News
Chicago's sustainable community high schools: Lower outcomes, higher costs
1+ hour, 34+ min ago (495+ words) Manager of Education Policy The Chicago Teachers Union's preferred model fails in academic proficiency, absenteeism and cost. The Chicago Teachers Union continues to push a schooling model that produces poor student outcomes and costs taxpayers more. The union's most recent…...
Gov. Pritzker can create new pathway to beauty careers by signing apprenticeship bill
3+ day, 17+ hour ago (213+ words) Illinois is one of only five states without beauty apprenticeships for barbers, cosmetologists, nail technicians and hair braiders CHICAGO (June8, 2026) "A new report finds that Illinois is one of five states to offer only one pathway to licensure for barbers, cosmetologists,…...
A sudden loss gave him motivation to reshape his community
1+ week, 6+ day ago (813+ words) Kevon Williams does workforce and community work on his native West Side of Chicago. For Kevon Williams, community work started with profound loss, a desire to help on the West Side and a simple question: Why do so many people…...
Lawmakers pass bill creating apprenticeships for beauty professions
2+ week, 2+ day ago (249+ words) Under the measure, aspiring barbers, cosmetologists and others would have a path to a license that doesn't require expensive schooling. Illinois lawmakers have passed a bill that creates a financially easier path to a license for aspiring barbers and beauty…...
More schools double-dipping taxpayers for teacher pension costs
2+ week, 3+ day ago (486+ words) Many school districts cover teachers" required pension contribution of 9% of their salary " putting that burden on taxpayers. A growing number of school districts pay all or part of teachers" pension contributions, raising property taxes for Illinoisans who fund that benefit…...
Delayed property tax bills cost Chicago Public Schools $34 million
2+ week, 3+ day ago (586+ words) Chicago Public Schools borrowed over $1. 8 billion amid a delay in last year's Cook County bills, adding interest costs and exposing the fragility of the district's finances. Late property tax bills last year cost Chicago Public Schools over $34 million in borrowing…...
Educators defeat Chicago Teachers Union's proposed dues hike
2+ week, 5+ day ago (283+ words) Vice President of Policy and Litigation The union wanted to raise dues as much as $800 a year to pay for its leaders" political activities. Members of the Chicago Teachers Union just rejected its leaders" grab for more money. The union…...
TODAY: Chicago Teachers Union members to vote on $800 dues hike, banning member lawsuits
3+ week, 1+ day ago (209+ words) Illinois Policy Institute experts available to comment TODAY: Chicago Teachers Union members to vote on $800 dues hike, banning member lawsuits Illinois Policy Institute experts available to comment CHICAGO (May20, 2026) "Members of the Chicago Teachers Union begin voting today on a proposed…...
Illinois to eliminate poor attendance from school ratings
3+ week, 3+ day ago (508+ words) Manager of Education Policy High chronic absenteeism will no longer hurt a school's state rating. Illinois plans to eliminate poor attendance from school ratings at a time when a fourth of the state's students miss a significant chunk of the…...
Peoria school board wisely returning to basics in reading
3+ week, 4+ day ago (248+ words) Manager of Education Policy Peoria Public Schools is adopting a new reading curriculum to align instruction in kindergarten through fifth grade with evidence-based practices called the "science of reading." The science of reading is made up of five best practices…...