Mila Koumpilova
Senior Reporter, Chalkbeat Chicago
Mila Koumpilova is a Senior Reporter at Chalkbeat Chicago. She previously wrote about higher education and immigration at the Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis. Mila has also covered education at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and The Forum in Fargo, N.D. A former North Dakota Rookie Reporter of the Year, she has received recognition from the Education Writers Association, the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists and others. She is a graduate of the American University in Bulgaria and the Missouri School of Journalism.
Dolton-Riverdale, a high-poverty elementary district, is installing touch screens, cameras, and other technology to make hybrid learning easier.
The district’s preliminary scores on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness show improvement after COVID-era dips.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and his team want to grow the Sustainable Community Schools program, a partnership with the Chicago Teachers Union.
Thousands of school-aged children are among the new migrant arrivals and enrolling them into local public schools is a priority for the city of Chicago. The new “welcome center” will help newcomer families get help signing up for school, making medical and dental appointments, and enrolling in public benefits, such as food assistance and Medicaid.
The committee recommends giving students a greater voice in their education — and paying them for their service.
Jianan Shi, of the parent group Raise Your Hand, will replace departing board President Miguel del Valle. Elizabeth Todd-Breland is the only existing member who will continue on the board.
Programs launched to help “Opportunity Youth” in recent years show promise, but long term success is not yet guaranteed.
The district has reduced the number of officers on campus by almost half since 2020, but momentum on that effort is slowing.
How will the former teachers union leader approach her role as Chicago’s deputy mayor for education?
Jen Johnson took over as Chicago’s point person at city hall on education, youth, and human services in May. First up on her agenda? Youth jobs, helping migrant families, and expanding community schools.
Advocates expressed concerns with equitably funding schools and board members discussed long-term financial plans.
The deadline to join the advisory body is July 1.
The plan released Tuesday is the first under Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former teachers union organizer. It trims back money for school facilities, but boosts school-level spending, including more for staff who work with students with disabilities.
Chicago Public Schools announced that Stephanie Jones, department head for the district’s special education office, left the district on Friday.
The city’s mayor and schools chief announced a $2 billion scholarship haul at a last-day-of-school event.
The community college system launched the program amid the pandemic to address “summer melt.”
Emerging data suggests school districts such as Chicago are making headway. But experts say this is only the start of an undertaking that will likely take years.
The district will pay some students to attend an orientation program for freshmen and launch a hotline for families exploring options in June.
Very few Chicago students are graduating from high school with associate degrees. The district wants to change that.
Ten teachers from across Illinois were recognized with the awards for excellence in teaching.
The district’s principals association hopes the district will recognize a new union voluntarily.
Backers of a proposed $300 million youth jobs program are holding up a new research study as evidence it’s needed.
The school board approved a new school quality policy unanimously even as some employee groups argued it needs more work.
The school board is slated to vote on the policy Wednesday, but the teachers union and principals group say it needs more specifics.
CEO Pedro Martinez said he looks forward to working with Brandon Johnson’s administration on lobbying for more state funding.
Johnson won with 51.4% of the vote, according to preliminary election results. He will be the last mayor with control of Chicago Public Schools.
District and teachers union leaders want to increase the number of certified educators, especially in high-needs schools.
The district has fielded concerns about Skyline’s online platform and profusion of materials.
Chicago schools’ budget strategy is to lobby for more state dollars, officials said.
Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson disagree about how to give under-enrolled campuses a boost
The district is counting on an after-school program expansion, earlier interventions and other measures.