Contact:Advance Illinois Communicationscommunications@advanceillinois.org CHICAGO, IL (November 19, 2020) – Students and educators across the state continue engaging in various methods of learning and adjusting in real-time as the COVID-19 pandemic ravages through our communities with no end in sight. And, it is clear that the circumstances have made information gathering much more difficult for the […]
Read MoreContact:Advance Illinois Communicationscommunications@advanceillinois.org CHICAGO, IL (October 30, 2020) – Today, the Illinois State Board of Education released its 2020 Illinois Report Card. On behalf of Advance Illinois, president Robin Steans shares the following statement: “First, I want to applaud ISBE for its transparency and honesty in this year’s report card. We all can agree that 2020 has been a year unlike any other. […]
Read MoreFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:José L. Garcíajgarcia@advanceillinois.org CHICAGO, IL – Data from the statewide Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS), released today by the Illinois State Board of Education, provides a snapshot of the skills of beginning kindergarteners in Illinois in the fall of 2019 and reflects the second consecutive year of increases in kindergarten readiness scores. […]
Read MoreFrom the Desk: Under Impossible Circumstances, Let’s Do Remote Right… Dear Friends and Colleagues, …But first, thank you. As we write, schools across the state are beginning to open. They do so amidst the most challenging set of circumstances we are ever likely to face and with only imperfect options. We want to begin by […]
Read MoreCHICAGO, IL (July 23, 2020) At Advance Illinois, we know that the future viability of our state relies on an education system that works to overcome historic inequities by providing exceptional opportunities for all students. However, a recent report published by the Education Trust reveals a persistent and severe underrepresentation of Black and Latino students in higher education. The report, “Segregation Forever,” shows that the representation […]
Read MoreCHICAGO, IL (June 11, 2020) We are heartbroken to learn of the sudden passing of Maria Whelan, President and CEO of Illinois Action for Children. Maria made it her life’s mission to advocate for children and families across Illinois, and what a champion she was! She was a titan who believed deeply in the power […]
Read MoreCHICAGO, IL (June 4, 2020) In masks and social distancing, and in the midst of a once-in-a-century pandemic, members of the Illinois General Assembly had difficult decisions to make in last month’s special session as they did their part to put our state on the path to recovery. We entered this year with a call […]
Read More“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “The brutal deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and many other Black people at the hands of law enforcement and vigilantes poured salt into a deep wound of racial injustice that has been centuries in the making. After many […]
Read MoreThis is the final installment of our three-part series that shares our views on the urgency of providing resources and ongoing support to early childhood education, K-12, and postsecondary. This is the early childhood installment. From the Desk: Education Must Remain a High Priority for Illinois – Part 3: Early Childhood Dear Friends and Colleagues, Consistent […]
Read MoreThis is the second in our three-part series that shares our views on the urgency of providing resources and ongoing support to early childhood education, K-12 and postsecondary. This is the postsecondary installment. From the Desk: Education Must Remain a High Priority for Illinois – Part 2: Higher Education Dear Friends and Colleagues, We know that […]
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