Secondary Education

Mar. 4, 2026

Amboy Ag Teacher Keeps Program Steady

Joseph Heavner maintains consistent enrollment and offerings in Amboy High School's agriculture program.

Mar. 3, 2026

Illinois Lawmakers Propose Career Tech Class Alternative to Foreign Language

New bill would allow high school students to take career-focused classes instead of foreign language.

Mar. 2, 2026

2 Aspira Charter Schools in Chicago to Close by April

Financial issues force early shutdown, disrupting students' education plans

Feb. 28, 2026

Illinois Proposes Statewide School Cellphone Ban, But Many Districts Already Limit Use

Governor's plan would codify policies already in place at most local schools.

Feb. 26, 2026

Jacksonville Schools Aim to Reduce Suspensions with New Discipline Plan

District ordered to implement strategies after being in top 5% for suspensions statewide.

Feb. 26, 2026

CPS to Transfer Students from ASPIRA Charter Network Amid Financial Woes

The network faces a $4.8 million deficit and may be unable to meet payroll through the end of the year.

Feb. 25, 2026

Illinois Schools Implement Cell Phone Limits as Pritzker Proposes Statewide Ban

Some districts have already adopted "bell to bell no cell" policies, finding a middle ground between complete bans and unfettered access.

Feb. 25, 2026

Waterloo High School Speech Team Shines at State Tournament

Students from the long-running program earn multiple top finishes at the state competition.

Feb. 25, 2026

Staunton FFA Celebrates National FFA Week with Themed Events

The annual celebration recognizes the impact of agricultural education and student leadership.

Feb. 25, 2026

Staunton Student Earns Spotlight Recognition

Jeremiah Graham honored for achievements on and off the court

Feb. 22, 2026

Hononegah's Kylie Simpson Named to 2026 IHSA All-State Academic Team

Simpson recognized as one of Illinois' top student-athletes for excellence in the classroom, competition, and community

Feb. 22, 2026

Edwardsville High Schooler Carlie Niepert Works Hard

Niepert excels in field hockey, soccer, academics, and works part-time while planning to study radiology at SWIC.

Feb. 21, 2026

Hinsdale Schools Restrict Student Cellphone Use

New policies aim to limit digital distractions and promote focused learning environments.

Feb. 18, 2026

Oak Park and River Forest High School Boasts High Graduation Rate

District 200 posts 96.8% four-year graduation rate, exceeding state average

Feb. 17, 2026

Granite City High Speech Team Advances to State Tournament

The school's speech team qualified for the Illinois High School Association State Tournament in Peoria.

Feb. 13, 2026

Edwardsville High Robotics Team Wins Judge's Choice Award

The team transitioned to the FIRST Robotics Decode League after years in the Bot Ball competition.

Feb. 13, 2026

Plainfield High School Artists Earn Top Honors in Regional Art Competitions

Twenty-two students from District 202 high schools win awards at Scholastic Regional Art and Writing Awards and Lewis University High School Art Invitational.

Feb. 13, 2026

Naperville Central Teacher Wins Regional Award, Finalist for Top Honor

Seth Brady recognized as 2026 Regional Teacher of the Year, now in running for Illinois Teacher of the Year

Feb. 12, 2026

Middle Schoolers Envision Future Cities at Competition

16 teams presented innovative city concepts at the Illinois Future City competition.

Feb. 11, 2026

76 Plainfield D202 Students to Perform in Honor Band Festival

Plainfield East High School to host annual Southwest Prairie Conference event featuring musicians from 12 schools