Becky Vevea
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Becky Vevea
@beckyvevea.bsky.social
210 followers 510 following 27 posts
Bureau Chief, Chalkbeat Chicago
https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/
Tips? bvevea@chalkbeat.org
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beckyvevea.bsky.social
A source tells @chalkbeat.org that interim CEO Macquline King is applying for the permanent job. Semi-finalists will begin interviewing with school board members soon.
Chicago’s school board to begin narrowing down district CEO applicants, source says current interim is applying
More than 85 people applied to lead the country’s fourth largest district.
www.chalkbeat.org
September 24, 2025 at 7:14 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
Have you transferred schools within CPS?
@chalkbeat.org wants to hear from you about why and how you went about it. Fill out the form at the link below!
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
Have you transferred schools in Chicago Public Schools? Chalkbeat wants to hear from you.
Nearly 48,000 students transferred within CPS last year. We want to hear from parents and students about why they transferred and what the process was like.
www.chalkbeat.org
September 22, 2025 at 3:44 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
Here are 5 things we’re watching this school year @chalkbeat.org www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
5 things to watch this year as Chicago kids head back to school
We’re watching everything from enrollment changes to how the school day will change this year.
www.chalkbeat.org
August 18, 2025 at 1:28 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
Illinois is proposing to change the cut scores for state standardized tests on Wednesday. State education officials say they were too high and did not accurately reflect college and career readiness. @sammiesmylie.bsky.social @chalkbeat.org

www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
Illinois schools poised to have more students ‘proficient’ in reading and math as officials set to vote on changing cut scores for state tests
Since switching to the ACT as the high school college entrance exam, the Illinois Board of Education started the process to change cut scores for all state standardized tests. They said benchmarks wer...
www.chalkbeat.org
August 12, 2025 at 8:21 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
CPS to propose budget that excludes midyear school cuts and city pension payment: sources
The district’s budget proposal will not include a much-debated pension reimbursement to the City of Chicago, which will help avoid cuts to schools but could complicate the city’s budget problems, sour...
www.chalkbeat.org
August 12, 2025 at 3:48 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
Chicago gives 16 schools $500,000 to become Sustainable Community Schools in partnership with CTU, @chalkbeat.org's Mila Koumpilova reports
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
Sixteen schools join Chicago’s Sustainable Community Schools program
The expansion stems from the new Chicago Teachers Union contract. But officials said growing financial pressures for Chicago Public Schools threaten the program’s long-term sustainability.
www.chalkbeat.org
August 4, 2025 at 9:18 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
Officials said the move would save $40 million.
@reemadamin.bsky.social @chalkbeat.org
Chicago Public Schools moves custodians in-house, cuts 480 jobs
CPS is ending all of its private custodial contracts, citing a budget crunch and a desire for more “streamlined” custodial services.
www.chalkbeat.org
August 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
happy 'salt air, and the rust on your door' day to all who celebrate www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn_0...
Taylor Swift – august (Official Lyric Video)
YouTube video by TaylorSwiftVEVO
www.youtube.com
August 1, 2025 at 4:15 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
Interim CPS CEO says the district’s deficit is now $734 million
Here’s why the budget deficit for Chicago Public Schools just went up by $205 million
Macquline King, the interim CEO of CPS, said the budget gap for the district has risen to $734 million due to costs related to pensions and charter schools. District labor leaders and school board mem...
www.chalkbeat.org
June 27, 2025 at 12:51 AM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
CPS schools for sale: District puts 20 properties out for bid
The old schools have sat vacant for 12 years after multiple unsuccessful attempts to sell them. The school district hopes to find buyers who will repurpose the schools as community assets. If that doe...
www.chalkbeat.org
May 12, 2025 at 12:19 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
Some Chicago school board members question how Illinois labels to schools @chalkbeat.org www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
Some Chicago school board members are skeptical of labeling schools
During a required training Wednesday on the state’s school improvement and accountability system, Chicago school board members raised concerns about how schools get measured and labeled.
www.chalkbeat.org
May 7, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Becky Vevea
chalkbeat.org
Trump gave states 10 days to sign an anti-DEI policy. NY Education Department is refusing.
https://www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025/04/04/new-york-state-education-department-wont-certify-trump-administration-anti-dei-policy/
Trump gave states 10 days to sign anti-DEI policy. NY Education Department is refusing.
In a Friday letter to the U.S. Education Department, New York officials said they will not certify that the state is eliminating DEI in schools, despite threats to pull federal funding.
www.chalkbeat.org
April 4, 2025 at 11:00 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
Chicago Public Schools' budget is about 13% federal funding.

The Trump administration told states Thursday they risk losing that funding if they don't certify within 10 days that their schools do not engage in DEI.

