Education and Schools

Illinois Wesleyan is hoping an expanded menu of minors will attract more college-bound students to the private university.

Starting in the fall, Wesleyan will offer six new minors: actuarial science, statistics, film studies, French and Francophone studies, Italian studies and religious diversity.

Provost and Dean of Faculty Mark Brodl said students and faculty all expressed interest in adding these new programs. He sees a dual benefit.

The Unit 5 Finance Committee met Wednesday night for preliminary discussions on how to address the district’s growing education fund deficit.

Heartland Community College said high school students across central Illinois have saved $4.9 million in community college tuition and fees with dual credit courses through their high schools over the last five years. Sixteen high schools participate in the program with HCC.

District 87 is giving its paraprofessionals pay raises to get them closer to the $15 per hour they will get under the state's minimum wage law in 2025.

Unit 5’s six returning school board members took oaths of office and elected board officers Wednesday night.

Illinois lawmakers are considering a variety of bills that would change the requirements to earn a teaching certificate.

Right now, to become a licensed teacher in Illinois, you have to pass at least three tests.

There's an old saying that the hardest animal to kill is a school mascot. But Illinois lawmakers are taking a look at possibly thinning the herd.

Illinois has some school districts operating with only elementary grades, some with only high school grades, some with fewer than a hundred children — a total of 852 school districts. That's more than any other state except California and Texas, both of which have more than twice our population.

Does it matter?

The state needs to rethink professional development for teachers and make it even easier to become a sub if it wants to reverse a worsening educator shortage, according to a new report.

The Illinois Board of Education says it is switching to a new standardized test this month for third through eighth graders across the state.

School districts increasingly use e-learning days to allow students to complete their schoolwork from home when the weather’s bad.

Unit 5 is planning $3.1 million in upgrades at Kingsley Junior High School in Normal as part of districtwide energy efficiency improvements.

Bloomington’s District 87 approved new pay rates for substitute teachers, just one week after Unit 5 took similar action.

Unit 5 board members joined Normal Town Council members for a tour of the new addition at Colene Hoose Elementary School on Tuesday night.

University of Illinois officials are considering installing walk-through metal detectors at the State Farm Center. Director Kevin Ullestad tells the Champaign News-Gazette that officials are considering the detectors as part of an ongoing security review.

If installed, the metal detectors would be permanent and used for all athletic events as well as concerts and shows. Ullestad says staff members use hand-held wands at shows with a "more active crowd." They include rock concerts and hip-hop shows.

Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker and a new crop of legislators will take office come January. Those crafting state education policies say they will continue one of the biggest fights in recent years, finding more funding for teachers, students and schools.

The Unit 5 Teachers Union voiced frustrations about a consistent lack of follow through by the school board.

At a recent school board meeting, Unit 5 Education Association President Lindsey Dickinson said the board has yet to correct a series of issues after multiple complaints from the teachers union.

She noted frequently unanswered questions, unfulfilled requests, and little to no follow through on concerns.

District Superintendent Mark Daniel said those concerns are being addressed internally.

Unit 5 is looking to replace its current student information system with a new platform district officials say will make life easier for students, parents and teachers.

Illinois' new school report card shows three Unit 5 junior high schools and one elementary school are underperforming, while three of the district’s grade schools received high marks.

District 87's superintendent said the new higher limit on school board member expenses is not directly connected with last year's pricey trip to a conference in Chicago.