<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><!-- generator="WordPress/2.9.1" -->
<rss version="0.92">
<channel>
	<title>Education Matters US</title>
	<link>http://educationmatters.us</link>
	<description>Reform Education because Education Matters.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:56:56 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<docs>http://backend.userland.com/rss092</docs>
	<language>en</language>
	
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake Schools Raises Property Taxes While Handing Out Bonuses</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Grayslake School Board voted 4-2 to raise their levy and thus taxes on homeowners. But what surprised the roughly 70 citizens in attendance, Superintendent Ellen Correll announced she made the decision to use Federal Jobs Money (stimulus) to dole out bonuses to many other teachers and administration.  
The attendees in the audience were [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2010/12/09/grayslake-schools-raises-property-taxes-while-handing-out-bonuses/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>IL State Senate passes school choice bill</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Illinois State Senate passed legislation to allow students in poorly performing Chicago school to receive a voucher to attend a private school.  This is great news for the children of Chicago.  However, it should be expanded to the entire state. All children deserve equal funding, not just some kids in Chicago.  [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2010/03/25/il-state-senate-passes-school-choice-bill/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Fox News Chicago on Illinois Pensions</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Below is the story and my interview on Fox News Chicago tonight on Illinois pensions:

UPDATE: The Illinois Legislature passed some semblance of pension reform tonight.  See more details at Illinois Review.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2010/03/24/fox-news-chicago-on-illinois-pensions/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Why is Palatine CCSD 15 Borrowing Without Voter Approval?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Palatine District 15 is looking to issues bonds (borrow money) without voter approval.  This money is to be used in their working cash fund and in new construction projects.  The problem is they are not getting voter approval to do this because legally they don&#8217;t have to.  This is called a back [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2010/03/24/why-is-palatine-ccsd-15-borrowing-without-voter-approval/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Illinois’ Financial State of the State</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Truth In Accounting has the following on Illinois financial troubles:
The revised numbers indicate that Illinois’ unfunded promises for state employees’ health care benefits now exceed $39.9 billion.  As of June 30, 2007 this amount was calculated to be $23.9 billion.  We have yet to determine why this liability went up by $16 billion [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2010/03/23/illinois%e2%80%99-financial-state-of-the-state/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>11 Pension Questions for the Next Governor</title>
		<description><![CDATA[From Bill Zettler (Champion News)
By Bill Zettler
RE: Retirement Benefits for State Employees vs. Non-state Employees.
NOTE: 320,000 of Illinois 6.5 million workers (5%) are eligible for state pension and retiree health care.

Why can 5% of Illinois workers retire with full pension and healthcare benefits at age 55 while the 95% have to wait until 65?
Why do [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2010/03/22/11-pension-questions-for-the-next-governor/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>100 Top State Pensions for 2009</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The pensions in the state have gotten out of hand are a burden on the taxpayers of this state, especially since the state has no sense of responsibility in funding them properly.  Below are some of the highlights (See the full list at Champion News)
3,597 Illinois &#8220;Public Servants&#8221; Receive $100,000 Plus.
Pensions In 2009 Up [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2010/03/20/100-top-state-pensions-for-2009/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Michigan Teacher Perks</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
Hat tip: Extreme Wisdom
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2010/03/10/michigan-teacher-perks/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>District 46 School Board Meeting Video</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ll type up my notes when I have time.  Until then, you can watch the 2 hours of meeting online.  Thankfully they, did not record the blank time of 1 hour during closed session at the beginning of the meeting.  Be patient, it takes awhile for the video to load.

]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2010/02/03/district-46-school-board-meeting-video/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Help bring transparency to Grayslake D46 Schools</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a call to action for transparency advocates.  Next Wed, Feb. 3rd there will be meeting of the Grayslake School Board.  Joe Calomino of the Americans for Prosperity will be speaking along with myself in requesting the school districts places it&#8217;s check register online.  
You can read the original request here. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2010/01/29/help-bring-transparency-to-grayslake-d46-schools/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Transparency in Grayslake D46?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As many of you know I have been fighting for transparency in Grayslake District 46 for several years.  To this end I am working with Americans For Prosperity (AFP) to help finally make this effort a reality.  The following is the letter sent to each school board member and Superintendent Ellen Correll last [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/12/28/transparency-in-grayslake-d46/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-24</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
D46 Levy Hearing Tonight &#8211; http://educationmatters.us/2009/12/15/d46-levy-hearing-tonight/ #d46 #
D46 Levy Hearing Tonight &#8211; Are you tired of the ever increasing property taxes?  Tonight you have an opportunity to&#8230; http://ow.ly/16a2Eq #

Powered by Twitter Tools.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/12/20/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2010-03-24/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>D46 Levy Hearing Tonight</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Are you tired of the ever increasing property taxes?  Tonight you have an opportunity to speak out at a special meeting of the District 46 school Board. The board will be reviewing their projected budget shortfall and voting on their tax levy increase.  Yes, that is correct, an increase in their levy.  [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/12/15/d46-levy-hearing-tonight/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-10-04</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
RT @saaorg Celebrate Sam Adams&#8217;s 287th Birthday by checking out our virtual event, playing our facebook game http://bit.ly/UEZeD #teaparty #

Powered by Twitter Tools.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/10/04/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2009-10-04/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-09-20</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
RT saaorg petition @RNC @democratsdotorg I believe in the Constitution http://act.ly/kd RT to sign #actly #ibelieve #tcot #tlot #teaparty #

Powered by Twitter Tools.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/09/20/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2009-09-20/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Happy Constitution Day!!!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed our Constitution setting the stage for the greatest country in the world.  We are the shining city on the hill as Ronald Reagan said.  People around the world want to come here for the freedom and opportunity we enjoy here in America.
Please [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/09/17/happy-constitution-day/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-09-13</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
The American Liberty Tour kicks off today.  Come out and join them in your town: http://americanlibertytour.com/  #brushfire #

Powered by Twitter Tools.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/09/13/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2009-09-13/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>President Obama Back To School Speech</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Below is the text of the speech or at the Whitehouse website.  District 46 Superintendent will be pre-screening the speech at 11 AM this morning and then allowing the students to watch it between 1 and 3 PM.  The will be no accompanying curriculum will not be done.  I would like to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/09/08/president-obama-back-to-school-speech/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>D46 Community Forum Tonight</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The District 46 school board will be holding a community forum tonight.  The discussion will be about the finances and the upcoming school years budget.


Grayslake Middle School
6 PM


The last community forum information can be found at Live Blogging D46 Community Forum Meeting
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/09/08/d46-community-forum-tonight/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-02</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
RT ljarratt Lake County IL R&#8217;s bans R Candidate running against an establishment R: http://tinyurl.com/ntnnjx  #ildirt #iltcot #tcot #
RT @ljarratt petition @glennbeck to feature @NedRyun and American Majority on his show http://act.ly/cl retweet to sign #majority #tcot #912 #

Powered by Twitter Tools.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/08/02/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2009-08-02/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-26</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
RT @doc2dochealth When all else fails, listen to the patient: http://tinyurl.com/m63nsj #healthcaer #handsoff #obamacare #

Powered by Twitter Tools.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/07/26/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2009-07-26/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-19</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
RT ljarratt: Online coverage of Sotomayor hearings: http://bit.ly/RuVGo Please RT #tcot #tlot #sotomayor #
RT @ljarratt: Please donate to a Conservative candidate for IL State Rep: http://paulfor62.com #tcot #iltcot #teaparty #

Powered by Twitter Tools.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/07/19/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2009-07-19/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-05</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
Come and join the Lake County, IL twollo group at http://bit.ly/qT3hI #

