Family Taxpayers Foundation

When we look at the data, without emotion or preconceived notions, we can readily see that it is unsustainable long-term without substantial changes in benefits and contributions. And we can also see that taxpayers have indeed done more than their share up to now and should not and cannot be asked to do more.

There is perhaps no more frustrating action against the public than teachers’ strikes. But unfortunately here in Illinois the news is replete with stories of strikes by teacher unions against IL school districts. And no wonder teachers strike since they cannot be fired for going on strike and if they do strike they get back-pay for any time missed.

Once again when we compare compensation of IL K-12 educators with other states we find an enormous gap. Just looking at IL vs. WI we see a $164,000 premium for IL top administrator salary compared to WI.

And in this particular case the $368,000 is more like $400,000 for IL top administrator, Harry Griffith from Lake Forest.

The district offer of 10% over the next 3 years is extremely generous plus the fact that the district pays the entire 10.3753% into the Teacher Retirement System on top of the salary. As a respected profession, and in these tough economic times, striking should not be an option with this offer.

What singular cause could bring together the likes of Democratic campaign strategist James Carville, Republican Governor Bobby Jindal (LA), actor Sacha Baron Cohen, and 2,000 families, all under one roof? The answer: school choice — empowering parents with the ability to save their children from failing schools, thereby giving them a shot at a brighter future.

They swore revenge for his offenses, and last week Wisconsin Democrats delivered what they say are a million signatures for the recall of Republican Governor Scott Walker. If they do make the ballot and cause a recall vote as early as this spring, they'll have to campaign against reforms that have already saved taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and rescued the state from a budget crisis. Game on.

Education in America, particularly big-city education, is in crisis. Historians are already describing the decline of public education as a threat to the nation’s economy and military. And when the tragic scale of harm to racial minorities is considered, the education crisis is aptly labeled as the greatest civil rights challenge of the 21st century.

Indiana Superior Court Judge Michael Keele found that Indiana's School Choice Scholarship program doesn't violate the state constitution because Indiana isn't directly funding parochial schools. Instead, it gives scholarship vouchers to parents, who can choose where to use them.  About 4,000 children are currently enrolled in Indiana's voucher program