Chicago Public Schools, Illinois

Chicago Public Schools
Chicago, Illinois
District details
Superintendent: Jose Torres (CEO)
# of school board members: 7
Website: Link

Chicago Public Schools is a school district in Illinois.

Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's...

• Superintendent
• School board
• Budget
• Teacher salaries
• Academic performance
• Students
• Staff
• Schools
• Contact information

Superintendent

This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates.

The appointed leader of Chicago Public Schools has the title of CEO instead of superintendent. Pedro Martinez was appointed to serve as CEO of Chicago Public Schools on September 15, 2021, and started serving in this role on September 29, 2021. His previous experience includes working as superintendent at the San Antonio Independent School District.

Past superintendents

• Jose Torres was the interim CEO of Chicago Public Schools from his appointment June 2021 until his successor took office on September 29, 2021. Torres' previous career experience includes working as a regional superintendent in the district and superintendent at School District U-46, the second-largest system in Illinois.
• Janice Jackson was the CEO of Chicago Public Schools from 2018 to 2021. Jackson's previous career experience included working as a principal, network chief, and chief education officer of the district.

• Forrest Claypool was the CEO of Chicago Public Schools from 2015 to 2017. Claypool's previous career experience included working as the president of the Chicago Transit Authority and chief of staff to former Chicago mayors Rahm Emanuel and Richard Daley.

• Jesse Ruiz was the interim CEO of Chicago Public Schools in 2015. Ruiz's previous career experience included working as the vice president of the Chicago Board of Education and chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education.

School board

Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed legislation in July 2021 that changed the board from being appointed by the mayor to being publicly elected. The board grew from seven to 21 members. Chicago voters selected 10 new members in the November 2024 general election, with the other 11 members appointed by the mayor. The board will become fully elected in November 2026.

Elected board members

Office	Name	Date assumed office
Chicago Public Schools school board District 1b	Jennifer Custer	January 15, 2025
Chicago Public Schools school board District 2a	Ebony DeBerry	January 15, 2025
Chicago Public Schools school board District 3b	Carlos Rivas Jr.	January 15, 2025
Chicago Public Schools school board District 4b	Ellen Rosenfeld	January 15, 2025
Chicago Public Schools school board District 5a	Aaron Brown	January 15, 2025
Chicago Public Schools school board District 6b	Jessica Biggs	January 15, 2025
Chicago Public Schools school board District 7a	Yesenia Lopez	January 15, 2025
Chicago Public Schools school board District 8a	Angel Gutierrez	January 15, 2025
Chicago Public Schools school board District 9b	Therese Boyle	January 15, 2025
Chicago Public Schools school board District 10a	Che Smith	January 15, 2025

This officeholder information was last updated on February 7, 2025. Please contact us with any updates.

Elections

See also: Chicago Public Schools elections in 2024

Members elected in 2024 will serve four-year terms, and members appointed in 2024 will serve two-years.

A general election for 10 seats on the board was scheduled for November 5, 2024.

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Public participation in board meetings

The Chicago Public Schools Board of Education maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:

District map

School district map

Budget

The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.

• Revenue
• Expenditures

Revenue, 2020-2021

SOURCE	AMOUNT	AMOUNT PER STUDENT	PERCENT
Federal:	$1,130,495,000	$3,312	15%
Local:	$3,886,753,000	$11,385	52%
State:	$2,429,260,000	$7,116	33%
Total:	$7,446,508,000	$21,813

Expenditures, 2020-2021

TYPE	AMOUNT	AMOUNT PER STUDENT	PERCENT
Total Expenditures:	$7,481,077,000	$21,914
Total Current Expenditures:	$6,218,697,000	$18,216
Instructional Expenditures:	$4,126,512,000	$12,087	55%
Student and Staff Support:	$602,344,000	$1,764	8%
Administration:	$566,449,000	$1,659	8%
Operations, Food Service, Other:	$923,392,000	$2,704	12%
Total Capital Outlay:	$570,490,000	$1,671
Construction:	$508,691,000	$1,490
Total Non El-Sec Education & Other:	$68,557,000	$200
Interest on Debt:	$486,360,000	$1,424

Teacher salaries

The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.

Year	Minimum	Maximum
2023-2024	$61,990	$113,029
2022-2023	$59,894	$109,207
2021-2022	$57,869	$110,542
2020-2021	$56,183	$107,322
2019-2020	$54,547	$104,196

Academic performance

Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.

• Mathematics
• Reading/language arts
• Graduation rates

The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:

School year	All (%)	Asian/Pacific Islander (%)	Black (%)	Hispanic (%)	Native American (%)	Two or More Races (%)	White (%)
2020-2021	17	54	6	13	20-24	42	45
2018-2019	24	61	13	22	25	48	54
2017-2018	22	59	12	21	26	47	52
2016-2017	24	61	13	22	27	47	54
2015-2016	23	59	14	23	26	43	52
2014-2015	21	56	12	20	22	39	48
2013-2014	50	81	40	51	55	69	77
2012-2013	48	78	38	49	53	66	76
2011-2012	73	89	66	75	77	81	88
2010-2011	72	89	65	75	75	82	87

The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:

School year	All (%)	Asian/Pacific Islander (%)	Black (%)	Hispanic (%)	Native American (%)	Two or More Races (%)	White (%)
2020-2021	21	50	11	17	25-29	48	49
2018-2019	27	55	17	25	30	55	57
2017-2018	27	57	17	26	31	54	58
2016-2017	28	59	19	27	31	54	60
2015-2016	27	58	18	27	30	51	57
2014-2015	29	60	19	28	33	51	59
2013-2014	45	71	37	44	49	68	75
2012-2013	47	71	39	45	50	68	75
2011-2012	65	82	59	66	71	79	85
2010-2011	65	81	59	65	66	81	84

The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:

School year	All (%)	Asian/Pacific Islander (%)	Black (%)	Hispanic (%)	Native American (%)	Two or More Races (%)	White (%)
2017-2018	77	89	74	78	80-84	75-79	85
2016-2017	82	94	79	83	75-79	85-89	89
2015-2016	74	88	69	77	70-74	75	83
2014-2015	77	91	71	80	70-74	80-84	87
2013-2014	81	92	77	83	85-89	80-84	88
2012-2013	70	82	66	71	75-79	75	78
2011-2012	69	90	62	73	70-74	81	78
2010-2011	74	94	71	75	75-79	82	84

Students

• Enrollment
• Demographics

Year	Enrollment	Year-to-year change (%)
2022-2023	321,666	-2.5
2021-2022	329,836	-3.5
2020-2021	341,382	-1.8
2019-2020	347,484	-3.5
2018-2019	359,476	-4.0
2017-2018	373,700	-1.2
2016-2017	378,199	-2.4
2015-2016	387,311	-1.4
2014-2015	392,558	-1.0
2013-2014	396,641	0.2
2012-2013	395,948	-1.8
2011-2012	403,004	-0.7
2010-2011	405,644	-0.4
2009-2010	407,157	-3.5
2008-2009	421,430	3.3
2007-2008	407,510	-1.5
2006-2007	413,694	-1.8
2005-2006	420,982	-1.4
2004-2005	426,812	-1.8
2003-2004	434,419	-0.4
2002-2003	436,048	-0.3
2001-2002	437,418	0.5
2000-2001	435,261	0.8
1999-2000	431,750	0.0

Racial Demographics, 2022-2023

RACE	Chicago Public Schools (%)	Illinois K-12 STUDENTS (%)
American Indian/Alaska Native	0.3	0.3
Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander	4.4	5.5
Black	35.6	16.5
Hispanic	46.5	27.5
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	0.1	0.1
Two or More Races	1.9	4.2
White	11.1	46.0

Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Staff

• Teachers
• Administrators
• Other staff

As of the 2022-2023 school year, Chicago Public Schools had 22,932.05 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 14.03.

Teachers, 2022-2023 school year

TYPE	NUMBER OF TEACHERS
Prekindergarten:	7.00
Kindergarten:	92.00
Elementary:	15,975.95
Secondary:	6,857.10
Total:	22,932.05

Chicago Public Schools employed 410.00 district administrators and 1,684.30 school administrators as of the 2022-2023 school year.

Administrators, 2022-2023 school year

TYPE	NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS
District Administrators:	410.00
District Administrative Support:	115.00
School Administrators:	1,684.30
School Administrative Support:	40.00

Other staff, 2022-2023 school year

TYPE	NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF
Instructional Aides:	8,156.50
Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors:	283.50
Total Guidance Counselors:	913.50
Elementary Guidance Counselors:	551.50
Secondary Guidance Counselors:	362.00
Librarians/Media Specialists:	91.50
Library/Media Support:	0.00
Student Support Services:	1,677.23
Other Support Services:	371.00

Schools

Chicago Public Schools operates 644 schools. They are listed below in alphabetical order.

