Illinois Policy Unpacked

What does ethical leadership look like in public service, and how can students learn to recognize it?

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, host Kristen Chandler speaks with Steve Schwinn, an affiliate of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs and professor of law at the University of Illinois Chicago. A nationally recognized expert in constitutional law, civil rights, and civics education, Schwinn discusses a new high school curriculum on ethics in government developed through a partnership among IGPA, the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government, and UIC’s Instructional Design Studio.

Using the case of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as a real-world example, the curriculum helps students examine ethical decision-making, public accountability, and the responsibilities of government leaders. The conversation explores how case-based learning can strengthen civic engagement and prepare the next generation to navigate complex questions about ethics and democracy.

Access the ethics curriculum: https://bit.ly/3WsomIA

On this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Jacinda Dariotis, professor of human development and family studies at Illinois, discusses her research on how just 20 minutes a week of low-cost mindfulness and relaxation programming can support the wellbeing of students, teachers, and even parents. She explores Illinois’ new student relaxation law, the evidence behind school-based mindfulness, and policy recommendations to help schools effectively foster positive coping and wellbeing.

Read the full report here >>

Illinois has launched a new statewide numeracy plan aimed at strengthening math education for students across the state. In this episode, researchers Phi Nguyen (UIC) and Erica Mason (Illinois) discuss the reasoning behind the plan, their role in its development, and how it could improve outcomes for students across Illinois.

Read the full report: https://bit.ly/3T0oWvB

In this episode, pediatric anesthesiologist Helen Lee discusses the vital role fluoridated water plays in preventing tooth decay and protecting children's health. Drawing on her experience caring for children, especially those enrolled in Medicaid who often face barriers to dental care, she explains the consequences communities can face when fluoridation is removed, the potential costs for Illinois if it were discontinued, and the scientific debate surrounding the recent National Toxicology Program report on fluoride and neurological health.

Read the full report: https://bit.ly/4eBQBew
Learn more about Dr. Lee's PROTECT Lab: https://sites.google.com/uic.edu/protect/home

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Eve Rips, an assistant professor at UIC Law, shines a light on the consequences of K-12 discipline records in college admissions and professional licensure. Rips recommends two policy solutions to ease these inequities. Read her latest report with IGPA here >>

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, host Kristen Chandler speaks with Craig De Voto, research assistant professor at the Learning Sciences Research Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago. De Voto unpacks how Illinois schools used federal ESSER funds distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic to address learning loss, what results those investments have produced, and what’s policy recommendations could address the impending education funding crisis. 

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, host Kristen Chandler speaks with Brian Gaines, Honorable W. Russell Arrington Professor in State Politics for the University of Illinois system. Gaines details his latest policy analysis exploring partisan preferences toward ranked choice voting, along with its potential impact to Illinois, the Republican and Democratic parties, and American voters.  

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Richard Funderburg, professor of public management and policy at the University of Illinois Springfield, and Paula Worthington, senior policy advisor at the Civic Federation and lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, discuss Illinois’ growing transit budget crisis. They examine ridership trends since the pandemic and explore both short and long-term policy solutions to ensure the sustainability of public transportation across the state.

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Mina Raj, assistant professor of kinesiology and community health at Illinois, stresses the importance of integrating caregivers into the healthcare system. She highlights how implementing the CARE Act benefits states, patients, caregivers, and health systems, while also outlining some solutions for policy improvement.

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Jeremy Riel, assistant professor of educational psychology at UIC, dives into the evolving AI policy landscape in Illinois. He highlights the goals of IGPA’s new science and technology working group, which he co-leads, and shares how his recent grant will empower educators and lawmakers to better navigate emerging technologies for the public good.