State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Westchester, speaks at a news conference Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at the Illinois Capitol to highlight the findings of a new report on state funding for public universities. She was the co-chair of the commission that found Illinois underfunds public universities by about $1.4 billion. (Andrew Campbell / Capitol News Illinois)

A state commission found that dedicating an added $100-135 million annually to public universities would allow Illinois to bridge the funding gap in 10-15 years.

Janice Jackson, CEO of Hope Chicago, appears on “Chicago Tonight” on May 24, 2023. (WTTW News)

Janice Jackson serves as CEO of Hope Chicago, a two-generation scholarship program that aims to remove financial barriers for thousands of CPS students and their parents by allowing them to attend college debt-free.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson speaks during a news conference on June 14, 2021. (WTTW News)

The former Chicago Public Schools CEO is taking over a scholarship organization that’s promising to “redefine the education landscape” in Chicago.

Pedro Martinez speaks Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 outside his alma mater, Benito Juarez High School in Pilsen. (WTTW News)

The Chicago Public Schools graduate and former CPS chief financial officer under then-CEO Arne Duncan is expected to take control of the nation’s third-largest school district later this month, becoming the first Latino CEO within CPS.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson speaks during a news conference on June 14, 2021. (WTTW News)

As Janice Jackson’s tenure with Chicago Public Schools draws to an end, a cavalcade of current and former elected officials sung her praises during what was her final Board of Education meeting as CEO.

Jose Torres speaks at a news conference announcing his position as interim Chicago Public Schools CEO on Monday, June 14, 2021. (WTTW News)

Jose Torres, a former Chicago Public Schools official who previously led the second-largest school district in Illinois, will serve as interim CEO once Janice Jackson’s contract expires at the end of June.

(WTTW News)

The Illinois State Board of Education on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution in support of an upcoming declaration that will make it a requirement that schools reopen their doors in the fall, with only limited options for remote learning.

Chicago Board of Education President Miguel del Valle appears on “Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices” on May 15, 2021. (WTTW News)

Chicago Public School officials say they hope to have a new CEO selected by late July. Miguel del Valle, the head of the Chicago Board of Education, joins us to discuss the process of picking the next chief.

(WTTW News)

Officials say search process will be the most inclusive in recent history

Chicago Public Schools officials say the district will host dozens of focus groups in the coming months to gather community feedback before making any decision about its next CEO. Current CEO Janice Jackson will be leaving the district when her contract expires at the end of June.

(WTTW News)

The district said the investment will support staffing, training and learning resources for International Baccalaureate, STEM/STEAM, fine and performing arts, and dual language programs at seven elementary schools over the next six years.

(WTTW News)

While the final decision on a new Chicago Public Schools CEO is ultimately up to Mayor Lori Lightfoot, she said she doesn’t want to make that decision behind closed doors.

(WTTW News)

As Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson prepares to walk away from the district at the end of next month, a local parent organization has begun outlining steps it hopes her eventual replacement will take to improve public education across the city.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson appears on “Chicago Tonight” via Zoom on Monday, May 3, 2021. (WTTW News)

Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson says she will be leaving her post this summer, more than three years after she was tapped to lead the nation’s third-largest school district. Jackson joins “Chicago Tonight” to talk about her decision.

A photo collage shows eight CEOs and two interim CEOs of Chicago Public Schools. Top row, from left: Janice Jackson, Forrest Claypool, Jesse Ruiz. Middle row, from left: Terry Mazany, Jean-Claude Brizard, Barbara Byrd-Bennett. Bottom row, from left: Ron Huberman, Arne Duncan, Paul Vallas. (WTTW News)

With Janice Jackson stepping down as CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Mayor Lori Lightfoot will now be on the hunt for the 10th person to head the district since the position was created in 1995. Here’s a look back at the people who’ve held the spot and where they are now.

(WTTW News)

Six public meetings, including one held entirely in Spanish, have been scheduled for the first week in May before CPS officially releases its fiscal year 2022 capital plan later in the summer.

(WTTW News)

More than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced school closures around the city, Chicago Public Schools says it is planning to resume in-person learning full time for students this fall.