Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills is celebrating notable academic progress at the beginning of the 2026-27 academic year. In the 2025-26 period, District 228 reported a 99% OnTrack rate for freshmen and a 99% course pass rate in both semesters. The school’s graduation rate rose to 91%, showing improvement from the previous year....
A new food pantry named Gathering Resources and Offering Vital Essentials (GROVE) has opened at Waubonsee Community College’s Sugar Grove campus. This initiative aims to assist students facing food insecurity. Supported by local donations and partnerships with area food banks, the pantry also benefits from a student-led farming project involving raised gardens that provide fresh...
Parents frequently seek each other’s guidance on various topics, including college expenses. As tuition costs climb and federal student loans become more restricted, advice from parents with experience is invaluable. Deciding whether to attend expensive private institutions like New York University or opt for more affordable public universities is a dilemma some students face. In...
Alpha School, a private network known for replacing traditional classroom education with AI and adaptive learning software, is broadening its reach across the United States. Currently, campuses are operational or being launched in 16 states. Instead of conventional lectures, students complete core subjects using personalized software, while adult staff members, called ‘guides,’ provide support, mentoring,...
A fresh proposal in Congress aims to automatically enroll struggling federal student loan borrowers into more affordable repayment plans. The Streamlining Income-Driven, Manageable Payments on Loans for Education (SIMPLE) Act addresses rising student loan delinquencies following the end of pandemic relief measures. Why It Matters Defaulting on federal student loans can have severe repercussions, such...
As New York teachers unions prepare to protest Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan to participate in a federal tax-credit scholarship program, Sydney Altfield, CEO of Teach Coalition, addressed what they consider to be “misconceptions” surrounding the policy. Altfield emphasized the importance of understanding the facts, stating, “People who genuinely want to help children succeed will understand...
The increasing cost of living might silently catch up with you, similar to unnoticed mold in your refrigerator. Questions may arise about your recent choices, such as joining multiple subscription services, frequent online shopping, or ordering food delivery more often. Without much realization, these expenses accumulate, forming larger bills monthly. This is termed ‘lifestyle creep’...
Universities today are facing an erosion of public trust. This concern arises when political beliefs overshadow objective truth. Such a shift may lead to skepticism about the credibility of higher education institutions. Daniel Diermeier, the chancellor of Vanderbilt University, emphasizes this issue. Often, when an analysis resonates deeply, the reactions it provokes only underscore its...
The promise to ‘Never Forget’ the 9/11 attacks now hinges on education for over 100 million Americans who have no memory of that day. To address this challenge, the Pentagon will break ground on a Visitor Education Center at one of the three 9/11 attack sites that currently lacks a museum or education center. The...
Jessica Rule and Javon Phillips, both 18, embarked on new academic journeys this year. Rule began her studies in musical theater at Illinois State University, while Phillips left his Austin community for Northern Illinois University to pursue a future in computer science. Both were former students at West Garfield’s Legal Prep Charter Academy, where they...