Rejecting teacher resignations, Normal Unit 5 tests how Illinois might respond to staffing shortage

Rejecting teacher resignations, Normal Unit 5 tests how Illinois might respond to staffing shortage

ByIllinois Public Radio

NORMAL — Unit 5 has invoked a rarely used state statute that allows school districts to reject teacher resignations in certain circumstances. McLean County’s largest district denied four resignations, submitted by special education teachers weeks before the first day of school. Two of the teachers agreed to stay for the 2022-2023 school year. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s402/audio/2022/09/unit5resign-segment.mp3 Listen…

Brothers build safe community with FirstFollowers
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Brothers build safe community with FirstFollowers

ByEmily Hays

CHAMPAIGN – Ri’Chard Frazier took his role as a big brother seriously from a young age. By middle school, being the “tough” one started to get him in trouble. He bounced between public and alternative schools. The first time he felt cared for was at FirstFollowers, a nonprofit Champaign recently entrusted with half a million…

These Illinois grads say student loan relief will help them move forward
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These Illinois grads say student loan relief will help them move forward

ByIllinois Public Radio

Student debt has soared in the 21st Century. It went from $520 billion in 2006 to now over $1.7 trillion. The Biden administration recently announced a student loan forgiveness program. Some borrowers could have as much as $20,000 forgiven. The White House estimates that around 43 million borrowers could be eligible for some debt forgiveness. Of those, close to half could…

Face coverings ‘strongly recommended’ in U of I classrooms starting Monday
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Face coverings ‘strongly recommended’ in U of I classrooms starting Monday

ByReginald Hardwick

URBANA – The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is recommending that everyone wear high-quality face coverings in classrooms starting Monday, August 29. The advisory was sent to all students, faculty and staff in an email from Chancellor Robert J. Jones on Sunday night. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has ranked Champaign County as “high”…

‘Teacher shortage’ stories are everywhere. Is school staffing in Illinois actually more difficult this year?

‘Teacher shortage’ stories are everywhere. Is school staffing in Illinois actually more difficult this year?

ByIllinois Public Radio

ROCKFORD — With the new school year starting, reports of a “national teacher shortage” are at an all-time high. But is staffing a school actually way harder this year than previous years? Is there a teacher shortage? A superintendent at a small school district in rural Illinois might tell you about how elementary teacher positions…

3 things you need to know about Biden’s student loan announcement
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3 things you need to know about Biden’s student loan announcement

ByNPR

WASHINGTON — President Biden’s announcement of a sweeping effort to forgive federal student loan debt – up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients, and up to $10,000 for others who qualify – leaves millions of borrowers with unanswered questions, and some of the details won’t be clear for weeks or months. Here are three big…

Illinois schools launched initiatives to close Advanced Placement class racial gaps. Did they work?
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Illinois schools launched initiatives to close Advanced Placement class racial gaps. Did they work?

ByIllinois Public Radio

ROCKFORD — Advanced Placement — or AP — classes were created over 70 years ago to give high school students a jump-start on the path to college. Students can earn early college credit by scoring high on AP tests. But, even in 2022, that opportunity often isn’t available to every student. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s528/audio/2022/08/0822apf.mp3 Listen to this…

Cohort of freshmen with autism start Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative
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Cohort of freshmen with autism start Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative

ByEmily Hays

URBANA — Fall classes began Monday at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It was also the beginning of the university’s new Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative. The program aims to smooth the experience of college for students with autism. INI Director Jeanne Kramer created the program after leading an internship pipeline program specifically for University of Illinois…

Champaign students return to second fall of in-person pandemic school
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Champaign students return to second fall of in-person pandemic school

ByEmily Hays

CHAMPAIGN — Thursday was the first day of school for most Champaign Unit 4 students. Students at International Prep Academy welcomed the second year of fully in-person classes after the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was very, very cool, because we got to do tons of new activities,” says fifth grader Annayaretze Martinez. “At…

As a conservative group criticizes Decatur public school curriculum, locals rally in defense
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As a conservative group criticizes Decatur public school curriculum, locals rally in defense

ByHarrison Malkin

DECATUR — Illinois now requires every elementary and high school teach a unit on Black History, ranging from African civilizations to U.S. slavery to the Civil Rights movement. This week, Illinois Family Action (IFA), a conservative, Christian group, based in suburban Chicago, held a meeting with about 35 attendees, discussing those changes and attacking the…

Colleges ease COVID-19 restrictions as fall semester begins for millions of students
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Colleges ease COVID-19 restrictions as fall semester begins for millions of students

ByNPR

WORCESTER, Mass. — Millions of students are heading back to college for their third full academic year since the COVID pandemic hit. But as students move into their dorms and sign up for classes this year, things are different. On many campuses, the masking restrictions are gone. Classes are being held in-person, testing requirements are…

Special ed teacher pathway targets specific teacher shortages at specific schools

Special ed teacher pathway targets specific teacher shortages at specific schools

ByIllinois Public Radio

ELGIN — Thousands of Illinois students with disabilities have to learn in a classroom without a special education teacher or with an educator who doesn’t have the right teaching license. Those kids — who may have physical or cognitive disabilities — count on and are legally entitled to specially-designed instruction. Last year, Illinois school districts…

10-day sales tax reduction on clothing, school supplies begins Friday
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10-day sales tax reduction on clothing, school supplies begins Friday

ByCapitol News Illinois

Tax on eligible items will decrease to 1.25% from 6.25% from Aug. 5-14 SPRINGFIELD – Beginning Friday and lasting through Aug. 14, the state will reduce its sales tax rate from 6.25 percent to 1.25 percent for certain clothing items costing less than $125 and school supplies. The “tax holiday” was included in Gov. JB…

‘Red letter day’: Ag startup bought out by Bayer works closely with ISU researchers
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‘Red letter day’: Ag startup bought out by Bayer works closely with ISU researchers

ByIllinois Public Radio

NORMAL — A chemical and agricultural behemoth has bought a St. Louis-based startup company that works closely with Illinois State University, where researchers have worked to domesticate the weed pennycress into a cover crop and oil seed plant dubbed CoverCress. That plant is now producing a marketable crop. And Bayer has bought out venture capitalists…

How school bus driver shortages and frequent bus route cancellations impacted students and their families

How school bus driver shortages and frequent bus route cancellations impacted students and their families

ByIllinois Public Radio

YORKVILLE – Ten minutes down the road on her way to work, Joni Carter gets a message on her phone. Her 14-year-old daughter’s school bus was canceled…again. Now, she has to double back to her Yorkville home, pick up her daughter and take her to school herself. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s528/audio/2022/07/0719busf.mp3 Listen to this story here.  “Then there…