List of schools

SCHOOL NAME	NUMBER OF STUDENTS	GRADES
Academy For Global Citizenship	462	KG-8
Acero Chtr - Bartolome De Las	244	KG-8
Acero Chtr-Brighton Park Elem Sch	534	KG-8
Acero Chtr - Carlos Fuentes Elem	401	KG-8
Acero Chtr - Esmera Santiago Cmps	219	KG-8
Acero Chtr Netrk - Major Garcia	652	9-12
Acero Chtr Network - Jovita Idar	521	KG-8
Acero Chtr Network - Pfc Torress	530	KG-8
Acero Chtr - Octavio Paz Elem Sch	173	KG-8
Acero Chtr - Officer Marquez Elem	523	KG-8
Acero Chtr Roberto Clemente Elem	456	KG-8
Acero Chtr - Rufino Tamayo Elem	270	KG-8
Acero Chtr - Sandra Cisneros Elem	415	KG-8
Acero Chtr Sch Netwrk- Victoria	572	9-12
Acero Chtr Sor Juana Ines De La	513	KG-12
Acero Chtr - Spc Zizumbo Elem	551	KG-8
Addams Elem School	559	PK-8
Air Force Acad High School	144	9-12
Albany Park Multicultural Elem	222	7-8
Alcott College Prep	351	9-12
Alcott Elem School	601	PK-8
Aldridge Elem School	235	PK-8
Amundsen High School	1,577	9-12
Ariel Elem Community Academy	352	PK-8
Armour Elem School	246	PK-8
Armstrong G Elem Intl Studies	1,248	PK-8
Art In Motion Charter School	565	7-11
Ashburn Community Elem School	350	PK-8
Ashe Elem School	364	PK-8
Asian Human Srvcs-Passage Chrtr	311	KG-8
Aspira Charter - Bus And Fin	496	9-12
Aspira Charter - Early College Pr	264	9-12
Aspira Charter - Haugan Campus	103	6-8
Audubon Elem School	577	PK-8
Austin College And Career Acad Hs	214	9-12
Avalon Park Elem School	226	PK-8
Avondale - Logandale Elem Sch	512	PK-8
Azuela Elem School	718	PK-8
Back Of The Yards Ib Hs	1,021	9-12
Barnard Elem Comp Math & Sci Ctr	265	PK-8
Barry Elem School	443	PK-6
Barton Elem School	393	PK-8
Bass Elem School	341	PK-8
Bateman Elem School	885	PK-8
Beard Elem School	182	PK-3
Beasley Elem Magnet Academic Ctr	1,046	PK-8
Beaubien Elem School	966	PK-8
Beethoven Elem School	264	PK-8
Beidler Elem School	261	PK-8
Belding Elem School	564	PK-8
Bell Elem School	886	KG-8
Belmont-Cragin Elem School	479	PK-8
Bennett Elem School	258	PK-8
Black Magnet Elem School	395	KG-8
Blaine Elem School	643	PK-8
Blair Early Childhood Center	157	PK-2
Bogan High School	764	9-12
Bond Elem School	229	PK-8
Boone Elem School	724	PK-8
Bouchet Elem Math & Science Acad	589	PK-8
Bowen High School	234	9-12
Bradwell Comm Arts & Sci Elem Sch	424	PK-8
Brennemann Elem School	440	PK-8
Brentano Elem Math & Science Acad	685	PK-8
Bret Harte Elem School	330	PK-8
Bridge Elem School	1,088	PK-8
Bright Elem School	230	PK-8
Brighton Park Elem School	272	PK-8
Bronzeville Classical Elem Sch	395	KG-6
Bronzeville Scholastic Hs	82	9-12
Brooks College Prep Academy Hs	990	7-12
Brownell Elem School	135	PK-6
Brown R Elem Community Acad	285	PK-8
Brown W Elem School	205	PK-8
Brunson Math & Sci Specialty Elem	421	PK-8
Budlong Elem School	682	PK-8
Burbank Elem School	708	PK-8
Burke Elem School	281	PK-8
Burley Elem School	497	KG-8
Burnham Elem Inclusive Academy	421	PK-8
Burnside Elem Scholastic Academy	308	PK-8
Burr Elem School	478	KG-8
Burroughs Elem School	323	PK-8
Byrne Elem School	628	KG-8
Caldwell Elem Acad Of Math & Sci	205	PK-8
Calmeca Acad Elem School	617	PK-8
Camelot Safe Academy School	0	6-12
Cameron Elem School	570	PK-8
Camras Elem School	793	PK-8
Canty Elem School	818	PK-8
Cardenas Elem School	817	PK-8
Carnegie Elem School	443	PK-8
Carroll Elem School	421	PK-8
Carson Elem School	788	PK-8
Carter Elem School	299	PK-8
Carver Military Academy Hs	415	9-12
Carver Primary School	464	PK-8
Casals Elem School	326	PK-8
Cassell Elem School	351	KG-8
Catalyst Charter-Circle Rock Es	514	KG-8
Catalyst Charter - Maria Es	1,095	KG-12
Cather Elem School	327	PK-8
Chalmers Elem Specialty School	209	PK-8
Chappell Elem School	539	PK-8
Chase Elem School	373	PK-8
Chavez Elem Multicultural Acad Ct	813	PK-8
Chicago Academy Elem School	563	PK-8
Chicago Academy High School	566	9-12
Chicago Collegiate Charter School	256	5-12
Chicago Excel Academy Hs	229	9-12
Chicago Hs For Agricult Sciences	858	9-12
Chicago Hs For The Arts	610	9-12
Chicago Math & Sci Elem Charter	606	6-12
Chicago Military Academy Hs	232	9-12
Chicago Technology Academy Hs	381	9-12
Chicago Vocational Career Acad Hs	713	9-12
Chicago World Language Academy	451	KG-8
Chopin Elem School	273	PK-8
Christopher Elem School	319	KG-8
Christopher House Chrt Es	444	PK-8
Cics - Avalon/South Shore	456	KG-8
Cics - Basil Campus	481	KG-8
Cics - Bond Campus	253	KG-6
Cics - Bucktown Campus	621	KG-8
Cics - Irving Park Campus	533	KG-8
Cics - Longwood Campus	1,249	3-12
Cics - Loomis Primary Campus	354	KG-2
Cics - Northtown Campus	891	9-12
Cics - Prairie Campus	399	KG-8
Cics - Ralph Ellison Campus	218	9-12
Cics - Washington Pk Campus	486	KG-8
Cics - West Belden Campus	543	KG-8
Cics - Wrightwood	638	KG-8
Claremont Academy Elem School	339	PK-8
Clark Acad Prep Magnet High Schl	480	9-12
Clark G R Elem School	155	PK-8
Clay Elem School	532	PK-8
Clemente Community Academy Hs	666	9-12
Cleveland Elem School	474	PK-8
Clinton Elem School	1,016	PK-8
Clissold Elem School	398	PK-8
Colemon J Elem Academy	193	PK-8
Coles Elem Language Academy	265	PK-8
Collins Academy High School	234	9-12
Columbia Explorers Elem Academy	744	PK-8
Columbus Elem School	282	PK-8
Cook Co Juvenile Det -York Alt Hs	0	9-12
Cook Co Juvenile-Jefferson Alt Hs	0	6-12
Cook Elem School	322	PK-8
Coonley Elem School	795	KG-8
Cooper Elem Dual Language Academy	406	PK-8
Corkery Elem School	434	PK-8
Corliss High School	339	9-12
Courtenay Elem Language Arts Ctr	208	PK-8
Crane Medical Prep Hs	320	9-12
Crown Elem Comm Acd Fine Arts Ctr	120	PK-8
Cuffe Math-Sci Tech Elem Academy	233	PK-8
Cullen Elem School	171	KG-8
Curie Metropolitan High School	3,178	9-12
Curtis Elem School	381	PK-8
Daley Elem Academy	485	PK-8
Darwin Elem School	508	PK-8
Davis M Magnet Elem School	130	PK-8
Davis N Elem School	522	PK-8
Dawes Elem School	982	PK-8
Decatur Classical Elem School	323	KG-8
De Diego Elem Community Academy	417	PK-8
Deneen Elem School	460	PK-8
Depriest Elem School	458	PK-8
Dett Elem School	253	PK-8
Dever Elem School	751	PK-8
Devry Advantage Academy High Schl	135	11-12
Dewey Elem Academy Of Fine Arts	238	PK-8
Dirksen Elem School	1,069	PK-8
Disney Elem Magnet School	1,455	PK-8
Disney Ii Elem School	431	PK-6
Disney Ii Magnet Hs	775	7-12
Dixon Elem School	464	PK-8
Dore Elem School	720	PK-8
Douglass Academy High School	34	9-12
Drake Elem School	243	PK-8
Drummond Elem School	301	PK-8
Dubois Elem School	201	PK-8
Dulles Elem School	665	PK-8
Dunbar Vocational Career Acad Hs	511	9-12
Dunne Technology Acad Elem Sch	206	PK-8
Durkin Park Elem School	676	PK-8
Dvorak Technology Acad Elem Sch	274	PK-8
Earhart Elem Opt For Knowl School	193	KG-8
Earle Elem School	244	PK-8
Eberhart Elem School	1,037	KG-8
Ebinger Elem School	749	KG-8
Edgebrook Elem School	460	KG-8
Edison Elem Regional Gifted Cntr	267	KG-8
Edison Park Elem School	534	KG-8
Edwards Elem School	1,258	PK-8
Ellington Elem School	425	PK-8
Englewood Stem High School	877	9-12
Epic Academy High School	345	9-12
Ericson Elem Scholastic Academy	363	PK-8
Erie Elem Charter School	374	KG-8
Esmond Elem School	247	PK-8
Everett Elem School	117	PK-5
Evergreen Academy Elem School	204	6-8
Evers Elem School	211	PK-8
Excel Academy - Englewood Hs	0	9-12
Excel Academy - Southwest Hs	0	9-12
Excel Academy - Woodlawn Hs	0	9-12
Fairfield Elem Academy	456	PK-8
Falconer Elem School	896	PK-6
Faraday Elem School	159	PK-8
Farnsworth Elem School	478	PK-8
Farragut Career Academy Hs	529	9-12
Fenger Academy High School	282	9-12
