Education editor @wbez.org. Former national education reporter @chalkbeat.org & Spencer Fellow @columbiajournalism.bsky.social. Hablo español. Tips? Email: kbelsha@chicagopublicmedia.org or reach out on Signal: kalynbelsha.14https://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3m6zkrzlngk2oWhen immigration agents swept through Chicago, many feared school attendance would plummet. Overall attendance rates are similar to last fall, but there were big unusual drops after intense periods of enforcement, @sskedreporter.bsky.social & @amyqin.bsky.social report https://www.wbez.org/education/2025/12/02/as-immigration-agents-swept-chicago-this-fall-communities-stepped-in-to-get-kids-to-school-safely02 Dec 2025 18:23 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6zkrzlngk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3m5ymv3buy22yNEW: CPS says the ASPIRA charter network is on the brink of financial collapse & ASPIRA's CEO says the schools can't make payroll next week w/o a cash infusion -- by @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social & @sskedreporter.bsky.social https://www.wbez.org/education/2025/11/19/chicago-public-schools-aspira-charter-network-finances-cps-investigation19 Nov 2025 16:02 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5ymv3buy22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3m4wey5b2bk26NEW from @sskedreporter.bsky.social & @mannycam.bsky.social: 93 people applied to be next CPS CEO & school board has narrowed it down to 2 finalists. Interim CEO/supe Macquline King didn't make the cut & we won't find out names yet -- Board signed NDAs https://www.wbez.org/education/2025/11/05/cps-ceo-search-macquline-king06 Nov 2025 01:10 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4wey5b2bk26https://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3m4az6hobf22wICYMI: @mannycam.bsky.social spoke with students in the heavily Latino Morton HS district about gaps in support amid ramped up immigration enforcement. Some skipped homecoming in protest. “If we don’t advocate for ourselves, no one else will,” one teen said. https://www.wbez.org/immigration/2025/10/24/cicero-berwyn-students-demand-more-morton-school-district-201-support-ice-immigration-enforcement-escalates28 Oct 2025 13:13 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4az6hobf22whttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3m3vcg3njg22aAfter a HS junior was deported to Guatemala, LAUSD let her enroll in its virtual academy as a temporarily relocated student & a teacher helped her get better WiFi & care packages. Would love to see other examples of how US schools are supporting their deported kids https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/us/ice-immigration-deportations.html23 Oct 2025 21:27 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3vcg3njg22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3m3uhlyx5fs2s“We can’t guard for every situation.” @mannycam.bsky.social reports how the ICE detention of a landscaper working on the grounds of a CPS school is raising Qs about how much the district can protect students & families while on school property, outside the building https://www.wbez.org/education/2025/10/22/immigration-enforcement-reaches-cps-doorstep-renewing-questions-about-student-community-safety23 Oct 2025 13:27 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3uhlyx5fs2shttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3lv2uiqqpr22lNEW: The Trump administration is putting $14M toward training teachers in history & civics to coincide w/ the 250th anniversary of the Declaration's signing. Many see an opportunity to help teachers & students — but the $ is coming from canceled Biden-era grants https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/07/28/trump-funding-for-america-250th-birthday-focuses-on-patriotic-education/29 Jul 2025 00:37 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3lv2uiqqpr22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3luan4ctcec22W/ a Supreme Court ruling likely to encourage more opt-outs at school for religious reasons, my teammate Norah has a fascinating look at debates playing out in Texas, where some schools are adopting Bible-infused curriculum & state law already allows opt-outs https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/07/17/texas-bible-bluebonnet-lessons-may-spur-parent-opt-outs-after-mahmoud/18 Jul 2025 14:16 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3luan4ctcec22https://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3ltnlzzix6c2sUPDATED: A new Trump administration rule will deny undocumented children from enrolling in Head Start programs. The change represents one of the most direct & far-reaching attempts to target immigrant children & could have ripple effects on K-12 schools https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/07/10/no-head-start-for-undocumented-immigrant-parents-trump-administration-rules/11 Jul 2025 00:36 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltnlzzix6c2shttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3lt3f3llqmk2eNEW: How Trump's "big, beautiful" bill will affect