Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
First, I want to remind you that school is not in session on Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day. I hope that each of you enjoys the extended weekend and also takes time to honor those who have died while serving our country. We look forward to welcoming your students back to school on Tuesday, May 27.
This week, we were proud to celebrate our District’s more than 700 crossing guards for the dedication they’ve shown to our students and school communities throughout the year!
No matter the conditions outside, our crossing guards always go the extra mile to keep students and families safe on their journey. The relationships they build with their school communities mean that our children are excited to see their crossing guards as they walk to and from school each day.
This week, we presented the annual Crossing Guard of the Year Award to four of our District’s most exemplary crossing guards. Nominated by students, families, school leaders, and local businesses, these individuals were recognized for their reliability, dedication, and positive influence.
Congratulations to:
- Tammy T. Anderson (Far South Region)
- Alice Mims (Central West Region)
- Lorenzo Cervantes (Southwest Region)
- Gwen Ford-Nino (North Region)
Read more about our amazing crossing guards here. I thank all of our CPS crossing guards for bringing so much positivity to their work each day, and for giving families the peace of mind that comes with knowing there is a trusted adult looking out for their children day after day.
Saving Students Money (and Time) on Postsecondary Education
When they graduate from high school in the coming weeks, more than 6,600 members of the CPS Class of 2025 will be leaving with more than a high school diploma. With more than 66,000 college credits earned - a record for the District - these students will have a powerful head start on their college journeys, and will be saving themselves and their families an estimated $10 million in tuition costs.
Here’s a glimpse of what our students were able to achieve this year through the District’s Early College Program:
- More than 1,000 students earned 15 or more college credits, the equivalent of a full semester in college, which represents a 21.4 percent increase from 2024
- A total of 320 students earned 30 credits or more, equivalent to one full year of college, which marks a 47.5 percent increase from 2024
- 211 graduating seniors earned a full two-year associate’s degree while still in high school, a 46.5 percent increase from the prior year!
I congratulate our soon-to-be graduates on their success and wish them all the best as they continue their educational journeys.
Building on our Literacy Gains
This week, CPS proudly launched an update to our PK-12 Vision for Advanced Literacy - the next chapter in our District’s decades-long commitment to improving reading and writing proficiency at every grade level.
Carefully aligned to Success 2029: Together We Rise, our District’s five-year strategic plan, this literacy approach is grounded in several key commitments, including:
- Providing every school with the tools to empower literacy educators and ensure students have what they need to improve their reading and writing skills
- Investing in the continuous improvement of high-quality, culturally-responsive curriculum
- Centering identity, community, and relationships in effective literacy instruction
- Expanding and enriching learning experiences through community-based partnerships
- Engaging our families as partners in joyful literacy learning
This plan builds on the success our District has seen in the past several years in accelerating reading and writing proficiency across all grade levels. These include CPS leading large city school districts in reading recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, and our 2023-24 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) results showing CPS increasing the number of students meeting or exceeding expectations in English Language Arts by 4.6 percent across all grade levels and racial groups. In fact, 8th graders at CPS are just two points off of the national average when it comes to reading proficiency — a tremendous achievement given the obstacles that so many of our students face.
I thank all of the educators, partners, and families who worked together to create this updated literacy plan for our schools. I have no doubt that it will build on the incredible momentum our students have achieved, and that it will move us closer to our overall goal of providing all students with a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.
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
Check out these highlights from across the District!
The CPS Office of Access and Enrollment recently hosted the MIT Blueprint Lab’s School Access and Quality Fellows for the program’s City Learning Visit (CLV). At the CLV, fellows had the opportunity to learn about enrollment in CPS, attend a research presentation on selective high school admissions policies, and visit a Noble Network charter school.
