Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
I’m thrilled to share that we are one step closer to having a contract in place for our talented teachers!
We received news this week that CTU members have voted overwhelmingly in favor of this agreement. In fact, of the 85% of members who cast a vote, 97% voted to ratify the contract. It now moves onto the Chicago Board of Education for final approval later this month.
At its core, this contract does all of the following for our CPS community:
- Fairly rewards the excellent work of our educators
- Makes investments that are financially responsible for the District, and
- Keeps the best interests of our students at the forefront.
I’m proud that even in challenging financial times, we are able to provide our educators with the compensation and benefits they deserve. I’m also proud that our teams were able to work together to avoid the kind of labor strike that has been so disruptive to our families in the past.
With our new labor agreement nearly in place, I look forward to us unifying around all that lies ahead for our District. This includes fully implementing our five-year strategic plan, and appealing to our federal, state, and city lawmakers for more education funding for our schools.
Become an Advocate for More Education Funding
Our District’s financial outlook for the next several years is challenging, so we must work together to find new revenue to better fund our schools. One piece of our strategy is to secure more education funding from the State of Illinois, and there are ways that you can help!
On Tuesday, April 29, students, families, educators, and leaders from CPS and Districts across Illinois will travel to the state capitol in Springfield to advocate for more state funding for our schools. We are asking the state to support our students in three specific ways:
- Increase evidence-based funding (EBF) for public education across Illinois to $550 million each year.
- Eight years ago, state lawmakers created a new formula to increase public school funding based on student need. The goal was full funding by 2027, but the state is significantly behind, and CPS remains massively underfunded according to the formula.
- Increase support for nutrition, special education, and transportation to $165 million across Illinois.
- CPS requires additional support to serve students who receive free and reduced meals, and a growing population of students with disabilities, including those who require transportation to and from school.
- Increase support for early childhood education to $75 million.
- Pre-k gives our youngest learners a vital foundation for their educational journey, which is why CPS has expanded our pre-k offerings to every neighborhood in Chicago. But we need additional support to continue offering preschool citywide.
You don’t need to travel to Springfield to be a part of this campaign. You can contribute just by sharing what more funding would mean for your school. Please watch your emails, this newsletter, and our District’s social media channels in the coming days for more details on how to share your story.
I thank you in advance for lending your voice to this important effort. The more people from our CPS family who participate, the more impactful our message will be!
Sincerely,
Pedro Martinez
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Public Schools
Help Us Highlight Your School
We love highlighting the amazing things that are happening day-to-day in our schools, along with the people who are making them happen! Please share your stories with us using our Good News Form so that we can amplify the many ways “the best are with CPS!”
A Look Around the District
The Chicago Sky Women’s Basketball team recently visited students Sherman Elementary in the Back of the Yards neighborhood for a Jr. Sky Cares clinic. Students engaged in acitivities to improve ball-handling and agility skills, such as passing, cutting angles, and defensive skills, as well as a Q&A with Chicago Sky executives.
Sadlowski Elementary, located on the East Side of the city, hosted a “We All Belong” rally as a way to foster a safe and welcoming school environment.
Sofia and Jordan, two 8th-grade students from Von Linne Elementary in Avondale, were recently recognized for their years-long work of helping the school’s security guard set up cones for the school’s Kiss and GO lane. Both students have helped out every morning, rain or shine, demonstrating their strong work ethic and good citizenship.
At West Ridge Elementary, located in West Rogers Park, the school community celebrated diversity at their Multicultural Night with food, arts & crafts, and performances representing over 50 different countries.
Students at Carver Elementary in Riverdale, flew out to Washington D.C. through Southwest airlines to visit Howard University, as a part of learning about Historic Black Colleges and Universities. The group also visited the Smithsonian and the White House during their trip.
And Fifth-grade students at Sutherland Elementary recently competed in the 2025 Federal Reserve Money Fair, with one group of students taking home 1st place. Congratulations!
Complete the CPS Spring 2025 Survey
CPS often uses surveys to ensure our families and staff have a voice in the District’s decision making. To simplify this process, we have now combined several of those tools into one SY25 Spring Survey. This survey covers several important topics, including capital planning, school culture and climate, and parent engagement. Each section will take five to ten minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous. The survey is open through May 17, 2025, and is available in Chinese (simplified), English, Polish, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Attend the 2025 RE•VER•BER•ATE Festival
All are invited to attend the 2025 RE·VER·BER·ATE Festival at the historic Chicago Cultural Center from April 22–25. The Festival celebrates the creative expression and student voice found throughout our District, bringing together young artists from all over the city for an unforgettable week of creativity, performances, and community building. By coming out to support them, you will be amplifying our emerging student artists and making sure their talents reverberate throughout Chicago. Click here for complete festival details!
Application Deadline Extended: Apply through May 12 to Become the District’s Next Honorary Student Board Member
The Chicago Board of Education is looking for a student leader to serve as its Honorary Student Board Member (HSBM) for the 2025–26 school year. Selected annually, the HSBM represents the interests and perspectives of all CPS students by attending the Board’s monthly meetings, which are generally held on the fourth Thursday of each month at the CPS Loop Office (42 W. Madison St. in Chicago). The HSBM is also an active participant in the Student Voice Roundtable initiative, which provides a platform for students from across the District to engage with CPS leadership and Board members on topics that are important to Chicago’s youth. The HSBM will also be awarded a $1,000 scholarship to be used to support enrollment in a two or four-year college or university.
To be eligible for this opportunity, students must be a rising junior or senior (current 10th or 11th-grader), hold a 3.0 G.P.A. or higher, and demonstrate proven leadership experience.
