CICS IRVING PARK EDUCATOR AWARDED ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR!

By Chicago International Charter School

“The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) announced that Lindy Mandel, middle school teacher and instructional coach at Chicago International Charter School Irving Park, has been named Elementary Teacher of the Year!  “Charter schools thrive on innovation and adaptability. With everything our community has gone through with the pandemic, we’ve still seen some of the most creative and thoughtful approaches to modern education in years,” explained Andrew Broy, president of INCS. “The 2022 winners of the Charter Excellence Awards embody everything that makes the charter public school community such a force for good. We are so proud of all they have done and will continue to do.”

 

Illinois lame-duck legislative session: Education bills you might have missed

By Samantha Smylie for Chalkbeat

“Illinois lawmakers focused their short lame-duck session on passing an assault weapons ban, expanding reproductive rights, and increasing their salaries. But several important education bills are also headed to the governor’s desk for approval. Lawmakers returned to the state’s capitol last week to push through several major bills before new and returning lawmakers were inducted into office Wednesday afternoon.  Legislators passed an assault weapons ban that would immediately prevent the sale and distribution of assault weapons, high-capacity ammunition magazines, and switches that convert handguns into assault weapons once signed into law; a bill expanding reproductive rights by protecting abortion providers and out-of-state visitors seeking abortion; and a bill that included a 16% salary increase for lawmakers, raising wages to $85,000.”

 

Chicago Public Schools asks students to take COVID tests as they return from winter break

By Jessica D’Onofrio for WLS

“Chicago Public Schools officials are asking parents and students to take COVID-19 precautions as they return to class Monday. CPS has asked students to take rapid COVID-19 tests before returning to the classroom. CPS said Chicago public libraries have a limited supply if people need to get a test.”

 

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker promises free college, preschool for all in second term

By Becky Vevea for Chalkbeat

“Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is promising to expand preschool to all Illinois families and make college tuition free for working-class people by the end of his second term. In a speech after being sworn in Monday, Pritzker said the state’s “long-term ambitions must begin with a focus on the people for whom we are building.” “No policy proposal I could advance will have a greater impact on our future than the quality care and education we afford to our very youngest residents,” he said. “It’s time for Illinois to lead.”