[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6002256,"mediaKeyId","5839568-4b13a0cef46d435cb019f094f7cc84fe","parentId",5839568,"title","Board releases superintendent search prospectus, says community input shaped criteria","audioSeconds",33,"startMs",13715000,"endMs",13748000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5839568-4b13a0cef46d435cb019f094f7cc84fe&start=13715&end=13748","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5839568-4b13a0cef46d435cb019f094f7cc84fe/thumbnail_13715000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6002256/Illinois/Board-releases-superintendent-search-prospectus-says-community-input-shaped-criteria","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6002256-8359161d8710aab0beb46d85f64253e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775158789&Signature=bH~VJNpQa09TFBuHT9NiGmBu-HWM5yIulcb3reL4K59bc7hFuS34nPmICAaOLAKD3AIbAUUGvfqtFNAN0Fo67StArQaup9rS2X95HmEg-BNjZa9bwvBSpDKfUtMyl7ixwn5NYw6kCkZvkpK3FXCNwTCOClnbNwh4~51ngsO7ccB6A24VtfdH2klntcnQki0xa~r0mcLisbYfRNtDEjfz~GKbP8ZQbMeH3Q-kXlbbjuczm-iUMkt91HeKML--gw5uAHGT290ZbL29aBDcJlcGWD3dMytTfo4wBVLUJvhRfmM4NIyzSsnTYg8a0Nt~jeYYxbHjNVxGg0KfLDjt4-kdVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Chicago Public Schools","date","2025-07-24T00:00:00Z","article","The Chicago Board of Education released a superintendent search prospectus on July 24 that the board says reflects community input collected in May and June and will guide recruitment for the next chief executive officer.

Nut graf: Board member Emil Biggs, who announced the prospectus, said the document is intended both to demonstrate how community priorities shaped the search and to attract candidates whose skills align to those priorities; the board has already received more than 50 applications, the search firm reported.

What the prospectus says: Member Biggs told the board the prospectus incorporates summaries from community engagement, a Zen City survey analysis and input from in-person and virtual focus groups. The document will be posted on the board’s search web page and shared with applicants.

Recruitment status: Biggs said Alma Advisory Group is conducting active national recruitment; the board reported receiving more than 50 applications as of July 24. The search process will continue with screening and interview phases, and the board said it will provide public updates as the search proceeds.

Why it matters: The superintendent selection controls executive leadership for the district’s budget, policy and operations during the coming years. The prospectus emphasizes community voice and lists competencies the board seeks in candidates; the board said it will continue community engagement as part of the search process.

Ending: The prospectus and application details are available on the CPS superintendent search page; the board asked community members to continue participating as the search moves into candidate screening and interviews.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting July 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board released a prospectus for the superintendent search, citing thousands of community inputs; search firm Alma advisory reported more than 50 applicants to date and active national recruitment.","taxTitle","City of Chicago SD 299, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",15916,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6002261,"Board adopts Arts Education Plan 2 to expand access and measure quality",1184,13236000,14420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5839568-4b13a0cef46d435cb019f094f7cc84fe&start=13236&end=14420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5839568-4b13a0cef46d435cb019f094f7cc84fe/thumbnail_13236000.jpg","/articles/6002261/Illinois/Board-adopts-Arts-Education-Plan-2-to-expand-access-and-measure-quality","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6002261-8ebd8620a01c29e0233c174a40822b68/orig.mp4?Expires=1775158789&Signature=LDPcfTrZ-QRLLZTWY6TviVPbhxYcJilpH0fhmwaT2GFeGYnxH8lYhBo0J2qAXJTk5REYDkqK3LFkBayXJ2OH69yHb2L-5m2uPiLr~mx2dy6wxQ1AbU3kh9tA9jzdcpEj5AU6tlyvelaRWLQlCvDIFFOAsU016ovjgS1MmYWCoRNHVE3qMEMKiIiFDK-sVF1snOhNDzXaYo~YBixTbYOcB4fuDhQID22RXVhiBlBfLPh6jZP~pDp8LGnBfOpxFgP-~ahimlMmvJ9qD8nYKVhWSfg82bGyXCQJIDDS9dErf8EdVfwwgoLwDCl~HFpUQ5JXyrjcC0THDQIuXbcMGOCf2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chicago Board of Education on July 24 adopted the district’s Arts Education Plan 2, a five-year road map that seeks to expand arts staffing and to create new measures of instructional quality.