Powered by Twitter Tools.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/07/05/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2009-07-05/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Live Blogging D46 Community Forum Meeting</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I an live blogging the responses from the school board community forum.  Please check back for updates throughout the night. Currently there are approximately 75 community members in attendance.  This excludes school board members and school administration.  My comments in (parenthesis).
1). Many people in the community would like to become more involved [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/06/17/d46-community-forum-meeting-notes/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>D46 Community Forum &#8211; Wed. Night</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Grayslake School Board has scheduled a community forum for this Wednesday night at 7:30 pm at Grayslake Middle School.  Please attend and tell everyone you know about this forum.  The more people that attend, the more likely it will be to have future sessions.  Listed below are the final questions.  [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/06/15/d46-parent-forum-wed-night/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Will D46 talk with Parents?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There has been an ongoing discussion among parents, D46 administration and D46 school board members about whether to hold an open forum with the community.  A discussion is on the agenda for tonights meeting.  The Daily Herald is reporting on this effort this morning. 
Smigielski said the possibility for further budget cuts and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/06/08/will-d46-talk-with-parents/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Aspiring school teachers fail in math</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Only 27% of aspiring teachers could pass the math tests.  If you have any doubts why fuzzy math, everyday math, new math or whatever name the education schools come up with.  Money is not going to solve this problem.  Competition, alternative certifications and real world experienced teachers will have the greatest impact.
The [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/05/21/aspiring-school-teachers-fail-in-math/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>D46 Parents Call for Community Forum</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Several District 46 parents have been asking the school board to hold a community forum.  The Daily Herald is finally reporting this story:
District 46 resident Shannon Smigielski said she and other parents want elected board members to host a proper forum so there can be give-and-take on major issues such as spending. Smigielski said [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/05/20/d46-parents-call-for-community-forum/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-05-17</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
RT @ILBlogger  Should kids accused of crimes be kept out of school? http://bit.ly/j7Mmi #
RT @ILBlogger Lake Villa pastor hopes to start Christian school: http://bit.ly/MHQr1 #
L.A. Unified pays teachers not to teach: http://bit.ly/Hfu2g
 #tcot #education #
Even if pension is cut, teachers get good deal: http://bit.ly/15KV7F
 #education #
Illinois schools: Schools across Illinois freeze salaries for top [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/05/17/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2009-05-17/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Illinois Blogger Meetup</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This coming Friday, May 8th, there will be a blogger meetup at Carlucci&#8217;s Restaurant in Downers Grove, IL. &#160;This event is sponsored by the Sam Adams Alliance and Illinois Review. &#160;The event runs from 10 am &#8211; 4 pm and will feature Award Winning Investigative Journalist, Trent Siebert. &#160;Trent, now of the Texas Watchdog, is [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/05/05/illinois-blogger-meetup/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>D46 Admin Pay Raises?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There is a school board meeting tonight at Grayslake Middle School.  One topic being discussed is the Superintendent&#8217;s contract.  Please attend if you want your voice heard.
I&#8217;d like to suggest that the school board freeze pay or at least tie ti to CPI during these economic hard times.  Woodland District 50 just [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/05/04/d46-admin-pay-raises/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-05-03</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
Help out a Christian School, buy your Mother&#8217;s Day presents at http://tinyurl.com/dxebab #christian #homeschool #

Powered by Twitter Tools.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/05/03/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2009-05-03/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Rate Your Teacher</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There is a website that allows students and parents to rate their teachers.  It is RateMyTeachers.com.  Here are direct links to Grayslake schools that had a listing:

Avon
Grayslake Middle School
Meadowview
Grayslake High School
Illinois Schools

]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/05/02/rate-your-teacher/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake Elementary Looks to Solar &amp; Wind Power</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Grayslake Elementary District 46 Schools is preparing to have an energy review to see if solar or wind power can help them save money.
Energy costs are the latest area where Grayslake Elementary District 46 officials want to make significant cuts.
District 46 isn&#8217;t alone in trying to hold the line or reduce its electricity tab. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/04/19/grayslake-elementary-looks-to-solar-wind-power/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>17 Year Homeschooler Speaks At Madison Tea Party</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The MacIver Institute has the video of 17 year old homeschooler, Melika Willoughby speaking at the Madison, WI tax Day tea Party.  Watch for yourself and listen to her words.  She did a great job representing homeschoolers and calling all people to action.

]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/04/17/17-year-homeschooler-speaks-at-madison-tea-party/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake High School District 127 School Board election</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There are 4 candidates running for 3 positions.  The Daily Herald has endorsed Tom Meskel and Thomas G. Halloran.
Incumbent Tom Meskel is a strong member of the board who is both fiscally conservative and an innovator willing to explore creative ideas, such as a wind farm that can generate revenue and be a learning [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/04/02/grayslake-high-school-district-127-school-board-election/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake Elementary Cuts 29 Jobs – Who&#8217;s to blame</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Grayslake Elementary is cutting 29 jobs to help alleviate a budget deficit.  The District did not get as much of a revenue increase from property taxes due CPI being only 0.1 %.  Since around 80% of the district’s expenditures are for salaries the only place to make up the $2.3 million deficit is [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/03/26/grayslake-elementary-cuts-29-jobs-%e2%80%93-whos-to-blame/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-03-15</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
RT @edupreneurRt @rpagesc @SCRG Report: SC has 11 of the top 25 worst public schools in the nation: http://tinyurl.com/der2yp  #edreform #
NC Judge Ordered Homeschool Mom to Place Kids in Public School http://tinyurl.com/anmfzq  #hsc #education #tcot #

Powered by Twitter Tools.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/03/15/twitter-weekly-updates-for-2009-03-15/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>North Carolina Judge Ordered Homeschool Mom to Place Kids in Public School</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A North Carolina Judge ordered a homeschool mom to place her kids in public schools.  [Emphasis mine]
A judge has ordered a mom to place her three home-schooled children in public school – even though the kids were excelling.
North Carolina Judge Ned Mangum told Venessa Mills, who was in the middle of a divorce battle, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/03/12/north-carolina-judge-ordered-homeschool-mom-to-place-kids-in-public-school/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Illinois Homeschooler Beware Virtual School Bills</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Illinois Legislature has introduced 2 bills that could affect homeschooling in the state.  Hat tip: Susan at Home Education Magazine and Illinois Review for both of these bills.
The first is HB 3743, &#8220;ILLINOIS VIRTUAL SCHOOLS&#8221;:
Synopsis: Creates the Illinois Virtual School Act. Establishes the Illinois Virtual School as a statewide virtual school to serve [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/03/10/illinois-homeschooler-beware-virtual-school-bills/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Lake Villa Christian Academy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Lake Villa Christian Academy is accepting registrations.  You can request more information by contacing Bob or Mary Parikh at 847-245-7471 or 847-356-1031.  More information is below:


The Bible will be taught, faith will be shared and children will be encouraged to receive the life transforming message of the Gospel and Jesus Christ as their [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/03/06/lake-villa-christian-academy/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>District 127 budgets $1.6M for projects</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The News-Sun is reporting about how Grayslake High School District is planning on spending $1.6 Million dollars on capital improvement projects.  The largest of these projects is approximately $1.1 million to put artificial turf at the new North High School. 
The board set aside $500,000 for classroom improvements for art and the band-choir students [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/03/02/district-127-budgets-16m-for-projects/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake School Stimulus Monies</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Grayslake schools are estimated to receive just over $1.1 million dollars from the stimulus package.  The breakdown of IDEA, Part B funds are as follows.  Neither district will be receiving Title 1 monies in this estimate.
Grayslake Elementary $813,000
Grayslake High School $336,000
These estimates can be found on page 13 of the pdf found at [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/02/28/grayslake-school-stimulus-monies/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>New Christian School Coming to Lake County</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I received notice today that there is a community interest meeting for a new Christian Elementary School in Lake County.  It would be located in Lake Villa for K-8 students.  See details below and please attend and pass this information below along to your friends and neighbors.
We have some exciting news to share [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/02/26/new-christian-school-coming-to-lake-county/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Calls Needed to Support $1,000 Tax Credit</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I received the following email about House Bill 643 and House Bill 1097.  Please call the representatives listed below and voice your opinion.  The hearing is scheduled for tomorrow Feb. 26, at 10 a.m. in the Capitol Building, Room 122B if you would prefer to attend in person.
House Bill 643 and House Bill [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/02/25/calls-needed-to-support-1000-tax-credit/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Obama wants education exellence but wants to kill the DC Opportunity Scholarship</title>
		<description><![CDATA[VoicesForSchoolChoice.org have a video of students in DC asking President Obama to continue the Opportunity scholarships in Washington, DC.

]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/02/25/obama-wants-education-exellence-but-wants-to-kill-the-dc-opportunity-scholarship/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Teachers Union Mourns Demise of Chicago Public Education</title>
		<description><![CDATA[GrizzlyGroundswell provided the image below. This was sent out by the Chicago Teachers Unions members today.

]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/02/24/teachers-union-mourns-demise-of-chicago-public-education/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Palatine District 15, School Board, Pay to Play, Union Money, CTC, Teachers Union</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I received an interesting link about candidates for school board in Palatine District 15.  Watch for yourself below and you can see why it so hard to get fiscally responsible candidates elected to school boards.

