| Illinois Policy Institute policy adviser Paul Vallas examines the hypocrisy of Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates sending her child to private school while denying school choice to low-income families. Reports show public school funding is up nearly $2 billion since Illinois’ Invest in Kids scholarship started, meaning Davis Gates’ claims about it taking away from public schools is wrong. Gates defends her inadvertent endorsement of school choice. A new audit finds Southern Illinois taxpayers spent $134.4 million since 2002 to keep a local airport open. An analysis shows Illinoisans pay nearly $900 more a year for household expenses than the average American. The Chicago Bears continue their search for a new stadium, with some roadblocks ahead. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposal to move migrants into tents could cost over $300 million. Finally, the feds offer Chicago close to $2 billion to expand the Red Line south. |
| Vallas: Fact check on Stacy Davis Gates’ rationalization for fighting, exercising school choice – Illinois Policy Institute Stacy Davis Gates vilifies charter schools and the state’s modest Invest in Kids school scholarship program, wrongly accusing them of siphoning money from public schools. Money is supposed to follow the children, yet charter schools receive $8,600 less per pupil than traditional CPS schools. READ MORE. Illinois public schools funding up almost $2B since school choice program began – Illinois Policy Institute Research a decade ago showed for every student attending a private school on a tax credit scholarship, a state saved between $1,650 and $3,000 by not having to educate that student in the public system, contrary to opponents’ claims it siphons money from public schools. READ MORE. Stacy Davis Gates: “Unfair choice” leads to private school for her child – Illinois Policy Institute Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates said her child is in private school because the public schools lack resources. So why would she want to force low-income families into those schools? READ MORE. |
