217 Today: Illinois requires public schools to teach LGBTQ+, Asian American and pre-enslavement Black history. Are teachers ready?

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Unit 4's International Prep Academy teachers Christina Cañas (left) and Abby Heras attend a workshop on Asian American children's books on Aug. 1, 2023 at the University of Illinois College of Education in Champaign.
  • Photo: Emily Hays/Illinois Public Media

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Today’s headlines: 

  • Illinois lawmakers are back in Springfield Tuesday with some potential fireworks overspending on the horizon.
  • A new Illinois law allows gun owners to keep assault-style weapons if they disclosed them by January first. But state registration rates are low.
  • Champaign County officials are raising money to attract an airline willing to offer leisure-class passenger service out of Willard Airport.

In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn more about how prepared Illinois teachers feel to teach students about racially inclusive history.

Reporting today contributed by Mawa Iqbal, Jim Meadows, Alex Degman and Emily Hays

 

 

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Farrah Anderson

Farrah Anderson is a 2024 graduate of the University of Illinois. At Illinois Public Media, Anderson works as a general assignment reporter focusing on police and investigative stories.