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Chicago City Hall

The ballot initiative to raise the real estate transfer tax on property sales over $1 million in order to raise revenue for homelessness and affordable housing was one of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s key campaign promises.

After years of thorny relationships with district officials and mayors, the Chicago Teachers Union will bargain a new contract this year with a district that now answers to former CTU organizer Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Students at Aldridge Elementary in Altgeld Gardens have ideas for community improvements, as Red Line extension looms.

The district is providing CTA passes to migrant families who are homeless.

They’re responding to signals that Johnson and the school board want to shift resources to neighborhood public schools.

Los niños sin hogar tienen ciertos derechos destinados a mantener la estabilidad para ellos en la escuela, incluida la capacidad de permanecer en la escuela a la que han estado asistiendo.

The district is still working to shorten bus rides for more than 100 students with disabilities to comply with state law.

Homeless children have certain rights aimed at maintaining stability for them at school, including the ability to stay at the school they’ve been attending.

As new members join Chicago mayor’s youth commission, Chalkbeat Chicago spoke to two teens who have served on the group, advising city leadership on education.

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 invitation to discuss the budget comes as Johnson tries to involve young people in government decision making. 

The committee recommends giving students a greater voice in their education — and paying them for their service.

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.

The details of the new policy are still being worked out, but would make Chicago Public Schools a leader nationally and bring the nation’s fourth largest school district in line with a new expanded parental leave policy for city workers.

City residents ages 14 to 24 are eligible to apply for the six-week jobs program. Numbers show participation rates have yet to bounce back from a pandemic decline. 

A decade after leaving the classroom to help the Chicago Teachers Union build political power and improve conditions outside schools, Brandon Johnson has been sworn in as the city’s 57th mayor.

As Chicago’s next deputy mayor of education, Jen Johnson will oversee policy related to the city’s public schools, youth, and families. Historically, the deputy mayor of education also represents the mayor in contract talks with the teachers union.