State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith appears on “Chicago Tonight” on Jan. 11, 2018.

Tony Smith announced Tuesday that his contract will not be renewed after it ends on Jan. 31, bringing to a close his nearly four-year term as Illinois’ schools chief.

State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith appears on “Chicago Tonight” on Jan. 11.

Approving a new evidence-based funding model for public education last year was the first step in improving Illinois’ long-broken formula. Now the state has to find a way to pay for it.

Gov. Bruce Rauner used his veto pen this week to rewrite a bill making minor technical changes to the state’s new and much-debated school funding formula. State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith joins us.

On top of announcing its 2017 PARCC results, the Illinois State Board of Education says it plans to stick with the exam that critics have called confusing and unreliable.

(Chicago Tonight)

After dozens of listening sessions and meetings, the Illinois State Board of Education announced it has submitted its plan to replace the No Child Left Behind Act to the federal government for review.

(Chicago Tonight)

Six Chicago Public Schools will take part in a new pilot program that lets students move at their own pace as they focus on mastering educational skills rather than spending set amounts of time in the classroom.

A report released this week by the Chicago Urban League shows minority students in the state are still as likely to attend a racially segregated school today as they would have been 60 years ago.

Illinois State Board of Education Superintendent Tony Smith joins Chicago Tonight to talk about changing the state's school funding formula and setting a high bar for students.

(Chicago Tonight)

The head of the Illinois State Board of Education will soon have a say in policy issues at the national level.

The 2016 PARCC assessment showed Illinois students in grades 3-12 improved slightly in math over a year ago, but fell behind in English language arts. (Pexels)

Math scores up, English scores down over 2015 results

State superintendent says there is "considerable distance to travel" to make sure students are prepared for life after high school following new PARCC assessment results.