Invest in Kids program expanded. Giving families a choice about their schools can boost student achievement.
School boards impact two-thirds of property tax bills on average in Illinois. Running for the school board ensures kids in the community get a quality education and winning candidates get a chance to control costs.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker now supports the Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship program, according to a candidate survey. Pritzker in the past called for eliminating the program.
A total of 82,000 fewer students attend Chicago Public Schools than a decade ago. Chicago Teachers Union President Stacey Davis Gates blames the city for more than a decade of declining enrollment.
There are fewer students and more teachers in Illinois today than a decade ago, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. Teachers unions push the shortage myth to gain power.
Chicago Public Schools students and families returned for the 2022-23 school year. But with record low enrollment, one-third of those schools will be half-empty. Mailee Smith joins the Policy Shop to share why militant tactics from the Chicago Teachers Union have led to higher CPS costs, lower enrollment and lower test scores. This week’s Policy...
Smaller student population and worsening test scores continue despite more funding.
The Illinois Federation of Teachers in 2021 spent 190 times more on Chicago-area teachers than it did on teachers south of Interstate 80. That could be why IFT membership has shrunk nearly 18% since 2017.
Federal documents filed by the National Education Association show just 5% of its total spending was on representing members in 2021. NEA and its state affiliate – the Illinois Education Association – prioritized leadership salaries and politics over teachers.
Chicago parents spend one-third more than the national average on school supplies. A 5% state sales tax holiday does little to help those struggling with back-to-school costs.
The number of students enrolling in Chicago Public Schools continues to fall as teachers’ unions impose COVID-19 policies and infringe on parents’ choices about their childrens’ health and safety. A ballot proposal would make that worse.
Nearly 80,000 students have left Chicago Public Schools and student proficiency rates have declined since the current leaders took over the Chicago Teachers Union in 2010. All that, and 55% higher costs.
New research shows remote learning spurred the enrollment declines plaguing public schools. Schools with more in-person instruction lost fewer students.
School board members in rural Illinois said district consolidation will ease staff shortages made worse by the pandemic. A statewide look at district consolidation could cut administrative overhead and put $732 million more into classrooms.