ADVANCE ILLINOIS IN THE NEWS

Advance Illinois Urges State to "Act Boldly" and Win "Race to the Top Funds
Catalyst-Chicago - Dec. 10, 2009
The reform group Advance Illinois says the state is a long way from being a front-runner to win Race to the Top funds, at least in the first round of proposals due Jan. 19.
In a report released today, “Can Illinois Race to the Top?” the group lays out specific steps the state needs to take—including a more active role in turning around failing schools—to be competitive for a share of the $4.6 billion that U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will dole out to a handful of states. Illinois could get an estimated $200 to $400 million.

More from the Dec. 10th "Race to the Top" report
- Districts in Illinois Watching "Race to the Top" competition carefully (Illinois StateHouse News)

- States race for education dollars (Effingham Daily News)

- Illinois Urged to Make Bold School Reform (Evanston Roundtable)

Districts in Illinois Watching "Race to the Top" competition carefully
Illinois StateHouse News- Dec. 10, 2009
Robin Steans, executive director for education policy group Advance Illinois, said Illinois has to take advantage of the federal grant program.
“There has simply never been an opportunity for a state to bring $400 million in to drive reform efforts,” she said. “And it’s coming at a time when Illinois and other states have significant fiscal issues.”

Race to the Top Money a Carrot for State Legislators
State Journal-Register - Sept. 2, 2009
Advance Illinois Executive Director Robin Steans' op-ed: "How would you like to play a lottery where you get to control the odds? That’s what the U.S. Department of Education is offering, by setting aside more than $4 billion in a Race to the Top fund to be given to only a handful of states — if they’re willing and able to take steps that dramatically improve their public schools."

Improving Public Schools
Chicago Tribune - Aug.25, 2009
Advance Illinois Executive Director Robin Steans' Letter to the Editor:Congratulations to the Tribune for focusing on the historic opportunity Illinois has to compete for hundreds of millions of dollars in federal stimulus funds. As you correctly point out, Illinois' General Assembly has some work to do to position itself for some of the $4.35 billion being handed out by the Department of Education. That money will only go to states taking dramatic steps to improve their public schools. Given the state's current budget, we'd be reckless not to make the effort.

Others should follow Torres' example

Daily Herald - July 24, 2009

When Superintendent Jose Torres turned down an $8,140 pay raise and encouraged other Elgin Area School District U-46 administrators to do the same, maybe he was leading by example.

Racing for an Early Edge
Education Week - July 15, 2009 (article access compliments of edweek.org)
Even before they've finished spending their first block of federal stimulus aid, states are getting a head start in a national "Race to the top" for better public education, without even knowing rules to the game.

State Needs to Begin Working on Education Reform
The Southern - July 7, 2009
As published in other papers, Advance Illinois co-chairs Bill Daley and Jim Edgar make the case for radical reform of Illinois schools: "Of every four incoming freshman in Illinois high schools, one will drop out, two will graduate from high school but won't be ready for college or the modern work force and just one will graduate ready for college or whatever challenges await them."

Editorial: Advancing Education
Chicago Tribune - June 28, 2009
Illinois has been so caught up in crisis management of the state budget this year that it has largely neglected other essentials, such as the need for radical changes in how our public schools educate children. We can't lose sight of that.

Jim Edgar and William Daley: Time for radical changes in schools
State Journal-Register - June 28, 2009
Of every four incoming freshman in Illinois high schools, one will drop out, two will graduate from high school but won't be ready for college or the modern work force and just one will graduate ready for college or whatever challenges await them.

Editorial: Illinois has best chance to reform schools now
Chicago Sun-Times - June 19, 2009
There are moments just ripe for education reform. This is one of them.
With education dollars flowing from Washington, and a new president and education secretary pushing for change, Illinois has a chance to improve schools like never before. And what the state must do is clear.

Presionan por Cambios
La Raza - June 28, 2009
Ya se cumplio el plazo y tal como lo prometi, el grupo Advance Illinois, compuesto por empresarios, filï¿½ntropos, maestros, expertos en educaciï¿½n, y polï¿½ticos republicanos y demï¿½cratas, publicï¿½ el reporte "We Can Do Better: Advancing Public Education in Illinois".

Advance Illinois Co-Chairs Discuss Policy Report on NewsViews
WLS-TV - June 21, 2009
Ch. 7's weekend issues show hosts Advance Illinois Co-Chairs Jim Edgar and Bill Daley to discuss their 'radical' proposals to reform Illinois schools.

Duncan Praises state's education reforms
Chicago Tribune - June 19, 2009
The former Chicago Public Schools chief was the keynote speaker at a gathering sponsored by Advance Illinois, a bipartisan reform group led by former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar and Bill Daley, the former U.S. commerce secretary and the mayor's brother.

