As City, State Drop Mask Requirements, Chicago Schools Face Period Of Mask Limbo
The mask-optional announcement comes a week after Chicago Board of Education members approved a resolution to maintain COVID-19 safety mitigations, which include a mask mandate.
Chicago Needs 5,500 More Applicants For Local School Council Elections By Friday
The councils’ authority includes voting on the annual school budget, approving the school academic plan and selecting and evaluating principals.
COVID Protocols: What You Need To Know About Changing Guidance In Chicago Schools
Shorter quarantine, a push for testing, school-level closures when cases rise: January has brought a round of changes to Chicago’s COVID-19 school safety protocols.
Chicago Teachers Narrowly Approve School Reopening Deal, But COVID-19 Safety Concerns Linger
Teachers going into the vote said they had mixed feelings about the proposal, which the union's rank-and-file finalized with 56 percent in favor of resuming in-person classes.
Chicago Schools COVID Vaccination, Testing Rates Vary Widely By Campus, Data Shows
At more than 200 schools, the opt-in COVID testing rates fall short of the city’s 10% threshold goal. At 70 schools, 10 or fewer students are enrolled in the school-based testing program.
Is Chicago’s School Staffing Crunch About To Get Worse?
The post-Thanksgiving spike in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the Omicron variant could further complicate existing staffing problems.
With Little Notice, Chicago To Cancel School For First-Ever ‘Vaccination Awareness Day’
The announcement comes two days after federal officials authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.
New Chicago Schools CEO Pedro Martinez Got A Pay Bump — And Will Outearn His Predecessor
Martinez's contract extends through June 2026. The school board votes Wednesday to formally appoint him.
Chicago Shortens Student Quarantines As Experts Predict November COVID Vaccine For Kids
The city's public health commissioner, Dr. Allison Arwady, said officials think vaccines should be available for kids 5-11 around the first week of November.
Chicago Will Ramp Up Contact Tracing In Schools After Widespread Complaints
The contact tracing department will grow to more than 80 people and response time will be narrowed to 48 hours, CPS officials said.
Bus Troubles, Missing Preschoolers: Chicago Attendance Dips On First Day
Key student groups showed attendance lags — notably pre-kindergarten students and Black and Latino students.
What Should Chicago’s New Schools CEO Tackle First? Parents, Students And Insiders Have Ideas
Pedro Martinez, a graduate of Benito Juarez High School, took over as schools chief last week.
6 Things To Know About Pedro Martinez, Chicago’s Next Schools Chief
The oldest of 10 children, Martinez grew up in Chicago, attended Benito Juarez High and has three sisters teaching in Chicago Public Schools.
Chicago Public Schools Will Miss This Week’s COVID-19 Testing Deadline
CPS leaders say they now aim to offer testing at every district campus by the end of September — roughly a month after its original goal.
Illinois To Give Child Care Workers $1,000 And Cover Costs For Unemployed Parents
Gov. JB Pritzker announced the bonuses Monday as part of a broader package of child care recovery efforts.
Will COVID Cases In Chicago Schools Force Your Child To Quarantine? Here’s A Flowchart
Many parents and educators still have questions about when families are notified about confirmed COVID-19 cases and how quarantine works.
As Quarantine Notices Go Out, CPS Needs More Time To Fully Expand School COVID Testing
The district had pledged voluntary testing for every school would be in place during the first week of the school year.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot: Chicago Head Start Funding Cutoff Is ‘Irresponsible’
Unless full funding is restored, city officials say nearly 1,000 low-income children younger than 5 could be forced to transfer mid-school year to other programs.
School Bus Driver Shortage In Chicago Prompts $1,000 Payments To Families And Calls To Uber, Lyft
About 10 percent of the district’s drivers resigned between Aug. 23 and Aug. 27, leaving the nation’s third-largest school district short about 500 drivers.
Chicago Schools Are Fully Reopening For The First Time In More Than 500 Days. Here’s What To Know
Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey said the union has no intention of blocking the start of the school year. But it will continue to “ring alarms” about what he described as safety shortfalls, he said.