National Education Association sees teacher exodus as political spending balloons

By Mailee Smith

12/06/2024

NEA has lost nearly 400,000 members since its peak in 2009. It could be because just 9% of the union’s spending is on representing teachers – with the rest on politics, administration and other union leader priorities.

TAGS: education, IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association

Democratic National Convention to tout education policy near Chicago school where no kids read at grade level

By Dylan Sharkey

08/16/2024

Education will be a major platform piece during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Too bad the party will meet near a Chicago school where spending $27K per student yields none who can read at grade level.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education

Johnson’s loyalty to Chicago Teachers Union clear as he pushes out schools chief

By Patrick Andriesen

08/16/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is reportedly working to get rid of Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. Martinez has been fighting financial ploys by Johnson and the mayor’s former employer, the Chicago Teachers Union.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago public schools, education

Chicago Public Schools faces $500M deficit despite $10B budget

By Bryce Hill

07/25/2024

Chicago Public Schools’ reliance on temporary federal pandemic funds has left the district grappling with deficits even before factoring in a new Chicago Teachers Union contract. $505M deficit + $10B in demands = taxpayer trouble

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education

The Policy Shop: 3-in-10 seats empty at Chicago Public Schools

By Hannah Schmid

07/24/2024

Hundreds of Chicago Public Schools buildings have a space-use problem – they’re too empty. Nearly 60% of schools are underutilized while 5% are overcrowded. Only 37% are at ideal capacity. The Chicago Teachers Union wants to add staff to the empty schools.

TAGS: Chicago, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education

How’s my community? Measures of how your piece of Illinois is doing

07/22/2024

Here are data snapshots of Illinois communities, schools and government. See how well your tax dollars are performing in your city, county or school compared to others.

TAGS: education, Illinois, taxes

Chicago school spending nearly doubles as scores drop

By Kurtis Karg

07/12/2024

As Chicago Public Schools spending per student continues to rise, test scores and proficiency levels among students continue to drop.

TAGS: education

3-in-10 seats are empty at Chicago Public Schools

By Hannah Schmid

07/12/2024

TAGS: education

Schools need to be open about curriculum to fight Illinois student declines

By Mailee Smith

07/09/2024

Illinois students’ reading and math proficiency have yet to rebound from pandemic losses. Illinois parents have a right to know what their children are being taught so they can be part of the solution.

TAGS: education

Chicago Public Schools employs 5,500 more staff members for 32,000 fewer students during past four years

By Hannah Schmid

06/27/2024

Enrollment at Chicago Public Schools has dropped by 31,905 students since 2019. The district’s staff has increased by 5,472 full-time equivalent staff members over that same period. CPS now has 323,251 students and 43,255 staff members, including teachers.

TAGS: education

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

Illinois finds itself at a crossroads: will it empower minorities and poor people to unleash their potential, or will it perpetuate an inequitable status quo? For far too many Illinoisans, opportunity is unfairly and unnecessarily out of reach. Illinois ranks in the bottom ten among all states in social mobility and last among Midwest states...

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Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

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Brandi Lentz

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students