Overview
- CPS publicly rolled out a still-being-finalized strategic plan focused on stronger classroom instruction, expanded career and technical pathways, wraparound student supports, and tighter fiscal accountability during back-to-school events this week.
- The district is operating with a roughly $58 million shortfall and cut more than 100 positions over the summer to close the gap, with leaders saying school social workers remain in every building even as some roles were changed.
- CPS will ask voters in November to approve a five-year, 7-mill property tax levy estimated to generate about $66 million starting in the 2027-28 school year and officials say failure to pass it could force cuts to transportation, athletics, student programming, and larger class sizes.
- District leaders pointed to recent academic gains and targeted investments to make their case, including a No. 1 Urban 8 early literacy ranking, a 33-point rise in college-career readiness metrics, a 9-point jump in third-grade reading, and a new mechatronics grant for a career-technical pathway.
- Community members and staff have raised concerns about the effect of the summer staffing cuts on English language learners and other supports, and the board is expected to consider the strategic plan at its next meeting as state test results due in September are cited as the next key measure of progress.