]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/02/24/palatine-district-15-school-board-pay-to-play-union-money-ctc-teachers-union/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Midwest Homeschool Conference</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 

The largest Home School Conference in the midwest takes place in Cincinatti, OH April 16th-18th.  For more details click the links below:

Huge vendor exhibitors
Schedule
Incredible speakers
Sessions &#038; Workshops &#8211; there will even be a Teen Track this year.
Affordable Registration Costs

]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/02/07/midwest-homeschool-conference/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Big Hollow Update</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The News-Sun has a story about the Big Hollow School Board creating a job for one of their own.  Their story is a result of me sending them a copy of my story entitled Big Hollow Taxpayer Pressure Forces A Little Transparency.
You will also notice in the job postings that the district has finally [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/01/23/big-hollow-update/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Math Committee Reminder</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a quick reminder that if you are interested in helping review math curriculum for Grayslake Elementary District 46, the deadline is today.  Below is more information on the process:

Meetings held monthly on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
Meetings will be held during the day (8-11 or 12-3) with both K-5 and 5-8 both [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/01/23/math-committee-reminder/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Big Hollow Taxpayer Pressure Forces A Little Transparency</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Big Hollow Taxpayers have won a small victory.  On Monday, the school board backed down in hiring one of their own as the technology director.  The pressure brought about by district residents in this situation forced the board to reopen the process.
Wright had been volunteering at the district for the previous three [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/01/21/big-hollow-taxpayer-pressure-forces-a-little-transparency/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Big Hollow School Board: Hiring one of their own?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Big Hollow School District 38 is hiring a Director of Technology.  This position and how it is being handled is being questioned by residents of the district.  The job posting can be found here.  Below is the email I received from a resident providing background for the approval of the position:
The new [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/01/17/big-hollow-school-board-hiring-one-of-their-own/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>News Roundup</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Since I am not keeping up with blogging as I should, I thought I&#8217;d do a quick news roundup of stories about Grayslake Schools:

Math Committees at Grayslake Elementary Schools
How should District 46 communicate with the community?
Grayslake Elementary District 46 board members Monday night discussed the pros and cons related to sending fliers and other written [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/01/12/news-roundup/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Math Committees at Grayslake Elementary Schools</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Grayslake Elementary Schools is seeking community involvement to review math curriculum.  They want 2 committees:

Kindergarten &#8211; 5th grade
5th grade &#8211; 8th grade

Members of the community who would like to serve on a committee should send a letter of intent to Lynn Barkley by Jan. 23.
Be sure to include any past experience on curriculum or [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/01/08/math-committees-at-grayslake-elementary-schools/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Teaching Fairness Instead of Reading, Writing and Arithmetic</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Blue Collar Muse has an interesting picture from a local Elementary School showing their word of the month, &#8220;Fairness&#8221;.  In ironic fashion, the school is not meeting AYP and has had the &#8220;word of the month&#8221; up since at least October.  I guess this is a small example of why the school cannot [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2009/01/03/teaching-fairness-instead-of-reading-writing-and-arithmetic/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Arne Duncan To Be Named Secretary of Education</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Arne Duncan will be named Secretary of Education.  This appointment most likely means Obama and Duncan will make the NEA very happy while the taxpayers and children will suffer the consequences.
For those of you who do not know Arne Duncan, he is the Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/12/15/arne-duncan-to-be-named-secretary-of-education/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>How to Run for School Board?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Sorry I have been so busy lately.  Now is the time to think about running for your local school board.  Monday is the deadline for getting in your petition signatures.  For most school baords it will only take 100 voter signatures to get you listed on the ballot.  For more information [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/12/12/how-to-run-for-school-board/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>CCSD 46 Teachers Reach Tentative Agreement</title>
		<description><![CDATA[No details have been released as of yet, but there is a notice on the D46 Website and in the News-Sun.  The following is from the D46 Website.
UPDATE:  The Daily Herald has posted an article about this as well, here.
CCSD 46 NOTICE: 11/01/08
Tentative agreement reached at Grayslake District 46
Negotiating teams for the Grayslake [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/11/01/ccsd-46-teachers-reach-tentative-agreement/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>CCSD 46 Teachers Working to the Contract</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Since yesterday, the teachers of District 46 schools are working strictly to the letter of the hours outlined in the contract that expired June 30th of this year.  This was first reported in the comments of the Daily Herald.  I confirmed this with Superintendent Correll this morning.
I did ask several other questions that [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/10/29/ccsd-46-teachers-working-to-the-contract/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>CCSD 46 Approve Intent to Strike</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, the Grayslake Teachers Union voted to approve an intent to strike.  They cannot strike however until Nov. 6 at the earliest.  I am not surprised by this move in the least.   A strike threat is just the beginning salvo for the teachers intent to use the children they teach as [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/10/28/ccsd-46-approve-intent-to-strike/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Kids Find Cost Free Solution Instead of Teachers, Administration</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The article from the Chicago Sun-Times is highlighting the need for Recess and other activities in Chicago Public Schools.  In doing so they pointed out how the kids came up with a cost-free way to have after school programs to help the kids stay off the streets.
They asked parents to volunteer to lead after-school [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/10/26/kids-find-cost-free-solution-instead-of-teachers-administration/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Vote Yes and We&#8217;l Lower Your Taxes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The bond referendum for Warren Township is one of the strangest and most manipulative I have seen. The board voted to lower the tax rate only if the voters allowed them to borrow $30 million dollars.
&#160;
Warren Township High School officials would cut their tax rate if voters grant permission to borrow $30 million, mostly for [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/10/25/vote-yes-and-wel-lower-your-taxes/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake teachers union to take strike vote Monday</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Daily Herald is reporting that the Grayslake 46 teachers union will be voting on Monday whether or send a notice to strike.  Once they take this step, they have to wait at least 10 days before they can actually call a strike.
Negotiations will be continuing and a federal mediator will be helping with [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/10/23/grayslake-teachers-union-to-take-strike-vote-monday/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake Uses Obama Filled Text Book</title>
		<description><![CDATA[On Monday of this week, Real Debate Wisconsin was notified that the Racine Unified School District was using a text book that contains a 15 page love-fest for Obama.  (Story below)
I have confirmed that this same book is being used by Grayslake District 46 as well.  I spoke with the District&#8217;s Curriculum Coordinator, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/10/20/grayslake-uses-obama-filled-text-book/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Public School Indoctrination Continues Unabated</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here are a couple of recent stories on how our public government schools are indoctrinating our children.

Real Debate Wisconsin has been notified that the Racine Unified School District is using a text book that contains a 15 page love-fest for Obama
The Creative Arts Charter School in San Francisco took 18 first-graders to the same-sex marriage [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/10/14/public-school-indoctrination-continues-unabated/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Christian Books Denied at School Libraries</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Students in Fairfax County tried to donate books to school libraries.  These Christian books on homosexuality were denied donation.

This is ironic since librarians and teachers are fighting to keep books that are age inappropriate in their libraries.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/10/12/christian-books-denied-at-school-libraries/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Rewriting American History and How To Fix the Education System</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We continue to dumb down our students by Rewriting American History to be politically correct.  It is time we stopped this practice and started teaching what really happened and why we became know as the melting pot.  Today we are separate pots.  The following quote is from the Bradley Report, &#8220;E Pluribus [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/10/06/rewriting-american-history-producing-hate-america-first-voters/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Public school economics: It&#8217;s the structure, stupid</title>
		<description><![CDATA[From the Champion:
To use economic terminology, the school reform debate is about a bottom line: student achievement. After years of pouring money into the public schools, public school students have not shown commensurate improvement in academic achievement. Parents, taxpayers, and concerned citizens are still not being given adequate answers as to why this is the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/10/03/public-school-economics-its-the-structure-stupid/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Tebow Laws</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For those of you who do not know who Tim Tebow is, he is the Heisman winning quarterback of the Florida Gators. In addition, he was home schooled, but was allowed to play football for Nease High School.  Tebow laws are efforts to try and allow home schoolers to play sports in there local [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/10/01/tebow-laws/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Referendums: No Taxation Without Information</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Everyone is now receiving their blue cards (Property Tax Assessments).  The government is greedy and continuing to take more and more of our money.  Yet for all the money they take, they want to continue to hide where they spend our tax dollars.  
There are 15 referendums/advisory questions in Lake County this [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/09/30/referendums-no-taxation-without-information/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Letter to Huntley D158 BOE</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear D158 Board Members,
I would like to encourage you to stand strong and do what is fiscally responsible.  Below are tactics used by the Michigan MEA.  Some of these very tactics have been used in districts here in Illinois.  Please continue to share data with the public and you will continue to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/09/16/letter-to-huntley-d158-boe/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Property Tax Assessment Forums</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Lake County Assessors Office is holding its annual property assessment forums and help centers. In fact their are tax help centers open tonight from 5:00 pm &#8211; 8:00 pm at the College of Lake COunty Southlake Education Center in Vernon Hills and the University Center of Lake County. See the Assessor website for more [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/09/16/prtperty-tax-assessment-forums/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Huntley District 158 Teachers Strike</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Huntley District 158 teachers have rejected a 17.8% increase over the next 3 years and called a strike today.  The District&#8217;s Press Release is below:
Date: September 15, 2008 4:00 a.m. RE: Union Turns Down 17.8%
Salary Offer; Calls Strike for Monday, September 15.
The Huntley Education Association (HEA) leadership gave notice they are officially on [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/09/15/huntley-district-158-teachers-strike/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Homeschoolers: Lakes Community HS Denying Homeschool Curriculum</title>
		<description><![CDATA[UPDATE:
I was emailed last night.  The student is now enrolled at Lakes and will be tested. The school is being cooperatative at this time.  The credits transfer will be determined after testing.
UPDATE:
I recevied a phone call from Principal McKay of Lakes Community High School Friday morning.  I wasn unable to take the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/27/homeschoolers-lakes-community-hs-denying-homeschool-curriculum/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>1-percent sales tax hike won&#8217;t be on Nov. 4 ballot</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Thankfully, the 1-percent sales tax for school construction will not be on the ballot this November.  Of course, the schools will regroup and try again.  They always do and there is nothing the voters can do about it.  The best we can do is continue to watch school spending and try to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/18/1-percent-sales-tax-hike-wont-be-on-nov-4-ballot/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>State test re-scoring troubles local districts</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here we go again.  The State is re-scoring tests.  This is ridiculous.  The education bureaucracy is inept in even the simple task of scoring tests.  How are we ever supposed to believe they can actually educate our children?  How are we ever supposed to believe they know better than parents [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/16/state-test-re-scoring-troubles-local-districts/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Government Requires Eye Exams</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In Illinois, the government continues to mandate more and more expenses on families. This time they are requiring eye exams before a student enters kindergarten.
Illinois kindergartners already faced a lengthy to-do list before they could report to school: mandatory vaccinations, tuberculosis tests, physicals and dental exams. This year, they need to stop at the eye [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/16/government-requires-eye-exams/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Forced Political Contributions</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is so interesting that so many teachers believe their union is there to protect them. Yet, the union forces them to make contributions in most states with the use of language called &#8220;fair share&#8221; in the contracts. These forced contributions are then used by the unions for political purposes other than helping improve education [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/11/forced-political-contributions/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Sharpton Joins School Boycott, Plans Lawsuit</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Rev. Al Sharpton has joined State Sen. Meeks boycott of Chicago Public Schools over the funding inequities in the public government school system.  See the video here and here.
I have been saying a lawsuit has been in order for several years now because of the funding discrepancies.  The funding discrepancies are caused [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/11/sharpton-joins-school-boycott-plans-lawsuit/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Illinois funds 29 percent of public schools&#8217; costs</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The South Town Star article stating Illinois funds 29 percent of public schools&#8217; costs is disengenuous.  This is an average across all schools in which some schools get the majority of their funding from the state and some get nearly zero.  In addition, the property tax system that funds the majority of Illinois [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/11/illinois-funds-29-percent-of-public-schools-costs/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Court Reverses Itself: Homeschooling Constitutional</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In a reversal of an earlier ruling, the California Court now says homeschooling is Constitutional.
the California Court of Appeal ruled that the state&#8217;s education code allows parents to home school their children. That decision means parents do not have to obtain state credentials in order to home school. The court acknowledged that a state prohibition [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/09/court-reverses-itself-homeschool-constitutional/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Funding Inequities Highlight need to fund the child and not bureaucracies</title>
		<description><![CDATA[State Sen. Meeks is encouraging CPS students to skip school the first day and attempt to register at New Trier and other so called elite schools. This is a gimic that highlights the inequity in our current school funding model of funding bureaucratic districts leaving many children behind. Unfortunately, Sen. Meeks is missing the boat [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/06/funding-inequities-highlight-need-to-fund-the-child-and-not-bureaucracies/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Video That Explains The Argument for School Choice</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a great video showing the idiocy of arguments opposing funding the child instead of public government school bureaucracies. (Hat tip: Liberty is for me)

