Illinois

Illinois advocates call for more funding for early ed and K-12

Published

2 years ago

October 5, 2022

Illinois advocates call for more funding for early ed and K-12

Treasa Howard-Collins loves her job at Joliet Township Excessive Faculty’s Baby Care Heart, however regardless of having 12 years expertise and a grasp’s diploma, she says she’s “incomes an unlivable wage.”

“Not solely am I working a second job, however I’m additionally doing gig work to complement the earnings for the job that I really like,” Howard-Collins instructed state officers throughout a finances listening to Tuesday.

Howard-Collins and a number of other different audio system need the Illinois State Board of Schooling to enhance funding for early childhood training by 20% – or $120 million – to extend wages for early childhood educators.

All through the listening to, college leaders, educators, dad and mom, and advocates pushed for a rise of about $700 million — $120 million for early training and $550 million towards Okay-12 faculties — to the state’s general training finances for fiscal yr 2024, which begins in June 2023. The state training finances helps early training, Okay-12 public faculties, after-school packages, and agricultural training.

Lawmakers authorized $9.7 billion for the state’s training finances within the spring with $350 million extra {dollars} heading towards Okay-12 public faculties and $54.4 million {dollars} towards the state’s early childhood block grant.

State legislation calls on the legislature to extend Okay-12 funding by $350 million yearly by 2027 to get each college district to “adequacy,” or be sure that faculties have sufficient funding to supply sources to college students. For the reason that funding method was created in 2017, it has resulted in a rise of $1.5 billion general.

And whereas advocates applauded new funding in training, many mentioned the state’s funding method ought to enhance by at the very least $550 million {dollars} this yr to be able to appropriate funding gaps extra shortly.

Summer time Butler, an elementary college trainer at Bellwood Faculty District 88, mentioned that her college is taken into account 70% “adequately funded,” in accordance with state information. However her college is understaffed and overflowing with college students.

Butler mentioned that her college students aren’t excelling in core topics like math and studying, with about 14% assembly math and studying proficiency requirements.

Butler famous that astronaut Eugene Cernan, commander of the Apollo 17 that went to the moon in 1972, attended her college within the Forties.

“At this price, we’d not ever have one other Eugene Cernan amongst us any day quickly, as a result of we don’t have the entire essential sources to make that doable,” she mentioned.

Bob Chikos, an educator at Crystal Lake Central Excessive Faculty in District 135, additionally requested for a rise of $550 million in Okay-12 funding as a result of he desires to finish funding disparities between college districts. He pointed to variations in funding between his district, which is 77% funded, close by Elgin’s U-46, which is 63% funded and beneath adequacy, and Libertyville Excessive Faculty in District 128, which is 171% funded — far above adequacy.

“Disparities, reminiscent of this, have exacerbated academic, racial and wealth gaps. We dwell in a state during which there’s a useful resource race amongst adequately funded districts to supply the very best training doable,” mentioned Chikos. “Whereas not adequately funded, districts attempt to maintain on to the minimal sources they’ve to satisfy their college students’ wants.”

Final week, Partnership for Fairness and Schooling Rights, PEER IL, and the Schooling Regulation Heart requested the state to extend funding for the evidence-based funding method by $1.5 billion a yr to hit the 2027 aim written into legislation.

Whereas a majority of audio system requested the state to extend funding for early childhood training and Okay-12 public faculties, a couple of audio system requested the state to spice up funding to after-school packages and group faculties.

Susan Staton of Afterschool for Youngsters and Teen, ACT Now, and different advocates requested $20 million {dollars} for after-school programming and $15 million to go towards group faculties.

“These packages all all through Illinois are bettering attendance, bettering grades and serving to to show social-emotional studying expertise,” mentioned Stanton.

The state board of training is planning to host two extra finances hearings. One might be held in particular person at 4 p.m. Thursday on the state board’s workplace in Springfield, Illinois, and the opposite might be digital at 4 p.m. Oct. 24.

In earlier years, the state board of training introduced its suggestions for the training finances throughout its December board assembly. The board then despatched its proposal to the governor and legislature in January. The governor then made a finances proposal in early February and the legislature authorized the finances by the top of spring legislative session in April.

Samantha Smylie is the state training reporter for Chalkbeat Chicago, overlaying college districts throughout the state, laws, particular training, and the state board of training. Contact Samantha at ssmylie@chalkbeat.org.

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Illinois

Some Illinois taxpayers will be able to file 2024 taxes for free with IRS program

Published

3 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

Some Illinois taxpayers will be able to file 2024 taxes for free with IRS program

Nearly 2 million eligible Illinois residents will be able to file their 2024 federal tax returns for free using a new IRS program.

State officials announced that Illinois will participate in the IRS Direct File service which begins on Jan. 27.

Direct File was first launched as a test program last year. This year, the program will become a permanent option with participation in 25 states.

A simplified process

The IRS estimates that more than 30 million people will be eligible to use the program during the 2025 tax filing season.

State officials said the IRS Direct File option will simplify the filing process for eligible taxpayers.

“We understand that a significant amount of time and money is spent every year to ensure personal income tax returns are filed accurately and on time,” said David Harris, the director of the Illinois Department of Revenue, in a statement. “This integration will help relieve stress and financial burden for taxpayers.”

