Chicago Board of Ed Criticized for Dismissing Needs of Disabled Students in New Strategic Plan

Community reactions mixed as Chicago Public Schools unveil bold new strategy

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CHICAGO—The Chicago Board of Education unanimously approved a new five-year strategic plan for the city's public schools during a recent meeting, outlining a blueprint for the future of the district. Parents, educators, students, and advocates filled the seats at the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) headquarters, reflecting the significance of the decision.

The strategic plan, introduced earlier in the week, aims to promote equity within the school system, with a specific focus on closing achievement and opportunity gaps. CPS has identified Black and Latino students, students with disabilities, those in temporary living situations, and English language learners as key populations that require enhanced support under the plan.

CPS officials emphasized that the new strategy is a comprehensive approach to remedy existing disparities, acknowledging that previous enrollment policies had unintentionally fueled competition among schools. The board has now pledged to address the inequities these policies created, while maintaining its support for selective enrollment, magnet, and charter schools.

Following the board’s unanimous vote, applause erupted from much of the room. However, not all attendees shared the enthusiasm. Angel Alvarez, one of five speakers addressing the board, criticized the plan for its perceived shortcomings, specifically regarding long-standing systemic issues within CPS.

Alvarez, a CPS alum and resident of South Chicago, argued that the new plan fell short of addressing critical institutional failures. “You need to take more responsibility for the problems in CPS. Because if you do not address them, these systemic problems will persist,” Alvarez stated. He emphasized the challenges faced by students with disabilities and expressed frustration with what he saw as inadequate efforts to address these concerns, despite claims the new plan remedies equity disparities for disabled children.

Board President Jianan Shi expressed confidence in the plan's success but underscored the importance of continued community involvement. “For this plan to be successful, we will need everyone to stay engaged,” Shi said, inviting the public to participate in efforts to make the new strategic goals a reality.

Leading up to the vote, CPS organized several community engagement events, including roundtable discussions and forums, aimed at collecting feedback from various stakeholders. These sessions focused on improving academic outcomes for historically marginalized groups, such as Black students, and on fostering broader support within the CPS community.

Though some speakers voiced concerns about the plan, others offered praise. Davis Augustus, an advocate for charter schools, expressed gratitude for the support of institutions like Catalyst Schools, which he described as a source of inspiration for local students. “The school … gives people inspiration so they can move forward. So I just want to say thank you for helping Catalyst out,” Augustus said.

The Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS) also publicly endorsed the plan. INCS President Andrew Broy stated, “Charter schools have been a flourishing part of the CPS environment for nearly three decades, and we look forward to working with the board for many more years to support Chicago’s most vulnerable learners.”

Despite the positive reception from some sectors, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) voiced significant concerns. CTU President Stacy Davis Gates accused CPS of pursuing austerity measures under the guise of reform. Gates argued that CPS Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez was advocating for policies that could lead to school closures, staff layoffs, and privatization. “It’s troubling to see he’s not just out-of-step with Chicago, he’s out of step with the district’s own plan,” Gates said.