COVID

At least 30 minutes of recess is now required for Illinois elementary school students. We went down to a playground to find out why the requirement was controversial…and what games kids are playing these days.

Our podcast Teachers’ Lounge is on the radio! We’ve got all of the interviews with Illinois teachers and education stories you love -- along with exclusive segments -- in a monthly, hour-long show on WNIJ on the last Friday of each month at 11 a.m. You can also listen right here, right now!

“A lot of the struggle, whether we're talking math or science or English or anything, really boils down to a lot of social emotional impacts that the students experienced.”

As of now, they’re working with students in around 10 districts across northern Illinois. The federal funding expires in 2024, so there’s a sense of urgency to getting it up and running.

State Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala says student growth slowed dramatically during the first years of the pandemic. But in 2022 it bounced back and student growth was -- on average -- even slightly faster than it was in 2019.

“We're using some work technology, some different technology that we didn't use before, like the interactive screens. I put more music and my circle time activities, stuff like that," said educator Tracy King. "But really, the biggest difference is the time that everything takes to try to keep everyone safe and everything clean and everything."

DeKalb saw a spurt of violent crimes in August, as the city also has seen an increase in domestic and behavioral health related calls.

“We knew enrollment had taken a serious hit. I don't think we fully appreciated just how serious that decline was, even in those early grades and community colleges. I think we were concerned that those numbers are not bouncing back."

Joshua Nichols said he would be disappointed if Congress couldn’t compromise to continue the federal waivers.“That's going to add definitely another level of struggle to families. Now you're going to have to come up with a new solution on how to feed your kids.”

It's like 12, 13, or 14 hours of nonstop patient care, hardly sitting down and running from room to room,” she said. “It’s exhausting, mentally and physically -- and I'm only 24.”