KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN ILLINOIS

Get Informed

Illinois schools are better than they ever have been. But the competition-both in the U.S. and abroad-is getting tougher.

One of the simplest - and yet most powerful - steps you can take is to make sure you have all the facts. Advance Illinois can provide you with all the information you need to be a successful advocate for change.

The "Policy Issues" section of the site addresses some of the most pressing issues in Illinois Education, such as:

• State standards and graduation requirements should help all students get ready for college and careers, but they don't.
• Statewide data systems should help schools and policymakers deliver better outcomes, but they don't.
• Teachers and principals should get high levels of training and support and be held to high standards, but they are not.
• Illinois should be producing more highly trained workers to build its economy, but it isn't.

Stay Informed

Advance Illinois provides access to news and events happening around Illinois. In addition the Resource Center collects research and reports that aim to inform citizens, policy makers, and researchers on the latest insights about Illinois education.

Events

Organizations around Illinois exist to improve education. Staying abreast of their events allows members of the community to add input and make leadership aware of concerns and interests.

The benefits of taking action are clear.

The best investment Illinois can make in its future is to increase student success. Studies show that when graduation rates rise, average wages increase for all citizens, property values go up, and overall tax revenues increase. Higher educational attainment is also associated with lower costs related to Medicare, social welfare, and educational remediation. In short, educated workers are more employable, push the economy forward, and draw better jobs to the state.

If Illinois wants to remain prosperous, do right by its youth and older residents, and create great jobs and healthy communities that thrive and attract more talent, the state must provide a world-class education to every young person. Our future depends on it.