
Chicago public schools brace for budget cuts as enrollment continues to decline
Parents and community members say the reduction in resources will hurt students already struggling with the effects of the pandemic.
Parents and community members say the reduction in resources will hurt students already struggling with the effects of the pandemic.
A WBEZ analysis shows that 69% of the $536 million in federal COVID relief money CPS budgeted this year is unspent.
CPS says it’s giving low enrollment schools extra money and taking over $50 million in costs so principals can spend that money as they wish.
CPS is considering dropping part of its admissions process that benefits students who live in affluent Chicago neighborhoods.
Facing a lawsuit, CPS announced plans to lift its mask mandate. CPS is one of the few remaining districts in Illinois to require masks.
CPS will go mask optional on March 14. Vax rates are climbing, but only a quarter of schools have more than half of all students vaccinated.
Attendance has rebounded after plummeting last year, but hasn’t fully recovered. An early-college program is helping to keep students on track.
Hope Chicago is raising $1 billion over 10 years to provide scholarships for college or work programs to 24,000 students and 6,000 parents.
CPS had little to no public health infrastructure when COVID-19 hit. When it turned to the city, it found a similarly strained setup.
A former top adviser to the mayor, who is constantly at odds with the CTU, is involved with boosting a group opposing the CTU’s current leaders.