RPS

This year’s Illinois Report Card was released Monday. It’s an online education database on every K-12 school in Illinois. Peter Medlin reports on what this year’s report card shows for the state’s 3rd-largest school district: Rockford Public Schools.

Hear in-depth interviews with educators nominated by our audience as well as exclusive segments like our student & classroom correspondents.

35 middle schoolers volunteered to be part of the Human Library; to share a story that in some way -- good or bad -- has defined their life.

The new school year begins at Rockford Public School on Thursday. But with it comes some last-minute schedule changes that are leaving some frustrated.

In the 2019-20 school year, 10% of all Rockford Public Schools students were considered homeless under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. That’s 2,800 students. For comparison, there were more Rockford students considered homeless than total students in the Dixon School District.

Rockford Police Officer Bradley Lauer will NOT be criminally charged for his use of force against a 14-year-old Rockford student in 2021. Lauer slammed the Auburn High School student’s head on the floor, fracturing their skull.

A growing number of schools are “growing-their-own” teachers as a solution to staff shortages. WNIJ’s Peter Medlin reports on a new initiative to “grow-your-own” principals too.

Several Illinois school districts received false school shooting threats on Wednesday. The "swatting" incidents spread real terror and trauma for students, staff and families.

The state’s 3rd-largest district knew it was suspending way too many students. Has a new code of conduct made a difference?

Three contested races for the Rockford Public Schools 205 are on the ballot this spring. Election Day is April 4th and early voting is underway. WNIJ surveyed the six candidates in those races on 13 questions around education in Rockford -- the state’s third-largest school district.