In today’s Leading News, a tornado causes significant damage to an east-central Illinois school. Also in the news, read various perspectives on legislative proposals that would ban cellphones in classrooms.  

'Sounded like an explosion': Tornado damages Neoga schools, neighborhood 
Rob Stroud, Herald & Review, Decatur, March15 

Neoga Junior-Senior High School's south end 'structurally unsafe" after tornado 
Rob Stroud, Herald & Review, Decatur, March 17

Illinois educators largely in support of cellphone ban in schools 
Michael Mollsen, Pantagraph, Bloomington, March 18 

Southland high school leaders express mixed feelings on harsher classroom cellphone policies 
Olivia Stevens, Daily Southtown, March 17 

Gov. JB Pritzker wants phones out of the classroom. Not everyone agrees. 
Addison Wright and Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune and Aurora Beacon-News, March 17

In today’s Leading News, Springfield SD 186 adds American Sign Language to the curriculum, legislation would require changes to school mascots, Decatur SD 61 celebrates pie day, and a new bill would allow high school athletes to participate in both club and school teams at the same time. In other news, the Chicago Bulls hosted the 2nd annual Girls’ Day of Play. 

Student interest 'very strong' as District 186 adds American Sign Language 
Steven Spearie, Springfield State Journal-Register, March 11 

Midgets no more? Bill would require Freeburg High School to change its mascot 
Will Bauer, St. Louis Public Radio, March 10 

Pi Day celebrates math and pie 
Valerie Wells, Decatur Herald-Review, March 14 

New bill would allow Illinois athletes to play club and school teams at the same time 
Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois/ State Journal-Register, Springfield, March 13 

Bulls host 2nd annual Girls' Day of Play for girls to 'understand there's a place for them in sports' 
Kyle Williams, Chicago Sun-Times, March 4 
 

In today’s Leading News, Griggsville-Perry CUSD 4 starts construction on a new agriculture facility for students, Joliet schools monitor construction costs, a survey of the community shows priorities for Rock Island-Milan SD 41, and bus driver shortages hit hard in southern Illinois. In other news, a Chicago Public School student secures a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee with the word “sauerkraut”. 

Griggsville-Perry school district breaks ground on $2.5 million agriculture facility 
Clare Edlund, WGEM, March 12 

Joliet schools ‘monitoring’ construction costs as steel, lumber tariffs loom 
Jessie Molloy, Joliet Herald-News, March 11 

Rock Island-Milan shares facilities survey results showing community priorities 
Olivia Allen, Quad Cities Dispatch-Argus, March 13 

Bus driver shortage remains a local challenge 
Paul Wilcoxen, Southern Illinoisan, Carbondale, March 13 

No sour notes for Skinner North Classical School student who wins trip to Scripps National Spelling Bee 
Rafaela Jinich, Chicago Sun-Times, March 13 

In today’s Leading News, read how local media is covering school board candidate forums throughout the state. Also in the news, the saga surrounding the U.S. Department of Education continues.

Bethalto School Board Candidates Introduce Themselves at Forum
Sidney Sinks, River Bender, Alton, March 12

Forum Follow-up: What DeKalb School District 428 school board candidates had to say
Peter Medlin, Northern Public Radio, March 11

Decatur school board candidates discuss their ideas for the district
Valerie Wells, Decatur Herald and Review, March 11

Rockford Public School District 205 leaders discuss future of education with community
Anthony Ferretti, WIFR, Rockford, March 6

Naperville D203 school board candidates agree district moving too fast on proposed changes
Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune/Naperville Sun, March 5

Political tensions rise at Lockport District 205 Board candidates forum
Olivia Stevens, Daily Southtown, March 5

‘A Tsunami Coming From Washington’: Chicago, Illinois Leaders Respond to Education Department Layoffs
Matt Masterson, WTTW, Chicago, March 12
 

In today’s Leading News, teacher and staff contract negotiations continue in Streator ESD 44. Galena USD 120 eyes pending facilities improvements. McLean County school districts discuss the potential county school facilities sales tax. Galesburg USD 205 addresses litigation expenses. Also in the news, Greenfield CUSD 10 plans strategically.

Deadlines approach in Streator Elementary teachers, support staff contract negotiations
Derek Barichello, Shaw Local, Illinois Valley, March 8

Galena High School expansion, renovation project nears starting line
Elizabeth Kelsey, Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, February 14

Unit 5 and District 87 are pledging to reduce property tax reliance if new school sales tax passes
Lyndsay Jones, WGLT, Normal, February 17

D205 preparing for $1M in litigation expenses; board member suing district says ‘we’ve been ready to settle’
Jay Redfern, WGIL, Galesburg, March 11

Greenfield CUSD 10 launches strategic planning process for future roadmap
Alton Telegraph, February 20
 

In today’s Leading News, the U.S. Education Department is cutting more than 1,300 of its employees. The USDA has cut programs that help schools and food banks buy food from local farms. Also in the news, read coverage of the educator shortage report produced by IARSS.

