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Emily Hays

Yankee Ridge Elementary School to become Urbana’s first fully multilingual school

The Urbana District 116 Board of Education voted 4-3 on Tuesday to convert Yankee Ridge Elementary School into a fully multilingual school.

Champaign Unit 4 school board unable to vote in new members because of protests by current members

Eight candidates showed up to the Champaign Unit 4 school board meeting Tuesday to interview for two empty seats. Because board members Amy Armstrong and Betsy Holder were absent in protest, there weren’t enough members to hold the meeting.

Resignations, walkouts and protests mark Champaign Unit 4 school board meetings this spring

CHAMPAIGN — Two school board members walked out of Monday’s Champaign Unit 4 Board of Education meeting, preventing the others from taking any action. This

Laurie Brauer emerges as Democratic pick for Champaign County coroner in unofficial primary results

Laurie Brauer has won 74 percent of the Democratic vote to become Champaign County coroner, according to unofficial primary results posted late Tuesday evening by the county clerk’s office.

One of Champaign County’s most contested primaries is for coroner

Two Democrats and one Republican are vying for the job of coroner in Champagin County during Tuesday’s primary election.

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.

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.

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.

Parents say student found dead on University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus was an “energetic, happy-go-lucky kid”

Akul Dhawan’s friend called campus police about an hour after midnight on Saturday, Jan. 20. It wasn’t until 10 hours later that an unrelated university employee found the 18-year-old dead on a nearby porch.

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.

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.

Do you want your child to go to an English-Spanish or other dual language school? The state wants to help

Illinois state representative Abdelnasser Rashid sponsored HB3822 this year to help school districts expand their dual language programs.

Racial covenants limited housing options for Black residents in Champaign; a local group aims to repair that harm

Racial covenants restricted almost 800 pieces of land in Champaign County from being owned by anyone who wasn’t white. The Champaign-Urbana Reparations Coalition is starting to advocate for reparations for this for African Americans in the area.

Illinois has created a Rural Education Advisory Council. Teachers don’t have to be on it

The Rural Education Advisory Council can make recommendations to the State Board of Education. It won’t have any decision-making power.

The University of Illinois SHIELD saliva test company is winding down. What lessons has the testing team learned?

This winter marks the last stage for one of the most impactful inventions at the University of Illinois in recent years – a saliva-based test for COVID-19.

Alana Banks made history as the first Black, transgender woman on a school board in the United States. How is she doing now?

Alana Banks made history two years ago, becoming the first Black and transgender woman elected to a school board in the country. Still, she has found balancing the demands of the communities she represents challenging.

How does Illinois compare to other states on transgender rights?

According to the Movement Advancement Project, 21 states have banned gender-affirming medicine for trans youth. In response, Illinois passed a law this year protecting patients and providers who cross into the state for care.

This Danville School is leading East-Central Illinois in improving reading skills for Black students

Meade Park Elementary School in Danville stands out among east-central Illinois schools.

Illinois teachers start I3 training on new social studies curriculum

University of Illinois hosts inclusive, inquiry-based training for Illinois social studies teachers.

After Dennis Lab closure, Decatur Public Schools hires engineers to check structural safety of all district schools

The Decatur Public Schools board has hired an engineering company to check the structural safety of all 24 of its buildings.

As Urbana school board considers redistricting company, Spanish-English dual language program remains central question

The Urbana school board plans to hire an outside company on Tuesday to redistrict its schools.

Urbana school board votes to permanently end Wiley Elementary classes, reopen building as sixth grade center

The Urbana District 116 school board voted 4-to-3 on Tuesday to open the sixth grade center in the former Wiley Elementary.

Construction begins on Illinois school renamed after local Tuskegee Airman

Born in 1919 in Decatur, Ellsworth Dansby, Jr., was fascinated by planes. He first flew alone at age 12 – without ever previously riding in a plane. He used knowledge from books he had read to land his solo flight safely.

Tuskegee Airman honored in new Decatur public school

Born in Decatur, Dansby served in World War II as the master sergeant for the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American division of the U.S. Army Air Corps. The airmen first formed at Chanute Airfield Base in Rantoul.

“This is not an isolated incident.” Decatur school closure exposes gaps in state-required inspections

Decatur Public Schools District 61 only found out it had problems in the two century-old buildings when they brought in a structural engineer in May to look at ceiling leaks and other issues raised by teachers.

Decatur Public Schools increases literacy and school attendance with extended day program

The pre-K through 8 students in the DPS 61 Extended Day program had higher attendance, higher reading scores and fewer disciplinary issues than their peers, according to the district.

The newest Decatur Public Schools teaching assistants and security guards make about $19 an hour. Tuesday, they rallied for higher wages.

