In today’s Leading News, for some districts, it’s been a complicated start to the school year. 

Pekin school district cancels classes after bus issues on first day of school
JJ Bullock, Peoria Journal Star, August 20

School resumes in some Southland areas hard hit by storms
Evy Lewis, and Olivia Stevens, Daily Southtown, August 19 

New Unit 4 superintendent addresses registration delays amid residency checks
WAND, Decatur, August 19

Joliet West Cancels High School Classes On Campus On 2nd Day Of School Year: Surprising Reason Given
John Ferak, Joliet Patch, August 19

Police Investigate Two Incidents That Took Place at Two Ball-Chatham Community Schools
WICS/WRSP, Springfield, August 20

Repairs to O’Fallon High School gym begin after scoreboard crashes to floor
Lynn Venhaus, Belleville News-Democrat, August 19

In today’s Leading News, all around the state with school district budgets in the news. 

Carbondale Community High School responds to state funding adequacy gap
Brian Sapp, WSIU, Carbondale, August 18

East Aurora School District looking at $6.8 million deficit in its tentative 2026-27 budget
Molly Morrow, Aurora Beacon-News, August 14

District 117 To Be In Second Straight Year of Deficit Spending
WLDS, Jacksonville, August 13

BBCHS Board OKs tentative 2027 budget
Stephanie Markham, Kankakee Daily Journal, August 14 

As planned, OPRF draws down cash reserves in new budget
Bob Skolnik, Oak Park Wednesday Journal, August 14

Decatur Public Schools faces budget deficit
Valerie Wells, Decatur Herald and Review, August 19

In today’s Leading News, openings, grand openings, and re-openings. 

Ribbon-cutting held to celebrate completion of Kenyon Woods school addition
Mike Danahey, Elgin Courier News, August 14

Moline schools prepare for first day with new curriculum, facilities and upgraded technology
KWQC, Quad Cities, August 13

Niles Central building, Niles West addition debut just in time for school year
Penelope Roewe, The Record North Shore, August 17

Coal City Intermediate School reopens after $5 million renovation
Shaw Local Media, August 18

Rochelle Elementary School Board: Tilton School project to be complete by start of school
Jeff Helfrich, Shaw Local/Ogle County News, August 15

Lansing schools push back classes following tornado, outages
Meredith Shamburger, Lansing Journal, August 15

In today’s Leading News, a look at some upcoming referendums. 

District 23 board votes again to go to referendum
Steve Zalusky, Daily Herald, August 17

D300 wants tax hike to fund $355M in school improvements, new training center
Gloria Casas, Naperville Sun, July 23

Chicago school board puts two revenue questions on the November ballot
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, August 13

Waltham Elementary to seek $7.5M referendum on Nov. 3
Tom Collins, Shaw Local/Illinois Valley, August 14

Yorkville District 115 going for $159 million bond referendum on November ballot
Joey Weslo, Shaw Local/Kendall County Now, August 18

In today’s Leading News, read about contract talks in Roxana CUSD 1. Also in the news, decision-making with school safety and security in mind. 

Strike threat looms over Roxana School District as contract talks stall
Scott Cousins, Alton Telegraph, August 17

Indian Prairie District 204 to add security positions at all its high schools
Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune/Daily Herald, August 16

Rock Island schools open with increased caution
Cesar Toscano, Quad Cities Dispatch-Argus, August 14

School safety advocates, legislators celebrate signing of Alyssa’s Law at Richton Park school
Evy Lewis, Daily Southtown, August 14

Eisenhower High School varsity football canceled for 2026 season
Donnette Beckett, Decatur Herald and Review, August 12

In today’s Leading News, read news from CPS and back-to-school news, an ongoing story in Quincy, and more back-to-school news. 

After weeks of challenges, Chicago school board ballot is nearly set
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, August 11

CPS looks to reverse layoffs, but says $100 million won’t be enough
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, August 12

School Board adopts resolutions to dismiss Denman teachers over “irremediable” conduct
Deborah Gertz Husar, Herald-Whig, Quincy, August 11

Galesburg School Resource Officers offer helpful back-to-school tips
Dave DeMille, Galesburg Register-Mail, August 13

Chicago parents expect to outspend U.S. average on back-to-school supplies, survey shows
Mariah Rush, Chicago Sun-Times, August 8

In today’s Leading News, read about the newst education-impacting laws. A bankrupt Chicago charter school intends to sell taxpayer-funded facilities. Communities respond to federal announcements on vaccines and Head Start programs. Also in the news, a “Venecky” school district scraps AI-reliant paper agendas; to date no such issues have been reported here in “Vitoliis.” 

Pritzker signs 75 bills into law. Here are 10 to know about
Peter Hancock, Brenden Moore & Jerry Nowicki, CNI/State Journal-Register, Springfield, August 11

Former charter operator Aspira declares bankruptcy, could keep profit from sale of taxpayer-funded building
Sarah Karp and Dan Mihalopoulos, Chicago Sun-Times, August 11

As Trump proposes deregulating Head Start, Illinois providers worry what the changes could mean for families
Kate Perez and Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, August 10

Illinois will not change child vaccine guidelines after Trump executive order
Ben Szalinski, CNI and AP/Shaw Local Media, August 13

'Venecky' instead of Kentucky: JCPS middle school parents suspect school agendas are AI-generated
Adi Schanie, WDRB, Louisville, Kentucky, August 12

In today’s Leading News, from Pleasant Hill CUSD 3’s second day of school, a tragic reminder of the importance of school bus safety. Also in the news, more back-to-school stories from across the state. 

