Mauricio Peña, Chalkbeat Chicago

It's a $200 million increase over the previous year’s budget. But parents and union leaders say schools are still not getting what they need to address academic and mental health fallout from the pandemic.

The proposal would put a high school where the Harold Ickes Homes once stood near 24th and State streets. 

Chicago Public Schools cases have increased in recent weeks, surpassing what it saw at its previous peak during the Omicron surge.

The incumbent leadership group known as Caucus of Rank and File Educators will retain power over the Chicago Teachers Union for another three years, but they face growing opposition.

A mayoral election and a transition to an elected school board loom during the next CTU leadership’s three-year term, with the potential to redraw an often combative relationship with the city. 

Martinez, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, is experiencing mild symptoms. He began experiencing cold-like symptoms on Wednesday before testing positive on Thursday.

In December, only 5.4 percent of Dunne students were fully vaccinated. But in the past few months, the school has seen an increase in uptake to 42.3 percent, close to CPS' overall average.

Some have questioned the curriculum, and others say the Virtual Academy isn't providing enough support for English language learners or meeting the needs of children with disabilities. 

Zapata Academy was slated to lose about 13 percent of its budget next fall — a cut that could claim eight teaching positions and a preschool classroom. The district has since said it will reverse a portion of this cut.

Jobs, volunteer opportunities and arts programs will be available at Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Libraries and other city agencies.

Over the past six years, Trevor Nicholas' student ensembles have premiered works at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Harris Theater and Wrigley Field.

Vaccination rates at Chicago Public Schools range from just 6.7 percent of students to over 90 percent.

The district has so far spent only 12 percent, or $62.9 million, on a half-billion initiative designed to help students bounce back from COVID disruption.

The upcoming school year is now poised to start Aug. 22 and end June 7. It will be the earliest start of school for CPS students in recent memory.

Under the proposed calendar, the 2022-2023 academic year would kick off on Aug. 22 and end June 7.

The vote increases the likelihood Chicago Public Schools' mask-optional policy will remain in place for the remainder of the school year.

The district could do away with its ranking system for the highly sought-after schools by the 2023-2024 academic year. 

About 49 percent of students from 5 to 17 are vaccinated, but several schools on the South and West sides had fewer than 10 percent of their student population fully vaccinated.

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 has struggled with school bus driver shortages since the start of the school year, leaving thousands of students without a dependable ride to school.