House passes bill prohibiting book bans
Libraries would be disqualified from state grants.
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Local Champaign-Urbana tutoring programs aims aid elementary academic success
URBANA – The iRead and iCount programs provide tutoring for kindergarten and first-grade students who are having difficulties with their math and reading skills. The Champaign Unit 4 School District and Urbana School District 116 are benefiting from the programs. iRead and iCount volunteers spend one hour a week working with students over a two-month…
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How are Illinois schools preparing for the next COVID-flu season?
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health said they will spend $30 million on portable air purifiers for low-income schools. Each comes with a two year supply of filters.
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Pritzker touts funding during visit to Lincoln Land Community College
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at a stop in Springfield Wednesday that his budget proposal, with more money for higher education, will provide the largest increase in community college funding in two decades. “Illinois’ community colleges serve as an accelerator for local economies and individual students alike,” he said. “Illinois is poised to make history:…
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EIU faculty union contract talks continue, now with a potential strike approved by rank & file
Federally mediated contract talks between Eastern Illinois University and its faculty and support staff union are scheduled to resume Monday, April 3. When they resume, officials with the EIU-University Professionals of Illinois chapter (Illinois Federation of Teachers Local 4100) hope the administration will feel more pressure to reach a settlement, following last week’s approval of a strike authorization vote.
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LGBTQ book bans have spiked nationwide. Where do Decatur school board candidates stand?
One candidate running for Decatur school board said he supports age-restricting books with LGBTQ characters.
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Pritzker touts higher education plan, joins call for pharmacies to state abortion pill plans
Governor advises pharmacies against ‘capitulating’ to ‘threats’ by Republican AGs.
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Illinois is one of the few states that ban guns on college campuses
All but four states along with the District of Columbia allow the open carrying of a firearm either with or without a permit.
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Bill would give ‘child influencers’ a share of parents’ vlogging revenue
Measure would apply state’s Child Labor Law to ‘influencer’ videos.
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U of I grad remembered following his death in Turkey earthquake
U of I graduate Berkhan Eminsoy was one of the thousands killed by a massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
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Teacher, custodian unions grill candidates for Champaign Unit 4 school board on shortages, Black Lives Matter
About three-quarters of districts in Illinois are struggling to hire bus drivers, cafeteria workers and teachers’ aides. Workers in Champaign want to know how future board members will help them.
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Pritzker touts $70 million plan for addressing teacher shortage
Grant program targets vacancies in 170 school districts accounting for 80% of vacancies.
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Some school board candidates this year are pushing to limit lessons on Black history. Where do Champaign Unit 4 candidates stand?
Six candidates say students should learn African American history and the history of racism. The seventh, business owner Mark Holm, declined to be interviewed.
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NIU ‘Project FLEX’ offers fitness and college experiences to incarcerated Illinois youth
DEKALB — Several times a week, a team of NIU graduate students led by professors Zach Wahl-Alexander and Jenn Jacobs bring physical activities to three juvenile justice youth centers in northern Illinois. Wahl-Alexander and Jacobs teach in the school’s Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education and have run the program for the past four years….
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COVID federal funding will expire. How are schools investing in student mental health for the long term?
LA MOILLE — Students in the La Moille School District don’t have a full-time school social worker or psychologist. For tiny, rural districts like La Moille — which has only 170 students — that’s not unusual. Rural schools are much less likely to offer mental health services than urban and suburban schools. 37% of high…