Direct File is an online service that’s available on mobile phones, laptops, tablets or desktop computers.

The service provides a checklist and a guide to help navigate the process. Users will have access to a chatbot for guidance in both English and Spanish.

For more information on eligibility and how to use the service, visit irs.gov/filing/irs-direct-file-for-free.

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Illinois

Illinois State Police trooper hurt in multi-vehicle crash near Chicago

Published

13 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

Illinois State Police trooper hurt in multi-vehicle crash near Chicago

(25News Now) – An Illinois State Police trooper was hurt in a five-vehicle crash Saturday morning in the Chicago suburb of South Barrington, but there are conflicting reports about the severity of the trooper’s injuries.

State Police said the trooper was heading to an accident scene to help with traffic control at Illinois Route 59 and Higgins Road. Police said the trooper activated his emergency lights and sirens, but was struck by another vehicle at the intersection about 9:45 a.m.

The trooper suffered critical injuries, according to a release from the East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District, but State Police said the trooper’s injuries were not life-threatening.

The fire department said it took almost a half-hour to extricate the trooper from his heavily damaged vehicle.

Fire crews said it took almost a half-hour to extricate an Illinois State Police trooper from his heavily damaged squad car on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in the Chicago suburb of South Barrington.(East Dundee and Countryside Fire Protection District)

Authorities said two people from other vehicles were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

State Police are investigating.

Saturday’s accident happened less than a month after State Police Trooper Clay Carns was killed in a crash on I-55 in Will County.

The 35-year-old officer left his squad car to pick up debris from the roadway when he was struck by a passing pickup truck two days before Christmas. The truck’s 69-year-old driver was cited for not moving over to avoid hitting Trooper Carns.

You can watch 25News – any newscast, anywhere – streaming LIVE on 25NewsNow.com, our 25News mobile app, and on our WEEK 25News SmartTV streaming app. Learn more about how you can get connected to 25News streaming live news here.

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Illinois

Local college hoops roundup: No. 13 Illinois falls to USC at home

Published

21 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Local college hoops roundup: No. 13 Illinois falls to USC at home

Desmond Claude scored a season-high 31 points to lead USC to an 82-72 win over No. 13 Illinois on Saturday in Champaign.

Wesley Yates III had 15 points — shooting 7 of 8 from the field — while Rashaun Agee had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Trojans (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten).

Illinois (12-4, 4-2) had a five-game winning streak snapped. Ben Humrichous had 15 points, while Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn and Tre White each scored 11.

Kasparas Jakucionis, the Illini’s leading scorer, missed his second straight game because of a forearm injury suffered Jan. 5 against Washington.

Takeaways

Illinois: The Illini have gotten off to a slow start in each game without Jakucionis. They trailed Penn State by six points early Wednesday before winning 91-52. They were down by nine points early to USC and never did get their offense going without their scoring and assist leader. They were 7 of 32 on 3-pointers.

USC: The Trojans didn’t get to the free-throw line very often. They were 9 of 11 on foul shots to Illinois’ 19 of 21. But they shot 52% to Illinois’ 37% and outrebounded the Illini 37-34. Illinois came into the game averaging 45.9 rebounds per game, best in the nation.

Key moment

The game was tied at 57 with 8:46 left. USC went on a 13-3 run to move in front 70-60 with 5:12 to go and Illinois didn’t threaten after that.

Key stat

Claude shot 12 for 20 from the field and made all seven of his free throws. Agee also was a shooting star. The graduate student sank three triples after making two all season and six in his career.

Up next

Southern California hosts Iowa on Tuesday night.

Illinois visits Indiana on Tuesday night.

Saint Joseph’s 93, Loyola 57

Xzayvier Brown scored 20 points as Saint Joseph’s rolled to a 93-57 victory over Loyola on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Brown went 8 of 16 from the field (3 for 6 from 3-point range) for the Hawks (11-6, 3-2 Atlantic 10 Conference). Derek Simpson added 19 points and six rebounds. Erik Reynolds II hit four 3-pointers and scored 18.

The Ramblers (10-6, 1-2) were led by Sheldon Edwards with 12 points. Jayden Dawson added 12 points and Miles Rubin scored 10.

Saint Joseph’s took the lead with 19:12 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. Reynolds led the team in scoring with 15 points in the first half to help put them up 53-29 at the break.

Bradley 61, UIC 60

Zek Montgomery led Bradley with 15 points and Duke Deen scored the game-winning 3-pointer with two seconds remaining as the Braves knocked off host UIC 61-60 on Saturday.

Montgomery shot 5 for 10 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 3 of 5 from the free-throw line for the Braves (14-3, 5-1 Missouri Valley Conference). Deen scored 14 points and added three steals. Corey Thomas shot 2 of 2 from the field and 7 for 7 from the line to finish with 11 points.

Jordan Mason led the way for the Flames (11-6, 3-3) with 15 points and two steals. Ahmad Henderson II added 13 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals for UIC. Sasa Ciani also recorded 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Both teams next play Wednesday. Bradley hosts Indiana State and UICsquares off against Murray State at home.

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