Reema Amin

Reema Amin

Reporter, Chalkbeat Chicago

Reema Amin covers Chicago public schools. She previously covered New York City public schools for Chalkbeat New York from 2018 to 2023. Before Chalkbeat, she covered city and state government for the Daily Press in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region and was a breaking news reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times. Reema received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in public affairs journalism from Columbia College Chicago.

While the elected members represent a diversity of opinions and interests, Mayor Brandon Johnson will hold a majority on the school board because he’ll choose most of the members.

Chicago voters delivered a mixed message in the city’s historic first school board elections. A mix of union-backed candidates, independents, and school choice backers won seats.

Several students at Hancock College Prep said they didn’t know about the city’s first school board elections until their civics class. Now, they’re learning how to decide which candidates deserve their votes.

The remarks from Rev. Mitchell Ikenna Johnson raised questions about how well city officials vetted him before the mayor appointed him as president of the Chicago Board of Education

The mayor wants to send CPS roughly $300 million, but that’s less than what the district CEO has requested.

Chicago Public Schools raised pay and added staff with the help of federal COVID aid. The loss of that money is fueling leadership turmoil.

While Chicago students are graduating high school and enrolling into colleges at higher rates, more needs to be done to ensure they complete college.

Chicago Public Schools data from 2023-24 found that third through eighth grade students are making progress on state tests. SAT scores and high school graduation rates remain steady.

Chicago alderpeople questioned Martinez over the school system’s budget as Mayor Brandon Johnson continues to spar with CPS over financial troubles at both city hall and the school district.

Even as enrollment remains relatively stable, it is still far lower than a decade ago and could mean tough decisions ahead for Chicago Public Schools leadership.