As contract negotiations between Chicago’s new mayor and the teachers union continue, we will update this tracker.

What's your hope for the school year? We asked parents, teachers, and students across several neighborhoods to weigh in. Common themes included better grades, more experiences like music classes and field trips, and safe schools.

Rivera said that the Chicago district internally compiled proposed projects, prioritizing schools with the most at-risk students.

Chicago Public Schools, known nationwide for its focus on freshman year, has started this emphasis earlier to ease what can be a difficult transition into high school.

Chicago plans to spend $820 million next year fixing up 300 of its schools and building more pre-K classrooms.

“Compensation parity is the foundation of a quality workforce,” said Bethany Patten, workforce policy director for the governor's office. “We’re thinking about who is working with our children.”

Join Chalkbeat Chicago on Aug. 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for beer, food, and storytelling featuring some of the city’s most literary classroom leaders.

Here, in a feature we call How I Teach, we ask educators who’ve been recognized for their work how they approach their jobs. Hyam Elsaharty thinks Chicago is on the cutting edge of social and emotional learning. She would know — she’s traveled around the world

Chicago Public Schools is honing in on how to bolster leaders like Principal Elizabeth Meyers at Randolph Elementary by giving them leadership training and autonomy.

More than 700 families celebrated the start of school Tuesday afternoon with free food, games, music, backpacks full of school supplies, and even immunizations.