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The Illinois Department of Public Health requires parents to supply proof of an exam from an eye disease specialist or licensed optometrist, administered within the previous 12 months before the school year begins. (Adobe Stock)

Early eye exams ensure healthy sight for IL children

Notebooks, writing tools and laptops are standard supplies on a parent's back-to-school shopping list. But one important appointment that can easily …

According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the average size of a farm, including hobby farms, is 375 acres with grain, corn and soybeans as the main crops. (Adobe Stock)

IL farmers markets benefit communities, economy

This is National Farmers Market Week, as fresh jams, jellies, fruits and vegetables draw thousands of people to more than 8,000 farmers markets …

According to a report by Open Doors, international students who attend Illinois universities come primarily from China, India, Nigeria, South Korea and Taiwan. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. politics affect school choices of some international students

As people head back to college soon, professors may notice an increase in the number of international students. A new report found enrollment numbers …

A report from the Illinois State Board of Education reveals the elementary school ratio of students to teacher is 17-to-1, and 18-to-1 for high school educators. (Adobe Stock)

Teachers' conference unites IL educators for improving schools

Some Illinois educators made their way to Texas this week for an American Federation of Teachers convention. AFT is one of the nation's largest labor …

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2024 Kids Count Book, 425,000 Illinois children live in poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Kids Count Data Book shows IL children fare well in health care, lag in academics

The 2024 Kids Count Data Book was released this week. The publication is a 50-state report of data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation about the …

Univstats.com reports for the 2022-2023 academic year, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign had nearly 57,000 students. The University of Illinois Chicago ranked second with almost 34,000 and Northwestern University was third with almost 24,000 students. (Adobe Stock)

Tech help comes to the college admissions process

This story is based on reporting by Olivia Sanchez for The Hechinger Report.The broadcast version is by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service, reporting …

The Public Schooling in America 2024 report said

Report touts Illinois' support for public schools

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

The Illinois State Board of Education Literacy Standards indicate fourth graders should be able to determine the main idea of a text, explain how it is supported by key details and summarize the text. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Illinois' child well-being varies widely by race

A new report looks at children's well-being in every state and finds in Illinois, the outcomes vary greatly depending on race. In its Race for …

YouthTruth Student Survey finds 74% of the class of 2023 wants to go to college while 66% expect to go to college. The survey also finds the gap is further exacerbated when factoring in race and ethnicity. (Adobe stock)

Illinois high school seniors face big college application challenges

Illinois high school seniors have new hurdles to overcome to get to college. High school students are waiting several extra weeks to get their hands …

About 13% of Black students in the United States choose community colleges. Nationally, there are 12 historically Black community colleges and 49 predominantly Black community colleges. (Adobe Stock)

Leaders advocate for increased funding, services for Black community colleges

Historical and predominantly Black community colleges often get overlooked when it comes to funding for higher education. However, leaders nationwide …

College students walk on the quadrangle lawn of the Foellinger Auditorium on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana. (Adobe Stock)

America’s 'culture wars' influence students' choice of college campuses

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News Service Co…

This year Illinois lawmakers passed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when they were arrested. (Adobe Stock)

More work needed on juvenile justice reform

Advocates for juvenile justice reform recently gathered in Chicago to find ways to keep young people out of the criminal justice system. Herschella …

In 1873, the Congress passed the Comstock Act, a federal law making it illegal to possess

Banned Books Week: IL librarians face demands to remove titles

It has become almost routine in modern America: activist groups demanding libraries pull what they consider "objectionable books" from their shelves…

Many librarians are concerned that groups pushing them to pull certain titles from their shelves are promoting authoritarianism rather than democracy. (Adobe Stock)

State Officials Testify in Senate On Illinois Anti-Book-Ban Legislation

A pair of Illinois state officials testified Tuesday before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the state General Assembly's adoption of a bill to …

In 2023, the average debt load per student loan borrower in Illinois was $37,757, the seventh-highest amount in the country. (Karen Roach/Adobe Stock)

Thousands in IL Eligible for New Student Loan Repayment Plan

A new student loan repayment plan is expected to help thousands of borrowers cut their monthly payments by half. More than four million student loan …

Illinois has an incarceration rate of 497 per 100,000 people, including prisons, jails, immigration detention and juvenile justice facilities. This means the state locks up a higher percentage of its people than almost any democracy on earth. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Funding Restored to Educate People in Prison

By Max Lubbers for Chalkbeat Chicago.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Illinois News Service reporting for the Chalkbeat Chicago-Public News Service …

According to the 2018 Illinois Autism Project Report, the prevalence of autism in Cook County was 1 in 46 children, which is higher than the statewide prevalence rate. (Adobe Stock)

Back-to-School Tips for Families of IL Kids with Autism

For a child on the autism spectrum, returning to school after the summer break may be viewed with anxiety and hesitancy. However, parents can pave …

A measure passed in 2021 allows students in Illinois public schools to take up to five

Teachers' Group Seeks to Bolster Public Education in IL, US

A new campaign backed by public school educators aims to bolster public edu cation and student learning. The American Federation of Teachers' Real …

