In today’s Leading News, members of the St. Charles CUSD 303 community protest teacher moves. Geneseo CUSD 228 anticipates learning communities. A spot on the Yorkville CUSD 115 board is all knotted up. Shiloh CUSD 1 proposes an SRO. Also in the news, Quincy-area students get a hands-on experience with a new engine.

St. Charles North students walk out of class in support of teachers being transferred
David Petesch, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, April 21

Geneseo High School inches closer to learning communities
Lisa Hammer, Quad Cities Dispatch-Argus, April 18

Yorkville School Board Y115 race ended in a tie for two candidates, unofficial results show
Mark Foster, Kendall County Now, April 24

Shiloh wants school resource officer
Robby Tucker, Prairie Press, Paris, April 24

Engine donation provides more hands-on learning for QAVTC students
Deborah Gertz Husar, Herald-Whig, Quincy, April 17
 

In today’s Leading News, read reporting of the General Assembly’s action on full-day kindergarten, Native American history in the curriculum, vlogging, and the CPS Board of Education. Also in the news, what’s the deal with ChatGPT?

Illinois could require school districts to have full-day kindergarten by 2027
Samantha Smylie, Chalkbeat Chicago, April 20

Bill requiring schools to teach Native American history heads to Senate floor
Nika Schoonover, CNI/ State Journal-Register, Springfield, April 20

High school student spurred state legislation aimed at ensuring child stars of lucrative vlogs are fairly compensated
Hank Sanders, Chicago Tribune, April 17

How lawmakers can create fair voting maps for Chicago’s elected school board
Melanie Lopez and Claiborne Wade, Chicago Sun-Times, April 20

Should educators be worried about ChatGPT?
University of Illinois News Bureau/Chronicle Illinois, April 21, 2023
 

In today’s Leading News, colleges aim to help education majors resume progress to degrees. Barrington officials discuss a swatting threat. Election updates offer insights to school board races. Also in the news, science lessons bring news about a non-traditional family.  

Lake Land, Eastern to help students who paused their education complete degrees
Journal Gazette and Times Courier, Charleston/Mattoon, April 20

Barrington police tried to avoid ‘hysteria ... and panic’ after bogus bomb threat called in to Barrington High School
Gavin Good, Barrington Courier Review, April 20

Mail-in votes counted. Here’s an update on tight races in Belleville, Aviston
Mike Koziatek, Belleville News-Democrat, April 19

Big spending didn’t always lead to wins in school and library board races fueled by partisan rancor
Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, April 18

An Eagle Who Adopted a Rock Becomes a Real Dad
Livia Albeck-Ripka, New York Times, April 17
 

In today’s Leading News, funding for after-school programs is in jeopardy after a miscalculation of grant funds. Homewood SD 153 using a program that crunches student assessment data. Rochelle THSD 212 updates its strategic plan. Olympia CUSD 16 students are in virtual learning mode after a roof fire at a high school building. Also in the news, ISBE has denied an appeal of the revocation of the Urban Prep Academies charter; CPS has said it will keep the schools open.

Illinois after-school programs at risk because of state error
Sarah Karp, WBEZ, Chicago, April 19

District 153 using new data program for individual student assessment
Marilyn Thomas, Homewood Flossmoor Chronicle, April 18

RTHS Board: School improvement plan update presented
Jeff Helfrich, Rochelle News-Leader, April 18

Cleanup continues after Olympia High School fire
D. Jack Alkire, Bloomington Pantagraph, April 18

Urban Prep Academies could be turned over to Chicago Public Schools after state denies appeal
Becky Vevea and Samantha Smylie, Chalkbeat Chicago, April 19
 

In today’s Leading News, read about state and federal conversations on education.

Illinois Senate committee hears array of ideas on implementing an elected school board in Chicago
Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, April 18

Native American history bill part of Illinois' progressive education approach
Erin Henkel, Bloomington Pantagraph, April 17

Parents, schools face increasing scrutiny after shootings
Ben Finley, Denise Lavoie, AP/Quad Cities Dispatch-Argus, April 19

More than 'Just Say No': Louie's Law would provide drug education in K-12 schools
Steve Zalusky, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, April 19

As schools face calls to drop Native American mascots, some could lose state money
Scott Neuman, NPR Education Desk, April 19
 

In today’s Leading News, with a new Chicago mayor, what’s next for CPS? Meredosia-Chambersburg CUSD 11 reinstates a ceremony for eighth-grade graduates. Centralia SD 135 agrees to a teacher contract. Geneva CUSD 304 extends a capital improvement plan. Also in the news, students explore tech and trade career options in Waukegan.