School bus and a car collided in Pike County, Illinois
WGEM, Quincy, August 13

As new school year dawns, some parents urge schools to use technology less in classrooms
Madhu Krishnamurthy, Daily Herald, August 10

Belleville 201 teachers, staff start year with new contracts
Madison Lammert, Belleville News-Democrat, August 13

Peoria High back-to-school video sparks debate over student attire
Zach Roth, Cassidy Waigand, Peoria Journal Star, August 7

Meridian students to be greeted a wagging tail on their first day in Stonington
Valerie Wells, Decatur Herald and Review, August 8

In today’s Leading News, read reports on a report on state funding. Also in the news, talking about referendums in THSD 214 (Arlington Heights) and Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3.

School funding stretched thin as costs rise, corporate revenue source shrinks
Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois, August 8

CPS moves further from funding adequacy despite getting more state dollars
Sarah Karp, WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times, August 7

Illinois school districts are falling further short of state funding targets
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, August 10

‘Not vanity projects’: First District 214 referendum in more than a half century will ask for $295 million to fix buildings
Christopher Placek, Daily Herald, August 7

District answers referendum questions, approves $84 million junior high referendum
Mahomet Daily, August 4

In today’s Leading News, read about school districts and student health and well-being. 

Illinois health officials urge vaccination for back-to-school season
Katie Grawitch, Belleville News-Democrat, August 6

Glenbrook North To Open Free School Health Center
Eric DeGrechie, Northbrook Patch, August 5

How East St. Louis students and their families can get medical care at school
Madison Lammert, Belleville News-Democrat, August 7

School Pregnancy Prevention Efforts Shut Down as Trump Emphasizes Abstinence
Mark Lieberman & Lauraine Langreo, Education Week, July 29

Illinois law expands assistance for homeless students
Brian Weckerly, WHBF, Quad Cities, August 9

In today’s Leading News, read several stories of student support. Also in the news, following up yesterday’s headlines on sustainability and the environment with another one, this from Pontiac THSD 90.

Minooka High officials to double down on reading instruction in fall
Dave Fidlin, Shaw Local/Morris Herald News, August 4

Moving to middle school is a big adjustment
Valerie Wells, Decatur Herald and Review, August 4

New Illinois law protects religious hairstyles in public, non-religious schools
Dominic Genetti, Alton Telegraph, August 4

School backpack overload: Heavy bags can strain kids’ bodies
Cheyanne Mumphrey, AP/Alton Telegraph, August 4

How Pontiac students are turning class projects into real-world change
Bloomington Pantagraph, August 6

In today’s Leading News, school communities address issues of sustainability and re-use. Also in the news, the science of reading evolves.

15 more Chicago campuses join Sustainable Community Schools program
Reema Amin, Chalkbeat Chicago, August 3

New Illinois law lets schools offer share tables for unopened food
Dominic Genetti, Edwardsville Intelligencer, August 5

Dumpsters full of books showed up outside former Acero schools. Parents and teachers worked to salvage them
Emmanuel Camarillo, Chicago Sun-Times, August 4

YouthBuild students rehab former duplex while earning diplomas
Steve Whitworth, Alton Telegraph, August 4

The ‘Science of Reading’ Movement Is Evolving. Is Math Next?
Sarah Schwartz. Education Week, August 3

In today’s Leading News, families make plans for the sales tax holiday for back-to-school items. Also in the news, other new laws with impacts on education. 

Sales tax holiday is quickly approaching in Illinois
Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register, August 3

State offering temporary sales-tax reduction on back-to-school shopping
Ben Szalinski, CNI/Champaign News-Gazette, August 3

Gov. JB Pritzker signs law aimed at protecting kids from social media algorithms
Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, August 1

New Illinois law gives rights to tenured teachers facing disciplinary action
Dominic Genetti, Alton Telegraph, July 30

Pritzker signs bill increasing fine for drivers ignoring school bus safety arms
Mike Miletich, WAND, Decatur, July 24

In today’s Leading News, signs of the times: Schools and districts work to offer support and learning environments for students. Also in the news, complications for candidates for the CPS Board of Education. 

Lockport Township H.S. assigns student service teams to each class for ‘more personalized support’
Jessie Molloy, Shaw Local Media, July 30

As more teen boys turn to sports betting, financial literacy teachers rush to show gambling’s real odds
Lily Altavena, Chalkbeat, July 29

With start of school on the horizon, work continues on improvement projects at Indian Prairie District 204
Molly Morrow, Aurora Beacon-News, July 30

Zion academy teaches children creative and practical skills: ‘Every activity has a mental wellness component’
Gregory Harutunian, Lake County News Sun, July 21

‘This is exhausting’: Chicago school board race objections leave 5 seats uncontested
Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, July 28

In today’s Leading News, read school district news from north to south. 

Crystal Lake District 47 eyes changes to school attendance with grade-level centers
Michelle Meyer, Shaw Local Media, July 30

Chicago School Board approves budget that reverses layoffs, but counts on shaky state funds
Sarah Karp and Emmanuel Camarillo, WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times, July 30

More Community Engagement Sessions At Waltham Ahead Of Possible Referendum
Starved Rock Media, July 26

After combative debate, Peoria school board votes in favor of 1 semester Elite contract
Tim Rosenberger, WCBU, Peoria, August 1

Final preparations underway for start of Meridian elementary classes in Stonington
Valerie Wells, Decatur Herald and Review, July 31

East St. Louis schools launch 24/7 mental health crisis line
Madison Lammert, Belleville News-Democrat, July 22