Fernwood Elem School	265	PK-8
Field Elem School	155	5-8
Finkl Elem School	206	PK-8
Fiske Elem School	343	PK-8
Foreman High School	648	9-12
Fort Dearborn Elem School	324	PK-8
Foster Park Elem School	283	PK-8
Franklin Elem Fine Arts Center	367	KG-8
Frazier Perspectives Magnet Es	131	KG-8
Fuller Elem School	317	PK-8
Fulton Elem School	297	PK-8
Funston Elem School	406	PK-8
Gage Park High School	415	9-12
Gale Elem Community Academy	222	PK-8
Galileo Elem Math & Sci Schol Acd	539	KG-8
Gallistel Elem Language Academy	618	PK-8
Garcia Lorca Elem School	626	PK-8
Garvey M Elem School	241	PK-8
Garvy J Elem School	761	KG-8
Gary Elem School	766	3-8
Gillespie Elem School	376	PK-8
Goethe Elem School	705	PK-8
Goode Stem Academy Hs	989	9-12
Goudy Technology Academy	554	PK-8
Graham A Elem School	329	PK-8
Graham R Training Center	0	9-12
Gray Elem School	1,004	PK-8
Great Lakes Academy Charter Es	524	KG-8
Greeley Elem School	319	PK-8
Greene N Elem School	308	PK-5
Green W Elem School	300	PK-8
Gregory Math & Sci Elem Academy	279	PK-8
Gresham Elem School	334	PK-8
Grimes Elem School	395	PK-8
Grissom Elem School	297	PK-8
Gunsaulus Elem Scholastic Academy	651	PK-8
Haines Elem School	529	PK-8
Hale Elem School	813	KG-8
Haley Elem Academy	440	PK-8
Hamilton Elem School	451	PK-8
Hamline Elem School	529	PK-8
Hammond Elem School	237	PK-8
Hampton Elem Fine & Perf Arts Sch	468	PK-8
Hancock College Preparatory Hs	1,013	9-12
Hanson Park Elem School	1,146	PK-8
Harlan Community Academy Hs	314	9-12
Harriet Tubman Elem School	296	PK-8
Harvard Elem School	341	PK-8
Haugan Elem School	881	PK-8
Hawthorne Elem Scholastic Academy	604	KG-8
Hay Elem Community Academy	268	PK-8
Hayt Elem School	887	PK-8
Healy Elem School	1,222	PK-8
Hearst Elem School	302	PK-8
Hedges Elem School	460	PK-8
Hefferan Elem School	239	PK-8
Henderson Elem School	173	PK-8
Hendricks Elem Community Academy	184	PK-8
Henry Elem School	454	PK-8
Hernandez Middle School	856	6-8
Herzl Elem School	403	PK-8
Hibbard Elem School	900	PK-6
Higgins Elem Community Academy	264	PK-8
Hirsch Metropolitan High School	164	9-12
Hitch Elem School	502	PK-8
Holden Elem School	393	PK-8
Holmes Elem School	117	PK-8
Hope Learning Academy	240	KG-5
Horizon Sci Acad - Southwest Chtr	743	KG-12
Howe Elem School	382	PK-8
Hoyne Elem School	227	PK-8
Hubbard High School	1,819	9-12
Hughes C Elem School	190	PK-8
Hughes L Elem School	459	PK-8
Hurley Elem School	716	PK-8
Hyde Park Academy High School	760	9-12
Ihsca Charter High School	625	9-12
Ijla Charter High School	96	9-12
Infinity Math Science & Tech Hs	432	9-12
Inter-American Elem Magnet School	669	PK-8
Intrinsic Charter High School	992	7-12
Irving Elem School	289	PK-8
Jackson M Elem School	334	PK-8
Jahn Elem School	291	PK-8
James R Doolittle Academy	255	PK-8
Jamieson Elem School	795	PK-8
Jensen Elem Scholastic Academy	254	PK-8
Johnson Elem School	223	PK-8
Jones College Prep High School	1,941	9-12
Joplin Elem School	331	PK-8
Jordan Elem Community School	499	PK-8
Juarez Community Academy Hs	1,654	9-12
Julian High School	460	9-12
Jungman Elem School	284	PK-8
Kanoon Elem Magnet School	412	PK-8
Keller Elem Gifted Magnet School	213	1-8
Kellman Corporate Community Elem	202	PK-8
Kellogg Elem School	296	KG-8
Kelvyn Park High School	514	7-12
Kennedy High School	1,720	9-12
Kenwood Academy High School	2,338	7-12
Kershaw Elem School	213	PK-8
Kilmer Elem School	742	PK-8
King Academy Of Social Justice	241	PK-8
King College Prep High School	606	9-12
Kinzie Elem School	669	PK-8
Kipling Elem School	230	PK-8
Kipp Academy Chicago Campus	606	KG-8
Kipp Chicago Chrtrs - Ascend Acad	905	KG-8
Kipp Chicago Chrtrs Bloom Campus	851	KG-8
Kipp One Academy	985	KG-8
Kozminski Elem Community Academy	249	PK-8
Lake View High School	1,417	9-12
Lane Technical High School	4,496	7-12
Langford A Elem School	178	PK-8
Lara Elem Academy	315	PK-8
Lasalle Elem Language Academy	486	KG-8
Lasalle Ii Lang Acad Elem Sch	576	PK-8
Lavizzo Elem School	342	PK-8
Lawndale Elem Community Academy	216	PK-8
Learn Charter Excel Campus	374	KG-8
Learn Chtr - 7th Campus	170	KG-8
Learn Chtr - Butler	515	KG-8
Learn Chtr-Campbell Campus	366	KG-8
Learn Chtr - Hunter Perkins Camp	471	KG-8
Learn Chtr - Middle School	279	6-8
Learn Chtr - South Chicago Campus	419	KG-8
Lee Elem School	628	PK-8
Legacy Elem Charter School	449	KG-8
Legal Prep Academy Charter Hs	256	9-12
Leland Elem School	368	PK-8
Lenart Elem Regional Gifted Ctr	289	PK-8
Lewis Elem School	362	PK-8
Libby Elem School	251	PK-8
Lincoln Elem School	811	KG-8
Lincoln Park High School	2,107	9-12
Lindblom Math & Science Acad Hs	1,432	7-12
Linne Elem School	624	PK-8
Little Black Pearl Arts Acad Hs	0	9-12
Little Village Elem School	601	PK-8
Lloyd Elem School	826	PK-5
Locke A Elem Charter Academy	321	KG-8
Locke J Elem School	1,146	PK-8
Lovett Elem School	307	PK-8
Lowell Elem School	308	PK-8
Lozano Elem Bilingual & Intl Ctr	154	PK-8
Lyon Elem School	1,052	KG-8
Madero Middle School	253	6-8
Madison Elem School	177	PK-8
Manierre Elem School	250	PK-8
Manley Career Academy High School	124	9-12
Mann Elem School	317	PK-8
Marine Leadership Academy - Ames	701	7-12
Marquette Elem School	1,002	PK-8
Marshall Metropolitan High School	239	9-12
Marsh Elem School	642	PK-8
Mason Elem School	221	PK-8
Mather High School	1,749	9-12
Mayer Elem School	673	PK-8
Mays Elem Academy	238	PK-8
Mcauliffe Elem School	573	PK-8
Mcclellan Elem School	299	PK-8
Mccormick Elem School	437	PK-5
Mccutcheon Elem School	301	PK-8
Mcdade Elem Classical School	210	KG-7
Mcdowell Elem School	117	PK-5
Mckay Elem School	622	PK-8
Mcnair Elem School	347	PK-8
Mcpherson Elem School	651	PK-8
Melody Elem School	272	PK-8
Metcalfe Elem Community Academy	330	PK-8
Mireles Elem Academy	470	PK-8
Mitchell Elem School	384	PK-8
Mollison Elem School	267	PK-8
Monroe Elem School	651	PK-8
Montessori Of Englewood Chtr Es	330	PK-8
Moos Elem School	433	PK-8
Morgan Park High School	1,160	7-12
Morrill Elem Math & Sci School	508	PK-8
Morton Elem Career Academy	183	PK-8
Mount Greenwood Elem School	1,172	KG-8
Mount Vernon Elem School	232	PK-8
Moving Everest Charter School	770	KG-8
Mozart Elem School	485	PK-8
Multicultural Arts High School	267	9-12
Murphy Elem School	497	PK-8
Murray Elem Language Academy	445	KG-8
Namaste Elem Charter School	415	KG-8
Nash Elem School	232	PK-8
National Teachers Elem Academy	757	PK-8
Neil Elem School	248	PK-8
Nettelhorst Elem School	625	PK-8
Newberry Elem Math & Science Acad	363	PK-8
New Field Elem School	515	PK-4
Nicholson Tech Acad Elem Sch	430	PK-8
Nightingale Elem School	964	PK-8
Ninos Heroes Elem Academic Ctr	294	PK-8
Nixon Elem School	589	PK-6
Nobel Elem School	580	PK-8
Noble St Chtr-Baker Campus	280	9-12
Noble St Chtr-Butler - Crimson	658	9-12
Noble St Chtr-Chicago Bulls Prep	1,174	9-12
Noble St Chtr-Comer College Prep	1,044	6-12
Noble St Chtr-Drw Trading Col	352	9-12
Noble St Chtr-Golder College Prep	645	9-12
Noble St Chtr-Hansberry Prep Slvr	499	9-12
Noble St Chtr-Itw Speer Acad	1,112	9-12
Noble St Chtr-Johnson Colg Prep	492	9-12
Noble St Chtr - Mansueto	1,056	9-12
Noble St Chtr-Muchin College Prep	853	9-12
Noble St Chtr-Noble Campus	665	9-12
Noble St Chtr-Pritzker Col Prep	957	9-12
Noble St Chtr Rauner College Prep	668	9-12
Noble St Chtr-Rowe-Clark Ms Acad	391	9-12
Noble St Chtr-The Noble Academy	597	9-12
Noble St Chtr-Uic College Prep	906	9-12
North-Grand High School	1,109	9-12
North Lawndale Prep Chtr - Christ	313	9-12