At James Ward Elementary in Armour Square, students are celebrating several recent achievements. Some notable highlights include a performance of the Star-Spangled Banner in sign language by students and staff during a Chicago White Sox baseball game at Guaranteed Rate Field; students excelling at the Chicago Junior Math League Final Contest, bringing home a remarkable total of 21 medals; the Robotics Gold Team’s success at their Spring Showcase held at Northeastern Illinois University, where they took home 2nd place; and students winning the grand prize at the Illinois Invention Convention, where they showcased their creativity with their Posture Princess project.
Similarly, Armour Elementary, located in the Bridgeport neighborhood, celebrated its kindergarten, 1st-grade, and 2nd-grade students for winning various 1st-3rd place prizes at the Illinois Invention Convention. Congratulations!
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.
- 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.
Sharing Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month - a perfect opportunity to share tools that will help our students finish the school year strong and prepare for a safe, productive, and enjoyable summer. Click here for a comprehensive list of resources, including information on our new partnership with Hazel Health, which can provide free, virtual therapy sessions for all CPS high school students during the school year and throughout the summer.
Brown Community Academy Cuts Ribbon on New Playground
Thanks to our partnership with Space to Grow and the Healthy Schools Campaign, the students at Brown Community Academy in Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood now have a beautiful and sustainable space to learn, play, and grow. This is just one of more than 30 vibrant schoolyard makeovers Space to Grow has brought to CPS schools over the past decade—complete with turf fields, basketball courts, jogging tracks, play equipment, and a stormwater management system that helps reduce neighborhood flooding.
Keeping the Conversation Going in Springfield
Last month, CPS students, parents, educators, and partners traveled to Springfield, Illinois to advocate for additional Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) from our state lawmakers! As the spring legislative session draws to a close, we need to keep that conversation going! Please consider using this form to write a letter to our state legislators about what more funding would mean for your school. Thank you to Advance Illinois for organizing this letter-writing campaign and for orchestrating last month’s Advocacy Day event.
Honoring our District’s Administrative Professionals
Earlier this month, several of our District’s administrative professionals received the recognition they so richly deserve as part of the 2025 Admin Awards. Congratulations to the following CPS employees on their awards and nominations:
- Lorena Des Rosiers, Guest Relations Specialist – Spirit Award (Winner)
- Rocio Robles, Operations Manager – Administrative Excellence in Public Service Award (Finalist)
- Susan Narrajos, Secretary to the Board of Education – Colleen Barrett Award for Administrative Excellence (Finalist)
- Maria Barnes, School Clerk, Carver Military Academy HS – Achiever Award (Finalist)
- Sable Tumang, Executive Assistant – Achiever Award (Nominatee)
We could not be more proud of these vital members of our CPS community, and we thank them for the incredible work they are doing to propel our District forward.
View CPS Student Artwork at the ART on THE MART Exhibition!
Please consider checking out the 2025 CPS All-City Visual Arts and ART on THE MART collaborative exhibition, Drawn To Light! This exhibition 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 until 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.
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.
ProgramBRIDGE Update: Modern Tools, Better Support for CPS Staff
CPS is making big strides with ProgramBRIDGE, our effort to upgrade the systems we use for finance, purchasing, hiring, and payroll. We’re replacing outdated tools with Oracle Cloud—a faster, simpler, and more connected system designed to support your daily work.
Right now, teams are reviewing current processes and designing better ways of working. In the months ahead, you’ll see more updates, resources, and ways to get involved.
This isn’t just a tech upgrade—it’s about building better tools and experiences for everyone across CPS.
Discounted Summer Break White Sox Tickets for CPS Staff and Families
CPS is partnering with the Chicago White Sox to offer up to 75% off tickets, starting at $7.99 to select home games this summer!
- This offer is first-come, first-served.
- This offer is available only to CPS administrators, teachers, students over 18 years old, and parents/legal guardians of minor students.
- Game tickets will be delivered to your online account no later than 48 hours prior to your selected game. Tickets are ineligible for resale.
Learn more and get your tickets here. If you have any questions, please contact ticketpromos@chisox.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.