Applications are being accepted through May 12, 2025. Students can visit cpsboe.org for more information and to apply.
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in District Athletics
High School and Elementary Spring Sports are in full swing, with athletes from 5-12 grade competing in a full slate of spring programming! For schedules, stories, photo galleries and more, make sure to visit CPSAthletics.com or follow the leagues on Instagram @cpsathletics.
Whitney Young’s Destiny J. was named the 2025 Illinois Girls Basketball Player of the Year, continuing to make history in her academic and athletic journey with the Dolphins. She will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign next fall to continue her education and basketball career. Congratulations to Destiny and the Dolphins’ community!
Michele Clark’s Anthony S’s football skills were on full display as he served as CPS’ representative in the Blue / Gray All- American Game in Dallas, Texas at AT&T Stadium, home of the Cowboys. Anthony received all city honors this past season in the Chicago Public League and was part of this showcase event, highlighting the top players across the country.
Simeon Alum Aneesah Morrow made history as she was drafted to the Connecticut Sun in the top-10 in the WNBA Draft. Morrow starred at Simeon and then continued her athletic and academic career at DePaul and LSU. Congratulations to Aneesah and the Simeon community on this historic achievement!
Options for Getting the Measles Vaccine
Cases of measles are currently on the rise around the country. While none have been reported in Chicago this year, we want to make sure our CPS community is protected from this very contagious disease. The best way to do this is by making sure you and your children are up to date on the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which provides lifelong protection against measles.
Most people will have gotten the MMR vaccine during childhood. But for those who have not, there are many opportunities to get the vaccine. CPS offers school-required vaccinations like MMR, and other recommended vaccines at our school-based health clinics, and through our elementary, high school, and charter mobile clinics. Please use these links to schedule an appointment for a vaccine. Vaccines through CPS are free for those who are uninsured, underinsured, or who have health insurance through Medicaid or Medicare. For those with private insurance, please contact the clinic for details on which insurance carriers they accept.
The Chicago Department of Public Health also offers no-cost vaccines for those who are uninsured or under-insured at four immunization clinics in the city. Click here for details on these clinics. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is highly encouraged. Create an account and register for an appointment at https://getvaxchi.chicago.gov or by calling the clinic.
Individuals with private insurance or Medicaid/Medicare can also receive vaccines at health care providers or local in-network pharmacies throughout the city. Visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccine provider. Anyone unsure about which providers are in-network should call their health insurance company before getting vaccinated to avoid out-of-network charges.
Supporting Families Amidst Federal Policy Changes
With the transition to a new presidential administration, many in our school communities are experiencing anxiety, especially regarding immigration issues. CPS is committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe, inclusive, and welcoming educational environments that embrace and celebrate everyone in our diverse communities. CPS has strong protections in place for our students and staff; you can read about them here.
We have also created a website with many resources on immigration services, as well as details on “Know Your Rights” trainings and workshops that are being held throughout Chicago. Some of these sessions are being conducted by our District’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Team, while others are being presented by our community partners. Families can find complete details at cps.edu/newadminguidance. This website will be updated frequently to reflect new training opportunities and any changes to federal law, so we encourage everyone to visit regularly. Mental health supports are also available to students through their schools. Parents who feel their children could benefit from these supports should contact their child’s teacher, principal, or school counselor directly.
Explore Student Job Opportunities for the Summer
Online applications are now open for One Summer Chicago—the youth employment program that partners with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and city agencies to provide paid work experience, work-based learning, and skill development opportunities for young people ages 14–24 over six weeks during the summer. Students should visit onesummerchicago.org for more information and to apply.
Opportunities from the Chicago Park District
Register for Chicago Park District Summer Camps & Other Summer Programs
Summer is around the corner! Register online now for summer camps and other summer programs. Day camp runs June 23 – August 1. Dates vary for other camps. Most other summer programs (besides camps) run June 16 - August 10. Learn more about day camp at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/day-camp
Be a Lifeguard this Summer & Make $19.75 an Hour
Apply now to be a Chicago Park District lifeguard this summer. The next skills test takes place on May 3 at Whitney Young High School. Must be a Chicago resident aged 16 or older by July 1, 2025, to be a summer lifeguard. Learn more & apply at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/lifeguards/CPS. Additional summer positions for ages 18+ are available. Learn more & apply at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/jobs
Celebrate Earth Day in the Parks on April 26
Join thousands of volunteers in parks across Chicago on Saturday, April 26 at 9am, and participate in the citywide Earth Day Parks Clean Up. Bring friends and family, and invite neighbors to join in. Activities include picking up litter and putting down mulch to give our precious green spaces a fresh start for the season. Hosted by the Chicago Park District in partnership with Friends of the Parks. See a list of park locations, learn more & sign up at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/earth-day/cps
For questions about any of the above, please email play@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Discounted Tickets for CPS Staff and Families
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs invite CPS teachers, administrators, and staff to visit Wrigley Field on Monday, May 5 at 6:40 p.m. for Teacher Appreciation Night! Discount tickets are available from $24 and include a Cubs quarter-zip. Get your tickets here!
Chicago Fire FC
CPS families and staff can wrap up Teacher Appreciation week with the Chicago Fire on Saturday, May 10. Each ticket purchased through this link includes a special-edition scarf. The 1:30 p.m. match at Soldier Field is also the Fire’s annual Family Day and the first 5,000 fans receive a plush giveaway of their mascot Sparky!
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- April 8–29: Spring 2025 Capital Plan Community Meetings. Learn more on the CPS website.
- Thursday, April 24: Board of Education meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Wednesday, May 14: Board Agenda Review Committee meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Monday, May 26: CPS offices and schools are closed in observance of Memorial Day.