2010 School Policy Updates

We produced about 90 Updates in 2010. Click the link to see them all. Here are a few that that evoked an especially positive response:

Tax Increase: We told readers last May why House Speaker Michael Madigan could not let a tax hike vote happen then, and correctly predicted  a vote in early January. (We were right.)

Education Reform: We evoked much feedback with this item demonstrating  how trends in education policy have run counter to clear implications emerging from the 'cognitive revolution' since the 1980s.

Fiscal Recovery: We continually documented evidence that Illinois' flawed revenue system has been blocking the state's recovery from the 'Great Recession.'

2010 Elections: The outcomes of November's elections had huge implications for school policy and funding. We covered the Quinn-Brady contest from that perspective.

Legislative Mysteries: One of our goals is to demystify how our policymakers enact laws. This is not always easy. Often a bill will divide the political parties for no apparent reason.

Accountability Call: When an interloper of ill repute won a primary election for Lieutenant Governor, we called on his party's chairman to admit failure and resign.

Off-Books Spending: While state spending is usually thought of as done by appropriations - a statute you can read - our readers saw how Illinois spends $6.6 billion off the books.

The Texas Effect: While the Texas Board of Education may not think like the majority of Illinois citizens, they have much to do with the choice of textbooks in our children's schools.

Religious Challenge: When a noted athiest sued the state over its capital construction play, our readers learned the school projects were not threatened.

The 'Promise' Difference: An inspiring story showed the miraculous effects of a promise to believe in, even as the state broke a promise to aspiring college students.

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Response to 2011 Illinois School Policy Updates has been entusiastic as well. You can receive them under a risk-free trial subscription. Apply by clicking here.