East St. Louis School District 189

In March, the Trump administration announced it would no longer release remaining pandemic-era funding to states, which has left the district on the hook for over $19 million in repairs to heating and cooling systems in schools.

East St. Louis School District 189 stood to lose the most money — $19 million for a major HVAC project — of any Illinois district. The district's spokeswoman said the judge's decision is "encouraging."

Five schools in East St. Louis are all set to lose their after-school programs. If that happens, just two of the district’s programs will be left, and approximately 300 students will be impacted.

If federal dollars were to disappear, union members and the congresswoman say classroom sizes could get bigger with fewer teachers and resources for students with special needs.

Little Rock Nine member Thelma Mothershed-Wair died this month in Arkansas. She taught in East St. Louis for nearly 20 years before retiring and working at the St. Clair County Jail and Juvenile Detention Center. She was 83.

Despite some progress in recent years, teacher diversity in Illinois continues to significantly lag the growing diversity of the student population.

The program was founded by Brianna Morales — the young East St. Louis teacher named the 2023 Illinois Teacher of the Year last spring.

According to the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools’ educator shortage survey from the previous academic year, more than 30% of open teacher, support staff and special education positions went un- or underfilled — the highest percentage in the six years.

Briana Morales, currently doctorate student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and a high school teacher in East St. Louis, is Illinois' 2023 Teacher of the Year.

In 2019, East St. Louis reported 36 homicides. The next year, Illinois State Police formed a partnership to help with criminal investigations and community partnerships. Last year, the city’s homicides dropped to 25.