Featured Press Overview

March 25, 2026 • Telemundo Chicago

K1C’s own Vanessa Espinoza was interviewed by Telemundo on Wednesday, unpacking Chicago’s enrollment trends.

March 12, 2026 • WBEZ / Chicago Sun-Times

Overall absenteeism this year is comparable to last year, but our new report finds that it is markedly worse among students learning English. The report gives several suggestions that may curtail future attendance decreases and ensure academic continuity.

January 30, 2026 • Chicago Tribune

Daniel Anello, CEO of Kids First Chicago, authored an op-ed regarding the need for CPS to share more real-time data about student attendance, particularly in light of immigration enforcement actions.

January 28, 2026 • FOX 32 Chicago

Our Chief of Policy, Hal Woods, joins Paris Schutz from FOX 32 to discuss part three of our Enrollment Report.

January 23, 2026 • Chicago Tribune

At Kids First Chicago, we found that CPS enrollment continues to decline, with the district serving a shrinking share of Chicago’s school-aged children. We warn that without a clear, long-term plan, fewer students could lead to reduced academic and enrichment opportunities instead of stronger, right-sized schools. We’re calling on district leaders and policymakers to act now to thoughtfully adapt schools to these demographic shifts.

January 23, 2026 • FOX 32 Chicago

The article highlights that Chicago Public Schools is facing a long-term enrollment decline, with the district losing tens of thousands of students over the past two decades. Kids First Chicago’s report warns the bigger concern isn’t just fewer kids but the lack of a plan to protect student opportunities as schools shrink.

January 22, 2026 • Chicago Tribune

"A new report from the trusted Kids First Chicago shows that CPS is serving a smaller share of the city’s school-age population, evidence that parental choice is in no small part behind CPS’ enrollment woes. In 2018, CPS enrolled about 75% of Chicago’s school-age children. By 2023, that share had fallen to roughly 71%."

January 21, 2026 • CBS News

"The study from nonprofit organization Kids First Chicago is on the third part of a long-term study on declining CPS enrollment and the force behind it. The group found that since 2018, enrollment of school-aged children in CPS dipped to 71%, or 18,000 fewer students."

January 21, 2026 • Crain's Chicago Business

In our op-ed, written by Kids First Chicago Data Fellow Mariam Raheem and Chief of Policy Hal Woods, we argue that declining enrollment should not be used as a reason to scale back on students or school quality. We emphasize that CPS must adapt thoughtfully to demographic shifts while protecting academic opportunities, supports, and equity for the students who remain. The piece calls on district leaders to keep student experience at the center as the system right-sizes for the future.

January 20, 2026 • Chalkbeat Chicago

K1C's Chicago Enrollment report has been released and Chalkbeat hones in on how Chicago Public Schools marketshare has "slipped"

January 20, 2026 • WBEZ / Chicago Sun-Times

"While a dip in births is still a big factor in the district’s sliding enrollment, CPS served nearly 5% less of the city’s school-age children in 2023 than it did in 2018."

December 8, 2025 • WBEZ / Chicago Sun-Times

This month, new polling commissioned by Kids First Chicago, fielded September 16–29, 2025, by NORC at the University of Chicago revealed a critical gap in public awareness: nearly two-thirds of respondents did not know Chicago is transitioning to a fully elected school board.