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Hello and happy first day of school to all Chicago Public Schools students and staff!

I’m Becky Vevea, Chicago bureau chief. Today marked my fifth year as a CPS parent and the start of my fifth year in this role. As I took the obligatory “front stoop photos” of my kids this morning, I felt the first day of school excitement in the air. (I also got very emotional because time is a thief!)

Across the city, more than 300,000 students and more than 40,000 staff are headed back to class. There will be big changes and challenges this school year — from the end of mayoral control and the swearing in of a fully-elected school board to a budget crunch and questions about the state’s formula falling short of it’s promise to adequately fund schools by 2027.

Chalkbeat will be in your inbox every morning with the latest news and essential reporting to help you understand what is happening in our city’s and nation’s public schools. We’ll tackle stories about screen time and standards and the student experience. We’ll take a closer look at enrollment trends and whether campus closings could be coming or if leaders will look for more creative solutions. We also want to hear from you. Reply to this email with your ideas and news tips!

And check back later today for more dispatches from the first day of school.

A new school year needs strong local reporting. Help Chalkbeat’s reporters keep asking the questions that matter.

4 things to watch as new CPS school year starts, from classroom cuts to enrollment counts, WBEZ

Chicago Public Schools families preparing to go back to school on Monday, CBS

CPS budget uncertainty looms as students head back to school, Chicago Tribune (Paywall)