In today’s Leading News, a look at the education news making headlines across the state and nation: assessments, equity, security, and COVID-19.

Some Illinois educators say they’ve been left out of plans to revamp state’s testing system
Samantha Smylie, Chalkbeat Chicago, November 16
 
LGBTQ organizations say Illinois schools need to be safer
Steph Whiteside, WSIU, Carbondale, November 16

Two Madison County schools renovating entrances to beef up security
Elizabeth Donald, Highland News Leader, November 15

Racial disparities in kids' vaccinations are hard to track
Annie Ma and Mike Melia, AP/Quad Cities Dispatch-Argus, November 15

Growing number of Illinois high school students signing up for AP, dual credit and career courses during pandemic
Karen Ann Cullotta, Chicago Tribune, November 5

In today’s Leading News, more on the impacts of coronavirus: complicating cold and flu season, missed measles vaccinations, changing Illinois HCRA, and the ongoing substitute shortage, and EIU takes a break for mental health.  

Why are children getting slammed with nasty colds this fall? And how soon can kids go back to school after a non-COVID-19 upper respiratory virus? Your COVID-19 questions answered.
Alison Bowen, Darcel Rockett and Karen Ann Cullotta, Chicago Tribune, November 12

Measles outbreaks could occur due to missed vaccinations, CDC warns
Shepard Price, Alton Telegraph, November 15

Pritzker signs ban on using moral objections to avoid ‘life-saving’ COVID-19 requirements — but GOP rivals blast more ‘tyrannical rule’
Rachel Hinton, Chicago Sun-Times, November 8

Substitute teacher shortage prompts central Illinois school districts to consider hiring permanent staffers to fill gaps
Lyndsay Jones, WGLT, Normal, November 10

Eastern Illinois University cancels classes, plans 'student mental health days'
Journal Gazette and Times Courier, Charleston/Mattoon, November 14

In today’s Leading News, a look at the “big picture” of ongoing coronavirus mitigation measures and the virus’s effects on education in Illinois.

‘A real sense of relief’: Illinois school-based vaccine clinics get shots in arms of kids ages 5 to 11
Karen Ann Cullotta, Chicago Tribune, November 12

With US aid money, schools put bigger focus on mental health
Carolyn Thompson and Heather Hollingsworth, AP and Kalyn Belsha, Chalkbeat Chicago, via the Belleville News-Democrat, November 11

‘It’s important for everyone:’ Park Ridge and Niles parents share why they are vaccinating their children against COVID-19
Jennifer Johnson, Pioneer Press, Park Ridge Herald-Advocate, November 9

'Oh my God, where are these kids?': How COVID-19 obscured true picture of homeless suburban students
Katlyn Smith, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, November 6

‘I canceled my plan of attending my dream school:’ 2021 grads hit harder by pandemic than those before them
Clare Spaulding, Chicago Sun-Times, November 8

In today’s Leading News, school districts and students join their communities in honoring veterans.
 
Veterans Gather For Assembly At West Aurora High School
Emily Rosca, Aurora Patch, November 11
 
At Mount Zion Grade School, a salute to veterans
Valerie Wells, Decatur Herald and Review, November 10
 
Local high school hosts ceremony for Veterans Day
WSIL, Carterville, November 11
 
‘His story deserves to be told:’ Somonauk student’s book shares 103-year-old WWII veteran’s tale
Katrina J.E. Milton, DeKalb Daily Chronicle, November 11
 
Support dogs trained to help vets after military service give Naperville students a very human Veterans Day lesson
Rafael Guerrero, Naperville Sun, November 11
 

In today’s Leading News, the boundary change conversation continues in Indian Prairie CUSD 204. Quincy SD 172 discusses a policy on hate speech. Rochelle school districts cope with teacher shortages. Urbana SD 116 considers increased security measures. Also in the news, seeking better broadband in Fairmont City.
 
Parents, students voice concerns about Indian Prairie District 204 redistricting plans that call for some boundaries to shift
Rafael Guerrero, Naperville Sun, November 9
 
QPS prioritizes eliminating hate speech with proposed policy
Deborah Gertz Husar, Herald-Whig, Quincy, November 10
 
Rochelle schools combating teacher shortage
Jeff Helfrich, Rochelle News-Leader, November 9
 
Urbana High School metal detectors 'not a done deal at all'
Ethan Simmons, Champaign News-Gazette, November 6
 
It’s 2021, and this metro-east community still doesn’t have reliable internet
Eric Schmid, St. Louis Public Radio/Belleville News-Democrat, November 8
 
 

In today’s Leading News, Decatur SD 61 offers a program for aspiring teachers. Lisle CUSD 202 officials are investigating remarks, about a student wearing a hijab, allegedly made by a staff member. The Champaign CUSD 4 community develops a program to support Black students and families. The Bradley-Bourbonnais CHSD 307  Board of Education hears public comment about CRT. Also in the news, guest principals visit Waukegan CUSD schools.
 
MacArthur program encourages aspiring teachers
Valerie Wells, Decatur Herald and Review, November 5
 
‘I wasn’t expecting that from a school environment.’ Wearing a hijab for the first time this fall, Lisle student says she was shocked by an aide’s comments.
Tatyana Turner, Chicago Tribune, November 4
 
City, Unit 4 launch LIFT Champaign, 'a place of respite' for Black students and families
Ethan Simmons, Champaign News-Gazette, November 5
 
BBCHS board meeting becomes forum for critical race theory
Stephanie Markham, Kankakee Daily Journal, November 10
 
Guest principals give Waukegan children a glimpse into the future; ‘It functions as a valuable opportunity to expose our students to ... excellent community role models’
Steve Sadin, Lake County News-Sun, November 9
 

In today’s Leading News, read more on coronavirus response, state report card data, and those topics combined.
 