With Brandon Johnson at the helm, big shifts are ahead for Chicago Public Schools
Sarah Macaraeg, Chicago Tribune, April 18

Meredosia to resume eighth-grade promotion ceremony
Shirley Bilyeu, Jacksonville Journal Courier, April 15

Centralia Grade School Board agrees to 10-percent salary increase next year
WJBD, Centralia, April 14

Geneva District 304 board OKs $56 million capital improvement plan
Brenda Schory, Shaw Local News Network, Daily Herald, April 16

Waukegan students check out career options at tech/trade fair; ‘There are opportunities to stay out of debt and develop a skill set’
Steve Sadin, Lake County News-Sun, April 14
 

In today’s Leading News, late election tallies approve a bond issue referendum for Aptakisic-Tripp CCSD 102. Springfield SD 186 reviews its superintendent’s contract. Talks continue with to assess the impact of the Chicago Bears’ move to Arlington Heights. Bradley SD 61 eyes a program for free school lunches. Also in the news, Mt. Zion CUSD 3 students share lessons in African-American history.

Mail-in ballots fuel approval for District 102's $49 million bond issue
Doug T. Graham, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, April 12

School board will consider contract extension, pay raise for Gill at Monday meeting
Steven Spearie, State Journal-Register, Springfield, April 14

School districts’ lobbying firm says ‘we’re still talking’ to Bears about planned complex in Arlington Heights
Caroline Kubzansky, Pioneer Press/Arlington Heights Post, April 13

Bradley Elementary looking to make school lunches free
Stephanie Markham, Kankakee Daily Journal, April 15

Mount Zion students create 'new Jim Crow' exhibit for African-American museum.
Valerie Wells, Decatur Herald and Review, April 13
 

In today’s Leading News, education-related bills work their ways through the legislative process. Also in the news, school districts receive state grants for bilingual educators and habitat projects.

Bennett-backed bill calls for review of teacher-licensing standards
Peter Hancock, CNI/Champaign News-Gazette, April 11

Bill aims to limit school district cash reserves
Peter Hancock, NPR Illinois, April 10

How are education bills doing as Illinois’ legislative session hits the halfway point?
Samantha Smylie, Chalkbeat Chicago, April 10

State awards grants to support bilingual educator pipeline
Madhu Krishnamurthy, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, April 10

School habitat projects to receive state grants
Chronicle Illinois, April 7
 

In today’s Leading News, in today’s Leading News, Illinois schools are among those involved in hoax threat calls. Legislatures in neighboring states address hot-button issues. Also in the news, Juul will settle with states over the issue of addicting children to e-cigarettes.

Granite City High one of multiple Illinois schools to receive hoax threat calls
Meredith Howard, Belleville News-Democrat, April 12

Police: Active shooter reports at Rockford, Freeport schools part of nationwide prank
Chris Green, Rockford Register Star, April 12

Indiana Senate backs bill on student names, pronoun changes
Arleigh Rodgers, AP/NWI Post Tribune, April 11

Mo. Senate panels hear testimony on minimum ages for carrying guns, boosting guns in schools
Kurt Erickson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 12

Juul to pay $462 million to six US states, D.C. over youth addiction claims
Brendan Pierson, Reuters, April 12

 

In today’s Leading News, post-election updates, and districts working through newsmaking issues.

District 23 voters reject increasing limiting tax rate
Steve Zalusky, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, April 4

Unit 5 school board reverses cuts after tax hike referendum passes
Michele Steinbacher, WGLT, April 11

Lake Forest High principal blasts social media claims of a school ‘gay room:’ ‘This type of ... noise is distractive at best and divisive at worst’
Daniel I. Dorfman, Pioneer Press/Lake Forester, March 28

Heyworth teacher resigns amid public backlash over sex ed book
Mateusz Janik, Bloomington Pantagraph, March 23

Waterloo transgender bathroom policy leads to demonstrations, school harassment probe
Lexi Cortes, Belleville News-Democrat, March 22
 

In today’s Leading News, East Maine SD 63 follows an EDI statement with definitions of responses to hate speech. Urbana SD 116 approves a teachers contract. Grants are designated to help Pike County schools support English Learners. Olympia CUSD 16 investigates a cyberattack. Also in the news, read more on “ticketing” in the Tribune/ProPublica series.

East Maine District 63 board to adopt hate speech procedures
Russell Lissau, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, April 4

Urbana school board approves new contract with teachers union
Debra Pressey, Champaign News-Gazette, April 5

State grants help schools support English learners
Deborah Gertz Husar, Herald-Whig, Quincy, April 7

Olympia school district recovering from cyberattack
Connor Wood, Bloomington Pantagraph, March 25

Naperville stopped ticketing students at school. But it’s still pushing a 3-year-old case about AirPods to trial.
Jodi S. Cohen and Jennifer Smith Richards, Pro Publica/Chicago Tribune, March 22
 

In today’s Leading News, read continuing coverage of last week’s elections, locally and the big picture.
 
