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DARK SECRETS: 2 - The Real Truth

To report on the impact of Chicago’s mass school closings, we turned to neighborhood residents

While City Hall and Chicago Public Schools put roadblocks in the way of reporting for the Sun-Times and WBEZ series, people who lived near the closed schools opened up with their stories.

Chicago Sun-Times

Here are the photos that helped us tell this year’s stories

Sun-Times photographers captured the biggest storylines in the Chicago area. Here’s a look back at some of 2023’s best photos.

Chicago Sun-Times

Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #90

Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving school board politics and governance.

Ballotpedia

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Activists praise Board of Ed’s push toward neighborhood schools, away from school choice

Many parents, students and public education advocates have long said the choice system creates “haves” and “have-nots” and leaves children competing with one another for resources.

Chicago Sun-Times

Brandon Johnson’s Board of Ed looks to move away from school choice, toward neighborhood schools

This would be a radical departure for a school system built around allowing parents to choose where their children attend. But it would be a welcome change for public education advocates.

Chicago Sun-Times

Former CPS teacher continued to sexually abuse students after suspension, suit alleges

Attorneys for two families say they were not notified that elementary teacher Andrew Castro had been removed from teaching in May 2021 over abuse allegations and that he continued abusing three boys outside school.

Chicago Sun-Times

CPS’ troubled special education department gets new leader

A celebrated principal of a high school for disabled teens and young adults has been tabbed to take over a department that serves 52,000 students.

Chicago Sun-Times

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All Illinois middle schoolers must pass a civics education class. How do you make sure it sticks?

CPS discourages civics tests based on rote memorization. Try a quiz using that approach — and see what schools are doing now instead.

Chicago Sun-Times

Truancy officers would help prevent chronic absenteeism in Chicago Public Schools

Having to stand before a judge and explain why a child is not regularly attending school is a great deterrent to chronic school absenteeism, a retired police officer writes.

Chicago Sun-Times

I was a CPS student in underserved neighborhoods, and I wasn’t prepared for college

Because the environment of a public school in an under-resourced neighborhood does not engage the minds of students, those who do enroll in college struggle, a former CPS student writes.

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Public Schools officials project $391 million deficit next year when COVID-19 relief funds run out

District leaders and Board of Education officials have warned of a financial cliff approaching next school year. Federal COVID-19 relief funds had papered over a structural deficit that officials estimate will reach $691 million. Only $300 million in federal funding is left to offset that,

Chicago Sun-Times

School bus driver shortage still hits Chicago families hard

CPS has boosted pay to attract bus driver candidates and has hundreds of open positions. Chicago isn’t alone: The driver shortage affects school districts in every state.

Chicago Sun-Times

Corliss among 20 Public League schools benefitting from co-op football teams this season

As enrollments continue to diverge among the schools under the Public League football umbrella — which includes both traditional Chicago Public Schools and charters — coops are seen as an increasingly viable way to help grow the sport.

Chicago Sun-Times

Rising share of Chicago Public Schools graduates are pursuing college, study finds

The study by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research and the To & Through Project also found that more Chicago students than ever are projected to pursue and complete college over the next decade.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times

Maligned CPS budgeting model has boosted funding equity in Chicago, research finds

A budgeting system critics say hurts schools with declining enrollment has led to a reallocation of resources to schools serving low-income students.

Chicago Sun-Times

When neighborhood schools won’t cut it, Black families opt out

Most parents aren’t willing to gamble with their children. If they can’t find suitable schools, they’ll simply opt out of the system. And Black parents are now divesting from Chicago Public Schools, and the city, altogether.

Chicago Sun-Times

Lawsuit seeks to stop city from using public buildings to house migrants

In an amended suit, South Shore residents accuse the city of violating zoning ordinances and creating a public nuisance by placing new arrivals in schools, police stations.

Chicago Sun-Times

Joyce Chapman, Far South Side community activist, a Lori Lightfoot Chicago Board of Ed appointee, dead at 67

“My mom would say to us, ‘Community work may not financially pay you what you feel like you should be paid, but it pays your soul,’ ” one of her daughters said.

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Chicago Sun-Times

Weigel Broadcasting announces 2023 football schedule, which includes Mount Carmel vs. Loyola clash

The network will show 15 live events, including the Chicago Public Schools boys soccer championship, three regular season football games and the Illinois High School Association football state championship games.

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago’s public schools need a ‘Green New Deal’ to modernize aging buildings

To address the breadth and depth of the need to remediate outdated schools at a time of worsening weather extremes, Chicago needs an estimated $30 billion, two educators write.

Chicago Sun-Times

CPS schools need $14.4B for repairs, modernization, report finds

The long-awaited analysis by Chicago Public Schools leaders examined facilities needs citywide, where school buildings are on average 83 years old with some in serious disrepair.

Chicago Sun-Times

CPS enrollment stabilizes for first time in a decade

The district had lost students for 11 consecutive years and last year gave up its status as the nation’s third-largest public school system. CPS has lost more than 80,000 kids in that time.

Chicago Sun-Times

West Englewood school offers a model for how Chicago Public Schools plans to improve math scores

With CPS math scores still below pre-pandemic levels, officials point to Earle STEM Academy as a blueprint for improving math instruction and performance.

Reason

Chicago Teachers Union Boss Sends Son to Private School

Stacy Davis Gates, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union, previously said school choice is for "racists."

Chicago Sun-Times

Stacy Davis Gates had expect a media storm for sending her son to private school

The Chicago Teachers Union president centered her children as part of who she is as a progressive activist.

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People

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere

Elizabeth ToddBreland

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12 stories

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