Public Education
With measures to attract, retain teachers approved, some see other problematic policies(The Center Square) – With the governor enacting measures to attract and retain teachers, critics say other policies are keeping teachers away.Gov. J.B. Pritzker, legislators and education professionals… Read More
State Government
Goldman Sachs: Two-thirds of Illinois businesses still haven’t recovered from pandemic(The Center Square) – Two years after lockdowns were extended in Illinois for a second month, two-thirds of Illinois businesses say they still are having trouble making ends meet even… Read More
Public Education
GOP candidates for Illinois governor discuss crime, COVID, education during forum(The Center Square) – Crime, COVID-19 policies, education and more were the focus of the first Illinois gubernatorial debate among Republican candidates. There was also attention paid to an… Read More
Public Education
Schools must report alleged teacher sexual misconduct starting July 2023(The Center Square) – In a little over a year, school superintendents must begin notifying school boards and parents if any sexual misconduct happens in their districts. Read More
Culture, Government, Public Education
Parents, local education officials push back against Illinois’ public school policies(The Center Square) – In what could be a top issue in the November election, parents of school children and local education officials are voicing their concerns over… Read More
Government
Op-Ed: Illinois proves investing in school choice lifts low-income familiesEarly on July 10, 2015, Jerry Valdivia Sr. was fighting flames to get to his wife and two children in their Chicago home. His wife died trying to… Read More
Public Education
Education pension spiking costs continue to hit Illinois taxpayers(The Center Square) – School districts across the state continue to divert money from classrooms to boost the pensions of retiring educators despite multiple attempts to curb the practice. Read More
State Government
Privacy concerns raised over proliferation of license plate cameras(The Center Square) – As Illinois police departments lobby city councils on the importance of cameras to combat crime, some are raising concerns about the right to privacy. Read More
State Government
Former state Sen. Thomas Cullerton pleads guilty to embezzlement(The Center Square) – A former Democratic Illinois state senator pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal embezzlement charge and admitted fraudulently receiving salary and benefits from a labor… Read More
Public Education
Op-Ed: Mask mandate is gone for most Illinois schools, but teachers unions still demand more power over kids, parents(The Center Square) – Illinois’ largest teachers unions in the past two pandemic years have shown their priority is power, not students’ welfare or parents’ rights.In 2020-2021, the… Read More
State Government
Prosecutors indict former House Speaker Michael Madigan on 22 counts of corruption(The Center Square) – Prosecutors indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on 22 counts of corruption Tuesday. U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch Jr. announced the charges Tuesday… Read More
Public Education
Some question if “political science” was part of relaxing COVID-19 mandates in Illinois(The Center Square) — While some say the science of COVID-19 has led to Illinois lifting its mask mandate in most places, including schools and daycare settings, others say… Read More
State Government
Bribery case involving ComEd officials moves ahead with shadow over Madigan(The Center Square) – Former House Speaker Michael Madigan spent more than $2.7 million for legal work in 2021, most of it after he left office, after being implicated… Read More
Public Education
School association doesn’t expect ISBE to enforce mask mandate ‘at this point’(The Center Square) – An association representing large school districts across Illinois expects the issue of mask mandates to eventually dissipate, despite the attorney general appealing to the Illinois… Read More
State Government
Appeals court dismisses Pritzker’s school mask order appeal as ‘moot’(The Center Square) – The temporary restraining order blocking Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 mask and exclusion policies in schools remains in place as the Fourth District Court of Appeals… Read More
Public Education
Illinois ed board removes meeting agenda item for vaccine mandate rule(The Center Square) – Don’t expect the Illinois State Board of Education to take up a proposed rule requiring the COVID-19 vaccine or testing for school staff. The item… Read More
Public Education
Two school districts face contempt motion over claims they are violating mask restraining order(The Center Square) – All of last week, children of plaintiffs in the school mask and exclusion lawsuit weren’t being punished for not wearing a mask. That… Read More
Public Education
Teachers unions spent big to get mandates and closures in Illinois(Brett Rowland | The Center Square) – Teacher unions have used campaign spending, political organization and collective bargaining power to influence policy decisions during the pandemic.Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker… Read More
Public Education
Many Illinois students experienced ‘normal’ school without masks this week, others did not(Greg Bishop | The Center Square) – Many students across the state are choosing to go to school maskless despite the governor saying his mandate is still in place after… Read More
National
Debate over masking school students rages as more states drop mandates(The Center Square) – Some teacher unions have lashed out in Illinois this week after a judge issued a temporary restraining order halting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mask mandate… Read More