Illinois public school enrollment continues to drop, preliminary numbers show

By Samantha Smylie for Chalkbeat

“A first glimpse at public school enrollment in Illinois shows continued declines in the overall student population, but an uptick in the number of students learning English.  Preliminary data released last week by the Illinois State Board of Education shows overall enrollment dropped by about 31,000 students — or 1.7% — between last school year and the current one, according to numbers as of Dec. 14. Chicago Public Schools accounts for at least a quarter of the decline. The district lost 9,000 students and its place as the third largest school district in the country.”

 

Lightfoot campaign contacted at least 73 CPS teachers for student volunteers, records show

By Ben Bradley, Sam Charles for WGNTV

“Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s deputy campaign manager emailed at least 73 Chicago Public Schools teachers earlier this month to ask for students to help in Lightfoot’s reelection effort in exchange for class credit, newly obtained emails show. Records obtained by WGN Investigates show that Megan Crane, Lightfoot’s deputy campaign manager, sent the emails to at least 39 CPS teachers at 8:32 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10. Crane sent the same message to at least 34 more teachers at 12:32 p.m. the following day. An hour after the initial solicitations were sent out, a teacher at Walter Payton College Prep responded to Crane, asking her if Lightfoot would be available to join in a candidate forum at the Near North Side high school.”