]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/06/video-that-explains-the-argument-for-school-choice/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Does the Illinois Lottery pay for education?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Does the Illinois Lottery pay for education? That is the question the Daily Herald answered a few days ago. [Emphasis Mine]

First, an answer. Yes, millions of dollars from losing Illinois Lottery tickets go to fund public education.
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;
The lottery began in 1974, but the money wasn&#8217;t specifically earmarked for education until 1985. That year, a new [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/06/does-the-illinois-lottery-pay-for-education/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Black Boys Still Lag in Graduation, Report Says</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This report is from the Schott Foundation for Public Education and reported in EdWeek. [Emphasis mine]
Since 2004, the foundation has tracked the school performance of African-American boys. This year’s report, released last month in Chicago at the annual UNITY convention of minority journalists, shows that 53 percent of black males did not receive diplomas with [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/06/black-boys-still-lag-in-graduation-report-says/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Are We Our Brothers Keeper?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Are we are not our brother&#8217;s keeper? is a letter to the editor in today&#8217;s Daily Herald. 
The preamble of our state constitution holds state government responsible for, among other things, to &#8220;provide for the health, safety and welfare of the people,&#8221; to &#8220;eliminate poverty and inequality,&#8221; and to &#8220;maintain orderly government, and assure legal, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/08/05/are-we-our-brothers-keeper/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>District 46 OKs Parking Lot Lights</title>
		<description><![CDATA[District 46 School board approved contracts to install new lighting in the Frederick Parking lot.  They are also considering putting cameras in both Frederick and Grayslake Middle school.
Grayslake District 46 is taking steps this summer to make its schools safer for students and staff as they start the new school year.
New lighting will be [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/07/19/district-46-oks-parking-lot-lights/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Antioch District 34 Group Recommends Referendum</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This falls in the no surprise category.  The small group of parents and teachers who came to the meetings recommended a referendum.  See the stories about it in the following local papers:

News-Sun: Antioch group recommends elementary school referendum (Excerpt below)
Daily Herald: Antioch group tabs education goals
Antioch Review:  Nav34 recommendations presented to board

 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/07/18/antioch-district-34-group-recommends-referendum/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Another Reason for Recall</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In todays Daily Herald they report about a Wauconda School Board member pleading guilty to domestic battery.  
Wauconda school board member Nicholas Batson was sentenced to 6 months in jail and 2 years probation Thursday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor domestic battery charge.
Batson was facing up to 14 years in prison on two [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/07/18/another-reason-for-recall/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Off Topic: Free Olympic Prayer Band</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This is totally unrelated to education, but I would like to share it anyway.  The Voice of the Martyrs is giving away free Olympic Prayer Bands to help you remember to pray for the persecuted Christians in China during the Olympics.  I encourage every Christian to order theirs today at Voice of the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/07/17/off-topic-free-olympic-prayer-band/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Use common sense on pension problem</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In the following Letter to the Editor in the Daily Herald explains why &#8220;common sense and backbone&#8221; is needed to fix the pension problem here in Illinois.  A large part of the culprit here in Illinois is the outrageous retirement benefits given to teachers through their end of career bonuses.
There&#8217;s been a lot of [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/07/16/use-common-sense-on-pension-problem/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Barack Obama: Teach Your Children Spanish</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Obama recently gave a speech in Powder Spring, GA where encouraged parents to teach their kids Spanish.  Our public government schools can&#8217;t even teach English, how does he expect them to teach Spanish as well?

If you want to know more about Obama&#8217;s positions on education and other issues visit another of my websites Obama [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/07/16/barack-obama-teach-your-children-spanish/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake High technology chief accused of DUI in fatal boating crash</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This story was reported in both the Daily Herald and News-Sun. 
Daily Herald excerpts:
Grayslake High School District&#8217;s technology director had a blood-alcohol level more than double the legal threshold when his boat collided with another vessel early Sunday, killing a 21-year-old woman, state officials said.
Rick L. McGuire, 55, of 4713 E. Wonder Lake Road in [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/07/15/grayslake-high-technology-chief-accused-of-dui-in-fatal-boating-crash/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake Elementary District 46 Overpaid Teachers</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In more disturbing news from the local school districts, it was discovered that the 

Grayslake Elementary District 46 overpaid 13 teachers and classroom assistants a combined $92,106 over the last two academic years

The story was in the Daily Herald.  I am glad to see them continuing their reporting on the financial misconduct within the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/30/grayslake-elementary-district-46-overpaid-teachers/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>How Can School Superintendents Contracts Not Be Public Record?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The case of Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 trying to keep the former superintendents contract is a ridiculous attempt to manipulate the Freedom of Information Act.  The current school administration is costing the taxpayers thousands of dollars to prevent the public from seeing what is in the contract.  One part of the case [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/19/how-can-school-superintendents-contracts-not-be-public-record/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Another School Districts Chooses the Expensive Field Turf</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Palantine-Schaumburg High School District 211 agreed to spend $8.5 Million dollars to put artificial turf onto its stadiums at its 5 schools.  This cost is an extra $2 Million dollars that originally expected.  You can read some related stories about this at the following:

Test: Lead in Dist. 211 turf doesn&#8217;t pose health risk
Straight [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/18/another-school-districts-chooses-the-expensive-field-turf/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Warren High School District 121 Newsletter</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The link below contains the latest newsletter mailed to Warren District 121 residents.  Please review this and leave comments if you wish.  I&#8217;ll try to do some analysis later, but I just don&#8217;t have time at the moment.  Pay attention to page 1 with the district comparisons and how much is being [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/17/warren-high-school-district-121-newsletter/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Senate Joint Resolution 13 (SJR13) &#8211; Property Tax Assessment Freeze</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The following was a letter to the editor in yesterday&#8217;s Daily Herald.  How we assess properties in Illinois is a good idea, but it won&#8217;t really do anything about your property taxes unless they limit what school districts and other taxing bodies can levy.

