2023 Chicago election: Brandon Johnson vows to fully fund, and resource, city’s public schools

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 2/1 6:59A Fran Spielman

Brandon Johnson said one big difference between himself and incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot is that “I don’t break promises.” Johnson, in fact, has a long list of what he says are Lightfoot’s broken promises to progressive voters. “The hopes and...

2023 Chicago election: Paul Vallas says voters should focus more on competency over likability

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 2/1 6:57A Fran Spielman

Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas says Chicago is a “city in crisis.” And he said his years of experience at the top of major school districts around the country make him well-suited to fix the city’s problems — unlike Mayor Lori...

Video shows physical altercation between student and staff member at Roosevelt High School in Albany...

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/31 1:58P Mary Norkol

A physical altercation between a student and staff member caught on video at Roosevelt High School in Albany Park is under investigation. Max Herman/Chalkbeat Chicago A staff member has been removed from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Albany...

Elgin-area educator Tony Sanders to become Illinois superintendent of education

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/31 12:52P Alicia Fabbre | Daily Herald

Elgin Area School District U-46 Superintendent Tony Sanders will be leading the state as its top education official starting in February. Elgin Area School District U-46 Supt. Tony Sanders on Tuesday was named the next state superintendent of...

Two Chicago universities receive millions in federal funding to expand high-speed internet access

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/29 5:15A Kaitlin Washburn

stock.adobe.com St. Augustine College and Dominican University received federal grants to expand access to high-speed internet on their campuses. The Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program , under the U.S. Department of Commerce, awarded...

Pritzker announces expansion of pre-apprenticeship program promoting diversity

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/27 2:23P Tina Sfondeles

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces a $13 million expansion of an Illinois Works program to benefit a pre-apprenticeship program on Friday. Screenshot from Illinois Department of Central Management Services Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday announced a $13...

PPP fraud signs: Clusters of pandemic relief loans in Chicago went to the same addresses, including...

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/26 6:24P Frank Main

At least 36 people used the address of this Salvation Army center in Humboldt Park to obtain federal Paycheck Protection Program loans, claiming individual annual income of at least $100,000. The Salvation Army says it didn’t apply for any loans...

Chicago State University announces committee to explore adding football program

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/26 3:15P Emmanuel Camarillo

Chicago State University. Sun-Times file Chicago State University announced Thursday that an exploratory committee will study the impact of potentially adding a Division 1 football program to the school. The committee is a combination of advisory...

CPS warned Lightfoot aide over emails seeking student volunteers before campaign defended...

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/26 11:44A Nader Issa

Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a campaign stop with first lady Amy Eshleman, Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) and Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th) in June. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file photo A senior Chicago Public Schools official had notified Mayor Lori...

Mayoral candidate Sophia King unveils education plan

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/26 10:51A Fran Spielman

Chicago mayoral candidate Ald. Sophia King (4th) at an October news conference outside the Chicago Police Department’s Central District station. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times Invest $100 million to make child care available to — and affordable for —...

Book banning efforts: Chicago suburban libraries ‘becoming a battlefield for the First Amendment’

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/26 4:24A Adora Namigadde | WBEZ

Josephine Tucci, director of the Lincolnwood Public Library, says some parents have wanted books removed from the library — including “The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish” and “Johnny the Walrus,” which allegorically compares being...

The standardized test for students in Illinois gets low marks. Will the state meet a 2025 deadline...

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/25 3:16P Char Daston | WBEZ

There’s broad agreement the state test elementary students take each spring needs an overhaul, but advocates worry time is running out to change it. Here, students at Darwin Elementary School in Chicago work on a diagnostic test last fall. Manuel...

Pritzker takes on DeSantis, College Board to keep Black LGBTQ+ history in AP course

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/25 2:05P Tina Sfondeles

Gov. J.B. Pritzker (left) in the Greektown neighborhood in December; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right) in Las Vegas in November. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times-file; John Locher/AP-file Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is going to battle with the national...

35 Chicago charter schools approved to stay open but with CPS closely watching over them

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/25 1:42P Nereida Moreno | WBEZ

Sun-Times file photo The Chicago Board of Education renewed contracts for 35 charter and contract schools on Wednesday, issuing shorter term lengths than in the past and new conditions for continued approval as part of an ongoing effort to demand...

CPS to consider science, social studies marks instead of standardized tests for advancing to the...

Chicago Sun-Times - Illinois Education News 1/25 12:50P Nader Issa

Sun-Times file photo Science and social studies grades are in, standardized test scores are out. The requirements for Chicago Public Schools students to be promoted to the next grade are changing, with the district placing more of a focus on core...