At 80 universities and colleges, the net price more than doubled for the lowest-income students, while at 19 it more than tripled, and at 10 it quintupled, according to analysis of federal data by The Hechinger Report. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Lower-Income Students See Higher Tuition than Higher-Income Peers

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Illinois News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News …

The new Kids Count Data Book says 54% of 3- and 4-year-olds in the U.S. are not enrolled in preschool, which prepares young learners for elementary school. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Report: Childcare Biggest Challenge for IL Families

Having access to reliable, affordable, high-quality child care benefits both children and adults, but a new report said it is not the norm for …

Breaking down big tasks into smaller steps helps children develop what experts refer to as executive function skills. (Delete/Adobe Stock)

For Some IL Students, Summer Means Practicing School Preparedness

Tasks like packing a suitcase for summer travel may be difficult for some Illinois children. Experts said parents and caregivers can help kids over …

In 2020, the U.S. population's median age was 38.8, an increase of more than 10 years over the past five decades. (N Lawrenson/peopleimages.com)

Illinois Senior Centers: Not Just for Aged

Some Illinois senior centers aren't just focusing on the 65+ demographic but are beginning to include people aged 50+. The U.S. Census indicates the …

Nontraditional learning is seen as an option to address the U.S. nursing shortage, often attributed to burnout from the pandemic and many nurses searching for lower stress and better pay. (Adobe Stock)

Community, Online Colleges Fill Growing Need for Non-Traditional Students

Many college students balance family and work responsibilities with academics, and it can make nontraditional higher education the path to a future …

Illinois educators are recruiting current and retired teachers, prospective teachers, college students and community members to train as high-impact tutors. (Wikimedia Commons)

IL Educators Plan 'High-Impact' Tutoring to Accelerate Learning Recovery

Illinois educators are investing millions of dollars to accelerate the learning recovery process for students who fell behind their grade level during…

Bullying is not gender specific; research indicates roughly equal numbers of girls and boys report being bullied. (Adobe Stock)

Bullying Prevention Means Awareness of Social-Emotional Learning

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, and experts are reminding Illinoisans to be aware of the patterns within bullying. One in …

Two Illinois schools are collaborating on the 'RN to BSN' program, which will save nurses a spot for up to two years after graduation. (Adobe Stock)

Malcolm X College, Illinois State U. Offer Nursing Students Dual Enrollment

Two Illinois institutions of higher learning are joining forces to create more options for nursing students. Malcolm X College and the Mennonite …

The Learning Policy Institute reports that in Finland, around 4% of teachers leave the profession annually, in the United States, that rate is about 8% per year. (Adobe Stock)

Illinois Schools Report Ongoing Teacher Shortage

School districts nationwide are struggling to meet student needs with a teacher shortage made worse by COVID. The Illinois State Board of Education …

Total book challenges in 2022 are on pace to exceed the 2021 record. (Adobe Stock)

Censorship in Illinois Libraries Highlighted During Banned Books Week

Controversial books are nothing new, but the incidence of book challenges and bans has increased substantially in recent years. This week marks the …

A Center for American Progress report found in 2021, almost 70% of registered nurses in the U.S. were white, just over 11% were Black, and almost 18% were Hispanic. (Djavan Rodriguez/Adobe Stock)

Increasing Diversity in Nursing to Achieve Health Equity

The pandemic put new focus on the shortage of nurses, in Illinois and across the country. But the lack of diversity in the nursing profession is …

A bill signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker this week will provide a $50

New IL Laws Aim to Increase College Enrollment, Retention

Illinois is taking steps to increase higher education opportunities for people across the state. Gov. JB Pritzker signed two higher-ed bills into …

A 2019 report from the Economic Policy Institute found teacher shortages were especially acute in higher-poverty schools. (Adobe Stock)

Union Leaders Push for More Support for Students', Teachers' Mental Health

As the nation processes the horrific shooting in Uvalde, where 19 children and two teachers were killed, teachers' unions across Illinois and America …

A report from the University of Chicago's Inclusive Economy Lab compared more than 7,000 OneGoal participants to students from the same communities with similar academic profiles. (Adobe Stock)

IL Program Aims to Boost College Enrollment for Low-Income Students

Students from low-income communities in Illinois have historically faced numerous barriers to higher education, but one Chicago-based program offers …

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports that, nationwide, student enrollment in community colleges from 2020 to 2021 fell by 5.6% (Adobe Stock)

Amid Statewide Enrollment Slump, Chicago Colleges Work to Re-Enroll Students

Since the pandemic began, enrollment in Illinois community colleges has declined to its lowest point in years, and now, one school is working to keep …

El Centro Nacional de Investigaci�n de la C�mara de Compensaci�n de Estudiantes informa que en todo el pa�s, la inscripci�n de estudiantes en colegios comunitarios de 2020 a 2021 baj� un 5.6 % (Adobe Stock)

En medio del declive de inscripciones en el estado, las universidades de Chicago trabajan para volver a registrar estudiantes

Desde que comenzó la pandemia, la inscripción en los colegios comunitarios de Illinois ha disminuido a su punto más bajo en años…

Across the nation, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly. (ricka_kinamoto/Adobe Stock)

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IL: Education