North Lawndale Prep Chtr-Collins	418	9-12
North River Elem School	232	PK-8
Northside College Preparatory Hs	1,040	9-12
Northside Learning Center	0	9-12
Northwest Middle School	486	6-8
Norwood Park Elem School	337	PK-8
Ogden Elem School	875	PK-8
Ogden Int High School	494	9-12
Oglesby Elem School	264	PK-8
Okeeffe Elem School	492	PK-8
Ombudsman Chicago Northwest	0	9-12
Ombudsman Chicago - Roseland Hs	0	9-12
Ombudsman Chicago South	0	9-12
Ombudsman Chicago West	0	9-12
Onahan Elem School	670	PK-8
Oriole Park Elem School	602	PK-8
Orozco Elem Fine Arts & Sciences	277	PK-8
Orr Academy High School	294	9-12
Ortiz De Dominguez Elem School	388	PK-2
Otis Elem School	317	PK-8
Otoole Elem School	334	PK-8
Owen Elem Scholastic Academy	271	PK-8
Owens Community Academy Es	331	PK-8
Palmer Elem School	735	PK-8
Parker Elem Community Academy	347	PK-8
Park Manor Elem School	266	PK-8
Parkside Elem Community Academy	236	PK-8
Pasteur Elem School	585	PK-4
Pathways In Education Ashburn	0	9-12
Pathways In Education Avondale	0	9-12
Pathways In Education Brighton Pa	0	9-12
Pathways In Education - Humboldt	0	9-12
Payton College Preparatory Hs	1,233	9-12
Peace And Education Coalition Hs	0	10-12
Peck Elem School	798	PK-4
Peirce Elem Intl Studies School	1,067	PK-8
Penn Elem School	220	PK-8
Perez Elem School	258	PK-8
Pershing Elem Humanities Magnet	429	PK-8
Perspectives Chtr - Hs Of Tech	360	9-12
Perspectives Chtr - Iit Campus	419	6-12
Perspectives Chtr - Joslin Campus	381	6-12
Perspectives Chtr - Leadership Ac	684	6-12
Peterson Elem School	844	PK-8
Phillips Academy High School	531	9-12
Phoenix Military Academy Hs	463	9-12
Piccolo Elem Specialty School	571	PK-8
Pickard Elem School	297	PK-8
Pilsen Elem Community Academy	219	PK-8
Pirie Elem Fine Arts & Academic C	204	PK-6
Plamondon Elem School	103	KG-8
Plato Learning Acad Elem School	176	KG-8
Poe Elem Classical School	227	KG-7
Polaris Elem Charter Academy	348	KG-8
Portage Park Elem School	834	PK-8
Powell Elem Paideia Comm Academy	535	PK-8
Prescott Elem School	404	KG-8
Prieto Math-Science Elem Sch	745	PK-8
Pritzker Elem School	651	PK-8
Prosser Career Academy Hs	1,204	9-12
Providence-Englewood Elem Charter	436	KG-8
Prussing Elem School	620	KG-8
Pulaski Intl Sch Of Chicago	822	PK-8
Pullman Elem School	295	PK-8
Raby High School	197	9-12
Randolph Elem School	334	PK-8
Ravenswood Elem School	535	PK-8
Ray Elem School	495	PK-8
Reavis Elem Math & Sci Spec Schl	281	PK-8
Reilly Elem School	563	PK-8
Reinberg Elem School	720	PK-8
Revere Elem School	215	PK-8
Richards Career Academy Hs	311	9-12
Richardson Middle School	934	5-8
Rickover Naval Academy High Schl	461	9-12
Robinson Elem School	111	PK-3
Rogers Elem School	700	PK-8
Roosevelt High School	1,116	9-12
Rowe Elementary	757	KG-8
Rudolph Elem Learning Center	25	PK-7
Ruggles Elem School	316	PK-8
Ruiz Elem School	435	PK-8
Ryder Elem Math & Sci Spec School	351	PK-8
Sabin Elem Magnet School	316	PK-8
Sadlowski Elementary School	625	PK-8
Salazar Elem Bilingual Center	274	PK-8
Sandoval Elem School	742	PK-5
Saucedo Elem Scholastic Academy	868	PK-8
Sauganash Elem School	612	KG-8
Sawyer Elem School	1,030	KG-8
Sayre Elem Language Academy	428	PK-8
Scammon Elem School	641	PK-8
Schmid Elem School	171	PK-8
School Of Social Justice Hs	289	9-12
Schubert Elem School	540	PK-5
Schurz High School	1,407	9-12
Senn High School	1,583	9-12
Seward Elem Communication Arts Ac	449	PK-8
Sheridan Elem Math & Science Acad	529	KG-8
Sherman Elem School	222	PK-8
Sherwood Elem School	200	PK-8
Shields Elem School	457	PK-4
Shields Middle School	443	5-8
Shoesmith Elem School	322	KG-6
Shoop Math-Sci Tech Elem Academy	388	PK-8
Simeon Career Academy High School	1,205	9-12
Simpson Acad Hs For Young Women	0	6-12
Skinner Elem School	976	PK-8
Skinner North Elem Sch	490	KG-8
Smith W Elem School	317	PK-8
Smyser Elem School	763	PK-8
Smyth J Elem School	397	PK-8
Solomon Elem School	343	PK-8
Solorio Academy High School	1,259	9-12
Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz	396	PK-6
South Loop Elem School	808	PK-8
South Shore Fine Arts Elem Sch	248	PK-8
South Shore Intl Col Prep Hs	543	9-12
Southside Occupational Acad Hs	0	11-12
Spencer Technology Acad Elem Sch	391	PK-8
Spry Community Links High School	75	9-12
Spry Elem Community School	294	PK-8
Stagg Elem School	379	PK-8
Steinmetz College Prep Hs	1,304	9-12
Stem Magnet Academy Elem	395	KG-8
Stevenson Elem School	1,124	PK-8
Stock Early Childhood Center	233	PK-PK
Stone Elem Scholastic Academy	551	KG-8
Stowe Elem School	557	PK-8
Suder Montessori Elem Magnet Schl	444	PK-8
Sullivan Elem School	384	PK-8
Sullivan High School	709	9-12
Sumner Elem Math & Sci Comm Acad	201	PK-8
Sutherland Elem School	593	KG-8
Swift Elem Specialty School	532	PK-8
Taft High School	4,464	7-12
Talcott Elem School	437	PK-8
Talman Elem School	344	PK-8
Tanner Elem School	296	PK-8
Tarkington Elem School	871	PK-8
Taylor Elem School	337	PK-8
Telpochcalli Elem School	219	PK-8
Thomas Early Childhood Center	132	PK-PK
Thomas Kelly College Preparatory	1,903	9-12
Thorp J N Elem School	275	PK-8
Thorp O A Elem Scholastic Acad	787	KG-8
Tilden Career Communty Academy Hs	257	9-12
Till Elem Math & Science Academy	307	PK-8
Tilton Elem School	234	PK-8
Tonti Elem School	791	PK-5
Turner-Drew Elem Language Academy	199	KG-8
Twain Elem School	931	PK-8
Univ Of Chicago Chtr-Donoghue	456	PK-5
Univ Of Chicago Chtr-Nth Kenwood	299	PK-5
Univ Of Chicago Chtr-Woodlawn	583	6-12
Uplift Community High School	101	9-12
Urban Prep Chtr Acad Englewood Hs	161	9-12
Urban Prep Chtr Bronzeville Hs	219	9-12
Vanderpoel Elem Magnet School	241	KG-8
Vaughn Occupational High School	0	9-12
Vick Early Childhood & Family Ctr	316	PK-PK
Volta Elem School	700	PK-8
Von Steuben Metro Science Hs	1,656	9-12
Wacker Elem School	218	PK-8
Wadsworth Elem School	460	PK-8
Walsh Elem School	231	PK-8
Walter Henri Dyett Hs For Arts	553	9-12
Ward J Elem School	515	PK-8
Ward L Elem School	247	PK-8
Warren Elem School	243	PK-8
Washington G Elem School	639	PK-8
Washington G High School	1,568	9-12
Washington H Elem School	245	PK-8
Waters Elem School	627	KG-8
Webster Elem School	211	PK-8
Wells Community Academy Hs	353	9-12
Wells Preparatory Elem Academy	280	PK-8
Wentworth Elem School	406	PK-8
Westcott Elem School	413	PK-8
Westinghouse High School	1,199	9-12
West Park Elem Academy	460	PK-8
West Ridge Elem School	634	PK-8
Whistler Elem School	269	PK-8
White Elem Career Academy	113	PK-8
Whitney Elem School	598	PK-8
Whittier Elem School	166	PK-8
Wildwood Elem School	471	PK-8
Williams Medical Prep High Sch	73	9-12
Woodlawn Elem Community School	180	PK-6
Woodson South Elem School	294	PK-8
World Language High School	350	9-12
Yates Elem School	280	PK-8
Yccs-Albizu Campos Puerto Rican	117	9-12
Yccs-Aspira Pantoja Alt Hs	176	9-12
Yccs-Association House	76	9-12
Yccs-Cca Academy Hs	107	9-12
Yccs Chtr - Chatham	124	9-12
Yccs-Community Youth Dev Inst Hs	83	9-12
Yccs-Innovations Of Arts Integr	484	9-12
Yccs-Latino Youth Alternative Hs	146	9-12
Yccs-Mckinley-Lakeside Leadership	86	9-12
Yccs-Olive Harvey Mid College Hs	96	9-12
Yccs-Progressive Leadership Acad	131	9-12
Yccs-Scholastic Achievement Hs	111	9-12
Yccs-Sullivan House Alt Hs	305	9-12
Yccs-Truman Middle College Hs	180	9-12
Yccs West	76	9-12
Yccs-West Town Academy Alt Hs	85	9-12
Yccs-Youth Connection Leadership	100	9-12
Young Elem School	480	PK-8
Young Magnet High School	2,148	7-12
Zapata Elem Academy	515	PK-8

