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