Education
Urbana school administrators figuring out how to utilize AI in classrooms
Students are already using AI. Urbana District 116 wants to teach them to use it responsibly with tools that respect student data privacy.
Lawsuits challenge Trump administration’s termination of grants for Illinois schools
If an injunction is not granted, dozens of schools across the state will lose access to extra support like after-school programs, food pantries and mental health services in January.
Youth substance abuse prevention program looks to athletes to spread the word
A youth substance misuse prevention program from the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health [IABH] has partnered with the Illinois High School Association [IHSA] and IESA to expand outreach efforts.
Football playoff expansion among 12 new rules approved for IHSA sports
The change adds 16 schools to the brackets of each of the eight classes, determined by student enrollment, that make up the IHSA Football Championships.
Student group hopes to make belted kingfisher U of I’s official mascot
Students have been pushing since 2019 for the blue and orange bird to be U of I’s official mascot.
Illinois Education officials brace for lean fiscal year ahead
For the current fiscal year, spending on elementary and secondary education is expected to total just under $11.2 billion, or about 20% of the state’s entire $55.1 billion General Revenue Fund Budget.
Weather related closings, delays and e-learning days for Monday, December 15
Dangerous cold persists through Sunday night across central IL, with wind chills as cold as 12 to 22 degrees below zero at times north of I-70.
University of Illinois student officials worry about losing self-governing power
Student officials at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign say administrators have changed their election rules without their input.
Illinois educators hope to tackle thorny issue of math competence
Each year, the Illinois State Board of Education releases an annual report card with data showing how students are doing in the basic subjects of reading, writing and math.
Holiday cards to those in prison will be digitized this year. A local group points out the importance of physical copies
RIPPLE Effect brings together about two dozen strangers every holiday to write cards to incarcerated people from Champaign County.
Unit 4 parents, students looking for ‘strong communicator’ in next superintendent
Those who want to be Champaign Unit 4’s next superintendent can apply now. The job description is based on the input parents, teachers and students.
School closings/delays/e-learning days for December 2, 2025
Tolono Unit 7 Schools will hold an e-learning day on Tuesday, December 2.