Opinions on Education

The following are editorials, commentaries, and opinions from various sources regarding public education, collected in March and April 2017. Comments and opinions of websites linked from this page do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Illinois Association of School Boards.

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Opinion: Reform needed in state school funding

Linda McDaniel-Hale, Elgin Courier News, March 3

Guest Commentary: Education secretary could learn much
from public schools

Cinda Klickna, president of the Illinois Education Association, The News-Gazette, Champaign, March 5

Commentary: Invest in Chicago's schools, teachers to reduce

Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, Chicago Tribune, March 6

Column: How teachers' sick leave pension perk might save you money

Jake Griffin, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, March 8

Op-Ed Column: Want to Fix Schools? Go to the Principal’s Office

David Leonhardt, New York Times, March 10

Guest Column: My students deserve better

Rebecca Wattleworth, math and science teacher at Warrensburg-Latham High School, State Journal-Register, Springfield, March 10

Anderson: Have you heard the one about K-12 school funding?

Patrick Anderson, superintendent, Wood River-Hartford School District 15, Alton Telegraph, March 10

Voice of The Southern: Don’t skip spring election

Editorial Board, The Southern Illinoisan, Carbondale, March 12

Editorial: CPS and CTU: The War of Bad Ideas

Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, March 14

Editorial: Tell our local state lawmakers to oppose terrible bill

Editorial Board, Quad Cities Dispatch-Argus, March 15

Our View: Sun needs to shine in government year-round

Editorial Board, State Journal-Register, Springfield, March 18

Askren: College degree not students' only choice

Sherri M. Askren, president of United Way of Danville Area, Inc., Danville Commercial News, March 19

Commentary: Chance the Rapper's empowering message
to Chicago's youth

Alfred W. Tatum, dean of the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago Tribune, March 20

PARCC testing myths put unfair pressure on parents and kids

Editorial Board, Chicago Sun-Times, March 22

Editorial: Chicago Bloat of Education: The Sequel

Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, March 23

Voters should give PES a hand; vote ‘yes’ for tax reallocation

Editorial Board, Bureau County Republican, March 24

Editorial: Strike in '14 loomed large in new Waukegan teachers pact

Editorial Board, Lake County News-Sun, March 24

Commentary: Who's to blame for high property taxes?
Look in the mirror

Kristen McQueary, Chicago Tribune, March 29

Opinion: Sales tax proposals show merit, but Chicago opinion doesn’t

Michael Day, president, O’Fallon Federation of Teachers, News-Democrat, Belleville, April 1

Herald-Whig View: Tuesday election more vital than nationalone

Editorial Board, Quincy Herald-Whig, April 2

Brown: CPS needs a Plan B to help kids meet new graduation hurdle

Mark Brown, Chicago Sun-Times, April 5

Our View: Put education funding reform in Illinois on the front burner

Editorial Board, State Journal-Register, Springfield, April 5

OPINION: Formerly troubled kid shows ‘what every child can become’

Abdon Pallasch, Chicago Sun-Times, April 6

Education reform?

Editorial Board, The News-Gazette, Champaign, April 11

Column: Mayor's high school requirement proposal
is just what students need

Dahleen Glanton, Chicago Tribune, April 11

Op-ed: Why post-high school planning matters

Arne Duncan, former U.S. secretary of education and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Tribune, April 11

Column: Suburban school districts holding millions of dollars more
in reserve than state recommends

Jake Griffin, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, April 12

Editorial: No argument with schools' high reserves, but some concern

Editorial Board, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, April 13

Andy Shaw: Streamlined administration
could save Illinois school districts millions
Andy Shaw, president and CEO of the Better Government Association, State Journal-Register, Springfield, April 15

Column: Mayor Emanuel’s education plan falls short

Jesse Jackson, Chicago Sun-Times, April 17

Editorial: Time for legislators to deliver
new state education funding formula

Editorial Board, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, April 18

Will schools again seek sales taxes? It is decidedly so.

Editorial Board, Belleville News-Democrat, April 18

Term limits for school boards? Apply them to legislators first!

Editorial Board, Bureau County Republican, April 19

Column: Spending per student ranges from $8,500 to $32,000 in suburbs

Jake Griffin, Daily Herald, Chicago suburbs, April 19

Slowik: Melee at high school board meeting sets bad example
for children

Ted Slowik, Daily Southtown, Chicago and suburbs, April 19

Can Illinois handle truth?

Editorial Board, The News-Gazette, Champaign, April 21

Editorial: A Chicago charter school fights to stay open

Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, April 21

Editorial: Chicago's cold shoulder to charters

Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, April 24

Column: Money woes for Illinois schools turn allies into foes

Phil Kadner, Chicago Sun-Times, April 25

Guest Column: Stop playing political games
with our schools

Daniel Anello, CEO for New Schools for Chicago, State Journal-Register, Springfield, April 25

Editorial: Tell parents now, CPS:Doors open or closed?

Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, April 27

Is charter school fraud the next Enron?

Preston Green III, professor of education leadership and law, University of Connecticut, The Southern Illinoisan, Carbondale, April 27

Guest Column: Illinois’ school accountability plan needs work
Michael J. Petrilli and Brandon L. Wright, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, State Journal-Register, Springfield, April 27

Editorial: CPS eludes a reckoning,
but the rolling fiscal disaster doesn't end

Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, April 30

Cepeda: The importance of minority teachers in our schools

Esther Cepeda, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, April 30

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