Nut graf: The plan, presented by Arts Education Executive Director Cesar Turoya and the department’s new director Jeff Orxa, keeps the district’s Creative Schools Certification as the access measure and adds a second goal to measure and improve classroom-level arts instruction and assessment.

What the plan does: CPS said the plan sets a staffing objective of roughly one certified arts teacher per 350 students as a district target, reiterates a goal of 120 minutes per week of arts instruction in elementary grades where practicable, and commits to building curriculum, assessment and professional learning that define and support “quality” arts instruction across pre-K–12. The district reported that it now employs roughly 1,400 arts educators and that the percentage of “excelling” arts schools has risen from about 30% to 39% since the earlier plan.

Why the change: Presenters said access alone was insufficient and that a new system of curriculum, teacher development and student-level assessments will help ensure that arts learning is rigorous and culturally responsive. Turoya said, “For Chicago Public Schools, arts education is not extracurricular. It is essential.” The plan was developed with partners including Ingenuity, Civic Consulting Alliance and community arts organizations; CPS said more than 2,000 students responded to a survey used to shape the work.

Board action: The board adopted the arts plan as a resolution (RS 3). Several members praised the focus on culturally relevant instruction and pointed to recent events that showcased student work. The district will host a professional learning summit for arts teachers in September and will publish annual status reports tied to the Creative Schools Certification rubric.

What to watch: Implementation milestones will include updates on staffing ratios, the release of pilot curricula and the creation of districtwide tools for measuring arts learning. Schools identified as “emerging” on the certification will be offered targeted supports and creative-schools funding opportunities.

Ending: With the resolution passed, the district moves to the implementation phase this school year; board members and arts advocates said they will watch staffing and program rollouts for evidence that the plan raises both access and classroom quality.","The Chicago Board of Education adopted a five-year arts plan that doubles down on staffing targets and adds a new quality/assessment framework; board members praised arts expansion and the plan passed as a resolution at the July 24 meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6002266,"Parents and unions push back as CPS restructures special-education staffing",0,6958000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5839568-4b13a0cef46d435cb019f094f7cc84fe&start=6958&end=6958","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5839568-4b13a0cef46d435cb019f094f7cc84fe/thumbnail_6958000.jpg","/articles/6002266/Illinois/Parents-and-unions-push-back-as-CPS-restructures-special-education-staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6002266-1bb61b1ceb0f43b50224ea3d8b5bcbd4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775158789&Signature=APXqyTBOGW9ZvVKIIMbdfCysWBAKuVEGgmZXsPSYXVgFC4YNFkANxg3ii0QqMJwCDeRczvII8LLErA9Y5GPzxINnJsrMEywTJ6n3gHgZIsp~j44dE~RYRRZTNdT0SOjP8ZfpRwTkF~BdzFYP8~DxR13z~Ag0mXnC4aNcdSskUhF1tbItfeO6IWrWVeX5TelmrAlyZXe9EZJTQcZiojBjUDaXquarZvz2Ba5~G1hvCQnC6Qs-iAGrxhn-d3jLP3VEuRrNwXE5A2ZAhkG-OWHJ~83jilUCKm30I3JJJUbaYSvf-vfExjjZp8IOfAxXwMlc0GXJ1coheDBWtKekGVyzTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Union leaders and parents pressed Chicago Public Schools on July 24 over recent reductions in special-education classroom support, saying rapid implementation and limited consultation have created confusion and distress in school communities.

