Champaign teacher singles out Palestinian student equating her with Hamas
CHAMPAIGN – On October 11th – just days after the Hamas attacks on Israel – a seventh-grade English teacher at Franklin Middle School chose to show his students a short video of the attack. During this lesson, he specifically pointed out one of his students because she was Palestinian. The young girl has light pale skin, […]
Illinois now requires public schools to teach LGBTQ+, Asian American and pre-enslavement Black history. Are teachers ready?
Over half of Illinois teachers say they are ready to fulfill new state history requirements, according to a University of Illinois survey.
A glitch in the FAFSA site prevents students with undocumented parents from applying for college aid
Despite efforts to simplify the Federal Application for Free Student Aid (FAFSA), students with undocumented parents are dealing with a frustrating website glitch that’s threatening their access to financial aid. A new online form launched at the end of last year — the result of the FAFSA Simplification Act that Congress passed in December 2020. The change was meant […]
Over one-third of Illinois fourth graders don’t have basic reading skills. The state has a plan to change that
Senate Bill 2243 required the Illinois State Board of Education to create a literacy plan. The law emphasizes the plan should help school districts adopt evidence-based teaching strategies, including phonics.
New details emerge in University of Illinois police investigation of Akul Dhawan’s death, including alcohol consumption and police timeline
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Police Department says they acted immediately on the information they had at the time, some of which they learned after his death was inaccurate.
Electric buses are coming to a school near you — but are they more than a fad?
The Environmental Protection Agency is beginning to send nearly 5,000 electric buses to school districts around the country after a nearly two-year ramp-up. A few Midwestern districts weigh in on how the new buses are working so far. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s60/audio/2024/01/electricbuses-featureweb.mp3 The yellow buses lined up after school in the Ralls County School District look nearly identical. […]
One in 10 students skips or reduces meals to save money. Some Illinois lawmakers want to help
One in 10 college students are food insecure, according to a 2020 University of Illinois study of U.S. Census data. Some Illinois lawmakers want to change this.
Closings/Delays/E-Learning Days for January 23
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY Champaign County Regional Planning Commission – Opens at 10:00 a.m. Champaign Unit 4 Schools – Closed Parkland College – Closed Rantoul City Schools (PK-8) – Closed University Laboratory High School in Urbana – E-Learning Day University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Instructors are recommended to move in-person classes to a remote-learning format until noon Tuesday […]
Judge ends suspension of Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr., who faces rape charge
Illinois says in a statement that Shannon will be available to participate in practices and games.
Closings/Delays/E-Learning Days for January 19
VERMILION COUNTY Vermilion County Basketball Tournament — Friday night girls’ play has been moved from Danville Area Community College to Salt Fork High School in Catlin. 5 PM: Armstrong vs. Oakwood (5th place; 6:30 PM: Hoopeston Area vs. Georgetown-Ridge Farm (3rd place); 8 PM: Salt Fork vs. BHRA (championship). Danville School District 118 – E-learning […]
Update: Low water pressure forces Danville Schools and Community College to close for the day
Danville public schools are dismissing early due to a water issue.
School Closings/E-Learning Days for January 17
MACON COUNTY Decatur Public Schools #61 – no school at the Stephen Decatur Middle School building on January 17 and 18 due to a water pipe break and flooding. DPS Alternative Education and Macon-Piatt Special Education students are also included in the cancellation. The SDMS home basketball game and wrestling matches on January 17 will […]
School Closings/Delays/E-Learning Days for Tuesday, January 16
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY Champaign Unit 4 Schools – E-learning Day Gifford Grade School – E-learning Day Heritage School District 8, Homer-Broadlands – E-learning Day Rantoul City Schools – E-learning Day Thomasboro Grade School, CCSD 130 – E-learning Day Urbana School District 116 – E-learning Day University Laboratory High School – E-learning Day Unit Seven Schools, Tolono-Philo […]
Federal judge promises pragmatic decision in the case of Terrence Shannon, Jr. and UIUC
A federal judge in Springfield is promising an “expedient” ruling in Illini basketball star Terrence Shannon Junior’s request to undo his suspension, after being charged with rape. Judge Colleen Lawless heard around 80 minutes of oral arguments from attorneys for the 23-year-old Shannon and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on Friday. She said she needed to review the relevant case law before issuing her decision.
Illinois to report for first time how many prisoners are taking college courses – and how many are waiting for access
There will be public data for the first time this year on the enrollment, demographics and waitlists for higher education programs in Illinois prisons, thanks to the Higher Education in Prison Act.