U-46 board winners agree — finding right superintendent, implementing building plan top their agendas
Mike Danahey, Elgin Courier-News, April 7

New Decatur school board members face full plate of issues
Valerie Wells, Decatur Herald and Review, April 7

Voters favored incumbents over conservative newcomers in suburban school board races
Katlyn Smith and Eric Peterson, Shaw Media/Daily Herald, April 8

Here’s a look at winners, losers and even a tie vote from Tuesday’s election
Mike Koziatek, Belleville News-Democrat, April 5

School board elections see general pushback against conservatives, though not everywhere
Dan Petrella and Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, April 9
 

In today’s Leading News, school districts experience threats even as students protest gun violence in schools. Also in the news, some research indicates gun violence is the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 19.

Lockdown and 5 arrests follow report of a Highland Park High student with gun: ‘When will this end?’
Gavin Good, Lake County News-Sun, April 4

Lake Forest High students stage gun control walkout a day after Highland Park lockdowns; ‘We cannot accept this as normal’
Karie Angell Luc and Gavin Good, Lake County News-Sun, April 5

'This is our wakeup call': Locals react to … school shooting in Nashville
Steven Spearie and Zach Roth, State Journal-Register, Springfield, April 2

Bloomington-Normal high school students protest gun violence
Drew Zimmerman, Bloomington Pantagraph, April 5

Gun violence has surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 19
Amy Sherman, Poynter/PolitiFact, March 30
 

In today’s Leading News, more results – or pending results – from Tuesday’s Consolidated Election.

$175 million Mundelein High School tax hike rejected by voters
Mick Zawislak, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, April 4

Brandon Johnson is Chicago’s new mayor. So what’s next for CPS?
Nader Issa, Chicago Sun-Times, April 5

U-46, Sugar Grove Library requests are approved, but Kane County voters reject other ballot measures
Susan Sarkasukas, Shaw Media, April 5

Windsor school board race too close to call
Scott Perry, Journal Gazette and Times Courier, Charleston/Mattoon, April 5

Edgar Co. high school student aiming to be youngest elected official in Illinois
Arriana Williams, WCIA, Champaign, April 4

 

In today’s Leading News, a first look at education-related election outcomes in Illinois.

Voters approve Unit 5 tax referendum on the second attempt
Ryan Denham and Lyndsay Jones, WGLT, April 4

Batavia School District voters have say on proposed $140 million bond issue
Aurora Beacon-News, April 5

Edwardsville voters approve District 7 school bond issue
Penny Weaver, Edwardsville Intelligencer, April 4

‘Yes’ votes lead Joliet District 86 $99.5 million bond referendum
Felix Sarver, Joliet Herald-News, April 4

Brandon Johnson wins Chicago mayoral race
Fran Spielman, Tina Sfondeles, and Nader Issa, Chicago Sun-Times, April 4
 

In today’s Leading News, with an eye on the storm, it’s Election Day for boards of education in Illinois.

Clerks predict turnout less than 25% – if the weather holds
Tom Collins, Shaw Media/LaSalle News-Tribune, April 3

18 tornadoes confirmed: Rockford area heals, braces for more severe weather Election Day
Rockford Register Star, April 4

How seven Vermilion districts would spend revenue if voters approve 1% sales tax increase
Jeff D’Alessio, Champaign News-Gazette, April 1

Proposed Hancock school facilities sales tax 'gives us options'
Deborah Gertz Husar, Herald-Whig, Quincy, April 1

'No candidate' a common choice on area ballots
Dave Hinton, Champaign News-Gazette, April 2

Vote! Consolidated Elections … in Illinois
Marilyn Halstead, The Southern Illinoisan, April 3
 

In today’s Leading News, school board candidates and referendums present a spectrum of issues statewide.

These Northwest suburban races have generated controversy ahead of Tuesday's election
Russell Lissau, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, April 1

What happens when no one runs for local offices in the election?
Marilyn Halstead, The Southern Illinoisan, April 1

Morris High School board candidates talk changes in the curriculum and sex education
Maribeth M. Wilson, Morris Herald-News, March 30

School superintendents answer your questions on sales tax issue
Bryan Hunt, Breese Journal, April 1

Seven vie for Quincy School Board seats
Deborah Gertz Husar, Herald-Whig, Quincy, March 29