‘They’ve given her a lot of hope’: A NYC school fights to educate an undocumented teen under Trump For Bridget and Marta, ELLIS Prep often felt like the only public institution with its arms open in a city and country that seemed not to want them.

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...

Chicago Public Schools moves custodians in-house, cuts 480 jobs CPS is ending all of its private custodial contracts, citing a budget crunch and a desire for more “streamlined” custodial services.

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...

‘Talking points and unrealistic demands’: State lawmakers listen to Chicago school leaders discuss district’s finances Illinois lawmakers want to figure out how to close Chicago’s budget gap. However, they did not make any commitments on what aid they would provide to the district and when.

With @sammiesmylie.bsky.social: Illinois lawmakers offer no quick solutions for CPS during district finances hearing

www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...

The employees include more than 430 teachers, more than 300 paraprofessionals, such as teacher assistants, and more than 670 special education classroom assistants.

We'll have more for you later today, but reach out if you want to talk about the impact on your school.

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.

CPS facing pressure to avoid cuts amid local and federal funding challenges 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.

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 should be ‘reserved for American citizens,’ Trump administration says A rule change treats the federally funded preschool program like a welfare program and bars the children of undocumented immigrants. It’s a dramatic change from longstanding practice.

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

Survey finds Chicagoans want next schools chief to focus on strong instruction, safe schools The survey of about 2,700 respondents also found that people want the next schools chief to be a good communicator.

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...

Trump administration throws a $7 billion wrench into school budgets The Education Department is holding back funding previously approved by Congress for teacher training, English learners, migrant education, and after-school programming. Advocates worry the Trump admi...

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 Chicago has been slow to provide many schools with what they need to serve English learners. The result: Students are left waiting for an education they’re legally entitled to, and teachers feel unpre...

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

Several internal CPS candidates could become district’s interim CEO, board members say The school board is considering five candidates to take over as interim Chicago Public Schools CEO from Pedro Martinez, who will soon leave the district. Board members must pick the interim schools ch...

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...

‘Justice delayed’: NYC students with disabilities face longer suspensions than allowed Some students with disabilities in NYC public schools are serving longer suspensions — sometimes by several weeks — than legally allowed, a problem that disproportionately affects Black students.

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...

Are layoffs ahead for Chicago Public Schools? In an internal presentation, district officials outlined potential layoffs as a way to close the budget gap.

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 chosen for Massachusetts top education job The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 9 to 2 to offer Martinez the state’s top job overseeing schools. His selection now goes to the state’s secretary of education.

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.

After facing closure, 5 Acero charter schools will stay open next year The Chicago Board of Education also voted to create a plan to turn the five Acero schools into district-run programs.

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/

After a yearslong fight, panel votes to shutter NYC’s smallest school Top officials have been pushing for years to shutter P.S. 25, NYC’s smallest school with just 53 students. On Wednesday, education officials voted to close it.

"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...

Chicago charter school officials say federal immigration enforcement detained an adult during school dropoff Two students were escorted into the Acero Schools campus in Gage Park during morning dropoff amid federal immigration enforcement action, school officials told families Wednesday. Federal officials di...

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...

Backtracking original plan, Chicago school board to vote on saving 4 Acero schools The vote will come after months of uncertainty for hundreds of students and teachers who had pressed the district to save all seven Acero schools slated for closure.

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

Denver Public Schools sues feds to stop immigration enforcement at schools The lawsuit was filed a week after raids on apartment buildings in Denver and Aurora caused fear among students and families.

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

DOGE is ‘gutting’ key education research efforts. Here’s how that affects students. The Trump administration canceled dozens of contracts held by the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education. The president is looking to significantly scale back the size and work of the Educat...

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...)

Chicago schools CEO Pedro Martinez in the running for superintendent job in Clark County, Nevada Martinez was fired without cause from CPS and given six months notice after months of growing tension with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

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...

Chicago schools CEO Pedro Martinez in the running for superintendent job in Clark County, Nevada Martinez was fired without cause from CPS and given six months notice after months of growing tension with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

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...

Johnson Declines to Immediately Respond to Request to Testify to Congress About Sanctuary City Status If Mayor Brandon Johnson refuses to appear as requested, it could open a new front in the ongoing battle with the GOP-controlled U.S House and the Trump administration, which is attempting to strip se...

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:

Q&A: Jadine Chou, the outgoing Chicago Public Schools chief safety and security reflects on 14 years Chou is leaving the role of CPS chief of safety and security after 14 years on the job. She led the department through school closings, waves of youth violence, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the removal of police from schools.

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!

From ‘panic mode’ to ‘proactive’: How Chicago schools in immigrant communities are supporting students amid federal deportation actions In Chicago Public Schools, which has received thousands of migrant students in recent years, schools are training staff and families on their rights and grappling with how to convince their communities that schools are safe.

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!

😂 old dogs don't typically learn new tricks but I am trying!