Blog
Kids First Chicago’s Parent Advisory Board on Illinois House Bill 303
Kids First Chicago's Parent Advisory Board weighs in on Illinois House Bill 303, indicating its support to extend the moratorium on school closures until a fully-elected school board takes office in 2027.
A Day of Advocacy: EBF Funding Rally in Springfield
Over 150 advocates from across Illinois–including more than 40 dedicated parents and students from Kids First Chicago–converged on Springfield to champion an increase in the Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula to at least $550 million.
Parent Leaders Advise Kids First
On April 30, 2024, Kids First Chicago's Parent Advisory Board (PAB) met for the first time at Kids First’s new offices. More than 30 PAB members from across the city attended.
Chicago Says Goodbye to Student-Based Budgeting. What's Next?
At its March 2024 Board meeting, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced plans to transition away from student-based budgeting (SBB).
The Case for Compensating Chicago School Board Members
Lorena Lopez and Consuelo Martinez, both members of Kids First Chicago’s Parent Advisory Board and Elected School Board Task Force who also serve on Local School Councils, share a compelling argument to compensate Chicago's elected school board members.
What’s Missing In Chicago’s New Elected School Board Legislation
As the bill heads to Governor Pritzker for final approval, Kids First Chicago weighs in on the Illinois General Assembly’s passage of Senate Bill 15, officially putting Chicago on the path for a partially-elected, partially-appointed Board of Education in 2025.
Springfield Considers Exempting Charters from Chicago’s School Closure Moratorium
Will the Illinois General Assembly grant power to the Chicago Board of Education to non-renew charters before a school closure moratorium lifts in 2025?
Funding Illinois' Future Responds to Governor's Budget Proposal, Claiborne Wade Weighs In
Published originally by Funding Illinois' Future coalition on Feb. 23, 2024.
K1C Signs onto Coalition for Authentic Community Engagement
Kids First Chicago and our Parent Advisory Board join two dozen other organizations calling on Mayor Johnson to push his appointed Chicago Board of Education to engage communities and families around CPS policymaking.
School Resource Officers Resolution Explained
February Board Meeting Likely to Mark End of Police in Chicago Schools.
Let Noncitizens Vote in Chicago School Board Elections
Published originally in the Chicago Sun-Times on Feb. 15, 2024.
What’s Behind Mayor Johnson Backing the House’s Elected School Board Proposal
Mayor Johnson recently informed Illinois Senate president Don Harmon he would like to see 10 Chicago school board seats up for election this November.