Senate Joint Resolution 13 (SJR13) (Property Tax Assessment Freeze) allows for [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/17/senate-joint-resolution-13-sjr13-property-tax-assessment-freeze/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Pediatrician Says Try Discipline before Ritalin</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Pediatrician Says Try Discipline before Ritalin is 
&#8220;Could it be that America would rather give unruly kids a pill than a swat?&#8221;
That&#8217;s what Dr. Lawrence Diller asks in a recent article. The behavioral pediatrician in Walnut Creek, Calif., said he thinks Ritalin is prescribed too often.
&#8220;There&#8217;s good solid evidence that when you give parents permission [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/13/pediatrician-says-try-discipline-before-ritalin/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Why do school districts exist with only 1 school?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Did you know there are 200 school districts that exist in Illinois that only have 1 school?  I knew there were some but did not know there were that many.  The Daily Herald pointed this out last Saturday.  [Emphasis mine]
School districts across Lake County are grappling with an array of critical issues [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/12/why-do-school-districts-exist-with-only-1-school/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll Defends Paying For Consultant Who Gave Awards</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In a letter to the editor, Grayslake Elementary District 46 Superintendent Ellen Correll defends paying the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence to review the districts schools and them receiving awards from them.
On Monday, June 2, the Daily Herald published an article entitled &#8220;Grayslake Elementary District 46 honored by company it hired.&#8221; Unfortunately, the reporter chose [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/12/district-46-superintendent-ellen-correll-defends-paying-for-consultant-who-gave-awards/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Are School Districts to Blame For the Mortgage Crisis?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Are School Districts to Blame For the Mortgage Crisis?  This is a very interesting question and explored by Robert Frank in his article DOn&#8217;t Blame All Borrowers. [Emphasis mine] 
It&#8217;s easy to see why. Even in the 1950s, one of the highest priorities of most parents was to send their children to the best [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/11/are-school-districts-to-blame-for-the-mortgage-crisis/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Democrats and Teachers Unions: Putting Children Last</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Democrats and Teachers Unions are trying to kill the Washington D.C. Opportunity scholarships.  In effect they are Putting Children Last instead of first.  Visit the WSJ for the full article.  I am going to highlight the most important quotes and statements below.
Democrats in Congress have finally found a federal program they [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/11/putting-children-last/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>District 46 Paid For Awards</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Daily Herald Editorial staff also weighed in on District 46 paying a consultant who gave them awards.  There take: &#8220;It&#8217;s not an award if you&#8217;re paying for it&#8220;. [Emphasis mine] 
The total tab, once you include pay for substitutes for teachers gone traveling, was $40,468.
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;
The District 46 board and administrators never mentioned they [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/11/district-46-paid-for-awards/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Teachers Unions Keep School Board Silent</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Teachers Unions do this across the State if Illinois and the country.  They intimidate school boards into being silent about contract details until after they are approved.  This is a travesty that should be stopped, but I fear that this will never happen until enough school board members who understand the following:

They represent [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/11/teachers-unions-keep-school-board-silent/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>SMART board update in Grayslake District 46</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Last night the Grayslake District 46 school board approved purchasing SMART boards.
District 46 board members agreed Monday night the SMART boards were a good educational tool in a pilot project that ran for nearly the final two months of the academic year. They voted to pay $33,041 to keep the nine SMART boards from the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/10/smart-boad-update-in-grayslake-district-46/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Homeschool Robotics Team Wins World Championship</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A homeschool robotics team won the World Championship in Atlanta last month.  
On April 17-18, 2008, a team of seven homeschooled high schoolers swept the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) World Championship in Atlanta, Georgia, taking home a Winning Alliance Team trophy and the Amaze Award (awarded by the judges to a team whose uniqueness [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/04/homeschool-robotics-team-wins-world-championship/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Gavin District 37 School Board Chicanery</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The chicanery going on with the Gavin District 37 School Board is ridiculous.  It is just one more example of the pat to play system prevalent throughout all levels of government in Illinois.  It also shows how the school board in many districts in uncontrollable with just elections.  We need recall to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/03/gavin-district-37-school-board-chicanery/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake Dist. 46 Pays for Awards</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Daily Herald has a report today on how much the district paid to get the Blue Ribbon Awards they received last November.  The total costs was over $40,000.
What&#8217;s not mentioned is South Carolina-based Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Inc. named the award winners after being paid $22,192 to assess seven District 46 schools. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/02/grayslake-dist-46-pays-for-awards/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Illinois Deserves Better</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Illinois Deserves Better is book that explains everything you need to know about voting this November on the question of whether there should be a Constitutional Convention called.  The book was written by Bruno Behrend of Extreme Wisdom and John Bambenek of Part-Time Pundit.  It is very prescriptive and totally outlines the case [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/02/illinois-deserves-better/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Property Tax Day</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Today is Property Tax Day, the day when the first installment of your property taxes are due.  Many of you are still upset by the high property taxes.  Many of you still blame the Assessor or the Treasurer, when in fact the real culprit are the taxing bodies.  Just look at your [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/02/property-tax-day/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Should Homeschooling be Illegal?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Parade had one of the most outrageous articles I have seen in a while about homeschooling.   They ask the question should homeschooling be illegal?  They do include a poll with the article and at this time it is running 90% &#8211; 10% to allow parents to teach even without teaching credentials.
The comment [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/06/01/should-homeschooling-be-illegal/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>New Design</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I hope everyone likes the new design.  Please let me know if you what other features you would like to see on this site.  I will be gradually adding items back into the sidebar as well as I have time.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/05/31/new-design/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Letter to Editor: Stimulus Check to Pay Property Tax Increase</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There is short letter to the editor today in the Daily Herald, but provides a very poignant point.  That point is that taxes are so high now that even the stimulus package aimed at reviving the economy is being used to pay tax increases of the never ending taxes levied by government entities.  [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/05/20/letter-to-editor-stimulus-check-to-pay-property-tax-increase/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslakes District 46 Votes to Support Tax Increase</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Grayslakes District 46 voted last night 5-2 to support putting a 1% sales tax increase on the ballot this November.  The two members voting against this tax increase were Jill Rohrer and Kristin Coe Peek.  Please send them a thank you note.  It is a shame that the other board members who [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/05/20/grayslakes-district-46-votes-to-support-tax-increase/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake Schools May Ask Voters to Approve Tax</title>
		<description><![CDATA[With families already reeling from high taxes, the Grayslake 46 School Board is looking ot join the ranks of other Lake County schools in asking for another tax hike. [Emphasis mine]



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Grayslake Elementary District 46 board members were the latest to discuss the proposal Monday night, giving it mixed reviews. The board will vote by month&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/05/11/grayslake-schools-may-ask-voters-to-approve-tax/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Families Reeling From Endless Taxes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There was a very good letter to the editor about how families are reeling from endless taxes by James Melchin.  This letter was published on 5/3.  [Emphasis mine]



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


The topic was the endless taxes imposed on us by our county, state and federal governments.
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;
First, Illinois has grown at half the rate of our neighboring [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/05/10/families-reeling-from-endless-taxes/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Lauzen to Hold Property Tax Forum</title>
		<description><![CDATA[State Sen. Chris Lauzen will be holding a property tax forum Monday, May 12 from 7 &#8211; 8:30 pm at the Yorkville Public Library, 902 Game Farm Road, Yorkville.  (Hat tip: Daily Herald)  [Emphasis mine]
As property tax bills begin to appear in mailboxes throughout Kane and Kendall counties, state Sen. Chris Lauzen, an [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/05/07/lauzen-to-hold-property-tax-forum/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Cary Distirct 26 Opposes SB2288/HB750</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In a 6-0 vote, Cary Community Consolidated School District 26 passed the following resolution against the passage of the SB2288/HB750 tax grab.   They joined Palatine District 15 and the Village of Grayslake to pass similar resolutions against it passage.



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


A RESOLUTION ADVOCATING AGAINST SB2288 and HB750 
A RESOLUTION to send a letter to the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/22/cary-distirct-26-opposes-sb2288hb750/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>DuPage County Requests Unnecessary Registration</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Please share with any home school  residents in DuPage County that this form is not required and should not be filled out.



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


The Home School Legal Defense Association was recently alerted by a member family in DuPage County that they received a letter dated February 8, 2008, from the regional superintendent asking the family to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/22/dupage-county-requests-unnecessary-registration/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Expelled The Movie: Is Darwinism Science or Worldview?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I went to see the Ben Stein movie Expelled Friday night.  Ben interviews scientist who research Darwinism and scientist who claim the evidence leads to an Intelligent Designer (ID) instead.
It becomes very clear throughout the movie that the theories of the origin of life has no scientific basis.  These theory that life sprang [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/20/expelled-the-movie-is-darwinism-science-or-worldview/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake Mayor Says No to SB2288/HB750</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Grayslake Mayor Tim Perry and the Grayslake Board voted 5-0 this week against the passage of SB2288/HB750. [Emphasis mine]



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Grayslake village board members voted 5-0 in favor of a resolution against the Senate proposal. The village&#8217;s position will be communicated to lawmakers in Springfield.
&#8220;If there is no guarantee there is permanent property tax relief involved, it&#8217;s [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/20/grayslake-mayor-says-no-to-sb2288hb750/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Worse than Catholic clergy sex scandal?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Teacher Sex Scandal in Joliet



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Eight additional female students came forward Friday to accuse an unpaid assistant track coach at Joliet Township High School of carrying on illicit affairs with them, police said.





