Sarah Karp
Chalkbeat
United States
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Past articles by Sarah:
Chicago Public Schools spent $308 million on technology since March 2020. Now what?
Chicago Public Schools tapped federal COVID recovery funds to amass laptops and tablets. But the district has struggled to keep track of them and has just started developing a blueprint for digital learning, Chalkbeat and WBEZ found. → Read More
Don't Call It A Comeback: School Districts That Never Opened Are Having Trouble Now
About a third of the country's students haven't had a single day in a classroom since March 2020. Coming back now — with the virus still spreading and teachers pushing back — hasn't been easy. → Read More
Chicago Teachers Strike Ends
Chicago teachers are going back to school Friday with a new contract and an agreement with the mayor to make up five of the 11 days lost to the walkout. → Read More
Chicago Cancels Public School Classes As Teachers Strike Looms
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Wednesday that she expects the teachers union to move ahead with their strike after a contract agreement wasn't reached. → Read More
Chicago Teachers Will Go On Strike, Capping Years Of Social Justice Activism
For the second time in seven years, Chicago Public Schools teachers will be on strike starting Thursday, walking out of class, they say, in the name of better schools. → Read More
Chicago Teachers Are Ready To Strike
The Chicago Teachers Union voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, union officials announced Thursday. The Chicago Public Schools CEO says the offer of a 16% raise over five years is generous. → Read More
Extending The ‘Gap Year’ After High School Beyond Kids Of Means
Four low-income Chicago teens are getting a free “gap year” abroad after high school. Gap years are more common for wealthier students. → Read More
Will Chicago Move To An Elected School Board Next Year?
A state bill could give Chicago an elected school board — but how soon and whether it’s fully elected may depend on who becomes mayor. → Read More
Chicago Public Schools monitored children's social media for signs of violence and gang membership
School officials say the monitoring was about keeping students safe, not punishing them. But critics say it expanded the role of police in schools. → Read More
What My Students Taught Me
Four Chicago-area teachers reflect on a valuable lesson learned from one of their students. → Read More
Uncertain Future For Chicago Teachers Union
The CTU is one of the city’s most powerful political forces. But its strength is being challenged as its dynamic leader Karen Lewis retires. → Read More
CPS Moves To Terminate For-Profit School Firm After Damning IG Report
The inspector general says a company running schools for dropouts grew after paying for improper access to CPS’ corrupt former leader. → Read More
Protests Continue In Chicago After Police Body Cam Released
A police shooting sparked unrest this weekend in Chicago. There were conflicting accounts of whether the officer acted appropriately, and community leaders are calling for an investigation. → Read More
Illinois Imposes Sweeping Control Over Chicago's Special Education Program
Illinois is taking the unusual step of imposing a state monitor on Chicago's special education program, after a WBEZ investigation found the state systematically delayed and denied services to needy students. → Read More
Controversial Charter School Backed By Common Wins CPS Recommendation
The Chicago Board of Education will vote on the proposed school next week. It’s slated to open in an area with many under-enrolled schools. → Read More
Chicago Charter Schools Hired 163 Public School Staffers Banned For Misconduct, Including Sexual Abuse
CPS and charter schools weren’t sharing employment information, Chicago Public Schools Inspector General says in a new report. → Read More
At CPS, More Special Education Dollars Go To White, Wealthier Students
Schools with larger white populations spent up to $3,000 more per student than mostly black and Latino schools. → Read More
WBEZ Investigation: CPS Secretly Overhauled Special Education At Students’ Expense
A secret manual created by CPS tightened access to special education, resulting in cutbacks for neediest students, a WBEZ analysis found. → Read More
Fight Over Race And Class Ends With New South Loop High School
Chicago Public Schools is going forward with a controversial plan to convert an elementary school on the Near South Side into a high school. → Read More
Chicago’s Latino High Schools Face Big Drops In Enrollment — and Funding
Student enrollment in Chicago has been dropping for years but a new twist is expected this fall: declines at mostly Latino high schools. → Read More