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.

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Pritzker Calls for Setting New Higher Education Attainment Goals
Pritzker Calls for Setting New Higher Education Attainment Goals

Gov. JB Pritzker is calling on agencies in his administration to set goals for increasing the number of adults in the state with college degrees or other postsecondary credentials.

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The Trump Administration Tried to Freeze Federal Child Care Funding For Illinois. How Would it Impact Families Using the State's Child Care Assistance Program?
The Trump Administration Tried to Freeze Federal Child Care Funding For Illinois. How Would it Impact Families Using the State's Child Care Assistance Program?

Last month, the Trump administration tried to freeze $1 billion in federal funding for Illinois child care. Courts have blocked it so far. The program that would be hit hardest is Illinois' Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

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Illinois Lawmakers Push University Funding Overhaul Amid Regional Enrollment Drops and U. of I. Opposition
Illinois Lawmakers Push University Funding Overhaul Amid Regional Enrollment Drops and U. of I. Opposition

With enrollment plunging at many of Illinois’ regional universities, state leaders are again pressing a sweeping overhaul of higher education funding.

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Pritzker’s Budget Plan Calls for Education Funding Increases but Fall Short of Requests
Pritzker’s Budget Plan Calls for Education Funding Increases but Fall Short of Requests

Pritzker’s $56 billion budget proposal, which he released Wednesday, calls for a $305 million increase in the evidence-based funding formula, with a total investment of $9.2 billion.

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Pritzker Calls For Small Increase to Illinois Higher Education Funding. Some Advocates Say It’s a Cut
Pritzker Calls For Small Increase to Illinois Higher Education Funding. Some Advocates Say It’s a Cut

When Gov. JB Pritzker delivered his annual budget address on Wednesday, he recommended Illinois lawmakers increase funding for higher education by 1% and hold funding steady for the need-based Monetary Assistance Program (MAP).

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Caring 'Grandmas' Help Illinois Girls Navigate Middle School
Caring 'Grandmas' Help Illinois Girls Navigate Middle School

A school-based support group is tapping into the warmth and wisdom of grandparents to help provide social and emotional support for girls in middle school. A recent report showed student mental health challenges in Illinois remain unsustainably high.

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Illinois Higher Education Board Seeks 4.6% Budget Increase for Next Fiscal Year
Illinois Higher Education Board Seeks 4.6% Budget Increase for Next Fiscal Year

The Illinois Board of Higher Education is seeking a 4.6% increase in general revenue support for colleges and universities in the upcoming fiscal year.

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Illinois Education Officials Ask For Another $350 Million Increase in Funding For School Districts
Illinois Education Officials Ask For Another $350 Million Increase in Funding For School Districts

The Illinois State Board of Education will ask state lawmakers to provide the same funding increase as past years for Illinois’ 800-plus school districts.

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Illinois Schools Should Get Minimum Funding Increase, State Board Says
Illinois Schools Should Get Minimum Funding Increase, State Board Says

The Illinois State Board of Education voted Wednesday to recommend the state increase education funding at about the same amount as previous years, but far less than what would be needed to fully fund education across the state.

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Chicago Education Alliance Seeks to Bring Clarity to CPS’ Toughest Issues
Chicago Education Alliance Seeks to Bring Clarity to CPS’ Toughest Issues

The newly launched organization will offer research-backed guidance to Chicago school leaders and board members as they tackle the district’s thorniest issues, from budget deficits to struggling charter operators.

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Advance Illinois Advance Illinois

Op Ed: Illinois Can Go from Worst to First in Equitable Higher Education Funding

College costs are rising. Many students struggle to afford a public university education. There might not be a difference in costs between staying in Illinois or leaving the state altogether. And most people would have to go deep into debt to do either. So the question that we are all grappling with is who can afford to go at all?

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