Another assualt at East Leyden High School near Maywood, IL



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


An East Leyden High School teacher who allegedly sexually assaulted one of his female students [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/17/worse-than-catholic-clergy-sex-scandal/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>No Playing Tag</title>
		<description><![CDATA[


&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Robyn Hooker, principal of Kent Gardens Elementary School, has told students they may no longer play tag during recess after determining that the game of chasing, dodging and yelling &#8220;You&#8217;re it!&#8221; had gotten out of hand. Hooker explained to parents in a letter this month that tag had become a game &#8220;of intense aggression.&#8221;





They also [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/16/no-playing-tag/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Go Ahead, Blame the Assessor, But You&#8217;d Be Wrong</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Last week I published the statements of Grant Towship Assessor, Walt Kubalanza explaining how the Assessor is not blame for the high taxes.  This week, I have an excerpt from a letter to the editor claiming Mr. Kubalanza is not telling the truth.



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


He forgot to mention that when the tax rate does not go [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/15/go-ahead-blame-the-assessor-but-youd-be-wrong/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake Middle School Released Early Due To Threat</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday, the Grayslake Middle School was released early due to a threat found in a student bathroom.  Below is the report from the News-Sun.



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


GRAYSLAKE &#8212; On a day that saw schools from Chicago to Michigan affected by threats of violence, officials at Grayslake Middle School dismissed students early on Monday and contacted police after [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/15/grayslake-middle-school-released-early-due-to-threat/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Chicago Public Schools Doesn&#8217;t Know How To Choose Principals</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Designs for Change claims Chicago Public Schools doesn&#8217;t know how to pick good Principals.  (Hat tip: Students First). 



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Chicago Public School officials have an &#8220;abysmal&#8221; record at picking principals to invigorate ailing high schools, especially at 20 such schools where reading and math scores sank or showed little progress, a school reform group charged [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/13/chicago-public-schools-doesnt-know-how-to-choose-principals/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Palatine School District 15 School Board passes resolution opposing SB2288 and HB750</title>
		<description><![CDATA[From the Champion News (April 10th):



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Editor&#8217;s note: The Palatine District 15 School Board passed a resolution yesterday evening opposing SB2288 and HB750. The resolution passed with 6 Yes votes and 1 Abstention. Some Republican legislators are rumored to be supporting the bills, which would allow the General Assembly to override a possible Blagojevich veto. There [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/12/palatine-school-district-15-school-board-passes-resolution-opposing-sb2288-and-hb750/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Public School Leadership</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In what is becoming a regular occurrence, another public school official is in trouble with the law.  This week alone has brought us the following stories:

Principal from Spring Grove was caught in a motel with a 15 and 16 year old
Principal Accused of Stealing $35,000
Fired Cop accused of misconduct hired as school security chief
Student [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/12/public-school-leadership/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Taxes: Where Does The Money Go?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I happened to be looking at the Village of Grayslake website yesterday and found the page outlining where your taxes go if you live in Grayslake.
As I have stated many times, the local school get the majority of your taxes.  The chart on the page verifies this as well showing that 71% of each [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/11/taxes-where-do-they-go/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Condoms For Prom</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In Arizona, the school board of Bisbee Unified School District has decided it would be appropriate to give all the students coming to Prom a condom (Hat tip: Citizen Link).  Of course, some parents were upset.



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Students in Bisbee, Ariz., attending this yearâ€™s prom will receive a prom bag that includes condoms â€” a decision [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/11/condoms-for-prom/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Reject Ploy to Hike Taxes for Education</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Reject ploy to hike taxes for education&#8221; is the title of a letter to the editor in the Daily Herald.    [Emphasis mine]



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


State government thinks educating Illinois children is about money, not learning.
The Illinois State Board of Education regularly lowers the achievement bar so we can keep wishfully thinking no child&#8217;s being left [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/10/reject-ploy-to-hike-taxes-for-education/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Assessor Explains High Property Taxes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Lake County has the distinction of having the highest property taxes in the midwest as reported by Forbes. 

There has been action on the assessment side of the equation by the Citizens Action Project in bringing more transparency to the system.  I understand their mission is to focus on assessment, which is admirable.  [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/05/assessor-explains-high-property-taxes/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Teachers Unions, School Administrators enlist the PTA to Push SB2288, HB750</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I received the email below today from a resident of District 15/211. This was sent out by the PTA from my understanding.  
The PTA, Teachers Unions, and school officials are hosting a meeting on Saturday, April 12th to push the $8 Billion Dollar tax increase known as HB750 or SB2288.  Since this is [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/04/03/teachers-unions-school-administrators-enlist-the-pta-to-push-sb2288-hb750/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Certifying Parents</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Wall Street Journal had an Editorial about the homeschool ruling in California.  I had previously written about this here and here.  Below are a couple of excerpts [Emphasis mine]:

In the annals of judicial imperialism, we have arrived at a strange new chapter. A California court ruled this month that parents cannot &#8220;home [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/03/28/certifying-parents/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Dumbing Down Tennessee</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Over and over again, we talk about how to educate the children of this nation.  We we want standards teacher, unions, administrators and their paid legislators dumb down the test, norm the scores or just flat out lower standards.  Tennessee legislators are this time trying to lower standards so the poor overworked children [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/03/28/dumbing-down-tennessee/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Florida: ACLU Sues School District Over Graduation Rates</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In a wonderful twist of irony, the ACLU is suing Florida School Districts over their abysmal education outcomes and graduation rates.  They are in fact using the same phrase from the teachers contracts that the teacher unions used to get the voucher system thrown out.  (Hat tip: Liberty Is For Me) The phrase [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/03/20/florida-aclu-sues-school-district-over-graduation-rates/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Teacher Salaries Site Update</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For those of you who love the teachers salary website, The Champion, check out their newly designed website at ChampionNews.net.  Well done, the site is even better with many news resources as well the great data on teachers salaries.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/03/18/teacher-salaries-site-update/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Lake County Forums</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Starting tonight Lake County is holding forums around the county where residents can express their opinions about the future of Lake County.  Tonights forum is in Highland Park.  You can see the full schedule at LakeCountyPedia.com.  
For those of you who have not found LakeCountyPedia.com yet, it is described as &#8220;The Encyclopedia [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/03/18/lake-county-forums/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>CA Court of Appeals: Thereâ€™s No Right to Homeschool</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Today the CA Court of Appeals said  (Hat tip: Liberty Is For Me)



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


â€œParents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children.â€




The Courts are once again ruling against the rights of the individual and forcing the will of the State onto its residents.  This is Judicial tyranny and it has to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/03/06/ca-court-of-appeals-there%e2%80%99s-no-right-to-homeschool/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Education Funding Reform &#8211; Tax Swap HB750</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The yearly effort by Illinois Legislators to raise your taxes under the guise of Education Reform has returned.  this time it is under a new name SB2288.  You can read the full bill and see its co-sponsors at the General Assembly website.  The Senate Education Committee votes tomorrow, Wednesday afternoon on this [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/02/26/education-funding-reform-tax-swap-hb750/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Review</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
I received a free copy of The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian movie tie-in Edition which includes the Narnia Chronology.  I was already a fan of Narnia and was looking forward to the second movie about the books.  When I received the book, I immediately opened the chronology.  I wish this resource [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/02/24/chronicles-of-narnia-prince-caspian-review/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I know this is off topic, but I was asked to pass this along.  I know some of my readers are also fans of the  Chronicles of Narnia.  




&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Before The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is brought to life on screen this coming May, â€œRead It Before You See Itâ€ and explore [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/02/05/chronicles-of-narnia-prince-caspian/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Big Hollow Information</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There have been several letters to the editor in  the Daily Herald the past few days.  They can be found here, here and here.  Two of the three rely more on an emotional appeal than facts.  This is because they appear to be scared of what the district will do next [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/02/02/big-hollow-misinformation/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>School Finance</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, the Daily Herald did a 10 piece story on School Finance in the State of Illinois.

Public schools&#8217; revenue growth outpaces inflation
Chapter 2: Unequal state equalizer
Chapter 3: Suburban taxpayers&#8217; heavy share
Chapter 4: 1 of every 2 education dollars stays in classroom
Chapter 5: Non-class costs weigh heavy on schools
Chapter 6: Administrator pay vs. teacher paySuper pay [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2008/01/14/school-finance/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Illinois FOIA Training?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Watch this video and see what tactics you recognize and see for yourself why this would be a possible training session for school districts and other taxing bodies would receive on the Illinois FOIA law.

I outlined the procedures shown based on tactics used against me when I made FOIA requests over the past couple of [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/12/09/illinois-foia-training/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Levies: How Taxing Bodies Act Like Children</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As I mentioned in my post entitled &#8220;Taxing U and Me Into Extenction Why?&#8220;, Lake County has the highest taxes in the Midwest.  Since it is Levy time again I dediced to make a video that show how schools and other taxing bodies act like children when it comes to money.  They basically [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/12/08/levies-how-taxing-bodies-act-like-children/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Taxing U and Me into Extinction Why?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The title of this post comes from the sign below.  It is being displayed on a Grayslake business and is very timely.

