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Proposed legislation would also block the current school board from changing admissions policies at selective enrollment schools.
The proposal would create a new department that would transition programs from three state agencies to one.
Illinois education advocates and lawmakers are asking for more state funding to support migrant students enrolled in public schools.
Illinois is planning to have 11th graders take the ACT next spring, after almost a decade of using the SAT.
Illinois lawmakers have debated over Chicago’s elected school board districts for months. On Thursday, the House passed a bill that would allow voters to choose 10 out of 21 members in November.
Senate Bill 15 would have Chicagoans vote for 10 school board members and let Mayor Brandon Johnson appoint 11 members in November.
School officials, educators, and advocates are seeing a rise in demand for career and technical education programs. Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed adding more state funding to support, but some say it might not be enough.
A new report commissioned by Illinois State Board of Education found that while Illinois public school students scored higher on state tests than tax credit scholarship recipients, students enjoyed private schools they attended.
Illinois lawmakers are back at the capitol filing bills on early childhood education and K-12 schools. Here are five education issues Chalkbeat Chicago will watch during the session.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his plan to increase early education spending would put the state on track to have universal pre-K by 2027.
Literacy advocates have pushed to get the state to address reading gaps for students. Now, with a state plan finalized, they are looking forward to seeing what’s next
As federal COVID funds run out, the district is grappling with how to pay for universal preschool going forward.
Illinois plans to provide 5,800 additional preschool seats for the state’s youngest learners
Illinois youth in foster care trail their peers academically. They also face a quiet crisis.
The details of Chicago’s 2024 school board elections are still being hammered out by state lawmakers.
Senate Democrats put forward a plan that would allow residents in 10 of 20 districts — or only half of Chicago – to vote for school board members in 2024. Now, House Democrats want to pair the 20 districts so everyone could vote.
State lawmakers put forward the new proposal late Friday ahead of next week’s veto session. It also creates ethics rules and a committee focused on Black student achievement.
Illinois lawmakers have released a new draft map of 20 districts for Chicago Board of Education elections. Elections for 10 of the 21 seats are set for November 2024.
Illinois students are starting to gain ground on learning recovery but test scores lag behind pre-pandemic levels and chronic absenteeism is still high.
The governor will work with the legislature in spring 2024 to formalize the new agency’s structure. He is appointing a transition director and advisory committee to help figure out how to bring together preschool funding, daycare licensing, early intervention, and the state’s child care assistance program.