After the board’s opening remarks, several union officials and dozens of public commenters raised alarms about the district’s decision to reduce hundreds of paraprofessional roles that support students with disabilities. “It was an abrupt decision to lay off over 600 SECAs, AKA special education classroom assistance,” Tremaine Reeves of SEIU Local 73 said during public participation.

Nut graf: CPS leaders and union representatives disagreed about why the staff reductions were implemented and whether the changes reflected federal or state legal requirements. Interim Superintendent Dr. Pedro A. King told the board that services required in students’ IEPs will be maintained, and the district cited alignment with guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education as a rationale for staffing adjustments.

What parents and staff described: Dozens of speakers — teachers, paraeducators, principals and parents — described immediate classroom impacts and asked for rescission of the district’s staffing decisions or better transitional arrangements. Kirti Nandan, a special-education teacher, said paraprofessionals are “our frontline support” and warned that students who rely on consistent adult assistance were already experiencing learning and emotional harm when those staff are removed: “Our PSRPs are in line items. They're not numbers.” Multiple speakers described delayed communication and a lack of planning for reassignments.

District response and guidance: Dr. King repeatedly told the board she is prioritizing protection of legally required services. On the record she said, “Children that have 1 on 1 aids per their IEP, they will not be cut.” The district also said some changes were made to align school staffing with Illinois State Board of Education guidance, including cluster-classroom staffing parameters. CPS staff told the board some of the workforce changes resulted from the district’s annual budget and workforce planning process.

Unions’ request: SEIU, CTU and principal groups asked CPS to rescind the layoffs and to reopen negotiations and stakeholder conversations, arguing the changes were philosophically based rather than budget-driven. Reeves said the reductions “felt disingenuous” when announced amid broad financial pressures and that parents and advocacy groups had not been consulted before the memo was released.

Operational and legal limits: Several speakers also noted timing and process concerns: some advisory groups had not met, and parent advocacy bodies reported limited notice. Board members asked staff to compile follow-ups for affected schools; district leaders said they would provide additional clarification and commit to more engagement before further adjustments.

Ending: The board and district expect continued public pressure and additional requests for follow-up. CPS scheduled further internal review and outreach; board members asked for targeted reports on how proposed staffing changes would affect IEP implementation and classroom supports before any further districtwide action.","After district staffing changes and memos aligning classroom staffing to Illinois guidance, union leaders and advocates urged CPS to restore laid-off special-education classroom assistants (SECAs) and clarify plans; the interim superintendent said individual IEP services will be preserved.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6002271,"Chicago schools face $734 million shortfall as community urges state action",9005,2655000,11660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5839568-4b13a0cef46d435cb019f094f7cc84fe&start=2655&end=11660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5839568-4b13a0cef46d435cb019f094f7cc84fe/thumbnail_2655000.jpg","/articles/6002271/Illinois/Chicago-schools-face-734-million-shortfall-as-community-urges-state-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6002271-65955a22be869c569eb69811066b61b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775158789&Signature=IDRx6IBWwmq7Z0W~74qJtkT3gcy5KsMivG6k44ussCgD5blKgUAwKJGQIf1dokfmjj1Z1UUH4iyqW~3Yf2niD0L7WYbNCW9oqzzlwnJERRpzWfG-6CG8kzMyeDprtICv4WHmkeGsj2kFLCbDCNC0L~swAE3Ew0Fuu72z~0hLGwDAl7Sjjtk-t4AmlxN~~63Vdz0WTDIILJaNW1BdJCKm9BFNRi6QYk0y6wsI6jlRBGnW3UELD-Hlv3LvQnmbfpkjcl6Ta-bjF3xJQqc2bWSmSiglFf8Qy6-wesdrCQA16yMoCc2682bUKnXwnlrW6kZ7ygoWQtbnQK~FH3fIf49lQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chicago Public Schools interim CEO Dr. Pedro A. King told the Board of Education on July 24 that the district is working to close a $734,000,000 budget gap for fiscal 2026 while trying to protect school-level services.

