Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
As we shared with you earlier this week, CPS has now presented our principals with their school budgets for the 2025–26 school year. Over the next three weeks, school leaders will work with their school communities and their Local School Councils (LSCs) to complete these budgets.
While individual school budgets may shift due to changes in enrollment and programming, CPS is not reducing the overall amount of funding being provided to schools for next year. In addition, CPS will continue to use the budget model we introduced this year, providing all schools with a minimum number of positions and resources, no matter their size, location, or school type, then allocating additional funding based primarily on student need.
I also want to be transparent about the serious financial challenges facing our District. Federal pandemic aid is no longer available; like everyone, we are dealing with inflation and higher prices, and we are not only seeing growing enrollment again, we are also serving a larger number of students with unique learning needs. You can read more about our school budgets for next year and our proposed solution to our budget deficit here.
There is broad agreement between CPS leadership, the Mayor, our Board of Education, and our stakeholders that cuts to schools should be avoided. Fortunately, there’s a way to protect individual school budgets and balance the District’s overall budget without raising taxes, and without driving our District further into debt.
This starts with CPS identifying cost savings within our central office operations, administrative functions, and vendor contracts. We feel that this effort will save the District $229 million going into next school year. But this work on its own will not be enough.
Simply put, CPS needs more revenue from our city, our state, or both. We have been pushing our Illinois lawmakers to provide CPS students with the additional funding they deserve, and we will continue doing so. But if that funding does not come through, the more realistic and sustainable option is to use existing revenue that is sitting in our city’s bank accounts right now.
Every year, property tax dollars are diverted from CPS to fund economic development projects around Chicago as part of a program called “Tax-Increment Financing.” You can read more here about TIFs, and about their potential to help fully fund our schools.
I’ve long believed that what is most critical for Chicago’s long-term success is a fully funded public education system. Without additional revenue, CPS will be facing deep and painful cuts that will shortchange our students today, or irresponsible borrowing that will shortchange them tomorrow.
Therefore, I’m encouraging the mayor, the City Council, and everyone invested in our schools to unite around a plan to use this existing TIF funding to close our budget gap this year, and a plan to reform the TIF program and provide our District with sustainable revenue for next school year and beyond.
CPS Successes in the Spotlight
From our focus on sustainability to our commitment to the arts, CPS has been in the spotlight quite a bit this spring!
I’m beyond proud to share that ours is the first K–12 school district in the country to earn Gold Certification from the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges (HGSC) Program. An initiative from the Healthy Schools Campaign, this top-tier distinction highlights CPS’ commitment to creating clean, safe, and environmentally-sound learning spaces for all students and staff.
We celebrated this honor at Englewood STEM High School, which perfectly exemplifies our District’s commitment to sustainability. By incorporating energy-efficient systems and sustainable materials, Englewood STEM represents our broader goal of expanding green infrastructure and innovation throughout our schools.
I thank the team at HGSC for this recognition, and for providing a framework to help CPS improve sustainability, protect the health of students and staff, and reduce each school community’s overall environmental footprint.
Moving to our focus on the arts, CPS was proud to accept the Best Communities for Music Education Award from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. This award recognizes school districts that provide exceptionally high access to music education, and celebrates outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who have advocated for making instruction in music part of a well-rounded education.
In addition to this arts achievement, Chief Chkoumbova and I were honored to accept an award this week from Ingenuity — our District’s most dynamic and influential arts partner. We are grateful to them for this generous recognition, and for the critical role they played in the creation of Cultivating Creativity, the updated arts education plan released by CPS earlier this month. I also want to give a special thank you to our Executive Director of Arts Education Cesar Torruella for his visionary work on this new plan to raise the bar for arts education at CPS.
Celebrating our Students’ Desire to Serve
This week, CPS was proud to recognize two groups of students who are planning a future that is grounded in service to others.
The first were the 95 graduates of the Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy (CPFTA). Thanks to leadership training and work-based learning opportunities, these students have a great head start on their plans to pursue careers in public safety, law enforcement, criminal justice, and fire science.
Twelve of our District’s JROTC students also received a significant scholarship this week to help them continue their journey of service to our country. This scholarship provides financial support to students who plan to enroll in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) during college, and is named in honor of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman and first ROTC graduate in history to serve as Chief of Naval Operations, and the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
I could not be more proud of our future firefighters, law enforcement officials, and military leaders, and I look forward to seeing all the ways that they will make our world a better, safer place. Watch this newsletter in the coming weeks for more highlights from the CPS Class of 2025!
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
Future graduates across the District are preparing for graduation season! Carroll-Rosenwald Elementary in Wrightwood celebrated the accomplishments of its 8th-grade students with a High School Decision Day event. Students received Decision Day certificates and represented their future High Schools with their colors and apparel.
