Illinois education news: public schools, charters, and universities

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates

City Hall

Chicago Teachers Union demanding 9% annual raises, won't rule out a strike

Having former CTU organizer Brandon Johnson in the mayor’s office won’t keep the union from walking out if needed, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates told the Sun-Times, adding that, “We’re a labor union that understands the power of solidarity and the power of work stoppage.”

By Fran Spielman

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LGBTQIA+

Pride Parade will now allow participants from schools, organizers say

A teacher says Nettelhorst School will help “coordinate” a group of schools into one entry after six schools had been denied participation when organizers scaled back the popular parade.

By Mariah Rush

Crime

3 University of Chicago students held up near campus

The students were approached by people with guns Wednesday afternoon and robbed. No one was hurt. University police will ‘maintain an increased presence’ following the incidents.

By Sun-Times Wire

Education

What does Springfield's selective-enrollment bill mean for Chicago Public Schools?

The proposed legislation is the latest and most significant backlash to a December declaration by the Board of Education that it would no longer prioritize selective schools, refocusing resources to neighborhood schools burdened by years of cuts and underfunding.

By Nader Issa

A bookshelf filled with children's and young adult books.

Letters to the Editor

Phonics is the answer to illiteracy in Chicago Public Schools

Americans cast off a winning method to improve literacy. Replacing it with what?

By Letters to the Editor

FBI agent James Rudisill takes down a flag at sunset at his home. The Army veteran and his Chicago lawyer are asking the Supreme Court to take his case, which could help other long-serving vets tap college educational benefits for themselves and their families that they earned under more than one version of the GI Bill.

GI Bill

Supreme Court ruling in GI Bill case could force VA to give more than 1 million vets greater college benefits

The ruling Tuesday in favor of Rudisill, who’s now an FBI agent, also could help other long-serving vets tap college educational benefits for themselves and their families that they earned under more than one version of the GI Bill.

By Stephanie Zimmermann

Editorials

Lawmakers, pass a bill that protects Chicago's selective schools and programs

A proposed bill would prohibit the Board of Education from closing, changing admissions standards or drastically altering funding for selective schools at both the elementary and high school level.

By CST Editorial Board

Education

CTU makes most ‘ambitious’ demands ever in new contract, wants bargaining done in public

The teachers union’s contract expires this summer. On top of raises for staff, it wants help for unhoused students and more dual-language education.

By Sarah Karp | WBEZ

The Catherine Cook School in the 49th ChicagoPride Parade. | Rick Majewski/For the Sun-Times.

LGBTQIA+

Chicago Pride Parade denies all previous year's school participants

All schools that participated in the 2023 Pride Parade were denied entry this year, and teachers see irony in exclusion from “one of the most inclusive places that you can go.”

By Mariah Rush

Other Views

Many Chicago Public Schools students struggle with illiteracy. The consequences are devastating.

When a child is reeling from stress, trauma or hardship, the thinking part of their brain shuts down. Our money should be spent on high-dosage tutoring and other individualized approaches that are effective against illiteracy.

By Taal Hasak-Lowy

A purple sphere emitting light against black background.

Education

Northwestern astrophysicists find possibly one of the lightest black holes ever

They used gravitational wave signals to discover a neutron star crashing into a mysterious object, believed to be a black hole.

By Jessica Ma

Education

Chicagoans have hopes, doubts about new student debt relief proposed by Biden

“I just feel like I’m going to die paying off my student loans,” said one high school counselor in Southeast Chicago after the president introduced a plan to aid nearly 25 million more student loan borrowers. But a borrower in Pilsen said the program could “radically change my life.”

By Lisa Philip | WBEZ

Columnists

How Black colleges and universities have been underfunded by billions for decades

Tennessee State University has been hit the worst, having been underfunded by $2.1 billion over 30 years. Chicago State University’s funding has declined by 46% over the last quarter-century.

By Marc H. Morial

Education

Principals get first look at impact of Chicago’s new school funding formula

Principals received their school budgets for next year, the first under a new system that focuses on needs of schools, rather than enrollment.

By Sarah Karp | WBEZ

Education

Efforts to improve financial literacy education in Illinois gain traction

The state has become one of an increasing number of states that have added financial literacy to its core curriculum, but experts say more could be done.

By Jackie Dulen | For the Sun-Times

Other Views

Local school council elections are coming. Be sure to cast your vote.

LSC elections on April 10 and April 11 are a chance to shape the direction of our schools and communities. Chicago should be proud that its schools are governed locally, by principals and community members who know our families and students best, an education leader writes.

By Patricia Mota

Education

Rhymefest announces he is running for a seat on Chicago’s new elected school board

The 10th District, where Che “Rhymefest” Smith is running, spans from Bronzeville through Hyde Park, South Shore and South Chicago to the southern border of the city. His opponent, Adam Parrott-Sheffer, a former principal and education consultant, was one of the first to file paperwork to run for the board.

By Sarah Karp | WBEZ

Nation/World

Chicago students in Taiwan during 7.4-magnitude earthquake: 'We'll be happy to have them home'

The students from St. Ignatius College Prep were eating breakfast when the quake hit, breaking plates and shaking tables. Parents back home were worried. The students return Saturday.

By Mary Norkol and Cindy Hernandez

Several pairs of people play chess on green and white chess boards set up on long wooden tables.

News

U of Chicago students honor slain Hyde Park bartender, build bridges through 'beautiful game of chess'

Roommates and friends Ross Shapiro and Dylan Sunjic began hosting Chess Night at The Cove Lounge, where Diego Damis worked, in Hyde Park to bring people together. They plan to take the event to other parts of the city.

By Cindy Hernandez

Crime

Man killed in West Lawn hit-and-run remembered as beloved CPS employee

Charles Mills worked as a special education classroom assistant for 23 years at Jones College Prep in the South Loop. Sunday night he was struck and killed while crossing Pulaski Road.

By Mohammad Samra and Elvia Malagón

Other Views

How Illinois school districts can train more bilingual educators

The state has more than 271,000 English learners in public schools, but there aren’t enough bilingual teachers.

By Erika Méndez and Rebecca Vonderlack-Navarro

Other Views

Museums can expand young minds outside classrooms

At the Museum of Science and Industry, there is an opportunity and responsibility to partner with schools and communities to burst open the school doors and allow the wonder of our exhibits and programs to offer new possibilities for learning and growth.

By Jessica Chavez