2024 election
Election integrity efforts underway as early voting set to begin in Illinois(The Center Square) – With early voting for the Nov. 5 election beginning in just over two months in Illinois, the political parties are putting out their election integrity… 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… 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,… 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… Read More
Auto industry
As Illinois subsidizes EV industry, auto analyst says gas-powered engines here to stay(The Center Square) – The state of Illinois has been on a fast track to get motorists to buy electric vehicles, but an auto analyst says gas-powered engines will… Read More
Courts
Charter schools file lawsuit contesting Illinois’ ‘union neutrality’ clauseCharter schools are suing Illinois leaders over a new law requiring such schools to have “union neutrality” clauses. HB 1120, sponsored exclusively by Democrat… Read More
Public Education
Illinois school board spends $40K on restorative justice after teachers complain of student violenceIllinois’ Springfield Public Schools (SPS) board voted unanimously on Monday to allocate $40,000 to train educators in “restorative” practices amid a surge in violence, despite… Read More
Government
Bill on governor’s desk raises concerns over Illinois courts’ jurisdiction for out-of-state birth certificate changes(The Center Square) – Illinois could soon allow transgender residents to change out-of-state birth certificates and IDs, if the governor signs a bill on his desk. House Bill… Read More
Government
Critics question whether mandated relaxation will raise outcomes in Illinois schools(The Center Square) – The governor is expected to sign Senate Bill 2872, which mandates schools to provide relaxation activities for Illinois students. Opponents argue the students’ academic… Read More
Culture
Illinois seeks to expand ‘gender-affirming care’ national group says is harmful to kids(The Center Square) – An Illinois state agency is launching a statewide initiative it says “supports and expands gender-affirming care,” but a national pediatric group says that’s the wrong… Read More
Opinion
Op-ed: Chicago Mayor Johnson personifies the main problem of public educationChicago Mayor Brandon Johnson just demonstrated the primary problem with public education in 10 words. In an interview with The Economic Club of Chicago,… Read More
Public Education
‘After generations of failure,’ Illinois Rep. Ford hoping to see Chicago Public Schools improve(The Center Square) – A new Public Agenda poll finds that most city residents don’t think Chicago Public Schools students are learning enough, with most of the blame tied… Read More
Government
Illinois House passes bill to addresses rise in AI-generated nude photos of students(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are addressing a growing form of cyberbullying in schools involving artificial intelligence. The House passed House Bill 299 that… Read More
Government
Illinois legislators approve plan to assess mental health screenings in public schools(The Center Square) – Illinois public schools are one step closer to universal mental health screenings for students. The Illinois House passed Senate Bill… Read More
Christian Schools
Fire destroyed this church’s building. But it sparked the launch of a Christian school in central IllinoisA dream in April 2023 caused Ed Herald to believe God was calling him to start a Christian school – even though his church’s building had been destroyed by… Read More
Government
Taxpayer funds for homeless new arrival students included in grant expansion(The Center Square) – Illinois House Bill 5407, subject to appropriation, expands the permitted uses of funds received from the Education of Homeless Children and… Read More
Education
Legislation would charge teachers and others for sexually abusing 18-year-old students(The Center Square) – In Illinois, it is not illegal for an educator or staff member to have a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student, but some Republican lawmakers… Read More
Government
Illinois bill would criminalize sexual relationships between teachers and their 18-year-old students(The Center Square) – In Illinois, it is not illegal for an educator or staff member to have a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student, but some Republican lawmakers… Read More
Illinois
Latest Census data shows Illinois’ largest cities continuing to lose population(The Center Square) – The exodus from Illinois continues. The latest Census data for 2023 shows that people are moving out of Democratic strongholds such as Illinois and… Read More
Illinois
Red light cameras rake in $1 billion from drivers in Illinois(The Center Square) – With Illinois’ red light camera industry sending more than a billion dollars in revenue into city coffers, a Republican state legislator is warning the scheme… Read More