For 6 months, I’ve followed ELLIS, a Bronx HS for newcomers, to understand what it means to educate immigrant students in Trump’s second term. Proud to share the 1st of 2 stories about ELLIS, Bridget, an undocumented teen, & the fight to keep her education alive. www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

Amid a budget crunch, CPS is ending all private custodial contracts and bringing those services in-house — and cutting 480 custodial jobs. www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

With @sammiesmylie.bsky.social: Illinois lawmakers offer no quick solutions for CPS during district finances hearing www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

CPS laid off 1,458 school employees today. CPS expects most to find jobs at other schools before the start of the year and is also creating retention pools, including for special education teachers + SECAs. CTU said most of its members will also have the chance to be rehired.

District officials haven't said when they’ll be able to pay teachers retroactive raises for last school year and more layoffs could be looming as CPS works to close a $734 million deficit.

Head Start preschools to bar children with undocumented parents under new Trump rule

What do Chicagoans want from the next leader of CPS? High-quality instruction, safe schools, and good communication — according to a survey of 2,700 people www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

The Trump administration is withholding ~$7B from K-12 schools, from @kalynbelsha.bsky.social That includes: -$2.2B for teacher training -$1.4B for before- and after-school programs -$1.3B for academic enrichment programs -*All* $890M for English learners www.chalkbeat.org/2025/07/01/t...

Waiting To Learn: How Bilingual Education In Chicago Falls Short blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/05/w... via @reemadamin.bsky.social, @minabloom.bsky.social & Kae Petrin/ @chalkbeat.org & @blockclubchi.bsky.social

Chicago's school board is currently considering 5 people for the job of interim CEO of Chicago Public Schools. Multiple candidates are from within CPS, and one is from the mayor's office, sources tell us. They all have superintendent's licenses. www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

Groundbreaking + critical reporting from @alexzimmerman.bsky.social: "NYC's public schools routinely flout federal rules designed to prevent schools from removing children from class for long periods due to behavior related to their disabilities." www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

NEW: Hundreds of layoffs could be ahead for CPS schools as the district explores ways to close a $529 million budget gap next school year www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

CPS CEO Pedro Martinez is one step closer to becoming the next top education official in Massachusetts. He plans to take the job once it's formally offered and after negotiating a contract. He will finish out the school year at CPS. www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

This is at least the second public education job that Martinez has sought and been shortlisted for since he was fired without cause in December. He and the other two finalists will interview for the job during a public meeting on Thursday.

Chicago Board of Education votes to save 5 of 7 Acero charter schools slated for closure https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/02/28/school-board-votes-to-save-5-acero-charter-schools/

"The number of tiny schools has exploded in recent years as enrollment plummeted during the pandemic and has not rebounded" @chalkbeat www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

ICYMI last night: ICE and ATF agents arrested a father doing school dropoff near two Acero charter schools on the Southwest Side of Chicago, according to school principals and local elected officials. We have not yet heard back from ICE or ATF. www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

After months of uncertainty for hundreds of parents and kids at Acero schools, the Chicago Board of Education will vote this week on a resolution to save 4 of the 7 campuses slated for closure, which would walk back a plan the old board passed in December. www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

McMahon's investments in municipal bonds funding school construction projects include the following in Illinois: Joliet Junior College, Franklin Park School District, River Trails School District, and Waukegan Community Unit School District 60

www.chalkbeat.org/colorado/202... Denver Public Schools sues feds to stop immigration enforcement at schools, “sensitive locations”

A sampling of the reader responses to my reporting about DOGE's cuts to education research & data-gathering at the U.S. Department of Education (original story here: www.chalkbeat.org/2025/02/11/e...)

Scoop from @reemadamin.bsky.social: CPS CEO Pedro Martinez is one of six candidates in the running for superintendent of schools in Clark County, Nevada, the nation's fifth largest school district. www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

Scoop: CPS CEO Pedro Martinez is one of six candidates vying for a job as superintendent of Clark County schools in Nevada www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

BREAKING: Mayor Johnson will testify before the GOP-controlled U.S. House Oversight Committee about Chicago's self-proclaimed status as a sanctuary city on March 5, alongside mayors from Boston, Denver, and New York. @wttw.bsky.social BACKGROUND:

Chicago Public Schools chief of safety and security Jadine Chou reflects on her 14-year tenure https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/02/03/a-conversation-with-cps-chief-of-safety-jadine-chou/

Hey! Amid....everything we are HIRING for an education reporter here in Philly. There could not be a more important time to focus on local ed issues and I think Chalkbeat is a really incredible place to get to do that. Let me know if you're interested or have questions and please spread the word!

How are Chicago schools responding to increased immigration enforcement? Here are five examples. https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/01/30/how-chicago-schools-are-responding-to-deportation-threats/

Reema and I are looking into how Trump's EOs on immigration is impacting school communities. Here is just a first of many stories to come from us this year Also, feel free to send us tips!

Gonna finally try to start using this platform. My colleague @sammiesmylie.bsky.social and I tried to understand how schools in Chicago — a target for Trump's deportation plans — are trying to convince reticent families that their schools are safe. www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

Do I have to share my child's immigration status with the school? No. Can ICE enter the school? Yes, but the bar to entry is high. Useful info from @reemadamin.bsky.social & @sammiesmylie.bsky.social www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...