Ikram Mohamed

Ikram is a former intern who covered education for the Tribune.

Chicago Board of Education member Jennifer Custer asks a question during a Chicago Board of Education agenda review meeting at CPS headquarters on March 5, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago school board decision to rescue 5 Acero Charter Schools ‘will set a new precedent,’ members say

March 5, 2025 at 7:01 p.m.

Some board members are concerned that vote to keep open five of seven schools in the Acero Charter network could signal a troubling trend between the district and charter schools.

Brittany De Leon, center-right, and Olivia Goldstein, both second- and third-grade teachers at Acero’s Santiago Elementary, embrace after the Chicago Public Schools board voted to keep open a number of Acero schools through the 2025-2026 school year. The vote took place at CPS headquarters on Feb. 27, 2025. Santiago is one of the schools to be kept open. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

As distraught parents plead, school board votes to keep Acero charter schools open, despite financial warning

February 28, 2025 at 5:22 a.m.

The Chicago school board voted to keep open all of the seven schools slated for closure in the Acero Charter Network through the end of the 2025-26 school year.

Students on the main quad in front of the Illini Union on the University of Illinois campus, Feb. 14, 2025, in Urbana. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Illinois launches free test prep program for public university and select community college students

February 27, 2025 at 2:22 p.m.

Illinois is offering free test preparation to over 200,000 students at public universities and select community colleges throughout the state.

Students, parents and educators gather for a rally outside Tamayo Elementary School on Feb. 26, 2025. The rally was held to call attention to the planned closure of Acero Charter Schools and the Board of Education's Thursday meeting to discuss details of the plan. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Immigration agents detain Acero charter schools parent on eve of school board vote to shutter some locations

February 27, 2025 at 2:27 p.m.

A parent dropping off two students at an Acero charter school on the Southwest Side was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Kenya Jeanty, Brianne Davis, Hazel Gates, and Samantha Richardson pick out free books at the Chicago Teachers Union’s second annual Back-to-School Summer Jam in Chicago on Aug. 17, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Public Schools launches plan to help Black students; conservative advocacy group says it’s discriminatory

February 25, 2025 at 7:52 a.m.

A new plan by Chicago Public Schools aims to eliminate opportunity gaps and ensure success for Black students.

Peoples Gas instructor Stephen Jones, right, helps Chicago Military Academy student Denzel Adjei do a pipefitting simulation during a skilled trades fair at Hire360 on the Near South Side on Feb. 20, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

CPS skilled trades recruitment event sparks interest in career pathways for high school juniors, seniors

February 21, 2025 at 4:25 p.m.

The event is a partnership with city agencies, City Colleges of Chicago, and labor and corporate partners to promote pathways other than traditional four-year colleges and universities.

Students walk at the UIC campus on Oct. 24, 2022. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

UIC proposes plan to close School of Literatures, Cultural Studies and Linguistics amid $22M deficit

February 17, 2025 at 6:21 a.m.

The university has given staff members until March 7 to provide alternative options to address debt accrued by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez speaks about the recommendations from a third-party fact-finder, aimed at helping them settle on a contract with the Chicago Teachers Union, during a news conference at CPS Headquarters on Feb. 6, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Embattled CPS CEO Pedro Martinez vying for job as Las Vegas schools’ chief

February 13, 2025 at 2:19 p.m.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez is on a short list of candidates vying to become the superintendent of Nevada’s Clark County Public Schools in Las Vegas.

Chicago Board of Education President Sean Harden at a school board meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Outside firm hired to advise school board, budget amendment meetings scheduled for March

February 13, 2025 at 2:03 p.m.

Hiring the outside financial firm means Chicago Public Schools is likely in need of solutions to pay the for a new teachers contract a $175 million pension payment for nonteacher...

Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez speaks about the recommendations from a third-party fact-finder, aimed at helping the district settle on a contract with the Chicago Teachers Union, during a news conference at CPS Headquarters in downtown Chicago on Feb. 6, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago schools chief Pedro Martinez asserts no need for teachers strike following release of fact-finder’s report

February 7, 2025 at 3:47 p.m.

The teachers union's rejection of the fact-finder report opens the door for a strike as soon as March following a 30-day cooling-off period, if the two sides don’t agree.

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