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State Government

Transportation woes hit Chicago Public Schools for the fourth consecutive year. Special education advocates say the State Board of Education needs to step in again.

With federal COVID relief funds drying up, school districts dealing with tighter budgets, and student chronic absenteeism high, Sanders talked to Chalkbeat Chicago about what the State Board of Education plans to do to support schools

Forty-nine Illinois school districts are still below 70% adequately funded, according to the state.

A research brief from the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability said Illinois districts could be in a pinch with the state projecting less revenue from a tax on corporate profits.

Bills to keep police in some Chicago schools, prevent changes to the city’s selective enrollment schools, and provide stipends for student teachers all failed during the session

The $53.1 billion budget funds a new early childhood education department, creates a state child tax credit, and adds $350 million more to K-12 public schools.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson asked Illinois Senate President Don Harmon in a letter late Thursday to hold a bill that would block changes to selective enrollment schools and prevent any school closures until 2027.

CPS says the proposal to build the controversial $150 million high school is still “under review,” but a website has been taken down, and stakeholders say it’s been months without an update.

Illinois high school juniors will have to take the ACT to graduate starting spring 2025. This comes at a time when most colleges and universities are again requiring students to take entrance exams for the admissions process.

lllinois lawmakers overhauled K-12 funding seven years ago and promised to 'adequately fund' every district by 2027. A new report finds that won’t happen until 2034, unless more education money is budgeted every year.

A moratorium on closing any Chicago public schools until 2027, funding for K-12 schools, and the state’s early childhood department are some outstanding education issues before the Illinois legislative session ends in a few weeks.

Illinois has required high school students to complete the FAFSA in order to graduate since 2020. But state lawmakers want to waive the requirement for this school year.

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.