Education Department cuts half its staff as Trump vows to wind the agency down
Collin Binkley and Moriah Balingit, AP/Chicago Tribune, March 11

U.S. Department of Education slashes staff
Erica Meltzer and Kalyn Belsha, Chalkbeat, March 11

Trump Admin. Cuts Program That Brought Local Food to School Cafeterias
Brooke Schultz, Education Week, March 11

What are Illinois school districts doing to combat a prolonged teacher shortage?
Jessie Nguyen and Jordan Owens, CNI/Medill Illinois, Belleville News Democrat, March 11

Rural schools face unique challenges filling positions
Jessie Nguyen, CNI/Medill Illinois, Daily Herald, March 10
 

In today’s Leading News, CPS discusses an incident in which student data was inappropriately accessed. A decision by a federal judge disallows an Colorado effort to block ICE agents from conducting raids on school grounds. To the east, the Indiana legislature discusses referendum funds for charter schools. In Illinois, Governor Pritzker continues the conversation on cellphones in the classroom. Also in the news, the old flag will keep flying.

Data from hundreds of thousands of CPS students exposed in recent breach
Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, March 9

Judge Denies Denver Public Schools Request to Ban ICE Raids on K-12 Campuses
Robin Hattersley, Campus Safety Magazine, March 11

Indiana House committee hears testimony on bill that would direct referendum funds to charters
Maya Wilkins, Post-Tribune, Northwest Indiana, March 6

Pritzker visits Centennial to discuss proposed ban on cell phone use in classrooms
Jana Wiersema, Champaign News-Gazette, March 6

Flag waiver? Illinois residents overwhelming reject idea of redesigning state flag
Kaitlin Washburn. Chicago Sun-Times, March 6
 

In today’s Leading News, a look at perspectives on three bills working through the General Assembly.

‘No Schoolers’: How Illinois’ hands-off approach to homeschooling leaves children at risk
Beth Hundsdorfer & Molly Parker, Capitol News Illinois/KWQC, Quad Cities, March 3

Illinois bill would require parents notify school districts of homeschooling
Kamy Smelser, KTVI, St. Louis, March 3

Bill improving Illinois school emergency response plans heads to Senate floor
Mike Miletich, WAND, Decatur, March 4

Could sports at Edwardsville be impacted by later school start, dismissal times?
Matt Kamp, Edwardsville Intelligencer, March 1

Illinois students lobby for state law about high school start time
Samantha Smylie, Chalkbeat Chicago, March 5
 

In today’s Leading News, we’re keeping an eye on developments with the U.S. Department of Education. Morton CUSD 709 community members speak out about bullying. CPS budget talks and contract negotiations continue. Also in the news, Central Illinois schools explore STEM opportunities.

Trump preps executive order to dismantle Education Department
Zachary Schermele and Joey Garrison, USA Today/Galesburg Register Mail, March 6

Linda McMahon lays out ‘final mission’ for the U.S. Department of Education
Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat, March 4

Bullying becomes hot button issue for Morton school board election
Liz Lape, WEEK, Peoria, March 5

Amendment to Chicago Public Schools’ budget opens door for long-awaited, controversial loan
Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, March 5

Building bridges and students' confidence one piece at a time
Mia Brandenburg, WAND, Decatur, March 3

In today’s Leading News, more reporting on Trump administration policies impacting Illinois public education. Also in the news, CPS decides to keep some Acero charter schools open, for now.

Senate confirms former WWE head Linda McMahon to lead Education Department as Trump pushes to shut it down
Annie Ma, Associated Press/Chicago Tribune, March 3

Sexual and racial harassment investigations among those halted in Illinois schools
Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register, March 4

Illinois tells schools to continue Asian, Black and LGBT history while Trump takes national aim at diversity
Christine Hatfield, Illinois Public Media, February 28

Pritzker says federal funds still being withheld; warns of further spending cuts
By Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois, the Pantagraph, February 26, 2025

CPS board votes to keep open 5 Acero charters but will close 2 at end of school year
Nader Issa and Sarah Karp, WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times, February 27
 

In today’s Leading News, find out what candidates are talking about a school board election forums.

Lake Zurich District 95 school board candidates discuss threats to federal DEI support
Eric Peterson, Daily Herald, March 3

Joliet District 86 board candidates address test scores, school security at NAACP forum
Jessie Molloy, Joliet Herald News, March 1

District 65 candidates on potential school closures
Duncan Agnew, Evanston Roundtable, February 28

Yorkville school board candidates remark on removal of ‘Just Mercy’ at forum
Joey Weslol ,Kendall County Now. March 1

D200 board candidates joust at Journal’s forum
Gregg Voss, Wednesday Journal, Oak Park, February 28