Noteworthy events

Chicago school board member resignations (2024)

On October 4, 2024, Chicago Board of Education members Elizabeth Todd-Breland, Mariela Estrada, Mary Fahey Hughes, Rudy Lozano, Michelle Morales, Jianan Shi, and Tanya Woods announced their resignations. Their resignations come after a budget meeting in July 2024, where the board rejected Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposal to take out a loan to cover teacher pensions.

On October 7, 2024, Johnson announced six interim appointments to the board: Olga Bautista, Michilla Blaise, Mary Gardner, Mitchell Ikenna Johnson, Deborah Pope, and Frank Niles Thomas.

On October 31, 2024, newly appointed board president Mitchell Ikenna Johnson resigned following criticism of posts made on Ikenna Johnson's Facebook account in the previous year.

Teacher strike (2019)

On October 17, 2019, around 25,000 public school teachers in Chicago went on strike. Around 7,500 school support staff, represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73, joined the strike. A tentative deal between the Chicago Public Schools district (CPS) and SIEU Local 73 was reached October 28, and members approved the contract on October 30. The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and CPS reached a tentative deal on October 31. On November 1, classes resumed. CTU members voted to approve the new contract on November 14-15.

The deal between CTU and CPS included 16% pay raises over five years, a full-time nurse and social worker in every school by 2023, funding to reduce class sizes once they hit specified caps, and full-time liaisons in high-need schools to coordinate services for students in temporary living situations.

CTU had called for a 15% teacher pay raise over three years, increased staffing at schools to national recommended ratios, caps to reduce class sizes, and housing measures including subsidies for staff, among other commitments in their contract.

The last time public school teachers in Chicago went on strike was 2012, which was the first teacher strike in the city in 25 years. In 2012, the conflict included charter school policy and whether to link teacher evaluations to standardized test scores.

2017: District enrollment declines by 10,000 students

Student Enrollment
School year	20th-day enrollment	Difference
2013-2014	400,545	—
2014-2015	396,683	-3,862
2015-2016	392,285	-4,398
2016-2017	381,349	-10,936
2017-2018	371,382	-9,967

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) saw a decline of roughly 10,000 students enrolled in the district from the 2016-2017 school year to the 2017-2018 school year. The enrollment data, released on October 20, 2017, showed the district lost more students than expected—CPS had projected a decline of approximately 8,000 students. The enrollment data indicated the student population was 371,382 students across the district, including students attending charter schools within the district.

The 10,000 student decline was numerically similar to the decline in the student population from the 2015-2016 school year to the 2016-2017 school year, which saw an enrollment drop of roughly 11,000 students. This means that in two years the district lost approximately 21,000 students. In 15 years, from 2002 to 2017, CPS student enrollment declined by approximately 67,000 students.

The district CEO Forrest Claypool stated the declining enrollment was due to lower birth rates, a decrease in immigration, and the departure of residents from Chicago's South and West sides.

The Vice President of the Chicago Teacher's Union, Jesse Sharkey, said,

“	Student enrollment is down because [Chicago Mayor Rahm] Emanuel's policy of disinvestment, destabilization and demolition in our most underserved black and brown communities is designed to do just that: drive out families that he simply doesn’t care about and doesn’t want in this city.	”
—Jesse Sharkey (2017)

As of October 24, 2017, Mayor Emanuel had not responded to Sharkey's comment.

Claypool stated in September 2017 that CPS would not lower school budgets based on the 20th-day enrollment numbers, which could have amounted to an estimated $35 million in funds cut from schools with fewer students than projected. The school district stated it would provide additional funds to schools that enrolled more students than projected, amounting to roughly $20 million more in funding for those schools, according to the Chicago Tribune.

2017: Funding formula unlocks state education aid

A bill defining a funding formula for state education aid passed the Illinois House of Representatives on August 28, 2017, and the Illinois State Senate on August 29, 2017. Governor Bruce Rauner (R) signed the agreement into law on August 31, 2017. Until the funding formula was approved, state education aid could not be distributed. As of August 31, 2017, the state had already missed two August payments to school districts, leading to concerns that schools would close or cut programs due to lack of funding.

The bill was negotiated by Illinois General Assembly leaders Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (D), Senate President John Cullerton (D), House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R), and Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady (R). The funding formula was needed to unlock $6.76 billion of the $8.2 billion that was earmarked for education in the 2018 fiscal year budget. Madigan called the agreement a compromise.

When first presented to the Illinois House of Representatives on August 28, 2017, the compromise agreement had 46 of the 71 votes needed to pass the bill. After Senate Bill 1 (SB1)—the original bill that defined a funding formula—did not receive enough votes to override Governor Rauner's amendatory veto, the state House voted on the compromise agreement a second time and passed it with 73-34 votes. The Illinois State Senate voted 38-13 to pass the compromise agreement on August 29, 2017.

The compromise agreement provided an increase in state funding to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) of roughly $450 million compared to the funding received in the 2016-2017 school year, $150 million more than the district would have received had SB1 passed. Under the agreement, CPS received approximately $221 million from the state during the 2017-2018 school year to pay for teacher pensions, an increase from the $12.2 million received in the 2016-2017 school year. The agreement allowed the CPS board of education to vote to raise property taxes by $120 million to $163 million to pay for the Chicago Teacher's Pension Fund. The Cook County clerk estimated the board of education could increase property taxes by $148 million.

The agreement also created a five-year pilot program to provide funding to students in Illinois who wished to go to private school or public schools outside their district. The program instituted a tax credit for businesses and individuals who donated to the program, with a ceiling of $75 million in total tax credits allowed.

Those in favor of the agreement pointed to the funding formula's goal to provide poor districts with more funding and the bipartisan support of the agreement.

“	The Senate’s approval of SB 1947 is another win for children and communities throughout the Land of Lincoln. For far too long, Illinois has ranked dead last in the country for funding its highest poverty school districts. Now we are poised to reform that inequitable and insufficient funding formula. I want to thank Speaker Madigan, Senate President Cullerton, Leader Durkin, Leader Brady, Leader Currie, Rep. Davis, Sen. Manar and legislators from both political parties who chose students instead of the status quo. On behalf of hundreds of thousands of school children and their parents, we are hopeful that Governor Rauner will act quickly to sign this legislation so schools receive the resources they deserve.	”
—Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Those against the agreement said the pilot program outlined in the agreement was bad for public schools.

“	The CTU is also condemning a legislative deal that Emanuel has embraced—and the Board of Education has done nothing to oppose—which opens the door to school vouchers, a move that is expected to put roughly $75 million in public dollars into the coffers of private schools and provide hefty tax breaks for the wealthy. The union argues that the voucher “compromise” in SB1—modeled on the extremist privatization policies of U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos—is tantamount to planting a ticking time bomb on a bus and driving through school districts throughout the state, creating even greater debt and fiscal distress.	”
—Statement from the Chicago Teachers Union

2017: Chicago Public Schools funding at center of hold on state aid

Approximately $8.2 billion was allocated to Illinois' school districts in the Illinois state budget for the 2018 fiscal year, with $6.76 billion of the allotted funds earmarked to be dispersed through an undefined funding formula. While the budget was originally vetoed by Governor Bruce Rauner (R) on July 4, 2017, the Illinois General Assembly passed the budget on July 6, 2017.

Illinois Senator Andy Manar (D) sponsored the funding formula bill, SB1.

Because the budget did not define the funding formula, the $6.76 billion of state aid earmarked for public education could not be distributed in the 2017-2018 school year. Senate Bill 1 (SB1) outlined such a formula, which included 27 metrics meant to calculate the percentage of state funds each district would need to receive to provide each student with an adequate education. The bill also guaranteed that districts would receive the same amount of state aid in the 2017-2018 school year that they received in the 2016-2017 school year. It split the districts into four tiers to signify their financial need, with Tier 1 schools defined as requiring the highest percentage of additional funds. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) was placed in the Tier 1 category.

Although SB1 passed the majority Democratic General Assembly on May 31, 2017, before the legislature passed the state budget, Governor Rauner promised to veto the bill as soon as it crossed his desk. He explained, “We were going down that road but then the majority in the House kind of hijacked the process, added a big addendum, a big amendment onto [Senator Andy] Manar’s bill with massive more financing for Chicago Public Schools. That’s not fair for the statewide taxpayers."

In answer, the legislature filed a procedural hold on the bill, extending the amount of time they had to bring the bill to the governor. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) asked that Rauner support the bill. He said, "They’ve worked through the issues so everybody moves forward and most importantly, the school districts that have a concentration of poor kids get the assistance they need financially."

Despite the uncertainty, CPS provided school principals with tentative budgets on July 20, 2017, as the board needed to approve each school's 2017-2018 school year budget by September 1, 2017.

