skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, February 7, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Judge pauses deadline for federal workers to accept Trump's resignation offer; CA state lawmakers take action to enact safeguards against federal immigration enforcement; Study shows air quality disparities from industrial ag in NC.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Report touts Illinois' support for public schools

play audio
Play

Monday, March 11, 2024   

A report released this month by the Network for Public Education ranked Illinois an "A" grade for its overall support of public schools.

One organization gives credit to state legislators who worked to end the state's "Invest in Kids" voucher program. The findings in "Public Schooling in America" claimed there were 240 new private schools in 2022-2023, and 30 of them had enrolled 25 or fewer students. The study paints it as a burden on families and taxpayers.

Cassie Cresswell, executive director of Illinois Families for Public Schools, said vouchers have been a drain on public education.

"We have sent more than a quarter-billion dollars off to private schools that discriminate; that have really almost no oversight over how those dollars are being spent," Cresswell asserted. "It's really a relief, as a public school advocate, to know that this isn't going to be happening anymore."

High-poverty districts receive less funding than well-resourced districts, and the study ranks Illinois near the bottom in this category. The national report graded every state on privatization and home schooling laws, financial support for public schools, and whether students receive what it calls "honest instruction free of political intrusion." Backers of private schools said they give parents more choice in their kids' education.

The report gives higher marks to states rejecting book bans, corporal punishment, unqualified teachers and intolerance of LGBTQ+ students. It said the practices violate teachers' and students' rights.

Ann Courtier, education issue specialist for the League of Women Voters of Illinois, said the group backs maintaining democratically governed public schools welcoming all students.

"We have laws in Illinois that support culturally relevant teaching," Courtier pointed out. "They protect students from bullying, and they protect student rights. Illinois laws reject book bans explicitly, and promote physical and emotional safety for our students."

Courter believes legislators made the right choice to discontinue using public dollars for schools lacking transparency and accountability. She believes the desire for equity and racial justice among Illinois legislators and the league's membership will "rise to the surface," and funds will be equitably redistributed.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
In the latest analysis of U.S. Department of Labor data by state, Maryland took first place as the worst state for wage theft, owing on average more than $2,200 to workers. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

Virginia ranks third behind only Maryland and Delaware among the worst states for the average amount of back wages companies owe to their workers…


Environment

play sound

Some North Dakota school districts are part of a movement that has embraced electric school buses, but the federal funding shakeup carried out by the …

Social Issues

play sound

Immigrant advocates in Florida are ramping up efforts to help families navigate President Donald Trump's new immigration orders, which have increased …


Gov. Kathy Hochul's free community college proposal would apply to people pursuing first-time associate degrees for jobs in high-demand fields, including nursing, teaching, technology and engineering. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

New York State is making historic higher education investments. As part of the 2026 budget proposal, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes free community …

Social Issues

play sound

Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed state budget includes a significant increase for public education to address Pennsylvania's school funding issues and …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Consumer advocates in Maine said the availability of enhanced subsidies have helped record numbers of people get the health care coverage they need…

play sound

The negative effects on air quality from industrialized animal facilities in North Carolina stick around for a long time, according to a new study…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021