Mayor Brandon Johnson says that's "unconstitutional."
‘We’re going to fight back:’ Chicago mayor threatens to sue Trump administration over DEI
The U.S. Department of Education has threatened to withhold billions in education funding unless they end DEI practices.
www.chalkbeat.org
April 4, 2025 at 8:00 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
CTU and Chicago Public Schools reach tentative contract deal
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
CTU and CPS have a tentative contract deal. How will it impact schools?
The tentative agreement caps class sizes, commits to hiring more librarians, and adds more recess and teacher prep time to the elementary school day.
www.chalkbeat.org
April 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
If you're just tuning into the CPS/City Hall tensions, start with this story @chalkbeatCHI's @MilaKoumpilova & @sammie_smylie wrote in 2022: www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2022...
Report: City could pass on costs to Chicago Public Schools as an elected school board steps in
Chicago Public Schools could take on tens of millions of dollars in new expenses as it transitions to an elected school board, report says
www.chalkbeat.org
March 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
The discussion between City Hall and the new school board Friday highlighted the complexity of the shift in governance, but also foreshadowed the political conflicts that could play out in the years to come. @chalkbeatCHI

www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
City Hall pushes Chicago school board to refinance debt to pay pensions, added labor costs
Chicago officials ramped up pressure on school board members to make a $175 million pension reimbursement payment so the city government can close out its 2024 budget in the black.
www.chalkbeat.org
March 14, 2025 at 8:20 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
Chicago’s school board grapples with covering contract costs and a pension payment
The Chicago Board of Education is poised to vote on an amendment to the district’s 2024-25 budget that accounts for $139 million in new revenue, but leaves ambiguity on how the money will be spent.
www.chalkbeat.org
March 14, 2025 at 1:17 AM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
Here are four things to know about the intensifying drama between city hall and CPS www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
Drama between CPS, City Hall over paying for school staff pensions intensifies
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration keeps pushing Chicago Public Schools to maintain payments to a pension fund for non-teaching school staff. But CPS officials say they have other long-term costs ...
www.chalkbeat.org
March 12, 2025 at 9:13 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
The U.S. has a new education secretary and Chicago is looking for it's next schools CEO.

Want the latest education news in your inbox every morning? Sign up now! www.chalkbeat.org/newsletters/

www.chalkbeat.org/2025/03/03/l...

www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
Chalkbeat
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March 4, 2025 at 4:06 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
Scoop from @reemadamin.bsky.social: CPS CEO Pedro Martinez is one of six candidates in the running for superintendent of schools in Clark County, Nevada, the nation's fifth largest school district. www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
Chicago schools CEO Pedro Martinez in the running for superintendent job in Clark County, Nevada
Martinez was fired without cause from CPS and given six months notice after months of growing tension with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
www.chalkbeat.org
February 12, 2025 at 8:38 PM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
McMahon's investments in municipal bonds funding school construction projects include the following in Illinois: Joliet Junior College, Franklin Park School District, River Trails School District, and Waukegan Community Unit School District 60
kalynbelsha.bsky.social Kalyn Belsha @kalynbelsha.bsky.social · Feb 12
NEW: Linda McMahon has said she will divest from dozens of municipal bonds funding school construction projects across the U.S. if confirmed as Education Secretary. She's likely earning $900K+ a year in interest payments from public education-related bonds. www.chalkbeat.org/2025/02/12/e...
Did Linda McMahon invest in your school district's bond? Here’s how to find out.
President Trump’s pick to head the Education Department holds dozens of municipal bonds funding public school construction and other projects across the U.S. It’s likely she earns at least $900,000 a ...
www.chalkbeat.org
February 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Becky Vevea
bethfertig.bsky.social
Trump is weighing big cuts to the U.S. Education Department www.npr.org/2025/02/03/n... @NPR
Trump is weighing big cuts to the U.S. Education Department
While only Congress can shutter the department, the president is reportedly considering executive action to severely scale back its responsibilities and staffing.
www.npr.org
February 4, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Becky Vevea
chalkbeat.org
UPDATE: A federal judge blocked the order from going into effect Tuesday evening amid multiple legal challenges, including a lawsuit filed by a coalition of Democratic attorneys general. www.chalkbeat.org/2025/01/28/t...
Trump freezes federal grants. What does it mean for schools?
The federal grant freeze fueled widespread confusion about which programs will be affected. Experts say the freeze may be illegal.
www.chalkbeat.org
January 28, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Reposted by Becky Vevea
ericameltzer.bsky.social
The federal agents at a Chicago school today were not ICE, but Secret Service agents investing a kid who made a TikTok threat.

www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
Chicago school officials say elementary school staff turned away federal agents
The incident comes amid a threatened Trump administration crackdown and sent ripples of fear through the K-8 school.
www.chalkbeat.org
January 25, 2025 at 1:19 AM
beckyvevea.bsky.social
Federal immigration agents showed up at a Chicago school, CPS says. Staff turned them away.
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
ICE agents tried to enter a Chicago elementary school. Staff turned them away.
The incident comes amid a threatened Trump administration crackdown and sent ripples of fear through the K-8 school.
www.chalkbeat.org
January 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM