School boards

The incumbent school board member cited “special interests prepared to spend millions of dollars” as a reason for bowing out.

What is the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education? Why are there so many school board members? What do they do? We break down the significant role the CPS board plays in your child’s education.

The school board wants voters to give their opinion on a new statewide millionaires tax and a city penalty on the owners of vacant properties. Both could generate revenue for public schools.

The board’s vote assumed an additional $100 million in unrestricted funds from the state but CPS says that money won’t be enough to reinstate every position cut earlier this summer.

Angel Gutierrez and Ellen Rosenfeld, who both faced challengers in 2024, are running unopposed this year. A mixture of politics and lack of awareness about the school board could explain why voters have been left with fewer choices.

CPS CEO Macquline King said she’s uncertain that school will start on time. Here’s what families and staff should expect.

The budget adopted by the board assumes that state lawmakers will provide another $150 million over what it’s already projected to provide to CPS. Some say it is a pressure tactic, and others see major financial risks.

It’s likely Johnson’s last appointment as 30 years of mayoral control ends in Chicago. Anderson is currently a candidate in the upcoming Nov. 3 election when voters will pick all 21 school board members.

SEIU Illinois State Council is backing 15 candidates, 10 of whom are running against candidates backed by the Chicago Teachers Union. The endorsements highlight a growing rift between the two groups.

About a dozen teachers criticized the district’s proposed $9.88 billion budget for the 2026-27 school year during a Monday hearing.

With attorney Victor Henderson loaning $500,000 to his own campaign, the race to lead the city’s first fully elected school board has no donation limits. Super PACs gearing up to get involved in the board elections haven’t started spending big yet.

The politically powerful Chicago Teachers Union announced a slate of endorsements for the city’s first fully elected school board Monday. The union has less campaign cash than other entities, but its tens of thousands of members can help get out the vote.

The board members said they’re also pushing the city for more dollars from special taxing districts.

The board passed a resolution that bars board members running for school board seats from accepting campaign donations from current or prospective CPS vendors.

The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners accepted previous court precedent to drop dual-circulation objections against 22 candidates for school board. Oral arguments by candidates’ and objectors’ lawyers addressed voter confusion, nonpartisan alignment, and past rulings on the issue.

State lawmakers created the noncitizen advisory board as a way for Chicagoans without U.S. citizenship to have a voice since they can’t vote or run in school board elections. The mayor has not yet created the board.

The pro-school choice organization Urban Center is behind at least 14 of the challenges.

The board approved contract lengths for 13 schools are longer than what has been approved in recent years.

Of the 51 people who filed paperwork to run for school board in Chicago, 28 have had their signatures called into question. The petition challenges can take weeks to resolve and could result in several uncontested races.

Dozens of people filed paperwork to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot for Chicago’s school board election by the required deadline.