Teaching assistants and security officers rallied Tuesday in front of the Decatur Public Schools Board of Education meeting.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth visits Champaign in quest to require school bus seat belts

Sen. Tammy Duckworth has been introducing her School Bus Safety Act since 2018. It would require all school buses be equipped with seat belts, automatic breaks and other safety features.

COVID-19 on the rise at University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign

Students and staff can still access free, take-home, COVID tests on campus. Two weeks in, those tests are in high demand.

Mexico, Illinois research exchange blooms at the University of Illinois

“We have common problems, so we need to find common solutions. And there are very, very talented researchers and scholars,” Elvira de Mejia said.

After Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign plans to use socioeconomics, geography instead of race in admissions

“We’ve had a holistic review process that considers all sorts of factors and that [race] has been one of them,” said U of I spokesperson Robin Kaler. That will not be true next year, she said.

Illinois now requires K-12 students to learn Native American history. What has to be in the lessons, and who is checking?

The law requires teachers to cover contemporary Native American history and urban communities like Chicago.

Garden Hills Academy in Champaign reopens for fall as pre-K-8

The Unit 4 School District decided to add grades to both Garden Hills and International Prep Academy last year. The rationale was to decrease pre-kindergarten and middle school overcrowding, as well as promote socioeconomic diversity.

Danville school board votes to add fourth police officer next year

The Danville School District 118 school board voted Wednesday to add the officer at South View Upper Elementary School.

Some school districts are using COVID-19 aid to catch up on construction. Is your district one of them?

While the focus of federal COVID-19 relief money for schools was on recovering from the pandemic, districts were allowed to use some for construction. For many districts, it was a once-in-a-lifetime infusion of cash.

Teachers prepare for new Asian American history requirements at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign

Some sessions focused on how to teach amidst political backlash, while others helped attendees learn which children’s books were helpful and which promoted stereotypes.

Buttigieg visits Savoy to tout infrastructure money for new underpass

After a decade of planning and lobbying, the village has put together enough money to build a new bridge so the train can pass over the traffic.

Decatur superintendent to ask for inspections for every school after structural concerns at Dennis Lab School

After structural problems at Dennis Lab School caught Decatur Public Schools administrators by surprise, Superintendent Rochelle Clark wants structural engineers to check every school.

Over half of Vermilion County lost power during severe storms in late June. Can solar panels prevent the next outage?

Most homes with solar panels are connected to the utility grid, and they lose power alongside their neighbors for worker safety reasons.

Danville’s newest coworking space supports small businesses in city’s economic growth

Alderman and Trep School founder Tricia Teague says small business owners can create as many jobs as large companies, and the jobs are more likely to go to locals.

Decatur school board decides to move all Dennis Lab students together after structural issues

The Decatur Public Schools board voted Tuesday to install three mobile buildings at Garfield Learning Academy, instead of the one they initially approved. That will allow all 500 Dennis Lab students to move there together, as requested by parents. Earlier this month, engineers found the Dennis Lab buildings were not structurally sound.

Decatur’s Dennis Lab students to move to Garfield to avoid structural issues at home school

DECATUR — Kindergarten through 6th graders from Dennis Lab School in Decatur now know where they will attend school in the fall – Garfield Learning

Urbana schools equity audit finds identity-based bullying rampant

In a survey of about one-thousand students, about half said they had been the victim of hurtful comments. Over half thought bullying was a problem at school.

After violence at a pop-up party on Sunday left 9 injured, Champaign considers how to prevent future violence

CHAMPAIGN — Neighbors and social workers gathered at the Douglass Annex Thursday to discuss violence at parties that pop up after bars close. Some wanted

Unsafe neighborhoods particularly distress Black men in relationships, new study from University of Illinois finds

Neighborhood quality can make a big difference in the mental health of Black Americans over 10 years – even more than relationship quality.

Summer park parties give Garden Hills neighborhood hope to change perceptions and prevent violence

The events are part of Champaign’s effort to invest in the neighborhood and prevent gun violence.

Six pieces of modern ledger art by Josh Atcheynum now on display at Spurlock Museum

Six figures dance across a set of old documents at the Spurlock Museum at the University of Illinois. This is called ledger art, and it’s part of a new exhibit about modern Native American culture called “Welcome to the Pow-wow.”

A popular football video game will be back next year – and University of Illinois players may be characters.

University of Illinois INFLUENCE Program (NIL) Coordinator Kamron Cox anticipates athletes will opt to participate in the game and will get a few hundred dollars for doing so.

Centennial High School in Champaign has a new principal after a viral video and sudden resignation

Current Franklin STEAM Academy Principal Sara Sanders was asked by Champaign Unit 4 Superintendent Shelia Boozer to take on the role.

As COVID emergency ends, Urbana’s last community testing site winds down

It was a quiet morning at the University of Illinois’ Campus Recreation Center East. Only a handful of people had dropped in for a COVID-19 test.

