CHICAGO — The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board of Education has unanimously approved a new five-year strategic plan that emphasizes equity over traditional school ranking systems. This decision marks a significant shift in the district's approach to evaluating schools and aims to address longstanding issues related to structural racism and socio-economic disparities in education.
During a special board meeting, CPS Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez articulated the district's commitment to a more equitable framework. "Everything is done through an equity lens," he stated. The plan eliminates the ranking of schools based solely on student outcomes, which has been criticized for fostering competition and reinforcing existing inequalities.
Martinez explained the previous accountability system's shortcomings, noting that it encouraged families to choose schools based on high ratings, effectively pitting institutions against one another. "Our new approach does away with school rankings and labels," he said. Instead, the district plans to assess a broader range of factors impacting student success, including resources, support systems, and the overall school environment.
The newly adopted plan, titled "Together We Rise," acknowledges the challenges posed by diminishing COVID-relief funds and a projected budget deficit of $500 million for the upcoming school year, as reported by the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI). This 47-page strategic document outlines CPS's priorities and financial allocations from 2025 to 2029.
Board Vice President Elizabeth Todd-Breland highlighted the historical context of educational inequality in Chicago, stating, "Despite many education reforms over the course of many CPS strategic plans, opportunity gaps for our students have persisted." The plan seeks to change this dynamic by reallocating resources to schools based on their unique needs rather than merely on student enrollment figures.
The strategic plan also includes measures aimed at closing the equity gap through a revised budgeting model. "We know all that success is not felt equally across the district," Martinez stated. "The student experience varies widely based on where you live in the city and what school you attend." This approach is designed to ensure that funding is directed to the schools that require it the most.
CPS operates various types of schools, including neighborhood schools, charter schools, and selective enrollment institutions. Martinez emphasized that public input will be integral to the plan's ongoing development, ensuring that it remains responsive to community needs.
Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova detailed specific initiatives within the strategic plan, such as a new "Black Student Success Plan." This initiative aims to enhance the daily experiences of Black students and provide pathways to multilingualism, further aligning with the district's equity objectives.
Concerns regarding the future of selective schools arose following the board's approval of an equity funding formula, which may affect resources available to schools like LaSalle Language Academy. Local school council members at LaSalle expressed worries about potential budget cuts impacting their programs.
In response to these concerns, CPS Board of Education President Jianan Shi reaffirmed the district's commitment to elevating neighborhood schools. "We passed a resolution that aimed to shift away from a model that emphasizes school choice to one that ensures every student has access to a high-quality educational experience," Shi stated. Earlier this year, the board conducted community roundtable discussions to gather input on bolstering neighborhood schools.
Despite this broad commitment to equity, some local officials, including 15th Ward Alderman Ray Lopez, criticized the new policy. Lopez described the approach as "touchy-feely" and suggested that it may produce negative consequences for future generations.
Critics like Paul Vallas, a policy adviser for the Illinois Policy Institute, argue that the plan lacks specificity on how to achieve its equity goals. "While it’s encouraging to see the CPS board articulate the district's real problem with chronic absenteeism and low test scores, the new five-year plan has little teeth to meaningfully improve student achievement," he stated. Vallas expressed skepticism about the district's claims of supporting all school models while shifting focus away from ranking systems.
In response to these criticisms, a CPS official defended the strategic plan's details, highlighting initiatives aimed at expanding preschool programming, high-dosage tutoring, and academic coaching for teachers. The official noted that the plan builds on existing strategies that have contributed to recent improvements in student outcomes.
The CPS spokesperson also addressed concerns regarding the funding model, stating, "Over the past three years, the District has shifted away from school budgets based primarily on student enrollment." The spokesperson emphasized that the Fiscal Year 2025 budget would continue this trend while ensuring that all schools receive foundational staff support.
In 2023, CPS reported a record graduation rate of 84%, reflecting an upward trend over the past two decades. In national comparisons, the district ranked first in reading growth and third in combined reading and math growth among large urban districts reporting to the Council of the Great City Schools. Preliminary data for the 2024 state assessments indicate continued academic progress.
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