‘Homeschool Act’ attacks religious rights of homeschool, private school parents

By Mailee Smith

03/14/2025

House Bill 2827 would require the collection of personal information – including religious affiliation – of private school and homeschool families all over the state. That violates families’ constitutional rights.

TAGS: education, homeschool, private schools

Which teachers’ union affiliate represents your school district?

By Jess Plowman

03/14/2025

Dues money collected by local teachers unions rarely stays local. Instead, money flows up to state or national affiliates, where the priorities are politics and union boss expenses – not representing teachers.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, unions

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

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: education