The board heard extensive public comment and a staff update this morning as CPS leaders described community listening sessions and next steps. “Your honest, insightful feedback is moving us closer to a plan for closing our $734,000,000 budget gap,” King said during her remarks at the meeting.

Nut graf: The district has held five public budget roundtables and a public learning session and collected hundreds of pieces of input. Community participants and union leaders pressed the board and district to seek new revenue from the city and the state — and to seek an emergency legislative session in Springfield — rather than imposing cuts that would reduce services to students, especially those furthest from opportunity.

What CPS told the board: Chief Budget Officer Mike Satowski summarized the outreach and options the district is pursuing. Satowski said the district ran five community feedback sessions with roughly 650 participants and distilled four consistent themes: secure dedicated revenue with local and state partners; avoid cuts that harm classrooms and wraparound services; distribute resources more equitably; and continue community engagement on priorities. Satowski told members that CPS has identified about $165,000,000 in deficit-reducing actions so far, mainly administrative and vendor savings, and is continuing to search for structurally sustainable solutions.

What community groups said: Outside and inside the boardroom, union leaders and parents urged stronger statewide action. Jackson Potter, vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union, framed the choices plainly in his public comment: “Do we want special education services for our most vulnerable children, or do we want tax breaks for the wealthiest among us? It’s a choice.” CTU and allied groups asked the board to sign on to statewide revenue campaigns and to mobilize families for advocacy in Springfield.

Unions and principals: Tremaine Reeves of SEIU Local 73 and Raul Magdaleno of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association told the board that school leaders need timely, stable information so they can open schools fully staffed. Reeves said the sudden notifications about staffing changes have caused “devastation” among affected employees and families. Magdaleno called for clarity and predictable timelines so principals can plan instruction and services.

District response on special-education protections: Dr. King directly addressed parent concerns raised in the sessions, saying that services required in students’ individualized education programs (IEPs) will continue. “Children that have 1 on 1 aids per their IEP, they will not be cut,” she said at the meeting.

Revenue and timing: Many public speakers urged the board to pressure the governor and legislators for progressive revenue. Alderman Byron Sicco Lopez, calling in from Springfield outreach, told the board “the time to lead is now,” and urged an emergency session to address education funding statewide. Satowski cautioned the board that including any assumed outside revenue in the adopted budget carries risk: previous state or municipal revenue assumptions that did not materialize forced midyear reductions in past cycles. The district’s legal and finance staff reminded board members that a balanced budget must be based on reasonably assured revenues to avoid midyear shortfalls, credit-rating effects and cash problems.

Next steps and schedule: Satowski said the administration will publish a proposed FY26 budget by Aug. 13, hold two public budget hearings the week of Aug. 18, and present a budget for board approval on Aug. 28. He said staff will continue talks with city and state officials and with labor partners while prioritizing options that keep cuts out of classrooms.

Background and context: Board members and speakers noted that the district’s gap reflects a mix of long-term structural pressures — including debt, pension obligations and the expiration of federal COVID relief — and near-term funding actions at the city and state level. Parents and advocates repeatedly requested that the board and district prioritize equity and protect services for students with the greatest needs.

What to watch: The board will consider a proposed FY26 budget on Aug. 28. CPS’s published proposal and the two planned hearings will be the next public opportunities for officials and community members to weigh specific trade-offs.

Ending: For now the district’s stated priorities are clear: seek revenue partners, limit classroom disruption and ground decisions in equity. The board and the community will reconvene in August as CPS moves from outreach to concrete proposals.","Chicago Public Schools told the board it faces a $734,000,000 gap for fiscal 2026 and has begun internal cuts and planning; parents, unions and community members urged the board to press state and city officials for new progressive revenue and to avoid classroom cuts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board releases superintendent search prospectus, says community input shaped criteria

Board adopts Arts Education Plan 2 to expand access and measure quality

Parents and unions push back as CPS restructures special-education staffing

Chicago schools face $734 million shortfall as community urges state action