Urbana school district sets five-day quarantine policy. Unit 4 sticks with ten.
Students and staff at Urbana public schools only need to isolate for five days after testing positive for COVID-19. District 116 made the change on Monday, after federal, state and local public health agencies all greenlighted the new quarantine guidance. District 116 Superintendent Jennifer Ivory-Tatum said students and staff who are still sick with a […]
Despite CDC changes, Illinois students still quarantine for 10 days — for now
CHAMPAIGN — The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has halved the number of days of isolation recommended for those sick with COVID-19. Illinois school districts have not made that change – yet. The difference has caused enough confusion among parents that the Champaign Unit 4 School District superintendent had to email out a […]
Champaign’s standardized test results show student stress, learning gaps
CHAMPAIGN — The first pandemic-era standardized test results are out. Student achievement dropped all over Illinois, including in local school districts. Champaign Unit 4 fifth grade teacher Kim Tate sees pandemic stress as one reason behind the test score decline. “There’s that element of, ‘I have other priorities and concerns and even trauma.’ Because I […]
Following Urbana’s lead, Champaign substitute teachers will get a raise too
CHAMPAIGN — Champaign substitute teachers will now earn at least $140 per day – $30 more than they were making before. The Champaign Unit 4 Board of Education approved the raise on Monday evening, following a similar move from neighboring school boards. “We’ve reviewed our rates and determined that we are no longer competitive with […]
One in four students regularly absent last year, Illinois report card shows
CHAMPAIGN — Learning did slow last year during pandemic school – especially for the state’s most vulnerable students. The Illinois State Board of Education dropped this information on Friday morning in its annual report card. “We need to recognize that for our Black and Hispanic children, remote learning was not very effective, particularly for English […]
Champaign schools will continue to use private security in the wake of police officer shortages
CHAMPAIGN – Chicago-based security company AGB will continue to guard Champaign public schools this year. The company won out against the other bidder for the work — Stockholm-based Securitas. The Champaign Unit 4 School District Board of Education unanimously approved the contract on Monday, with questions about how the company has done so far. “There’s […]
Champaign School Bus Hit With Gunfire; No Students Hurt
CHAMPAIGN – A Champaign Unit 4 school bus was struck by gunfire Thursday while transporting students home. No students or staff were injured. A statement from the Champaign Police Department says officers responded to the area of Neil Street and Arcadia Drive just before 3 pm for the report of shots fired. Police found a crash involving […]
In Champaign, A New Effort To Close The Racial Achievement Gap At School
CHAMPAIGN — The Champaign Unit Four School Board is set to review a new program aimed at narrowing the racial achievement gap at its April 26 meeting. On April 20, the Champaign City Council renewed its support for the program, which is called LIFT Champaign. The city and school district are working together to launch […]