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Illinois budget
Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
4:30pm
Fri Apr 5

Parent Mentor Program Celebrates Statewide Expansion, Urges Legislators To Continue Funding (VIDEO)

The Parent Mentor Program that started in Chicago’s Northwest side neighborhood of Logan Square more than 17 years ago celebrated its statewide expansion today with an approximately 500-person conference at Richard J. Daley College.

In one year’s time the Parent Mentor Program more than doubled its presence in schools across the state, increasing from 28 schools last year, to 57 today. Participants gathered at today’s conference came from cities ranging from Moline to Niles.

They shared stories from their classrooms, discussed challenges and successes, made a plan for where they’d like to see the program in 10 years and also wrote letters to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), asking him to support additional funding for the program.

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PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
5:09pm
Tue Apr 2

Local Advocacy Groups Call For Restoration Of State Homeless Student Education Funds

Education

Given the potential record-breaking number of schools closing in Chicago and a recent report showing an increased number of homeless students in Illinois, anti-homeless advocates say it’s more important than ever for the state to restore funding for the education of students with unstable homes.

Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
6:09pm
Thu Mar 28

Illinois Earns High Marks In Online Government Spending Transparency

Illinois received an “A-“ when it comes to online government spending transparency, according to the Illinois Public Interest Research Group’s annual “Following the Money” report.

The transparency mark is better than the “B-“ the state received in the group’s report last year.

But despite the positive rating, Hailey Golds, an advocate with Illinois PIRG, said Illinois' could do more to be transparent.

“The state of Illinois should build upon this year’s progress and further improve the breadth and ease-of-access of online government spending information,” Golds said. “Given our state budget problems, Illinoisans need to be able to follow the money.” 

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