On August 1, 2017, Governor Rauner issued an amendatory veto of SB1, which allows the governor to suggest amendments for the bill that the General Assembly votes on. His veto recommended the removal of most of a $250 million annual block grant for Chicago Public Schools and made changes to the funding formula. Both versions of SB1 would have partially tied state funding to assessed property values in school districts, but Rauner’s version included the assessed property value in areas with tax-increment financing (TIF) districts and property tax caps. According to the Chicago Tribune, this addition made those areas appear to pay more in property tax revenue to the district than they actually do. Districts in those areas would receive less in state funding, but local property tax revenues would not offset the loss of state funding. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, Chicago Public Schools would receive $463 million less per year under Rauner’s proposal. This meant that as of August 1, 2017, school districts around the state did not know what their complete budget would be for the 2017-2018 school year.

On August 13, 2017, the Illinois State Senate voted to override Governor Rauner's amendatory veto by a 38-19 vote. On August 29, 2017, the Illinois House of Representatives voted 63-45 to override the amendatory veto, falling short of the 71 votes it needed. The House of Representatives then passed a different funding formula.

2017-2018: CPS budget released before state budget was approved

On July 20, 2017, district officials sent each Chicago Public Schools (CPS) school principal an expected budget for the 2017-2018 school year. Using these expected budgets, principals had to complete individual school spending plans by July 27, 2017. The CPS Board of Education then had until September 1, 2017, to approve the district's operating budget, including each school's budget plan.

These budgets were released to district principals prior to the finalization of Senate Bill 1 (SB1), a bill that included a formula defining the amount of aid the state would distribute to each Illinois public school district for the 2017-2018 school year. Illinois district budgets had not been finalized as of July 20, 2017. The CPS budgets were based on the assumption that the legislature and the governor would pass SB1 as it was, granting the district an increase of $300 million.

“We’re going to make sure for this school year, that our schools open and remain open,” CPS CEO Forrest Claypool said, explaining why the district released CPS school budgets before receiving a finalized district budget. “We will do whatever is necessary to make that happen despite the very difficult fiscal position we’ve been put in because of the dramatically unequal state funding system.”

The introduction of school budgets before the district received its finalized budget concerned Chicago Teacher's Union (CTU) President Karen Lewis. "Enrollment declines exacerbated by Springfield uncertainty will put us right back where we were last year, facing mid-year cuts and the threat of furlough-based or shortened school years," she said. During the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years, CPS required schools to go through mid-year budget cuts. In both cases, CPS faced budget gaps because the district expected state aid that did not come.

In total, CPS planned to distribute roughly $2.3 billion to area schools. The budgets were based on an estimated 2 percent decrease in the district's student population, or roughly 8,000 pupils. The new budgets saw an increase in per-pupil spending of approximately $200 per student. Students in kindergarten through third grade were allotted $4,590, students in fourth through eighth grade were allotted $4,290, and high school students were allotted $5,320. The district also planned to increase salaries and benefits by roughly $99 million, the majority of which would go to members of the CTU.

Governor Bruce Rauner (R) issued an amendatory veto on SB1 on August 1, 2017.

2017: District borrows to make teacher pension payment

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) borrowed $275 million in June 2017 from J.P. Morgan to help make its payment to the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund (CTPF), which was due on June 30, 2017. The amount of money was the final part the district needed to make the $721 million payment to the CTPF.

The rate of the loan—6.39%—drew criticism from local residents because it was about 4.5 percentage points more than a regular issuer would pay, according to Matt Fabian, a partner at Municipal Market Analytics. The rate amounted to roughly $70,000 a day totaling $7 million in interest, according to the Chicago Tribune. The interest rate was adjusted from month to month, with the debt maturing on March 30, 2018. Gov. Rauner called the loan "another short term easy fix" in a statement emailed by his spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis:

“

We are saddened that the Chicago Public School district is trading its future financial health for another short term easy fix. It has no one to blame high interest rates on other than the decades of mismanagement that created this crisis. ​The Governor is hopeful that the General Assembly will spend the next week focused on passing a truly balanced budget that will help school children across our state, including those in CPS.

”

See also: 2015 teacher pension payment

2017: Policy passes requiring post-graduation plans to graduate

In May 2017, the CPS Board of Education approved a policy requiring graduating high school seniors to provide the district with post-graduation plans prior to obtaining a diploma. The policy, spearheaded by Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D), took effect in 2020 and stipulated that students provide the district with proof they have secured a job, been accepted to a college or university, obtained a trade apprenticeship, or enlisted with the military before they are issued their diploma.

According to The Washington Post, CPS is the first large-city school district to adopt this type of post-graduation requirement. Proponents of the policy say it is a way to help level the playing field for financially disadvantaged students by requiring the heightened involvement of district officials and school counselors in each student’s career path. Opponents have argued the requirement cannot be met in the district with its current workforce, citing the layoffs of 1,000 teachers and staff members in 2016. Janice Jackson, the chief education officer for CPS, said it is unlikely that district schools will withhold diplomas from students who meet all requirements except those outlined in the new policy.

2017: Chicago Board of Education lawsuit against state is dismissed

The Chicago Board of Education filed a lawsuit against Governor Bruce Rauner (R) and the Illinois State Board of Education in February 2017. The lawsuit alleged that the state engaged in “separate and unequal systems of funding for public education in Illinois” by handling the Chicago school district’s funding separately from other public school districts in the state. The district’s chief education officer, Janice Jackson, stated in February, “This really is our last stand. ... We have hoped for a legislative solution, and that has not happened. Therefore, we're left with this as an option."

State officials responded to the lawsuit by highlighting a recent report of recommendations from a bipartisan state commission on school funding. One official said, “The governor remains focused on moving forward these recommendations and hopes that CPS will be a partner in that endeavor.” Chicago Public Schools served 392,558 students during the 2014-2015 school year—approximately 19 percent of all public school students in the state.

The lawsuit was dismissed on April 28, 2017. Illinois Cook Judicial Circuit Court Judge Franklin U. Valderrama concluded that CPS did not show that the state violated the Illinois Civil Rights Act by participating in discriminatory practices. Although he dismissed the lawsuit, Valderrama did not say the case was without cause. "To say that the State's current scheme of funding public education is broken is to state the obvious. Plaintiffs' Complaint, however, as constituted is not the vehicle to redress this inequity," he said. Valderrama gave the Board of Education until May 26, 2017, to amend the lawsuit.

2017: Federal judge turns down attempt to elect Chicago school board

An effort by former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn (D) and a group of Chicago residents to change the selection method of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board of Education was rejected by U.S. District Court Judge Elaine Bucklo on February 13, 2017. The plaintiffs were attempting to change the system allowing the city’s mayor to appoint members of the school board. The lawsuit, filed in October 2016, requested the abolishment of this system in favor of an elected school board. The judge stated in response to the lawsuit, “Plaintiffs have no fundamental right to vote in school board elections as a matter of law, and the fact that residents of other Illinois jurisdictions have the privilege of voting in such elections in their districts does not confer such a right upon residents of Chicago.”

Quinn served as governor from 2009 to 2015 following the impeachment of Governor Rod Blagojevich (D). He lost his second re-election bid to challenger Bruce Rauner (R) in 2014.

2017: Budget gap leads to letters home

On February 7, 2017, the parents of students attending Chicago Public Schools (CPS) received two letters about the district’s continued financial troubles, which highlighted ongoing friction between state and local lawmakers. Roughly 381,000 CPS students were sent home with a letter penned by district CEO Forrest Claypool, which coincided with the district’s announcement of a $46 million spending freeze.

In the letter, Claypool stated that the freeze was the result of a bill vetoed by Governor Bruce Rauner (R) in December 2016. The bill earmarked more than $200 million to assist the district, but Rauner vetoed the bill after saying that state Democrats failed to uphold a deal to negotiate an overhaul of the state pension system. Claypool said the veto also made a four-day furlough and an additional $23 million in budget cuts necessary for the district’s continued operation.

Beth Purvis, the state education secretary, released a letter alleging that CPS had created an atmosphere of crisis by announcing the spending freeze. Purvis also wrote that the financial problems faced by CPS were the result of financial mismanagement, as the district had received block grants from the state and increased revenue from local property taxes.

2017: Teacher's union contemplates one-day walkout

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) considered a one-day walkout on May 1, 2017, to bring attention to the budget problems facing Chicago Public Schools (CPS). The union held a vote on April 5, 2017, and decided the walkout would not take place.

The proposed walkout stemmed from a December 2016 veto issued by Governor Bruce Rauner (R) that terminated $215 million in state aid to the school district. The president of the CTU, Karen Lewis, also called on the district to reverse its plan of an April 7 furlough day, one of four ordered by CPS to help the district save money, as a show of good faith that it would continue to work with the union.

While members of the CTU voted against a walkout in May 2017, they did go on a one-day walkout in 2016. For more than a year, contract negotiations between CPS, CTU, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) were underway to replace a pact that expired in June 2015. In January 2016, the CTU’s bargaining team rejected a contract proposal that was presented as part of the district’s operating budget. When a second contract proposal that was similar to the first was presented to the CTU in April 2016, teachers staged a one-day walkout. The contract was rejected.

After multiple rounds of these failed contract negotiations, the CPS Board of Education unanimously approved a $5.4 billion operating budget for 2016-2017 on August 24, 2016. The budget included $30 million in concessions from the CTU. The budget was first proposed in early August and included increased property taxes and personnel cuts. It also offered gradual pay increases for teachers and phased out district payments into CTU pension and insurance funds. The inclusion of $945 million in borrowing for unspecified construction projects received backlash from CTU leaders after 1,000 teachers, aides, and support staff were laid off earlier in the month due to district budget shortfalls. In response, Chicago teachers marched in front of CPS headquarters the day the budget passed.

