Read more about the article Federal civil rights investigation into University of Illinois web accessibility launched
A copy of the notification of a civil rights investigation launched by the Department of Education sent to Chancellor Robert Jones.

Federal civil rights investigation into University of Illinois web accessibility launched

The University of Illinois is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights because many university web pages are allegedly inaccessible to those with disabilities, according to an official notification sent to Chancellor Robert Jones on April 10.

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Read more about the article New law allows Illinois schools access to students’ social media passwordsDarrell Hoemann
Champaign Unit 4 school district attorney Tom Hockman with a screen of some of the district's digital media policies in his office in Champaign on Wednesday, April 1, 2015.

New law allows Illinois schools access to students’ social media passwords

Teenage cyberbullies across Illinois might want to think twice before posting anything mean or reckless on social media ever again. Illinois public school administrators now have the authority to demand a student’s social media account password if the school suspects the student of violating a disciplinary rule or policy, thanks to a new law implemented earlier this year.

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Read more about the article Free and reduced-cost lunches served up at Champaign County schoolsDarrell Hoemann
Peaches are served to a student at Booker T. Washington school in Champaign, Il on Monday, April 13, 2015.

Free and reduced-cost lunches served up at Champaign County schools

The number of children receiving free and reduced-cost lunches in Champaign County is on the rise as numbers across the country decline. Of the school districts that reported, more than 51 percent of children in the county are receiving free or reduced cost lunches, up 2 percent from 2014, according to state education data.

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Read more about the article Head Start, Early Head Start struggle with fundingDarrell Hoemann
Head Start director Cameron Moore in a classroom at the Champaign facility on Wednesday, April 1, 2015.

Head Start, Early Head Start struggle with funding

The Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Champaign County spent about $6.8 million last year to prepare young children from low-income families for kindergarten. But it is not enough. Although the programs serve nearly 600 children, there are still 230 on the waiting list.

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Read more about the article Second Chances at Urbana Adult EducationLuke Ray/For CU-CitizenAccess.org
Jackie Mills does not have a high school diploma. She is working on getting one through Urbana Adult Education. Spring 2014

Second Chances at Urbana Adult Education

By Luke Ray/For CU-CitizenAccess.org -- The Urbana Adult Education Center (UAEC) offers free high school, GED, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and other courses to adults…

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Read more about the article Native American student still anguished over campus attitudesPhoto courtesy of Suey Park.
Sandoval holds a sign outside of the Native American House during a University-sponsored "I stand for..." event last year.

Native American student still anguished over campus attitudes

Xochitl Sandoval is proud of her Native American heritage. She is not proud, however, of her campus's attitude toward her Native American heritage. Sandoval, a recent graduate of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, follows the Nahua tradition of her mother's heritage and has a Rararmuri background from her father. Through volunteering with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, Sandoval became interested in learning more about her indigenous culture.

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Read more about the article Native American student carries on retired Chief traditionDarrell Hoemann
Ivan Dozier Jr., graduate student at the University of Illinois and unofficial chief portrayer, stands on the south quad, June 2, 2014.

Native American student carries on retired Chief tradition

The first time Native American Ivan Dozier Jr. saw the Chief perform was at a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign football game that his father took him to when Dozier was a child. He said he was bored and restless. At halftime, Dozier remembered, he got up to get something to eat.

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Read more about the article Teacher still dedicated despite struggles with cutbacksDarrell Hoemann
Darla Frye with her daughter Lauren in her sixth grade classroom at Urbana Middle School on Thursday, November 14, 2013. photo by Darrell Hoemann/The Midwest Center for Investigative Journalism

Teacher still dedicated despite struggles with cutbacks

By Sal Nudo/For CU-CitizenAccess.org --  Mother and daughter enter the brightly lit Biggby Coffee shop on Mattis Avenue in Champaign. It’s a brisk October…

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