Illinois education-reform group issues report on schools
GateHouse News Service - June 19, 2009
Improving Illinois' education system will require bold action, such as making high school graduation requirements more rigorous and revamping the way teachers and principals are evaluated, according to a new report released Thursday. Advance Illinois, a nonprofit group working to reform public education, compiled the report, "We Can Do Better."

Political Heavyweights lay out education reform agenda
Catalyst-Chicago - June 18, 2009
After a lengthy statewide ï¿½listening tour,ï¿½ the bipartisan, politically-connected group Advance Illinois released its recommendations for improving Illinois education. The recommendationsï¿½among them, better teachers, tougher standards and more innovationï¿½are timed to make a splash with state leaders as they grind through tough budget negotiations. Those talks are never far removed from the politically vexing problem of inequitable school funding.

Education overhaul ideas ï¿½Advanceï¿½ to Springfield
News-Tribune - June 19, 2009
Advance Illinois, the bipartisan group that went around the state ï¿½ making a stop in Mendota ï¿½ hoping to identify problems with Illinois education and seeking ways to fix them, has released its recommendations for statewide reform. Some of the findings were bleak. William Daley, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, said just one in four Illinois high school graduates is adequately prepared for college or the workforce.

Fatheree and Co-Teacher win award from Cable Industry
Advance Illinois Board Member Joe Fatheree and teaching partner Craig Lindvahl won a Cable's Leaders in Learning Award for their Aha Film Festival, an annual event designed to showcase the work of students in multimedia classes from Teutopolis and Effingham high schools. The awards are designed to honor "educators to use technology as a tool for learning, allowing students to grow and develop as responsible and productive citizens, prepared to compete and thrive in the global economy."

Educational Advocacy Group has its say in Mendota
Mendota Reporter - May 19, 2009
A leader of the education reform advocacy group Advance Illinois gave local town hall meeting attendees a subtle warning in regards to the future of education. The United States and the State of Illinois are falling behind the competition.

How Do We Educate Our Youth?
Bureau County Republican - May 19, 2009 MENDOTA -Take any four Illinois high school freshmen, simmer for four years, and what do you get? Well, according to recent statistics, you'll get one high school drop-out, one graduate ready to face whatever life throws him, and two who will graduate high school and yet be woefully ill-prepared for the challenges of college or career.That was only one of the sobering statistics revealed at Monday's Town Hall meeting, held at the Mendota Civic Center and sponsored by the North Central Regional Betterment Coalition and Advance Illinois.

Ex-U.S. Commerce chief speaks on education shortfalls
Daily News-Tribune - May 19, 2009
MENDOTA - Illinois students aren't competing well with those in other states and are really falling behind when compared with students overseas. William Daley, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, told a Monday assembly of educators and business people that the Illinois needs to bring education up to snuff - and fast. That means demanding more from students and teachers, shedding an aura of complacency, increasing access to technology and, not least, devising a better way to pay for schools.

Education Reform Discussed in Mendota
WLPO-AM - May 19, 2009
"We're failing too many kids". That was the message from former U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley yesterday in Mendota. Daley was one of the featured speakers at an "Education Town Hall Meeting". He's the co-chair of Advance Illinois, a bi-partisan advocacy group looking for education reform in Illinois. Former Governor Jim Edgar and House Speaker Dennis Hastert are also on the committee.

Forcing Illinois Schools to Measure Up
Chicago Tribune - April 28, 2009
Advance Illinois Co-Chairs Jim Edgar, former governor of Illinois, and Bill Daley, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, take up the challenge by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and argue "it is time for comprehensive, bipartisan effort to tackle what ails public schools."

Advance Illinois Holds Education Town Hall in Decatur
WUIS - April 23, 2009
Public education advocates are calling for stricter learning standards for Illinois students. Jenna Dooley reports (for the NPR affiliate in Springfield).

Seeking school solutions: Advance Illinois looks for new ways to deal with educational issues
Decatur Herald & Review - April 23, 2009
DECATUR - An oft-quoted line describes "insanity" as doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result.
William Daley, co-chair of Advance Illinois along with former Gov. Jim Edgar, invoked that quote at Wednesday's Town Hall Meeting to discuss education reform.

Statistics Bleak, but education reform advocates optimistic
Effingham Daily News - March 27, 2009
Advance Illinois kicked off a statewide listening tour in Effingham Thursday at Thelma Keller Convention Center. Hundreds of local teachers, administrators, politicians and members of the public attended the town hall meeting focusing on educational reform in the state of Illinois.

Advance Illinois Kicks Off Statewide School Reform Listening Tour
Biloxi Sun-Herald - March 24, 2009
Advance Illinois, the statewide education advocacy group co-chaired by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Bill Daley, will kick off a statewide school reform listening tour with a March 26 town hall meeting in Effingham. Another meeting will be held in Decatur on April 17 followed by several stops across the state later this spring.

