Invest in Kids Act could reduce inequality, lower crime in Illinois’ big cities
Invest in Kids Act could reduce inequality, lower crime in Illinois’ big cities
A solid education and satisfying employment will go a long way toward reducing crime in Illinois. State lawmakers already have a solution in place, but it needs a boost.
By Orphe Divounguy
Nearly 1 in 3 Illinois students didn’t take assessment tests
Nearly 1 in 3 Illinois students didn’t take assessment tests
Lots of Illinois students missed lots of school during 2021, meaning state test scores suffered. Chronic truancy led to drops across demographics.
By Dylan Sharkey
Chicago schools prep for omicron, let some unvaccinated students test out of COVID-19 quarantine
Chicago schools prep for omicron, let some unvaccinated students test out of COVID-19 quarantine
Chicago Public Schools will increase testing and give unvaccinated students a chance to test out of quarantine after exposure to COVID-19. Administrators are bracing for the omicron variant
By Dylan Sharkey
Statewide COVID-19 school mandates draw ire of superintendents
Statewide COVID-19 school mandates draw ire of superintendents
A group of school district superintendents called on the Illinois State Board of Education to oppose statewide mask and other mandates, letting local schools decide how best to handle COVID-19 mitigation.
By Patrick Andriesen
Equating parents with terrorists leads Illinois Association of School Boards to quit U.S. group
Equating parents with terrorists leads Illinois Association of School Boards to quit U.S. group
The Illinois Association of School Boards is among 15 state boards to terminate their National School Boards Association membership after the national group sent a letter to President Biden asking that upset parent be monitored as domestic terrorists.
By Patrick Andriesen
Jeremiah made it, but 2 Illinois education reforms could help others
Jeremiah made it, but 2 Illinois education reforms could help others
Illinois has too much school district administration. It has too much education pension debt. There are ways to solve those problems to help students facing challenges and taxpayers facing ever-increasing demands.
Chicago schools cancel class for COVID-19 ‘Vaccine Awareness Day’
Chicago schools cancel class for COVID-19 ‘Vaccine Awareness Day’
Chicago Public Schools declared a day off for students ages 5 to 11 to get their COVID-19 shots. But little notice and the fact the vaccines were just approved for younger children mean parents face challenges to actually getting shots for their kids.
By Dylan Sharkey
1-in-5 Illinois students chronically truant thanks to COVID-19 mandates
1-in-5 Illinois students chronically truant thanks to COVID-19 mandates
Illinois students were missing – in masses – during the COVID-19 restrictions on in-person learning. As a result, nearly 20% fewer students met math and English proficiency standards.
By Patrick Andriesen
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.
By Mailee Smith
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.
By Brad Weisenstein
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.
By Patrick Andriesen
Illinois schools outspend, underperform neighbors
Illinois schools outspend, underperform neighbors
Illinois test scores lag nearby states as administrative bloat keeps money from classrooms
By Adam Schuster