On August 30, 2016, the CTU called for a strike authorization vote in October 2016. Vice President Jesse Sharkey said that a vote taken in December showed that 88 percent of union members would allow leaders to call a strike, more than the 75 percent required by law. While members of the CTU called for a strike to occur on October 11, 2017, the CPS Board of Education and the union came to an agreement minutes before midnight the night before, averting the walkout. At the time, the agreement still had to be voted on by CTU's members, but Lewis said this of the contract:

“

We have a commitment from the board on our pension pickup. And we have a commitment from the board on a host of other things that really will make the classrooms work a lot better and will keep people.

”

2016: Lawsuit filed seeking elected school board

A lawsuit was filed on October 5, 2016, suing the CPS school board and the Illinois State Board of Education. The suit stated that Chicago's practice of appointing school board members "violates the rights of all city taxpayers to elect who taxes them, disproportionately affecting minority voters, and has left the district in worse financial shape since 1995, when it was placed under mayoral control," according to the Chicago Sun Times.

Among the plaintiffs were former Illinois governor Pat Quinn (D) and some district families, as well as local school council members. The group asked the judge to order elections in order to replace the mayor's appointed school board. The Illinois House of Representatives had passed a bill to create an elected school board in 2015, but the bill did not pass in the state Senate once Mayor Rahm Emmanuel opposed it.

A federal copy of the complaint the plaintiffs planned to file read,

“

The experiment in mayoral control in Chicago has been a failure and does not plausibly justify the severe and destructive impact on the plaintiffs’ right to vote and hold accountable the officials running their public schools. The looming financial bankruptcy of the Chicago public schools after twenty years of mismanagement by mayorally appointed boards imperils the very right of Chicago children to a public education.

”

The district's superintendent Forrest Claypool responded to the suit:

“	Looks like gadfly Pat Quinn has latched on to his next failed endeavor. Coming from a governor who could have fixed the most racially discriminatory education funding formula in the nation but didn’t, and who failed miserably to address chronic education underfunding despite pushing through record tax increases, this is another absurd waste of energy and taxpayer dollars.	”
—Forrest Claypool (2016)

The suit was dismissed by U.S. District Court Judge Elaine Bucklo in February 2017. "Plaintiffs have no fundamental right to vote in school board elections as a matter of law, and the fact that residents of other Illinois jurisdictions have the privilege of voting in such elections in their districts does not confer such a right upon residents of Chicago," she wrote.

2016: CPS receives lower bond rating

Moody's Investor Service, a Wall Steet credit rating agency, lowered its bond rating of Chicago Public Schools by one notch to a B3, on September 26, 2016. The agency cited the district leaning on short-term borrowing, a "deepening structural deficit," and a budget "built on unrealistic expectations" for help from the state government. The news of the decreased rating came on the same day that the district announced that 300 school budgets would lose a total of $45 million due to declines in enrollment.

Other major credit agencies viewed CPS similarly to Moody's. Fitch Ratings Agency emphasized its view of the district's "strained, structurally imbalanced" affairs that count on short-term borrowing and have limited reserves, and are "poorly positioned to absorb even a mild economic downturn." Standard & Poor, another agency, also expressed concerns about the district's financial position and warned it could downgrade CPS' debt unless they saw a "credible and sustainable long-term solution to its financial pressures." The agency went on to do so in November 2016, lowering the district's rating from a B+ to a B.

The district's Senior Vice President of Finance Ron DeNard commented,

“	Moody's view remains an outlier from other ratings agencies' perspectives on Chicago and its sister agencies. Looking ahead, CPS will continue to work to strengthen its finances and finalize the path forward to fiscal soundness in the years to come.	”
—Ron DeNard (2016)

2016: Board suspends president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association

The Chicago Board of Education suspended the principal of Blaine Elementary, Troy LaRaviere, on April 20, 2016. According to the board, violations included LaRaviere's public opposition to the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers exam and his ignoring warnings after engaging in "political activity" while on the job. The district's charges stated that, "As a principal of a Chicago Public School, you owe a duty of loyalty to the (school) board, the CEO and their designees." LaRaviere's actions, according to the district, were "reckless, critical and insubordinate."

In response, LaRaviere said, "Public advocacy doesn't distract us from our professional responsibilities; public advocacy is our professional responsibility. ... The best way to protect your rights is to exercise them, so that's what I did." In 2015, LaRaviere endorsed Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's opponent Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, and earlier in 2016, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. LaRaviere's suspension came just weeks before he was elected as president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association.

2016: New proposal from the governor

Ill. Gov. Bruce Rauner (R)

Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) announced a proposal on January 20, 2016, that would allow the state to take over the school district. It would also allow both the city and the school district to file for bankruptcy: an option which had not been legal thus far.

“If the mayor is unwilling to stand up for his taxpayers and his school children in dealing with the Chicago Teachers Union, [then] rather than trying to push his liabilities on the state, we’re asking the mayor to partner with us,” said Rauner.

2016: Gov. Rauner denies CPS financial help

Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) announced he would not increase financial aid to Chicago Public Schools unless Mayor Rahm Emanuel advocated for his legislative agenda. Rauner stated that he would remain firm in his stance even if CPS laid off thousands of teachers, as it warned it would unless a solution to the district's budget deficit was found. The governor also said he would sign a bill that would allow Chicago residents to recall their mayor if it came to his desk.

2015: Four charter schools recommended for closure

CPS CEO Forest Claypool recommended that four charter schools in the district close by the end of the 2015-2016 school year. The schools were already on the Academic Warning List and were thus receiving much closer attention than normal.

The recommendation to close down the schools came during a financially difficult period in the district, which found itself with a $480 million budget deficit. CPS faced firing 5,000 teachers by Thanksgiving unless an alternative route was agreed upon. Read more about CPS' budget below.

2015: Miscounted dropouts result in lower graduation rates

The district was forced to lower four years' worth of previously-inflated graduation rate statistics after it was revealed by WBEZ and the Better Government Association that the numbers had been calculated incorrectly. Officials stated that the true drop-out rate for 2014 was 66.3 percent instead of 69.4 percent. The discrepancy in numbers was a result of mislabeling students who left the district. Those who were previously listed as moving out of town or going to private schools were found to actually be attending alternative schools. Additionally, 600 students were listed as attending GED programs. According to Illinois state law, students such as these ought to be classified as drop-outs. This mislabeling occurred for over 1,000 students in the Chicago Public Schools District and affected the overall percentage of high school dropouts for the district. Not only was the dropout rate for 2014 altered; four years of data had to be adjusted. According to the Chicago Tribune, "The new formula drops graduation rates between the 2010-11 and 2013-14 school years an average of more than 2 percentage points."

Graduation Rate Comparison in Percentage
Year	Former Method	New Approach
2011	58.3	56.9
2012	61.2	59.3
2013	65.4	62.5
2014	69.4	66.3
2015		69.9

2015: Protests and a hunger strike for Dyett High School

Chicago residents crowded the stage at a city budget public hearing on September 2, 2015, after Mayor Rahm Emanuel declined to answer questions about the fate of Walter H. Dyett High School. The group demanded Emanuel answer their questions "right now." Police escorted Emanuel out of the meeting, and the hearing was shut down.

Some members of the group at the budget hearing were part of a hunger strike insisting the city re-open the high school, which was closed in June 2015 due to low enrollment numbers and test scores. Members of the hunger strike wanted the school converted to a science-focused, open enrollment school. As of the meeting on September 2, 2015, Chicago officials had not revealed any permanent plans for the school. It was initially slated for permanent closure, but officials said they were considering other options.

Those who wanted the school to remain open said that city officials were moving too slowly on this decision, which they worried would mean keeping the school closed for good. Jitu Brown and April Stogner, two members of the hunger strike, went to Washington, D.C. to ask Education Secretary Arne Duncan (D) to intervene. “I’m hungry. But I’m not really hungry for food -- I’m hungry for justice. I’m hungry for justice for my grandbabies, for all the kids in my community," said Stogner. The hunger strike was on its 17th day as of the budget hearing on September 2, 2015.

On September 3, 2015, one day after the budget hearing was shut down, Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool announced Dyett High School would be re-opened as an open enrollment arts high school with a technology lab. Though some leaders, such as U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D), praised the decision, those involved with the hunger strike said they were not satisfied. They said the district did not give their proposal a chance. "This is their way of pushing us out of our own community," said Jeanette Taylor-Ramann, a member of the hunger strike and a district parent. The group planned to continue their hunger strike until their proposal for the school was further discussed.

Claypool said the arts high school was a solution that filled multiple needs: "Creating an open enrollment neighborhood high school, producing an enrollment stream that can weather population changes, filling the critical demand for an arts high school on the south side and working with education leaders to create a technology hub."

Protestors formally announced they were ending their hunger strike on September 21, 2015. Rather than continuing to protest the use of Dyett High School, they said they would be campaigning for an elected school board. A bill was introduced to convert the CPS Board of Education to an elected board in the Illinois State Legislature in August 2015.

2015: Bill introduced to set up elected school board

A bill to convert the Chicago Board of Education from a mayor-appointed board into an elected board was introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives on August 10, 2015. The bill passed in the state House, but it did not pass in the state Senate once Mayor Rahm Emmanuel opposed it.

HB 4268 would have converted the school district's five-member board into a 13-member board. Those members would have been elected from four areas of the city. Three areas—the southeast side, the southwest side and the west/central side—would have been represented by three members each, and the north region of the city would have been represented by four members. Elections for the board would have been held as soon as March 2016.