There are many people complaining about how much there assessments have risen this year.  They know this means their taxes will go up in the spring.  I have heard many times [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/12/05/taxing-u-and-me-into-extinction-why/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Big Hollow Wants Your Money</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Sorry for the light blogging.  I have been on vacation and have now returned.  I will be catching up over the coming weeks and will start with the Big Hollow School District.
The Big Hollow School District 38 has made it official, they are putting another referendum on the ballot.  This time for [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/12/03/big-hollow-wants-your-money/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Do Suburban Schools Produce Better Educated Students?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Do suburban schools produce better educated students? According to most parents they do.  However, the Wall Street Journal reports that a study by the Pacific Research Institute shows that suburban schools are Worse Than You Think (Hat tip: Extreme Wisdom) [Emphasis mine].



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Conventional wisdom holds that upscale communities tend to have â€œgoodâ€ schools, and parents [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/11/11/do-suburban-schools-produce-better-educated-students/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Blank Check Society</title>
		<description><![CDATA[While reading this weeks Carnival of Education  I came across a post entitled, Unable to educate.  As I read it, all I could think about was how we have become a blank check society.  The hallmark of this society is that the government has a blank check they can use to take [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/11/04/the-blank-check-society/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>NAEP Scores: Why Do We Tolerate Poor Teaching Performance?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The NAEP scores (Nation&#8217;s Report Card) were released this week.  Of course the Executive Summary for Math and Reading talk about the gains made over previous years.  Once you click through the charts and State comparisons you can finally discover how effective children are actually being taught in our Public Government Schools.  [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/10/31/naep-scores-why-do-we-tolerate-poor-teaching-performance/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake School Board Returns Money to Taxpayers</title>
		<description><![CDATA[UPDATE:  Also read the Daily Herald article today.
The Grayslake Elementary Distrct 46 School Board voted 4-3 tonight to return nearly six million, nine hundred thousand dollars to the taxpayers.  Voting to return the amount that was in excess of what the voters approved in 1999 were Jill Rohrer, Kristen Coe-Peek, Sue Facklam and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/10/29/grayslake-school-board-returns-money-to-taxpayers/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Hypocrisy and Arrogance of Public School Adminstrators</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Public schools like to champion diversity and freedom of thought.  Yet, it is very clear in most cases that the freedom of thought and diversity has it limits.  The limit is almost always reached when it comes to parents questioning educational material given to students or when a single or minority of students [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/10/25/the-hypocrisy-and-arrogance-of-public-school-adminstrators/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Board Packets</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I have finally been able to catch up on loading the board packets for both District 127 and District 46 school board meetings.  You can review them yourself from the document links at D127News.com and D46News.com.  
It is a shame that a taxpayer has to continually FOIA these documents and provide them to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/10/15/board-packets/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Achievement Trap</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Jacke Kent Cooke Foundation, along with Civic Enterprises, LLC released a report on Sept. 10 on the Achievement Trap: How America is Failing Millions of High-Achieving Students form Lower-income Families.  You can read their Press Release and look at the entire Report.  I have excerpts of both below along with my opinions. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/10/05/the-achievement-trap/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Dance of the Math Lemons</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This past spring the National Math Panel met in Aurora, IL.  One of the speakers was Kevin Killion, Director of the Illinois Loop.  For those of you who have never head of this group, they are a group of parents, teachers, and school board members who provide informational resources about what curriculum is [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/10/01/dance-of-the-math-lemons/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Carnival of Open Records</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I am honored this week with the pleasure and responsibility of hosting the Carnival of Open Records
The Freedom of Information Act should really be named the Freedom From Information Act.  If you don&#8217;t believe me read the stories below of journalist, lawyers, and regular citizens who attempt to access open records.

Andrew Spencer&#8217;s gives his [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/09/27/carnival-of-open-records/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Big Hollow After Taxpayers Wallets Again</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The School Board in Big Hollow School District 38 still has not gotten the message that they need to control spending instead of using threats to harm the education of the district&#8217;s children or using the taxpayers as their open wallet.  They will once again put a tax increase on the ballot in February.



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


INGLESIDE [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/09/25/big-hollow-after-taxpayers-wallets-again/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Universal Health Care, Child Care, and Preschool For Every Child?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I read the following statement over at The Tempered Radical:
As a society that claims to be interested in leaving no child behind, significant efforts should be directed at closing the socioeconomic gaps that exist between the rich and the poor in our country. Until we drive meaningful changes in high-needs communitiesâ€”providing universal health care, child [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/09/24/universal-health-care-child-care-and-preschool-for-every-child/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Dumbing Down Summer Reading Lists</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Reading is a gateway to open the imagination of the mind for children to explore other worlds, travel into the future and the past, learn our history, and learn lessons of life.  During the summer teachers across the country hand out reading assignments to encourage students minds to expand, explore and learn.  The [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/09/22/dumbing-down-summer-reading-lists/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Upside of Less Education Funding?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[While reviewing articles for the 132nd Carnival of Education, I found the DeHavilland Blog asking &#8220;Can you think of anything that would do more to ensure the viability and vibrancy of public education in the future?&#8221;.  Brett asked this question at the end of his argument the upside of less education funding.  Here [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/09/20/the-upside-of-less-education-funding/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>How to Upset a Teacher!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There are many ways to upset a teacher.  But one way is to suggest that they or their spouses cannot vote or negotiate contracts if elected to a school board.  The quote that riled Mr. Ferriter is the following (See comments in my original post):



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


    In my opinion, the teachers [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/09/06/how-to-upset-a-teacher/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>NCLB: Your Comments Wanted</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Committee on Education and Labor has released its&#8217; discussion draft on the Title I changes for NCLB (Elementary and Secondary Education Act).  You can view the summary if you don&#8217;t want to read the full draft.  
A couple of quick items I noticed in the summary were the following [Emphasis mine]:




&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Multiple Indicators/Assessments [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/09/02/nclb-your-comments-wanted/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>U.S. Drops Out of TIMMS</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I recently learned that the U.S. has quietly decided to withdraw from TIMSS. (Hat tip: Extreme Wisdom)  TIMSS is the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study, which is an international test designed to compare 4th and 8th grade students.
Americans took note when Bill Gates said last spring that American schools needed to beef up [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/08/23/us-drops-out-of-timms/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Drugging Children</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, I wrote about the increased use of Ritalin in schools.  This is being done to make children fit into a one-size-fits all system.  In reference to this I had the following comment posted under a post about Big Hollow Schools [Emphasis mine]:



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


I am the mother of a special ed child returning to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/08/21/drugging-children/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Big Hollow Debate</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I have had a commenter, Adam Casbarian, who claims to be a Big Hollow Schools District resident debating me on the situation at Big Hollow.  I am moving this dialogue up to a full post for those who do not look back to older posts.  First, he tried to answer myself and some [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/08/20/big-hollow-debate/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>132nd Carnival of Education</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I am honored to host the 132nd Carnival of Education.  Carnivals are festive events with roller coasters, slides, games, and food.  There is always something for everyone.  You get to pick and choose according to your tastes.  That is how I view the Carnival of Education; a place where all education [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/08/15/132nd-carnival-of-education/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Are Learning Styles a Scam?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We have all heard the hype about learning styles and how teachers have to identify and then teach each child according to their style of learning.  Of course this is then joined with calls for lower class sizes and more money to fund it.  The question though, is whether teaching with a particular [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/08/14/are-learning-styles-a-scam/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Educating Children, Revitalizing Neighborhoods</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In Helena, Arkansas the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) is once again proving there alternative teaching methods can succeed in poverty stricken areas. The students are excelling and the town itself is being revitalized because of this. [Emphasis Mine]



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Helena&#8217;s KIPP school is working in two ways. First, it&#8217;s educating the kids. An important task for [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/08/13/educating-children-revitalizing-neighborhoods/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Parental Gall vs Parents Ingenutiy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In the Opinion section of the Daily Herald this weekend was the following paragraph:



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Parental gall:
Heaven forbid Erik Wolfâ€™s parents might tell him to â€œdeal with itâ€ or take out a personal loan if they think their sonâ€™s dream of being a tennis pro is so important. Begging on the Internet for others to help pay [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/08/12/parental-gall-vs-parents-ingenutiy/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>What Can the Schools of Washington DC Teach Us?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[To see what the Washington DC Schools can teach us lets first look at some of their financial data as outlined in the article from National Center for Education Statistics (NCES):



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;



Spends $15,414 per student (Nation Average &#8211; $8,899)
Receives $2,383 per student in Federal Subsidies (National Average &#8211; $864)
Spends $1,869 per student on â€œcapital outlaysâ€
Spends $1,464 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/08/10/what-can-the-schools-of-washington-dc-teach-us/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>D127 School Board Vacancy Interviews</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Initial interviews for the D127 school board vacancy will be held tomorrow night, August 9th starting at 6 pm in room B156 at Grayslake North High School.  I had asked for a list of the candidates, but it was not provided.  
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/08/08/d127-school-board-vacancy-interviews/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Carnival of Education</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The 131st Carnival of Education is underway down at Education in Texas.  Next week, I will be hosting the carnival right here.  Don&#8217;t forget to get your submissions to me by 10 pm Eastern time next Tuesday, August 14th.  You can email them to me at &#108;&#101;&#110;&#110;&#105;&#101;&#064;&#101;&#100;&#117;&#099;&#097;&#116;&#105;&#111;&#110;&#109;&#097;&#116;&#116;&#101;&#114;&#115;&#046;&#117;&#115; or use this handy submission [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/08/08/carnival-of-education/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Why a Dad Wrote a Math Book</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We spend over $500 billion dollars in this country educating our children.  Yet, it takes a fed up father to rewrite a textbook for kids to be taught properly.  What are the companies who write curriculum doing?  Who is actually writing the textbooks being used today?  Where are all the educrats [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/08/08/why-a-dad-wrote-a-math-book/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Can We Compete?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In an NEA cover story for July entitled â€œCan We Compete?â€, there are several comments I would like to discuss.  The article is 6 pages long and rambles on, mostly about how testing is bad. [Emphasis mine]



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


The fear of competition is nothing new. In March 1958, a year after Russia launched Sputnik, the cover [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/30/can-we-compete/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>LTE: Parents, School District Wrong</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I recently sent a Letter to the Editor of the Herald News.  It was published on July 18th. I wanted to post it here as well.



