In the News
Advance Illinois serves as a resource for media outlets from across the state and beyond on policy issues in education from birth to career. Here’s our recent coverage.
‘We Need Kids in School.’ Study Says a 1/4 of Illinois Students are Chronically Absent
As the midway point of the school year draws near, educators across the Quad Cities met for the Advance Illinois ‘The State We’re In 2025’ report.
Illinois Schools Still Face Pandemic Fallout as Attendance and Mental Health Challenges Persist
A new report from Advance Illinois shows schools across the state are still struggling to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Illinois Public Education Report Card Shows Mixed Grades
A comprehensive report card on Illinois public education shows both good news and bad news.
More Illinois Students are Proficient, New Test Scores Show. But the Cut Scores Changed.
On the first standardized test results reported since Illinois changed the scores needed to be deemed proficient, 52% of students met the bar in English and 38% did so in math.
Peoria Public Schools Received More Funding This Year, but Advocates Say it Isn’t Enough
As Peoria Public Schools receive more state funding, some advocates are saying Illinois isn’t properly funding its public schools.

