Bureau Chief, Chalkbeat Chicago https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/ Tips? bvevea@chalkbeat.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3mrazxvpkak22After CPS Closed Schools, Buildings Sat Empty — And Gun Violence Rose, Study Finds https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/22/after-cps-closed-schools-buildings-sat-empty-and-gun-violence-rose-study-finds/22 Jul 2026 19:16 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrazxvpkak22https://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3mqai273vd22sMeet the man in charge of Chicago's Black Student Success Plan. @MilaKoumpilova https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/07/09/chicago-public-schools-black-student-success-director-speaks/09 Jul 2026 20:30 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqai273vd22shttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3mq633kcunc2gChicago school board names members of Black Student Achievement Committee, @MilaKoumpilova reports https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/07/08/chicago-public-schools-board-announces-black-student-achievement-committee/08 Jul 2026 21:33 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq633kcunc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3mq5xz5jlcs2gChicago school board says candidates can’t accept donations from district vendors @reemadamin.bsky.social https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/07/08/cps-school-board-says-candidates-cant-accepting-donations-from-vendors/08 Jul 2026 20:38 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq5xz5jlcs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3mniblbsbrs2cCPS is changing the test it uses for high school admissions. Next fall, 8th graders will take the PreACT 9, @reemadamin.bsky.social reports. https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/06/04/cps-gets-rid-of-hsat-for-pre-act-exam/04 Jun 2026 18:40 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mniblbsbrs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3mnibhpq35c2c28 of 51 school board candidates are facing challenges to their petition signatures. How many will survive? (Full candidate list + find your district tool at link!) https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/06/04/chicago-school-board-candidates-face-petition-challenges/04 Jun 2026 18:38 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnibhpq35c2chttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lzm5inhmp226A source tells @chalkbeat.org that interim CEO Macquline King is applying for the permanent job. Semi-finalists will begin interviewing with school board members soon. https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/09/24/chicago-public-schools-ceo-search-ramps-up-interim-applying/24 Sep 2025 19:14 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzm5inhmp226https://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lzgqtrnauk2yHave you transferred schools within CPS? @chalkbeat.org wants to hear from you about why and how you went about it. Fill out the form at the link below! https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/09/22/tell-chalkbeat-chicago-about-why-you-transferred-schools/?taid=68d1486e54c4430001ac9529&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter22 Sep 2025 15:44 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzgqtrnauk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lwoivgl7us2dHere are 5 things we’re watching this school year @chalkbeat.org https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/08/18/five-things-to-watch-in-chicago-schools/w18 Aug 2025 13:28 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwoivgl7us2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lwa56pdzes27Illinois is proposing to change the cut scores for state standardized tests on Wednesday. State education officials say they were too high and did not accurately reflect college and career readiness. @sammiesmylie.bsky.social @chalkbeat.org https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/08/12/illinois-proposes-new-cut-scores-for-state-standardized-tests/12 Aug 2025 20:21 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwa56pdzes27https://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lw7nwrrers2zhttps://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/08/12/chicago-public-schools-to-propose-budget-plan-without-pension-payment/12 Aug 2025 15:48 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lw7nwrrers2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lvm4nbulgc24Chicago gives 16 schools $500,000 to become Sustainable Community Schools in partnership with CTU, @chalkbeat.org's Mila Koumpilova reports https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/08/04/chicago-public-schools-expands-sustainable-community-schools/04 Aug 2025 21:18 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvm4nbulgc24https://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lvlqi54szk2cOfficials said the move would save $40 million. @reemadamin.bsky.social @chalkbeat.org https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/08/04/chicago-public-schools-ends-private-custodian-contracts/04 Aug 2025 17:40 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvlqi54szk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lve2cjt2dk2dhappy 'salt air, and the rust on your door' day to all who celebrate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn_0zPAfyo801 Aug 2025 16:15 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lve2cjt2dk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lskgdgpeos2fInterim CPS CEO says the district’s deficit is now $734 million https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/06/27/chicago-public-schools-budget-deficit-is-now-734-million-says-interim-ceo/27 Jun 2025 00:51 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lskgdgpeos2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3loxxdwkrd226https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/05/12/cps-vacant-closed-schools-for-sale/12 May 2025 12:19 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3loxxdwkrd226https://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lomftucbxc25Some Chicago school board members question how Illinois labels to schools @chalkbeat.org https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/05/07/illinois-school-labels-questioned-by-chicago-school-board/07 May 2025 22:06 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lomftucbxc25https://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3llz7fllsek2sChicago Public Schools' budget is about 13% federal funding. The Trump administration told states Thursday they risk losing that funding if they don't certify within 10 days that their schools do not engage in DEI. Mayor Brandon Johnson says that's "unconstitutional." https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/04/04/mayor-brandon-johnson-threatens-to-sue-if-trump-cuts-education-funding-over-dei/04 Apr 2025 20:00 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3llz7fllsek2shttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3llqzw7u5g22rCTU and Chicago Public Schools reach tentative contract deal https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/04/01/ctu-reaches-contract-deal-with-cps/01 Apr 2025 14:01 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3llqzw7u5g22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lko4tkzhp22nIf you're just tuning into the CPS/City Hall tensions, start with this story @chalkbeatCHI's @MilaKoumpilova & @sammie_smylie wrote in 2022: https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2022/11/3/23439557/chicago-public-schools-elected-school-board-financial-entanglements/18 Mar 2025 16:50 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lko4tkzhp22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lkegpvtoxk2lThe discussion between City Hall and the new school board Friday highlighted the complexity of the shift in governance, but also foreshadowed the political conflicts that could play out in the years to come. @chalkbeatCHI https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/03/14/city-hall-pressures-school-board-to-pay-pension-reimbursement/14 Mar 2025 20:20 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkegpvtoxk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lkcgu43hkc2fhttps://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/03/13/cps-school-board-debates-budget-amendment/14 Mar 2025 01:17 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkcgu43hkc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lk7ir4yvos2pHere are four things to know about the intensifying drama between city hall and CPS https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/03/12/city-hall-wantsschool-staff-pension-payment-from-cps/12 Mar 2025 21:13 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lk7ir4yvos2phttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3ljktv5c4kc2fThe U.S. has a new education secretary and Chicago is looking for it's next schools CEO. Want the latest education news in your inbox every morning? Sign up now! www.chalkbeat.org/newsletters/ https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/03/03/linda-mcmahon-confirmed-education-secretary-doge-and-trump-order-await/ https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/03/03/cps-school-board-looks-for-new-ceo/ https://www.chalkbeat.org/newsletters/04 Mar 2025 16:06 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljktv5c4kc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lhyzpqrfvs2bScoop 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. https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/02/12/cps-ceo-martinez-seeking-superintendent-job-in-clark-county/12 Feb 2025 20:38 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhyzpqrfvs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/beckyvevea.bsky.social/post/3lhyzj3apgc2bMcMahon'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 [contains quote post or other embedded content]12 Feb 2025 20:34 +0000at://did:plc:2m46qp2jeljdcm322e5sqlxd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhyzj3apgc2b