School is back in session for CPS students after summer of budget angst

Chicago Public Schools students head back to school Monday after a summer in which layoffs and last-minute budget changes made it challenging for schools to staff up for the first day. Many principals had planned to start the 2026-27 school year with fewer staff, but then the school board overhauled the budget, hoping to reverse many planned layoffs. That won’t be enough to add back all the lost positions. But district officials say they’re now in the process of bringing back staff and placing…