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Parents, school district wrong
I found your July 8 story about the enrollment officer in the Plainfield School District to be very one-sided in favor of the school district. I [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/28/lte-parents-school-district-wrong/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>It&#8217;s The System, Not The Children</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Most of you have probably read Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.  Have you ever thought about how these truly American boys would be treated in todayâ€™s government schools?  One Doctor has contemplated this.  Below is what he has concluded.
â€œWould Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn be on Ritalin today?&#8221; asks child psychiatrist Dr. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/27/its-the-system-not-the-children/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>School House Rocks</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I came across three videos on YouTube today.  They are linked below are pretty much hit describe public government schools today.
Nouns:



Substoot Teacher:



Dysfunction Junction (Read the post at Extreme Wisdom that talks about drugging our children):



]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/26/school-house-rocks/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake D127 School Board Opening</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Grayslake High school District 127 School Board the specifics can be found at the district website or in the announcement below which was emailed to me by district staff.



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


The District 127 Board of Education is announcing a vacancy on the Board.
The Board of Education [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/24/grayslake-d127-school-board-opening/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Wanted: Malleable School Board Member to Fill Recent Vacancy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The letter to the editor below is how one Naperville District 203 resident believes the requirements are for a person to fill their vacant seat.



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Fiscal watchdogs need not apply
Wanted: malleable school board member to fill recent vacancy.
With an operating budget exceeding $200 million and declining student enrollment, District 203 is now taking applications from people [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/21/wanted-malleable-school-board-member-to-fill-recent-vacancy/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>School Misconduct and Market Accountability</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In a recent study by the Friedman Foundation entitled â€œDisruptive Behavior: An Empirical Evaluation of School Misconduct and Market Accountabilityâ€ the objective was to find out if Market Accountability was a good regulator of school conduct as compared to Bureaucratic Accountability used with our government school monopoly.  (Hat tip: Extreme Wisdom)  
I will [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/19/school-misconduct-and-market-accountability/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Legislative Committee Hearings</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There are hearings being held in the Senate Education Committee today through friday.  (Hat tip: Students First)



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Senate Education Committee Hearing Notice: TODAY, 7/18, 7/19, 7/20
Jul 17, 2007 11:00 AM
Location: 212 Capitol, Springfield
Subject Matter: TESTIMONY WILL BE HEARD REGARDING: School Board members&#8217; perspective on FY2008 education spending and its impact on school budgeting and planning. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/17/legislative-committee-hearings/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Money is Not the Answer</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you listen to anyone in the education establishment and most politicians running for office all you hear is how we need to fund our schools better.  We hear about the gaps between rich suburbs and poor inner city schools.  We hear about all the unfunded mandates like NCLB.  We hear about [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/13/money-is-not-the-answer/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Lake Zurich D95</title>
		<description><![CDATA[


&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


District 95 needs a business approach  July 9th
If in 2007, General Motors had produced fewer cars than in 2002, stockholders would expect changes to be made.
They would expect fewer employees and along with that, fewer managers. It would not be unexpected if salaries and hiring were frozen. Ways would be found to cut costs. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/12/lake-zurich-d95/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Big Hollow Cuts Art and Music</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Big Hollow school board has finally made it official.  They are cutting Art and Music.



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


The beleaguered Big Hollow school board, faced with uncomfortable choices to help balance the Ingleside district&#8217;s budget, voted unanimously Monday night to eliminate all art and music classes for the 2007-08 school year.
The District 38 board also voted to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/11/big-hollow-cuts-art-and-music/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Equal Access To a Good Education</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Iâ€™m sure that we all can agree that the overwhelming majority of parents want the best education they can get for their children.  Because of this some parents will lie about where they live; some change living arrangements during the school year; some have boundary changes forced upon them; and some are forced to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/11/equal-access-to-a-good-education/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>LTE: School District Leases Car for Superintendent</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There was a letter to the editor in the Daily Herald a couple of days ago.  In it, the writer revealed that the St. Charles school board will be leasing a car for their Superintendent.   



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Car costs too much for school district
I was appalled to read in the Daily Herald last week [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/07/07/lte-school-district-leases-car-for-superintendent/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Ruling in Illinois Energy Consortium Case</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The ruling in the Tarsitano v. District 211 case was handed down today.  The judge ruled in favor of allowing the education bureaucracy to hand energy contracts to whomever they wish even if it costs the taxpayers more money.  
The following is an excerpt from the email I received about the ruling [Emphasis [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/06/22/ruling-in-illinois-energy-consortium-case/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Chicago Public School Tax Curriculum</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you remember, back in early May, I had a report on the Teacher and Student rally asking for more money from the State.   To refresh your memory, the Chicago Public Schools bused in thousands of students to be a part of the rally.  They claimed it was a civics field trip [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/06/18/chicago-public-school-tax-curriculum/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Board Meeting Notes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/06/17/board-meeting-notes-2/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Grayslake Elementary Facilities</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I have just uploaed the board packet from the June 11th board meeting along with the facilities discussion presentation.  It seems the administration is going back to the drawing board on the Avon and Woodview expansion plans.  The plan to add space to these schools orginally took place in October of 2006.  [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/06/17/grayslake-elementary-facilities/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Illinois Energy Consortium Update</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The court ruling on the Tarsitano V. D211 was delayed until June 22nd.  I will update you on the ruling when it is made available.  If you do not know about this case, then review the documentation at Illinois Energy Consortium website.
]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/06/15/illinois-energy-consortium-update/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Big Hollow News Roundup</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here are the latest stories about school board punishing the children because the parents didn&#8217;t agree to give them more money (Hat tip: Preserve Big Hollow):

Now Big Hollow feels the pain &#8211; Daily Herald 05/25/07
Shorter school day minus lunch, art, sports for Big Hollow School District &#8211; News Sun 05/26/07
Cuts may eat up lunch, phys [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/06/15/big-hollow-news-roundup/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Why The Dept of Education Should Be Abolished</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Dept. of Education should be abolished. It is ineffective in handling its own budget and contractors. [Emphasis mine]



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


The contract, managed by the chief information officer and the Contracts and Acquisitions Management Office under the chief financial officer, lacks effective incentives and disincentives for timely enforcement of an acceptable level of performance, the IG reports.
Education [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/06/05/why-the-dept-of-education-should-be-abolished/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Homeschoolers Win National Spelling and Geography Bee</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Evan O&#8217;Dorney won the 80th Scripps National Spelling Bee and Caitlin Snaring won the 19th National Geographic Bee.
Homeschoolers represent a much larger percentage in the the National Spelling Bee than the do in education choice.



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Of the 286 students who will compete in the National Spelling Bee next week, 36 are home schooled. While only 3 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/06/04/homeschoolers-win-national-spelling-and-geography-bee/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Big Hollow Violates Open-Meetings Law</title>
		<description><![CDATA[According to a report in the Chicago Tribune today, the Big Hollow School Board violated the open meetings law and possible some school codes. [Emphasis mine]



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


When Big Hollow School District 38 officials voted to cut lunch, gym, recess, the arts and extracurricular activities, among other programs, they violated a state open-meetings law and may have [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/05/31/big-hollow-violate-open-meetings-law/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Big Hollow: LTE</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There is another poignant letter to the editor today in the Daily Herald about the situation in Big Hollow.



&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;


Many questions on Dist. 38 decisions
My family and I live in Big Hollow Elementary School District 38, where the school board recently announced it will make dramatic cuts in the educational program for the upcoming school year.
The [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/05/31/big-hollow-lte/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Round Lake and the IEC</title>
		<description><![CDATA[While researching the no-bid energy contracts, I was informed that Round Lake Unit School District 116 was a member of the IEC.  I have FOIAed there information and found this was true.  They joined the IEC back in 1999, renewed with them in 2003 and 2005.  From the documentation I was given [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://educationmatters.us/2007/05/28/round-lake-and-the-iec/</link>
			</item>
</channel>
</rss>

