Chicago Public Schools to Host Citywide Community Engagement Sessions on FY2026 District Budget

CHICAGO — As Chicago Public Schools (CPS) faces a $734 million budget shortfall, the District is launching a series of citywide community engagement sessions to ensure families, educators, and residents understand the budget landscape and have a voice in shaping the District’s path forward. The public sessions, which include two public learning sessions, four in-person community feedback sessions and one virtual community feedback session, begin next week and will focus on CPS’s current financial reality, long-term fiscal challenges, and potential solutions.

“We are at a pivotal moment for public education in Chicago,” said CPS Interim Superintendent/CEO Dr. Macquline King. “Over the next several weeks, we must solve for a $734 million deficit. These conversations are essential—not only to meet our legal obligation to present a balanced budget but to build a shared vision for supporting the more than 325,000 students who rely on us every day.”

CPS will welcome students back to school on August 18, 2025. The Board of Education must approve a balanced FY2026 budget by August 29.

Revenue Pressures:

• The District remains more than $600 million below the state’s target of 90 percent funding for all school districts by fiscal year 2027.
• Federal pandemic relief funding has expired, and ongoing federal funding through Title II, Title III, and Title IV remains uncertain.
• CPS has limited authority to generate local revenue under current state law, which restricts its ability to offset shortfalls in state and federal support.
• To address these challenges, CPS is actively working with state and local partners to identify and secure additional revenue sources, including potential surplus funds from Tax Increment Financing.

Public Learning Sessions
The two online public learning sessions aim to offer discussions among experts on CPS’s budget challenges. The first session will provide an overview of the District’s budget history and current fiscal realities and the second session will look at potential solutions including debt restructuring, resource allocation, long-term financial planning as well as ongoing local, state and federal funding advocacy.

• Public Learning Session 1 (Virtual): Tuesday, July 15, 2025 | 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
  Topic: Understanding the District’s Fiscal History and Budget Structure Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83467061702
• Public Learning Session 2 (Virtual): Wednesday, July 16 | 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.Topic: Exploring Solutions and Community-Led Advocacy Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84631173906

Community Feedback SessionsThese sessions will offer a brief budget overview before leading participants in roundtable discussions and a series of questions to gather critical feedback. Participants will hear directly from CPS leaders and have an opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback. Spanish interpretation will be available at all budget public learning sessions and community feedback sessions.
In-Person & Virtual Community Engagement Sessions:

• Session 1:
  Monday, July 14, 2025 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts, 555 E. 51st. St.
• Session 2:
  Tuesday, July 15, 2025 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  George Westinghouse College Prep, 3223 W. Franklin Blvd.
  
• Session 3:
  Thursday, July 17, 2025 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  Theodore Roosevelt High School, 3436 W. Wilson Ave.
  
• Session 4:
  Saturday, July 19, 2025 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  Back of the Yards College Prep, 2111 W. 47th St.
  
• Session 5 (Virtual):
  **Monday, July 21, 2025 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• **Please visit CPS.edu/budget for the most up to date information on the Public Learning Sessions and In-Person & Virtual Community Engagement Sessions.