The COVID-19 emergency declaration ends Thursday. Here’s what changes in Champaign-Urbana.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and Health Alliance will stop covering at-home tests. The costs of visiting a testing site will depend on an individual’s plan.

Indigenous ‘modern, vibrant communities’ the focus of Spurlock’s new exhibit

The show is part of a growing movement to heal past harms committed against Native Americans. Other efforts include a bill requiring Native American history in public schools and new commitment by the University of Illinois to repatriate ancestral remains.

House Republicans want cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. How would that affect Illinois students with disabilities?

Over 75 percent of Illinois students with disabilities would see reduced supports, according to the US Department of Education.

Eastern Illinois University faculty approve new contract after strike

After a year of bargaining – and a six day strike – faculty and staff at Eastern Illinois University have overwhelmingly ratified a new contract.

Students face uncertainty, join faculty on strike at Eastern Illinois University

Most classes have been on hold at Eastern Illinois University while faculty and staff strike for better wages and hours — alongside faculty at two other public universities in the state.

Decatur votes Clevenger, Wetzel and Reynolds onto school board

As Illinois Public Media previously reported, Reynolds supports a partial ban of younger student access to LGBTQ-focused books. Clevenger and Wetzel believe school administrators should be the ones to set curricula, not board members.

Who will fill four open seats on the Champaign Unit 4 school board? The unofficial results are in.

Betsy Holder, Amy Armstrong, Jamar Brown and Mark Thies have won the largest share of votes.

After decades, University of Illinois restarts repatriation of Native American ancestors

Despite being in an untenured position, Jenny Davis took a risk. She persuaded the University of Illinois to establish an office dedicated to implementing the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

How are Illinois schools preparing for the next COVID-flu season?

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health said they will spend $30 million on portable air purifiers for low-income schools. Each comes with a two year supply of filters.

LGBTQ book bans have spiked nationwide. Where do Decatur school board candidates stand?

One candidate running for Decatur school board said he supports age-restricting books with LGBTQ characters.

Teacher, custodian unions grill candidates for Champaign Unit 4 school board on shortages, Black Lives Matter

About three-quarters of districts in Illinois are struggling to hire bus drivers, cafeteria workers and teachers’ aides. Workers in Champaign want to know how future board members will help them.

Some school board candidates this year are pushing to limit lessons on Black history. Where do Champaign Unit 4 candidates stand?

Six candidates say students should learn African American history and the history of racism. The seventh, business owner Mark Holm, declined to be interviewed.

Parkland raises tuition after end of COVID-19 relief

For the average Parkland College student taking classes full-time, tuition and student fee increases will add up to an additional $225 more a semester.

Illinois physician writes children’s book on how to be a first responder

The idea for “Ava Saves The Day” occurred to Breyanna Grays while working with stroke and heart attack patients in emergency rooms.

What does National African American Parent Involvement Day mean in Urbana schools?

For Briesha Jackson, the day is an intergenerational commitment.

University of Illinois continues to house over 800 Native American ancestral remains

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is one of many universities behind in repatriating Native American ancestral remains — as required by law.

University of Illinois designs social media platform to connect to high school students

Associate Chancellor Christopher Span is modeling the platform on sites like Instagram and TikTok, because that’s where teens spend much of their time.

University of Illinois grad student starts Asian American history workshops for teens

Graduate student Yingying Han wants students to understand their history within the United States. She hopes this will help them understand and combat racism they may experience themselves.

A little girl sits next to her father, who holds a sign that reads "I want to stay," and is decorated with hearts.

Champaign school board keeps schools of choice, modifies middle school assignments

Unlike initial plans, no students will have to switch schools next year – except the 13 students who live west of Champaign in Bondville.

Champaign Unit 4 parents asked: does desegregation help close achievement gaps? Here’s what five education researchers say.

“A lot of research suggests that that attending a high-socioeconomic status (SES) school kind of rubs off on you – more than your own SES even. It’s kind of amazing,” Palardy says.

A young woman with Afro puffs and a plaid shirt smiles at the camera.

How will ten Champaign County high schoolers continue Dr. King’s dream? Through environmental, health and housing justice.

“I want to help as many people as possible get the mental health that they need and deserve,” says scholarship winner Halie Thompson.

Champaign Unit 4 superintendent recommends keeping current schools of choice system

The Unit 4 school board hired a consulting firm to figure out how to further desegregate its schools. But after months of parent pushback, both the company and the district superintendent are recommending keeping the current schools of choice system, with some tweaks.

Urbana’s school board paused its vote for one Spanish-English school. Now, dual language parents and teachers are setting a deadline.

URBANA – The Urbana school board will reconsider in January how to establish a fully dual-language elementary school for Spanish and English. This comes after