Chicago school board

Chicago’s school board passed a $10 billion budget preserving jobs but relying on $150 million in uncertain state funding. The district faces potential short-term financing challenges to pay employees in September, risking school delays, as the budget is tied to political tensions over Illinois’ school funding formula and an upcoming November election.

Chicago school board approved a revised $10 billion budget to reverse hundreds of school staff layoffs, assuming an additional $150 million in state funding. The vote, influenced by the Chicago Teachers Union and principals union, created uncertainty about meeting payroll deadlines due to legal and financial risks.

Chicago School Board candidates have raised nearly $2 million ahead of the upcoming election. The fundraising effort highlights significant financial support for the candidates.

Governor Pritzker is urging the release of the full ethics report on Harry Benton. The Chicago Teachers Union is actively opposing Jessica Biggs' campaign for the Chicago School Board.

Chicago School Board members are divided over a Chicago Public Schools budget proposal that includes teacher layoffs and furloughs. The proposal has sparked disagreement among board members.

Chicago school board announced partial members of the Black Student Achievement Committee, formed to oversee the district’s Black Student Success Plan. The committee, selected from 500 applicants, includes community leaders, educators, and administrators, with four additional members to be announced later.

Chicago's mayor has not created a noncitizen advisory board for the school board, as mandated by state law, despite 18 months passing since the first elected members were seated. The advisory panel, intended to give noncitizen families a voice in school board matters, remains unestablished ahead of the November school board elections.

The Chicago Teachers Union is supporting Hilario Dominguez in the race for Chicago's first elected school board president. Dominguez, a former student and teacher at Chicago Public Schools, previously served as the Political Director of the CTU.

The Chicago school board postponed charter school renewal decisions for six of seven schools until June 10, citing ongoing oversight debates. District officials proposed a new monitoring process with longer renewal terms, but some board members, aligned with the Chicago Teachers Union, demanded stronger oversight due to recent financial instability in the charter sector. The Acero network, which closed seven campuses, received a five-year renewal recommendation.