Chicago Board moves to revoke Aspira charter; adopts related consent agenda

President Harden called the Chicago Board of Education to order on March 19, 2026, and the board considered a package of public agenda items that included an amendment tied to the emergency revocation of the Aspira Charters Network charter.

Interim Superintendent and CEO Dr. Macklin King told the board he recommended revoking Aspira’s charter after an “intensive monitoring” period that found the network’s financial and operational stability “severely lacking.” Dr. King said CPS had provided $2,550,000 in emergency cash advances to the operator and that Aspira leadership had not presented a verified plan to fund operations through the end of the school year. “We are recommending that the Board of Education vote to revoke the Aspira Charters Network charter,” Dr. King said, correcting the effective date to April 4, 2026.

The recommendation emphasized protecting students’ records and continuity of services for students with IEPs and 504 plans. Dr. King said CPS has worked to enroll roughly 75% of affected students in new CPS schools and described supports being put in place — expedited record transfers, transportation assistance, transition coordinators, and waived student fees — to ease midyear disruption.

Union representatives who addressed the board during poll participation urged decisive action and stronger state oversight. Jackson Porter, CTU vice president, said the Aspira case “shows the holes in the system” and praised CPS’s move toward accountability; CTU speakers also said charter operators had repeatedly misled families about school stability. Jen Conant, CTU charter division chair, described repeated cash advances and escalating deficit estimates that left educators and families uncertain.

The board voted on a slate of public‑agenda and consent items that included the staff recommendation related to the Aspira contract matter. The roll calls recorded in the public meeting show the relevant consent package was adopted (roll‑call tallies in the transcript record standard board roll calls; the larger vote sequence that included the item ran as part of the consent/public agenda and was adopted by the board). The board also adopted related procurement and renewal items in the same sequence.

What happens next: CPS said it will continue to work with Aspira families and staff to place students and coordinate senior‑year milestones and graduation plans. Dr. King said the district asked Aspira’s board to cooperate fully on timely, accurate record transfers and staff transitions that prioritize student continuity.

Votes at a glance: the transcript records roll‑call votes adopting the package of public agenda items that included the Aspira amendment; the votes on the public agenda and many consent items were passed by recorded roll calls with clear majorities as read into the record by the board secretary.

The meeting moved to executive session later in the agenda; no additional public votes were announced after reconvening.