COVID-19 cases among Illinois youngsters spiking
Jake Griffin, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, November 4
 
CPS cancels all classes Nov. 12 for ‘Vaccine Awareness Day’
Nader Issa and Tom Schuba, Chicago Sun-Times, November 4
 
State releases school report card data
Stephanie Markham, Kankakee Daily Journal, November 2
 
Stateline school districts see more students miss class and more low-income students dropping out
William Ingalls, WREX, Rockford, November 1
 
'We have witnessed both tragedy and heroism in our schools over the past year'
Peter Hancock, CNI/Champaign News-Gazette, November 4

In today’s Leading News, the Common App is now more commonly accepted for Illinois public colleges. Governor Pritzker names a new education advisor. Data show more teachers in Illinois; is there still a shortage? Warren THSD 121 talks tax levy. Also in the news, outdoor learning space is in the plans for a Galena CUSD 120 school.

Illinois public universities now using Common Application
Connor Wood, Journal Gazette and Times Courier, Charleston/Mattoon, November 4

Pritzker’s new deputy governor for education vows to work on ‘making Illinois the best state in the nation to raise children’
Rachel Hinton, Chicago Sun-Times, November 3

Illinois grew its teaching force last year. So why is there still a shortage?
Megan Valley, Belleville News-Democrat, October 25

Warren Township High D121 lays out how much it is asking for from Lake County; ‘It’s nowhere near enough’
Erin Yarnall, Lake County News-Sun, October 29

Outdoor classroom now part of Galena school facility plans
Hillary Dickerson, Galena Gazette, October 26

In today’s Leading News, the latest on coronavirus: vaccines, case counts, and coping. Also in the news, read a few more local takes on the Illinois School Report Card.
 
Roll up your sleeves: Kids' turn arrives for COVID-19 shots
Lindsey Tanner, AP/Daily Herald, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs. November 3
 
When will Illinois’ mask mandate end? COVID-19 cases are no longer dropping, leaving endgame uncertain
Joe Mahr, Lisa Schencker, and Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, November 2
 
Mental health experts: Local kids are struggling, they need more coping tools
Mike Helenthal, Kewanee Star Courier, November 1
 
Report card shows pandemic's continued impact on Illinois students
Valerie Wells, Decatur Herald and Review, October 29
 
Despite COVID, more Illinois students than ever took advanced coursework in 2020
Megan Valley, Belleville News-Democrat, November 1

In today’s Leading News, read about the bill allowing administrative leave for COVID-19-related sick days for school personnel. The state’s SOPPA law impacts programs and software used in schools. Dixmoor seeks normalcy as a water supply crisis continues. Students and parents seek change in Bradley-Bourbonnais CHSD 307 and Rich THSD 227.
 
Illinois legislators pass COVID-19 administrative leave for school employees, but Pritzker is not a fan
Karen Ann Cullotta, Chicago Tribune, October 29

CPS teachers ‘blindsided’ after access to popular classroom software yanked due to new student privacy law
Sneha Dey, Chicago Sun-Times, November 1

Dixmoor getting close to normal water pressure, schools and businesses open again
Stephanie Casanova, Chicago Tribune, November 1

BBCHS student protesters look to form advocacy group, change school culture
Stephanie Markham, Kankakee Daily Journal, October 1

Rich Township District 227 parents are taking their kids out of the district
Noah Johnson, The Southland Journal, November 1

In today’s Leading News, read more local and regional reports on the data in the Illinois School Report Card.
 
Coles County schools taking steps to keep students on track
Athena Pajer and Rob Stroud, Journal Gazette and Times Courier, Charleston/Mattoon, October 30
 
Some Lake County educators say it will take beyond school year to catch up after ‘COVID slide’; ‘There is a lot to make up’
Steve Sadin, Lake County News-Sun, November 1
 
Report card shows pandemic's continued impact on Illinois students
Connor Wood, Bloomington Pantagraph, October 30
 
Here’s how COVID-19 affected attendance, enrollment in Illinois public schools last year
Megan Valley, Belleville News-Democrat, November 1
 
Jo Daviess County surpasses state averages on Illinois school report card
Allie Hinga, Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, November 1
 

In today’s Leading News, catching up on reporting of the release of the 2020-2021 Illinois School Report Card, and action by the state legislature.

Illinois school report card for 2021 reflects declining test scores, climbing student absences during COVID-19 pandemic
Karen Ann Cullotta, Chicago Tribune, October 29

Lower scores, high absenteeism, more teachers: A first look at how pandemic affected state's students
Madhu Krishnamurthy, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, October 29

New 2021 Illinois Report Card Data Shows Impact Of Pandemic On Enrollment & Academics
Peter Medlin, Northern Public Radio, DeKalb, October 29

House OKs repeal of parental notification law, tweaks health care right of conscience law
Dean Olsen, State Journal-Register, Springfield, October 28

Repeal of abortion parental notification law sent to Pritzker, House advances ban on using moral beliefs for COVID-19 vaccine refusal
Rachel Hinton, Chicago Sun-Times, October 28