By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker says he intends to sign legislation imposing a statewide ban on cell phones and other wireless communication devices during instructional time in public schools and charter schools. Although many districts in Illinois have already adopted more stringent bans of their own, Senate
Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch honored an Aurora University student at Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting for being selected to represent the State of Illinois at the 2026 College Student Congress presented by the Henry Clay Center in Washington, D.C.. Giselle Martinez, who is majoring in political science,
By Marisa Guerra EcheverriaMedill Illinois News Bureaunews@capitolnewsillinois.com Diverse interest groups — from public school activists and downstate voters to state officials and school boards — have pushed governor JB Pritzker to finally make a decision about the Donald Trump administration’s Education Freedom Tax Credit. Yet, there has been mostly silence
Congratulations to Noemi Hernandez, a first grade Dual Language teacher at Washington Elementary School, who was named Educator of the Year at the 50th annual Kane County Educator of the Year awards banquet May 1. Noemi has taught in U-46 for more than 25 years, yet her relationship with the
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy students, Isaac Lee, Olivia Pan, and Matthew Park took first place at Olivet Nazarene University’s “Createur Pitch Competition” with their product HIALO, a diagnostic headband
By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com State education officials presented their case this week for a $10.9 billion budget to fund preK-12 public schools for the next fiscal year, saying the Evidence-Based Funding formula that has been in place for nearly a decade is now paying dividends. “Graduation rates are at
It’s Springtime, and time to go out exploring. You won’t have to go far from home though, as your library has some great adventures available through the Museum Adventure Pass. I talked recently to Deanna Howard, director of the Plano Community Library District. She tells us, “Most of the libraries
“It’s up to us to (practice) sustainability.” That was the message April 2 to Aurora Lions Club members from Mavis Bates, chair of Aurora mayor John Laesch’s Sustainable Aurora advisory board. Bates, District 4 Kane County board member, also chairs the County’s energy and environmental committee. As guest speaker at
State representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) has filed his Career Opportunities and Educational Affordability Package, a four-bill plan focused on expanding opportunity, lowering costs, and connecting students to real careers in Illinois. “Too many young people are being pushed toward expensive degrees while good-paying career paths go unfilled,” said Rep. Davis.
By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker is calling on agencies in his administration to set goals for increasing the number of adults in the state with college degrees or other postsecondary credentials. In an executive order issued March 13, Pritzker announced the formation of a working group that
For the first time in school history, Rosary College Prep’s All Girls Math Team earned first place overall at the ICTM Regional Math Contest held February 27 securing a spot at the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) State Finals Saturday, April 18. Competing against top regional schools, Rosary
State representative Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is offering constituents of the 50th District three museum programs allowing them to receive four tickets to explore up to 16 museums in the state of Illinois, as well as the Paramount Theater in Aurora. “Many museums are not accessible to the general public because
Selected from nearly 600 nominations statewide, Jennifer Van Dusen, a fifth grade general education teacher at Prairie Point Elementary School in Oswego, is one of just 30 finalists for the 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, recognized for the impact she is making in the classroom. Jennifer Van
Fox Valley residents in search of support to attend college, graduate school, or trade school, can apply to the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley’s Scholarship Program for the 2026-2027 school year. The deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 4 p.m.. Apply online at cffrv.org. The Community Foundation’s Scholarship
Aurora’s Dominican Literacy Center needs women volunteer tutors. DLC executive director Claire Wiesner-Smillie said, “Join our learning community at the Dominican Literacy Center in Aurora! The DLC is looking for women volunteers who seek to serve and support women students in the community through mentorship and English tutoring. “The DLC
By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com If advocates, stakeholders, and members of the public were granted all their requests for public school funding next year, lawmakers would have to increase the State’s K-12 education budget by nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars. That’s the approximate total of all the requests that
The Fox Valley Park District (FVPD) is continuing its longstanding commitment to youth enrichment with the launch of its new EPIC after-school program, which includes scholarship opportunities to support families in need through a $330,800 grant from the Dunham Foundation. For 13 years, FVPD, through its Fox Valley Park Foundation,
The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office has announced a partnership with Aurora University to host an all-day Human Trafficking Summit at 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, Aurora University Banquet Hall, Aurora. The summit is designed for law enforcement officers, attorneys, social workers, healthcare professionals, and students interested
State representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) filed a bill to bring school choice programs back to the state of Illinois. House Bill 4148 would require Illinois to participate in the federal tax credit school choice program established under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and identify scholarship-granting organizations located in
Illinois State representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) expressed her unwavering support for the University Professionals of Illinois, students, and fellow lawmaker Rep. La Shawn Ford. “I stand in full solidarity with the University Professionals of Illinois, our students, and my colleague, Rep. La Shawn Ford, in demanding the immediate release of
