Chicago is getting an elected school board. What questions do you have?

A photo of two empty seats for Chicago’s school board members on shared dais. In front of the seats is the table part of the dais. Behind the seats is a gray, matte, and square sign. In the middle of the sign is a circle with a hand holding a torch inside. Above the circle is the words “Board of Education,” curved around the circle. Below is the circle is the words “City of Chicago,” also curved. Wrapping around the words in a half circle is a laurel.
The Chicago Board of Education seal, taken in June 2023. (Max Lubbers / Chalkbeat)

Sign up for Chalkbeat Chicago’s free daily newsletter to keep up with the latest education news.

Less than a year from now, Chicago Public Schools will swear in its first elected school board members.

But even with a firm swearing-in date of Jan. 15, 2025, many unanswered questions still remain about the election on Nov. 5 that would usher in those new board members — and how the board will function once in place. State law says 10 members will be elected this year, but lawmakers are debating whether to elect all 21 now. (Mayor Brandon Johnson recently asked the legislature to ensure that just half are elected this year, the Sun-Times reported.)

The state legislature must also finalize district boundaries for school board members. Lawmakers appear to have agreed on a third draft of the map last November.

Once members are sworn in next January, what’s next? How will the board work in comparison to the appointed board it will replace?

Chalkbeat Chicago wants to hear your questions about the upcoming school board elections and the elected school board. We’ll aim to answer your questions through our reporting as we follow campaigns and elections this year.

Answer the survey here or fill it out below. We will not use your name in our reporting without your permission.

Reema Amin is a reporter covering Chicago Public Schools. Contact Reema at ramin@chalkbeat.org.

The Latest

A new law calls on the state to create a task force that will identify the barriers keeping students out of school and develop recommendations for districts to follow.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state is taking an “unprecedented step” to commit to two years of child care funding despite looming federal budget threats.

The Shelby County Commission will pause on issuing candidate petitions for five district races currently being challenged in court. Twenty-two challengers have taken that first step to qualify for the May 5 primary.

The proposal addresses how facilities and transportation will be run and how property taxes will be distributed.

Do you have questions about education bills or policy debates in the 2026 Tennessee legislature? Sign up for Chalkbeat Tennessee’s new texting service.

In response to the Trump administration’s funding freeze, Colorado officials said they are considering all options, ‘including legal avenues.’