U of I dean Ruby Mendenhall is preparing to share a lifetime of writing as Urbana’s poet laureate
IPM’s Reginald Hardwick talked with Mendenhall about her family, her gift and she shared one of her poems.
Capitol Briefs: Lawmakers push bills addressing water quality, free school meals
State’s largest teachers union releases annual education report.
University of Illinois’ first vice chancellor of Native affairs: “I feel very disrespected”
The University of Illinois is not renewing their contract with the school’s first associate vice chancellor for Native affairs. Associate Vice Chancellor Jacki Rand said it’s part of a larger problem Native faculty and students face.
Five killed in bus, semi-truck crash in Rushville
Four people were aboard the school bus — three children and the driver. The driver of the truck was also killed. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
University of Illinois student journalists travel to Sierra Leone to document ‘period poverty’
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign journalism students are traveling to West Africa to produce documentaries about how people educate and reduce stigmas surrounding menstrual cycles.
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 […]