Diane Rado – Page 8 –

The Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund board meets July 1, 2015, with Tim Cawley, chief administrative officer with Chicago Public Schools, far right.

Little-noticed pension perk for teachers widespread in Illinois

August 18, 2019 at 8:20 p.m.

A brief but significant phrase appears about halfway through the 106-page teachers union contract in northwest suburban School District 21: "The Board shall pay the entire amount of the staff...

Illinois students posted an overall average score of 20.7 on the ACT exam, the same as last year and slightly below the national average of 21. Shown above is a practice exam.

ACT scores stagnant for Class of 2015

August 18, 2019 at 8:21 p.m.

Average ACT scores for the Class of 2015 barely budged in English, math, reading and science, while writing scores in Illinois and the nation dipped to the lowest in a...

Review: ‘The Prize: Who’s in Charge of America’s Schools?’ by Dale Russakoff

May 9, 2019 at 5:38 p.m.

It's easy to feel cynical and even angry while reading "The Prize," a stunning account of efforts by wealthy outsiders and ambitious politicians to fix Newark's failing public schools. Veteran...

Chemistry teacher Paula Mueller, left, and student Elizabeth Woywod, of Downers Grove, in the Neuqua Valley High School chemistry lab on July 21, 2015.

New science test signals shift in how subject is taught in Illinois

August 18, 2019 at 8:11 p.m.

Illinois students in 5th, 8th and 10th grades are expected to take a new online science exam this coming school year, signaling a dramatic shift in how students as young...

Take a peek at new Illinois science exam’s concepts, performance expectations

August 18, 2019 at 8:11 p.m.

A new state science exam is still a work in progress, but the state has provided some preliminary details on concepts and performance expectations that may be assessed on the...

State lawmakers want to know why schools Superintendent Tony Smith, shown in April, is receiving a special stipend in addition to his salary.

Lawmakers want new state school leader’s special perk taken away

August 18, 2019 at 8:08 p.m.

State lawmakers are pushing the Illinois State Board of Education to take away a special stipend given to new state schools Superintendent Tony Smith that was awarded to make up...

Students work out problems on a whiteboard during an ACT prep class at Neuqua Valley High School on July 21, 2015.

Springfield budget turmoil leaves ACT, other school testing in limbo

August 18, 2019 at 8:07 p.m.

For years, Illinois' high school juniors took the ACT college entrance exam for free at school, like their brothers and sisters and friends before them. Many students took ACT precursor...

Former Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, the chief sponsor of legislation that added exemptions allowing school districts to avoid penalties for paying big raises, said the intent was to keep teachers — as opposed to administrators — from taking a hit.

School districts escape pension penalties with help of state loopholes

August 18, 2019 at 8:05 p.m.

In the affluent Northfield Township High School District 225, many administrators and teachers alike earn six-figure salaries and dozens of educators have gotten big pay hikes just before retiring, a...

Tony Smith, Illinois superintendent of education, is a new state employee, so he's in a lower tier for pension benefits. But he's getting a special stipend.

Illinois’ new school superintendent gets special perk for lower pension

August 18, 2019 at 7:59 p.m.

As a new Illinois employee, state school Superintendent Tony Smith landed in a less lucrative retirement plan designed to control pension costs — the Tier II plan unpopular with educators...

The Illinois legislature passed a bill requiring students to take at least one semester of civics to graduate. But major education lobbying groups say they plan to urge Gov. Bruce Rauner not to sign the bill.

Debate over civics: Should it be required for graduation in Illinois?

August 18, 2019 at 7:43 p.m.

For the first time in a decade, the state is preparing to add another requirement to the list of classes high school students must take to get their diplomas —...

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