And Chicago Military Academy- Bronzeville recently became one of three CPS High Schools to charter a chapter of the National STEM Honor Society. During the school’s College Decision Day celebration, seniors received NSTEM stoles, and cadets were officially inducted into the Honor Society during a ceremony at Malcolm X College!
Make Your Voice Heard in the Superintendent/CEO Search
The Chicago Board of Education is conducting a national search for CPS’ next Superintendent/CEO, and there are several ways for District stakeholders to get involved. We want to hear from you about the experience, vision, and overarching qualities you feel are the most important things to look for in our District’s next leader. You can share your insights by completing our survey, participating in a focus group, or attending a community gathering in the coming weeks. Stakeholders are free to attend any of the meetings below. You do not have to live within the Elected School Board District boundary to attend a meeting.
- Friday, May 16, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Hubbard High School (District 8)
- Saturday, May 17, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Malcolm X College (District 5)
- Monday, May 19, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (Districts 9&10)
- Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Hairpin Arts Center (District 3)
- Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Amundsen High School (District 2)
- Thursday, May 22, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: The Arturo Velasquez Westside Technical Institute (District 7)
- Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: National Teachers Academy (District 6B)
- Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Pritzker Elementary School (District 6A)
- Monday, June 2, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: The Nettelhorst School (District 4)
- Thursday, June 5, 2025, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Marsh Elementary School (District 10)
Visit the Chicago Board of Education website regularly for specifics on these opportunities and complete details around the search.
Calling All High School Theater Students: Auditions Now Open for the 2026 All-State Production of “Newsies”!
High school students who would like to audition as actors or orchestra members for the 2026 Illinois High School Theater Festival’s production of “Newsies” can sign up through Friday, May 23, 2025. Interviews are also open for students who are interested in participating on the production’s Tech Crew, and younger students may sign up to audition for the role of Les. Students who cannot attend any of the audition slots available should reach out to allstateproducers@ihstf.org to discuss other options, including video submission.
Apply by Friday, May 23 to have the chance to be part of this incredible All-State production! Complete application details are available at illinoistheatre.org/All-State-Production.
View CPS Student Artwork at Upcoming ART on THE MART Exhibition!
The CPS Department of Arts Education is excited to invite you to the opening of the 2025 CPS All-City Visual Arts and ART on THE MART collaborative exhibition, Drawn To Light! This exhibition premieres on May 22, 2025 at 8 p.m., and can be best experienced from the Chicago Riverwalk Jetty between Wells and Franklin Street (map linked here). The exhibition will run on the facade of Merchandise Mart on Thursdays through Sundays from May 22–June 1, 2025 at approximately 8:30 p.m. Now in its fifth season, this exhibition is an incredible opportunity for CPS students from across the city to exhibit their artwork on one of the world’s largest digital art platforms. This year, students worked with hand-drawn and digital animations as well as video footage for our first all-video exhibition. We can’t wait to see you there!
Options for Getting the Measles Vaccine
Cases of measles are currently on the rise around the country. 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.
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.
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
Be a lifeguard this summer! Apply now—only two tests remain, on May 17 and 31.
Apply now to be a Chicago Park District lifeguard this summer. The final two skills tests take place May 17 and 31 at Whitney Young High School. To be a summer guard you must be a Chicago resident aged 16 or older by July 1, 2025. Enjoy working in this important position while making $19.75 an hour. Learn more and apply at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/lifeguards/CPS.
Free Workouts in the Parks on Wellness Wednesdays in May
Join the Chicago Park District on Wednesdays during the month of May for 37 free Pop-Up classes at 14 unique park spaces. These 45-minute outdoor workouts will keep you active in new and engaging settings. Advance registration is encouraged. Learn more and register at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/may-in-motion/cps
Teens: Sign up now to Audition for the Annual TIP (Teens in the Parks) Fest
Calling all teen artists, including singers, rappers, dancers, spoken word artists, musicians, and poets between the ages of 14 and 24, audition to be part of TIP Fest 2025, our 10th year! Auditions take place on June 14, June 28 and July 12. Register for one of these three auditions to be eligible to participate at the citywide T.I.P. Fest on August 30. The top three winners at T.I.P. Fest will receive $1,000 for first place, $650 for second place, and $350 for third place. Learn more and sign up at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/tip-fest/cps
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.
For questions, please email play@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- Monday, May 26: CPS offices and schools are closed in observance of Memorial Day.
- Thursday, May 29: Board of Education meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Thursday, June 12: Last day of school for CPS students.
- Wednesday, June 18: Board of Education Agenda Review Committee meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Thursday, June 19: CPS buildings are closed in observance of Juneteenth.