Acero School Transitions

Welcome to Your School’s New Chapter

We're excited to build this future together and support you every step of the way as we facilitate your child’s transition into a CPS-managed school. This transition follows a February 2025 resolution approved by the Chicago Board of Education that required CPS to transition five schools from the Acero Network to new CPS, District-managed schools by summer 2026. On this site, you'll find important updates, opportunities, and a space to share your voice as it relates to the new schools opening in July 2026.

Learn About Your School's Transition

Advisory Council & Design Committee Update

In January 2026, the selected members of the Design Committee will join members of the Advisory Council to form the joint Advisory & Design Leadership Council at each transitioning school. This joint group of parents, staff, and community representatives will support the successful transition and incubation process of your school community going forward.

Being led by the newly selected CPS principal, potential workstreams for this joint group include:

Advising on school culture and climate priorities
Identifying needs and concerns during the CPS transition
Reviewing and responding to key district proposals or changes
recommending course offerings, electives, enrichment, and/or other specialized programs and supports for students and families
Defining the student and family learning experiences
Meeting with CPS academic departments to understand program implementation, timeline, and limitations
Helping CPS network chiefs and principals develop and execute effective family and community engagement plans
Helping CPS network chiefs and principals make final decisions, key to school readiness for SY26-27.

The Design Committee Member Selection process launches on Friday, December 5, 2025, and concludes on Friday, January 9, 2026. Key details regarding Design Committee membership selection include:

Democratic-Oriented Process: Given that your school community shared feedback with the District earlier this year that included preferences concerning Advisory Council and Design Committee membership and team size constraints, the District will facilitate a selection process that allows key school stakeholders to decide who will serve on your school’s Design Committee. This ensures a fair, equitable process is facilitated for membership selection.

Design Committee Selection Milestones: Key milestones for the Design Committee Selection Process, including a general timeline, are as follows:

12/5 - 12/16: Design Committee Candidate Interest Form Submission Window. To be added to the ballot, completion of the Candidate Interest Form is mandatory. Please note, current members of the Advisory Council should not complete a Candidate Interest Form as they will automatically be seated on the joint Advisory & Design Leadership Council starting in January 2026.
12/18 - 1/7: Public Posting and Review of Responses from Candidate Interest Forms
12/18 - 1/7: Design Committee Voting Window. The voting window opens at 5 p.m. on December 18, 2025 and closes at 5 p.m. on January 7, 2026.
1/9/26: Poll Results Published and Design Committee Members Announced

Advisory & Design Leadership Council (ADLC)

Group	Name
Parents	Jeanette Arrvizo Yolanda Ayala Elvira Bernal Bolaños Alma R Mara Mariela Marcellez Arianna Olvera González Marisol Ordonez Elena Ortiz
Community Representative	Gloria Miranda Nancy Romero
Staff	Hannah Rapp Karla Noriega Perez 3 vacancies

Group	Name
Parents	Maria Casales Ester Diaz Lluvia Estrada Griselda Haro Gabriela Hernandez Sylvia Sandoval
Community	2 vacancies
Staff	Amanda Bernard Sarah Magana Kameron Tunk

Group	Name
Parents	Rocio Ambrosia Juan Rafael Bailon Ligia Cabrera Perla Garcia Angelica Juarez Eva Molinero Bettsy Pedrego Blanca Perez Susana Ramirez
Community	Lauren Orozco
Staff	Brigid Buffington Elsie Damas Lucrecia Dezort Subhana Khaja Tiffany Negron Robyn Vester

Group	Name
Parents	Maria Barajas Josh Cauhorn Jazmin Nicole Echavarri Stephanie Gomez Reyna E. Rodriguez
Community	Luis Delgado Melissa Klein
Staff	Lenora Ackerman ”Segura” Chelsea Bashore Brittany De Leon Olivia Goldstein

Group	Name
Parents	Isabel Alvarez Gladis Fitzmaurice Israel Garcia Maria Garcia Cristina R Pinon Lucy Salgado Imelda Torres
Community	Michelle Solis 1 vacancy
Staff	Jill Freimuth Yesenia Lopez Mary O’Brien-Combs Laura Ortiz

We Are Listening To You

We’re holding family listening forums to connect with Casas, Cisneros, Fuentes, Santiago, and Tamayo stakeholders and gather your ideas.
Tell us what matters most—from academic programs and after-school clubs to the kind of principal you want leading your school.

Listening Forum Presentations

Casas Presentations [ April 21 - English April 21 - Spanish June 17 ]
Cisneros Presentations [ April 22 - English April 22 - Spanish June 23 ]
Santiago Presentations [ April 28 - English April 28 - Spanish June 24 ]
Fuentes Presentations [ April 30 - English April 30 - Spanish June 18 ]
Tamayo Presentations [ May 1 - English May 1 - Spanish June 16 ]

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Share Feedback or Submit a Question

We understand that the transition of Casas, Cisneros, Fuentes, Santiago, and Tamayo may bring many questions, concerns, and emotions. Your voice matters. Whether you’re a parent, student, staff member, or community partner, we invite you to share your thoughts, ask questions, or provide feedback.

Submit Feedback

Transition Timeline

Spring 2025: Listening forums, committee recruitment, and early planning

Fall 2025/Winter 2026: Launch of advisory and design teams and internal CPS incubation team, listening forums, community updates

Spring/Summer 2026: Design implementation, preparing for opening, and students, continued listening forums, and community updates

Fall 2026: Schools open as CPS-operated schools

Transitioning Acero Schools