Chicago citizens had the chance to voice their opinions on this change in February 2015. In the general election, a non-binding referendum asked voters in 37 of the city's 50 wards if they would like to see the Chicago Board of Education switch to being an elected board. Voters in those wards overwhelmingly passed the referendum, according to a sponsor of the bill, State Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago).

2015: Federal investigation of CEO

In April 2015, it was revealed that Barbara Byrd-Bennett, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools at the time, was the focus of a federal grand jury investigation. At issue was her relationship with a former employer, a leadership program for K-12 administrators called SUPES Academy, and a contract the district made with the academy in June 2013. The contract involved $20.5 million for "leadership development services" to train the district's chiefs, deputy chiefs, principals and assistant principals from June 2013 to June 2016. Byrd-Bennett was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison for a federal wire fraud charge in April 2017.

The 2013 contract was not the district's first with SUPES Academy. The district paid the academy approximately $15 million from 2012 to 2015. The parties had entered into a one-year agreement in 2012 but agreed to dissolve the former contract when the 2013 one was approved and SUPES Academy was officially hired on a "non-competitive basis." The contract under investigation was reviewed and approved by an internal committee, the district's chief procurement officer, and the board of education before it was signed on June 26, 2013. Some argued, however, that the contract should have been opened up to give the district a chance to consider competitive bids; other organizations in the area had similar training programs.

News on the investigation into the contract came at a time when the district was in dire financial straits, including a $1.1 billion budget gap for the 2015-2016 school year and a Baa3 ranking from Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings. The Baa3 ranking is the second-lowest investment grade assigned by Moody's, a company that "provides credit ratings and research covering debt instruments and securities," according to its website.

CPS Interim CEO Jesse Ruiz

Both SUPES Academy and CPS said they would fully cooperate with the investigators. Byrd-Bennett, who had not been accused of any wrongdoing at the time, took a paid leave of absence on April 20, 2015, while the investigation continued. Board of Education Vice President Jesse Ruiz was appointed to fill in as her replacement in the interim. Byrd-Bennett then resigned on June 1, 2015, and Ruiz maintained his role as interim CEO until July 2015.

Two days after assuming office, Ruiz suspended the contract with SUPES Academy. He said he thought it was "prudent that we take a pause." All training seminars with the academy were canceled for the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year. In a statement, SUPES Academy said it was disappointed by the suspension but looked forward to working with CPS again in the future.

CPS Board President David Vitale

In a board meeting on April 22, 2015, both Ruiz and board President David Vitale defended the board's decision to approve the contract in 2013, saying they had followed the precautions put in place for no-bid contracts. “Given the information we had at that point in time, and given the information that we were provided as board members, I stand by that vote,” Ruiz said.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who appointed Byrd-Bennett in October 2012, said he could not answer when asked if he had confidence in Byrd-Bennett. "I don't even know who they are looking at. It's a CPS matter," said Emanuel.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) was more open with his criticism of Chicago Public Schools. "This investigation is very sad, I hope there's been no wrong-doing, but Chicago Public Schools has been a source of patronage, cronyism, dealings, massive bureaucracy. It hasn't really served the families and the parents of the children in a very long time," said Rauner. He also suggested bankruptcy might be the best option for the school district.

In June 2015, Emanuel appointed four new members to the CPS school board, replacing members whose terms were about to end. Those former members all voted to approve the no-bid contract with SUPES Academy in 2013. The new members were sworn into their new positions in July.

Emanuel appointed a new permanent CEO for Chicago Public Schools in July 2015. He named Forrest Claypool, his chief of staff at the time, to the position. Claypool formerly headed the city's transit agency.

Emanuel called Claypool "exactly the right person at the right time." The Chicago Teachers Union, however, was not as certain of the mayor's choice. Union President Karen Lewis said that though the union could work with anyone, Claypool's appointment was a bad idea because he had no background in education. "It's been tried before and didn't work," said Lewis.

2015: Teacher pension payment

See also: Public pensions in Illinois

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) was required to make a $634 million payment to the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund by June 30, 2015, but Mayor Rahm Emanuel sought an extension on the payment. The last hope for an extension was a re-vote on a bill extending the deadline, but it was not called before the pension payment came due. CPS made the payment on June 30, 2015, avoiding a lawsuit and a further credit rating drop, but the district warned it would mean large cuts in programs and possible layoffs.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

In early June, Emanuel did not answer when asked if the school district had the money to make the pension payment, but he admitted that the district's finances were "challenging." He said that his goal was to work with the state to make sure those financial challenges did not undermine the work the district was doing. That included asking the Illinois House of Representatives for an extension to pay into the pension fund. On June 23, 2015, the House voted down SB 437, a pension payment extension for the district that was passed by the Illinois State Senate on April 23, 2015. The final vote was 53-46 in favor, but it required a three-fifths majority to pass, coming up 18 votes short.

SB 437 was scheduled for a second vote on June 30, 2015, but Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D), the sponsor of the bill, did not call it for a vote. She said she did not have enough votes for it to pass.

If the bill had been called and passed, it would have allowed the district to wait until August 10, 2015, to pay into the pension fund, which corresponded with the day the state distributed school aid. Because the bill was not called, CPS had to make the payment on June 30, 2015. Both CPS officials and Emanuel said the district would have to make severe classroom cuts in order to make the pension payment, as a partial pension payment would have led to a lawsuit. Board President David Vitale said that making the pension payment could lead to hundreds, if not thousands of layoffs.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R)

Before the pension payment was made, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) offered a $450 million advance to CPS in the form of state grants that would normally have been used for the 2015-2016 school year, but Emanuel and Interim CPS CEO Jesse Ruiz turned the offer down. Emanuel instead sought a long-term solution to what he called the “structural inequity” of teacher pensions.

“We appreciate the governor’s gesture, but the use of this year’s dollars to pay last year’s pension payment follows the same path that got the schools into the current financial mess,” said mayoral spokeswoman Kelley Quinn.

Ruiz said that accepting the advance would have risked losing funding resources for early childhood education and special education programs in the district. "What our children really need is for us all to come together to figure out real and long-term solutions,” said Ruiz.

Chicago Public Schools headquarters

The CPS Board of Education took an alternative route to accepting the advance and voted 5-0 to borrow over $1 billion in additional funds in the week before the pension payment was due. The first $200 million line of credit included in those borrowed funds was approved to help the district get through June 2015. Another $935 million line of credit was approved to help the district through the 2015-2016 school year. According to CPS officials, however, these additional funds were not enough to stop the district from making budget cuts without the pension payment extension.

The final budget cuts to make the payment totaled $200 million, which included slashing 1,400 positions. Some of those positions—350 of them—were vacant at the time they were cut, but 1,050 employees did not return to CPS for the 2015-2016 school year. Emanuel said these cuts would not affect the start date or classroom sizes for the 2015-2016 school year. Ruiz agreed, saying most of the cut positions would be from the central office and school support staff.

Other cuts took money from new teacher development programs; new turnaround schools and professional development programs tied to those schools; new charter, contract, and alternative learning schools; elementary school sports teams; and the facility repair and maintenance budget. In early July 2015, Ruiz announced 500 special education teachers across the district would also be laid off. Some school officials said those cuts would not work as they were barely meeting the needs of students with special education requirements with the staff they had.

Emanuel blamed the budget cuts on the state's political system. "There's a series of political compromises and patchwork over the years that can no longer continue," said Emanuel. He suggested the state set up a new pension system in which the state would pay the district's annual pension payments, not including the money the district owes due to missed payments. A dedicated tax levy, like one used in the city prior to 1995, would then be put in place to pay into the teacher's pension. Emanuel estimated such a tax levy could generate $175 million.

"The whole system, in my view, is inside out and upside down and it's leading to a set of decisions that are totally intolerable. Our kids and teachers deserve better from political leaders," said Emanuel.

District officials warned that more layoffs might be issued if the district did not receive assistance from the state or a reprieve in payments from the teacher pension fund. Tim Cawley, chief administrator for CPS, tried to stave off some of the district's 2016 payment. He asked the pension fund board for a $500 million reprieve in 2016 in exchange for making monthly payments into the fund, starting on January 1, 2016. Monthly installments were the preferred form of payment by the pension fund. The pension fund board, however, declined the extension request.

On July 13, 2015, CPS officials told schools in the district that per-student funding levels would remain unchanged from the 2014-2015 school year. This meant there would be no teacher raises. The schools were also told that the district would hold to enrollment numbers for the 2015-2016 school year, unlike the two years previously when the district provided a financial cushion. Chief Financial Officer Ginger Ostro said if schools had fewer students than expected, they would receive less money. Enrollment was expected to drop by 4,000, meaning $60 million less for public schools. Charter schools, however, were expected to gain 3,000 more students, meaning an additional $30 million for those schools.

The Illinois State Senate voted 37-1 to pass a bill that would increase state contributions to the Chicago teacher's pension fund. It required the state to contribute $200 million to the fund in June 2016. On June 30, 2016, CPS made a $657.5 million payment to the teacher's pension fund. The district was left with $83 million after the payment, only enough to support a few days of school when the 2016-2017 year began. CPS expected nearly $350 million in revenue from the state after the budget was passed on June 30, 2016, but, as of that date, did not know when it would receive these funds. Chief education officer Janice Jackson was confident that despite the district's deficit, schools would open on schedule in September 2016. "I can say that there’s no one more excited about just more stability here today," she said, "and I’m happy to be able to look parents and teachers and students in the face and say that we will continue to provide them with the high-quality education that a world-class city like Chicago deserves."

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Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 773-553-1000

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