children & schools. House just passed the bill (with all Dem's and 2 Republicans voting no) & Trump is set to sign: https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/07/03/how-trump-big-beautiful-bill-will-affect-children-and-schools/03 Jul 2025 18:44 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3lt3f3llqmk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3lo7yd4hooc22NEW: Schools are likely to lose mental health staff & colleges may shut down training programs after the Trump admin stopped funding many grants meant to help schools after the Uvalde tragedy. Colorado, Oklahoma, Wisconsin & Teachers College (helping NYC) all lost $ https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/05/02/trump-administration-cuts-school-mental-health-grants-over-diversity-goals/02 May 2025 23:33 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3lo7yd4hooc22https://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3lninwlrmps2zWant to know more about how all the changes happening at the U.S. Department of Education could affect you & your school? Please join me & this great panel tomorrow to talk about what this moment means for equity, access & public education: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9217443752895/WN_9CFVnojcT7-dB-bjO-1s3Q#/registration23 Apr 2025 16:55 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3lninwlrmps2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3ln3oa4rlts2kNEW: How a story about a prince & knight who fall in love fueled a debate about parental rights, opt outs, & inclusive school curriculum. The Supreme Court will hear arguments Tues in a case that could give religious parents more control over their kids' education https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/04/18/supreme-court-weighs-parents-rights-to-opt-out-of-lgbtq-school-curriculum/18 Apr 2025 12:56 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3ln3oa4rlts2khttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3lmlbam2sq22tNEW: Today the Trump admin said it's taking Maine to court over its policy allowing trans girls to compete on girls' sports teams & will seek to take Maine's K-12 federal ed funding. We took a deeper look at how this case could affect trans kids & schools nationwide https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/04/12/trump-administration-fights-maine-over-trans-athletes-and-title-ix/12 Apr 2025 00:21 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmlbam2sq22thttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3lkxptztmlc2dNEW: With what appears to be just 1 person left from the Office of English Language Acquisition at the Ed Dept, advocates worry some $890M in federal $ for English learners won't be spent properly & the quality of teacher training will suffer. Here's what we know: https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/03/21/trump-education-department-dismantles-office-for-students-learning-english/22 Mar 2025 12:24 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkxptztmlc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3lkwlar6vxk2bNEW: This morning Trump said he wanted to move services for students with disabilities out of the Education Department and to Health and Human Services. Many experts say he can't do that without an act of Congress. Here's what we know — w/ @ericameltzer.bsky.social https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/03/22/trump-says-education-department-will-not-oversee-students-with-disabilities/22 Mar 2025 01:29 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkwlar6vxk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3lktoouuo4c2lNEW: Trump has finally signed the long-awaited executive order asking Linda McMahon to take steps to close the Education Department. Here's what we know so far — via @ericameltzer.bsky.social @andrewujifusa.bsky.social & me https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/03/20/trump-signs-executive-order-to-end-education-department/20 Mar 2025 21:53 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3lktoouuo4c2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3lk5cnt4qi227NEW: The Department of Education announced it was laying off 1,300+ staffers today, 1/3 of the agency. Combined with retirements & buy-outs nearly half the Department is vanishing. The entire staff of six OCR regional offices was cut. — w/ @ericameltzer.bsky.social https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/03/11/education-department-lays-off-nearly-one-third-of-its-staff/12 Mar 2025 00:19 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3lk5cnt4qi227https://bsky.app/profile/kalynbelsha.bsky.social/post/3lj3s72vbg22hNEW: Among the education research projects abruptly terminated by DOGE was a program helping 1,100 teens & young adults w/ disabilities plan for life after high school. "It’s just heartbreaking," one parent told me. "I feel like this wasn’t well thought out." https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/02/26/trump-doge-cuts-to-education-research-hit-classrooms-and-students/26 Feb 2025 16:26 +0000at://did:plc:ahqhvucho7thueyv55ahaqbz/app.bsky.feed.post/3lj3s72vbg22h