The State of Education
City Voices/WNUA - March 8, 2009
Illinois needs to improve its learning standards, develop better assessments and institute more after-school programs to augment what children learn in the classroom. Guests Robin Steans, of Advance Illinois, and Larry Joseph, of Voices for Illinois Children, discussed the state of Illinois Education with host Lorraine Forte, of Catalyst Chicago. City Voices is a weekly public affairs program on WNUA. Catalyst Chicago produces an education segment for the program that airs the second Sunday of each month.

Will our kids be ready?
BoomtownUSA, IL - Dec 11, 2008
Advance Illinois is a non-partisan, non-profit that is focused upon improving the educational and resulting work experiences of all Illinoisans. It is chaired by former Governor Jim Edgar...

Education cracks target of group
Effingham Daily News, IL - Dec 3, 2008
"What will it take to dramatically improve our schools?" That was the question posed Tuesday by the executive director of a nonprofit organization formed to work on school issues...

Advance Illinois - News Podcast
720 WGN Radio, IL - Nov 21, 2008
On this week's WGN News podcast, we hear frmo a new education reform group called Advance Illinois. Its members include former U.S. Commerce Secretary, Bill Daley, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former Governor Jim Edgar.

Bernard Schoenburg: Bill Daley mostly silent on idea of run for ...
The State Journal-Register, IL - Nov 20, 2008
Former US Commerce Secretary BILL DALEY could become more of a fixture at the Statehouse if he makes a run for governor in 2010 ...

Advance Illinois quiere salvar la educaci'n en el estado
La Prensa, IL - 20 de Nov, 2008
Un nuevo reporte manifiesta la alarmante brecha que distancia la educaci'n y la cualificaci'n laboral; el retraso de Illinois se acelera m's que en el resto de los Estados Unidos ...

New group aims to tackle education issues in Illinois
Chicago Tribune, IL - Nov 19, 2008
The study was released by Advance Illinois, a new bipartisan group made up of heavy hitters in the political, business and educational fields ...

Edgar, Daley, Hastert join school panel
Daily Journal, IL - Nov 19, 2008
Several prominent Illinois politicians are working together to try to fix the state's public school system ...

Group formed to fix Illinois' public schools
WREX-TV, IL - Nov 19, 2008
Several prominent Illinois politicians are working together to try to fix the state's public school system ...

Does New Group Have What It Takes To "Advance Illinois" Education?
Progress Illinois, IL - Nov 19, 2008
A prominent line up of public officials'including former Commerce Secretary William Daley, former Gov. Jim Edgar ...

New organization seeks to improve state's education system
Northern Star, IL - Nov 19, 2008
Illinois leaders announced Tuesday the launch of Advance Illinois, a not-for-profit organization that seeks to improve the state's education system.

Group formed to fix Illinois' public schools
Quad-Cities Online, IL - Nov 19, 2008
Several prominent Illinois politicians are working together to try to fix the state's public school system. They've formed a bipartisan group called Advance Illinois that's chaired by former Gov. Jim Edgar and former...

Advance Illinois Takes on School Reform (Radio)
Chicago Public Radio, Eight Forty-Eight - Nov 18, 2008
"We are committed to the fact that this has got to be a team effort," said executive director Robin Steans. "Ultimately, over the long term, the success is ...

Improving Illinois Public Schools
Chicago Tonight, WTTW11 - Nov 18, 2008
Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley announced today that they are co-chairing an initiative to improve Illinois public schools ...

Bipartisan effort presses for school reform
The State Journal-Register, IL - Nov 18, 2008
A new effort to improve Illinois' public school system has attracted some of the state's most prominent political figures: former Gov. Jim Edgar, former Commerce Secretary William Daley and former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert...

Politicans team up to help schools
Peoria Journal Star, IL - Nov 18, 2008
"We are committed to the fact that this has got to be a team effort," said executive director Robin Steans. "Ultimately, over the long term, the success is ...

New statewide education initiative to be revealed today
The Southern, Carbondale,IL - Nov 18, 2008
The group will announce the launch of Advance Illinois, 'an independent, objective voice to promote a public education system in Illinois that prepares all ...

Civic Leaders, Foundations, Educators Launch Advance Illinois, a ...
MarketWatch, USA - Nov 18, 2008
At events scheduled in Chicago and Springfield, Advance Illinois released a report, "The State We're In: Advancing Public Education in Illinois," that shows ...

'Advance Illinois' initiative launched
Daily Vidette (ISU), IL - Nov 19, 2008
"There is a dire need for a statewide, student-centered advocacy group focused on policy in Illinois," Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle said. For this reason, the Advance Illinois Group was formed ...

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