More Chicago Public Schools students are earning diplomas than ever before, reaching a record-high graduation rate of 78.2 percent, according to new figures from the district.
Stories by brandis friedman
New CTU Leader Jesse Sharkey Talks CPS Issues, Teacher Contract
Aug 29, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
As he takes the helm of the Chicago Teachers Union, Jesse Sharkey discusses school cleanliness and the potential impact of Janus v. AFSCME on union membership.
Karen Lewis Pens Letter to Teachers as She Exits Top CTU Job
Aug 27, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
As Chicago Public Schools teachers return to the classroom this week, many will have a new leader at the top of their union.
Researchers Evaluate New GoCPS Application Program
Aug 16, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
The high school class of 2022 will be starting ninth grade in just a few weeks. And for the first time, students at Chicago Public Schools were able to pick their high schools using a new common application called GoCPS.
Lockers for Homeless Youth Meet Critical Needs
Aug 8, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
How a simple storage system is proving to be so much more for homeless youth trying to unlock a brighter future.
Archaeological Dig at Gray-Cloud Home Attracts Neighbors, History Buffs
Jul 31, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
Archaeologists are nearing the end of a monthlong dig in the city’s Old Irving Park neighborhood. What they’re looking for – and what they’ve turned up.
Local School Councils: What They Do, What Challenges They Face
Jul 26, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
Chicago Public Schools implemented local school councils almost 30 years ago with hundreds of thousands of participants. Times have changed.
Critics Say CPS Budget Promotes Inequality Across District
Jul 25, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
Some are questioning the way Chicago Public Schools is spending its biggest budget in the last five years.
Chicago’s Minimum Wage is Rising, But is it Enough to Live On?
Jul 3, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
Despite an increase this week to the city’s minimum wage, many Chicagoans still aren’t earning what some researchers call a “living wage.”
State Names Independent Monitor to Oversee CPS Special Education
Jun 27, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
Parents of Chicago’s special education students say they have concerns about the state's choice of an independent monitor to oversee the district's special education program.
New CPS Office to Investigate, Prevent Sexual Harassment Among Students
Jun 27, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
The office will be responsible for overseeing investigations into allegations of student-on-student abuse, ensuring students involved in any allegation are paired with an advocate.
Teacher Shortage Downstate Looks Different From Chicago Shortage
Jun 26, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
Statewide, school districts reported more than 2,000 unfilled positions last school year, with 43 percent of those in Chicago Public Schools alone.
Ogden, Jenner Elementary Schools Prepare to Merge as School Year Ends
Jun 19, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
From neighbors to roommates: How two Chicago schools are getting ready to merge as summer break begins.
In Wake of Scandal, CPS Watchdog to Investigate Sexual Abuse Complaints
Jun 12, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
Chicago Public Schools says it’s taking a crucial step to protect students from sexual abuse by teachers and staff.
CPS Chief Responds to Scathing Investigation into Student Sexual Abuse
Jun 5, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
Chicago Public Schools says that by August it expects to have the results of a top-to-bottom review of its practices for handling cases of sexual misconduct. More from CPS CEO Janice Jackson.
Mayor Expands Early Learning, But Critics Are Skeptical
May 30, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
Chicago parents should have more early learning options for their 4-year-olds starting next year.
State Board Approves Special Education Monitor, Reforms for CPS
May 16, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
What the state says is needed to correct violations in Chicago Public Schools’ special education program.
The Economic Costs of Segregation – And Recommendations to Address It
May 15, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
A new report from the Metropolitan Planning Council makes more than two dozen recommendations to reduce the economic costs of segregation.
Not-So-Secret Menu Item Lands Uptown Restaurant on James Beard Stage
May 8, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
How a “secret” menu item at Sun Wah BBQ landed the Chicago restaurant a prestigious James Beard America’s Classics award.
Mark Zuckerberg Grant to Help CPS Spread ‘Personalized Learning’
May 1, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
Chicago Public Schools gets a $14 million grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the nonprofit started by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, pediatrician Priscilla Chan.
Advocates Respond to Special Education Investigation at CPS
Apr 19, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
CPS CEO Janice Jackson talks with us about school funding and investigations into special education and school cleanliness.
With Budgets in Hand, CPS Principals Planning Ahead
Apr 17, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
For the first time in recent years, CPS principals don’t have to wait until summer to start planning for their next school year.
50 Years Since the Fair Housing Act, Segregation Persists
Apr 12, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 promised equal access to the housing market for African-Americans. But 50 years later, some say the landmark legislation didn’t go far enough.
MLK’s Death, 50 Years Later: Revisiting the Day a Giant Fell
Apr 4, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
It is a moment seared in the memories of so many Americans: the day in 1968 they learned that Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated. The Rev. Jesse Jackson was there, and he shares his memories with Chicago Tonight.
How Some News Outlets Let Readers ‘Take Action’ With a Click
Mar 26, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
A shift in how news outlets can help you “take action” on the stories they report.
Cook County Jail Warden On Her Way Out
Mar 22, 2018 | Brandis Friedman
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart drew national attention when he appointed a psychologist to be the jail’s executive director. After almost three years on the job, Nneka Jones Tapia is moving on.