Chicago Takes Aim At Expensive Special Education Program
School officials say they want the 51,000 special ed students to get a better education. But parents worry the changes are a tactic to save money.
School officials say they want the 51,000 special ed students to get a better education. But parents worry the changes are a tactic to save money.
It’s less than last year’s $6.4 billion budget, but the District Chief says there will be more new construction.
Parents say some construction decisions for Chicago Public Schools are unnecessary and wind up segregating kids.
Chicago Public Schools tested hundreds of water fountains and incorrectly claimed all lead levels were near EPA standards.
Education could be a vehicle to create economic mobility, but in many ways the country and the city of Chicago are failing.
CPS released school budget data that shows principals are going into this school year with $144 million less to spend than they had last year.
Chicago school leaders are telling principals they’ll have the same amount as last year. But the numbers don’t add up.
Principals didn’t get the doomsday budget that was once threatened, but they received much less than they got last year.
When Lincoln Elementary School got an annex, parents at neighboring Manierre Elementary were bewildered. Manierre Elementary has space for 750 more students.
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner announced a new bipartisan commission to come up with a plan to fix the flawed way Illinois schools are funded. He acknowledges it will be difficult for a commission to come up with a plan—commissions and task forces have tried in the past and failed. But he says he thinks there was a lot of momentum at the end of last legislative session and that politicians, hearing from frustrated constituents, might be ready to act. Rauner says he favors a formula based on what research has found works for students. The commission will have 25 members, with five appointed by each legislative leader. He wants their recommendations by February so the plan can be in a bill during the next legislative session.