Voters have chosen the first 10 members of their elected Chicago Public Schools board. Amid a chaotic fall, here are answers to some common questions about what’s next for public education in Chicago.
Chicago Teachers Union allies were losing most Chicago School Board elections. CTU spent more than $1 million on its candidates, but voters made it clear they are tired of paying more to get less from city schools.
By 1980, financial mismanagement led Chicago Public Schools to lose its ability to borrow money, to miss multiple payrolls and vendor payments, and to drop deep into debt. The state stepped in with a financial oversight authority. It’s time to do that again.
Chicago Public Schools third- through eighth-grade state test scores increased in 2024, with reading finally surpassing 2019 levels. But for Chicago’s 11th grade students, both reading and math remained below pre-pandemic levels.
“Part of the idea is to have people in many different professions who are knowledgeable about the principles of entrepreneurship and liberty."
New Illinois public school test data shows reading and math proficiency rates for third- through eighth-grade students increased since 2023. Not so for 11th graders, who performed worse in reading and math.
The Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship program saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars before it was killed by teachers’ unions, according to a new study.
For the second year in a row, student enrollment has slightly increased in Chicago Public Schools. But the effects of a decade-long annual loss of enrollment remain, with 71,378 fewer students than in 2014.
Chicago Public Schools’ instructional and operational spending both reached all-time highs. Did the extra money improve student learning? Nope.
Chicago Public Schools enrollment dropped 80,900 from the 2011-2012 school year to 2023-2024. But staffing increased by over 2,500 and costs rose $3.5 billion.
Chicago Public Schools instructional and operational spending reached all-time highs while academic outcomes stagnate.
Staffing in Chicago Public Schools increased 20% as the number of students dropped 10.5%. Employee growth has not included regular classroom teachers.