Government
Chicago city leaders unanimously vote down mayor’s property tax hike(The Center Square) – With about six weeks left to get a new city budget passed, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is headed back to the drawing board after his proposal… Read More
Public Education
Illinois officials sugarcoat dismal K-12 report cardIllinois’ leadership is somehow trying to put a positive spin on K-12 learning, even though most students haven’t even recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The Illinois State Board of Education released… Read More
Public Education
Chicago Public Schools board still in grip of union and mayor after electionThe Chicago Teachers Union’s grip on the city’s school board may have eased slightly, but the district’s financial troubles continue after the election. Six of 10 seats chosen by voters… Read More
Public Education
Teachers union aims for more control of Chicago schools with election(The Center Square) – Chicago’s first school board election is coming at a time of turmoil for the city’s public school system. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s hand-picked school board president, Reverend… Read More
Public Education
After just one week on the job, Chicago’s school board president resigns over antisemitic social media postsÂThe mass turnover at the Chicago Board of Education (CBOE) continues as its new president resigned after a week on the job. Reverend Mitchell Johnson was appointed to the CBOE… Read More
Public Education
Nearly 3 of 5 teachers weigh leaving classroom, Illinois teachers’ union reports(The Center Square) – Former Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey is sounding the alarm about a new Illinois Education Association survey that finds almost three out of every five state educators… Read More
Public Education
Chicago Teachers’ Union wants $1B in city development funds to pay for teacher raisesÂThe Chicago Teachers’ Union (CTU) is pressuring city leadership to take $1 billion from a municipal development fund and give it to public schools. CTU released a proposal Wednesday to… Read More
Courts
Chicago Teachers Union refuses to disclose where money is going, lawsuit alleges(Daily Caller News Foundation) – The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has failed to produce required financial audits disclosing how its money was spent over the past four years, according to… Read More
Opinion
Op-ed: Chicago’s ultra-progressive mayor cuts crime-fighting tech to fund community organizers and aid criminalsWhy is Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson allowing a contract with a gunshot-detection tech company to expire, against the wishes of most Chicagoans? The contract with Shotspotter, the company that provides… Read More
Public Education
Chicago school district in shambles as teachers’ union thwarts major change that could help turn fortunes around(Daily Caller News Foundation) – The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is attempting to block the closing of “empty” and “failing” public schools in Chicago despite experts calling for closures and… Read More
Opinion
‘Watch out taxpayers’: Race-based funding bill filed in IllinoisOn Tuesday, July 30, 2024 I attended the press conference on higher education funding led by State Senator Kimberly Lightford and State Representative Carol Ammons. They introduced SB3965, a bill… Read More
Government
Cyber criminals increasingly target state and county governments(The Center Square) – Government agencies are facing a growing number of cyberattacks. The Center for Internet Security reported dramatic increases in both malware and ransomware attacks against government in… Read More
Public Education
School board president shares strategies handling ‘white parents’ at ‘white privilege’ conference(The Daily Signal) – An Illinois school board president gave a presentation at a “White Privilege Conference” accusing “white parents” of stirring controversy against racial progress, according to documents obtained… Read More
Public Education
Absenteeism and academic struggles mar Illinois public school stats(The Center Square) – Illinois public schools are aiming to improve academic proficiency numbers in the 2024-2025 school year. According to the Illinois Board of Education’s most recent Illinois Report… Read More
Politics
Public service campaign blasts Kamala Harris’ electric vehicle agenda(The Center Square) – It is Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s lofty goal to have one million electric vehicles on Illinois roads in less than six years, and now a public service… Read More
Culture
Colleges prepare for students to return after spring protests(The Center Square) – DePaul University in Chicago is preparing to reopen its campus Quad before students return for fall classes. The Quad has been closed for about three months… Read More
Public Education
Illinois school districts seek sales tax dollars(The Center Square) – Illinoisans already face a high tax burden and now DeKalb County school districts are asking voters to raise sales taxes for schools. Sales taxes would go… Read More
Homeschools
Home educator offers options for parents who are unhappy with public schools(The Center Square) – As test scores continue to drop in Illinois’ public schools, a home educator in Chicago is encouraging parents to consider other options. Latasha Fields has been… Read More
Public Education
Spending up, test scores down as Chicago mayor rejects staffing cuts(The Center Square) – Mayor Brandon Johnson has refused to accept budget savings proposed by Chicago Public Schools administrators. CPS proposed a budget of $9.9 billion for 2025, with $149… Read More
Public Education
Illinois schools to receive taxpayer dollars for special education referrals(The Center Square) – A new law allows Illinois school districts to get reimbursed with taxpayer money for sending their troubled students to both public and private special education programs. Read More