Dear CPS Families, Colleagues, and Supporters,
As summer draws to a close, I hope you’re all enjoying these final days and finding some time to recharge before the new school year begins.
School starts in just over a week; the first day will be Monday, August 24 for K–12 students, and Tuesday, August 25 for our students in pre-k. Visit cps.edu/b2s for everything you need to know for Back-To-School. We can’t wait to welcome our students back to their classrooms, where they’ll reconnect with friends, discover new ones, and begin another year of learning and growth!
Thanks to all of the CPS students, staff, and families who kicked off the back-to-school season by joining CPS at last weekend’s Bud Billiken Parade!
It was a joy to connect with our current families and see so many CPS alumni return to proudly represent the schools that helped shape them as part of the CPS Alumni Spirit Challenge. Their enthusiasm and school pride were a wonderful reminder of the lasting connection our students and alumni have to their CPS communities.
Other fun back-to-school events are already underway at many CPS schools, including at Tanner Elementary in Greater Grand Crossing!
The event went well beyond providing free school supplies, creating a welcoming space for students, families, and staff to enjoy food and entertainment, connect with one another, and access helpful resources as they prepare for a strong start to the new school year.
Make sure to check in with your own school about what back-to-school activities may be in the works over the next week.
Welcoming New CPS Leaders
I am excited to announce four additions to the CPS leadership team who I’m confident will strengthen our District’s commitment to academic excellence, operational stability, and equitable opportunities for all of our students.
These leaders are:
- Dr. Tiffany D. Brown: Chief of Network 5
- William R. Klee: Chief of the Office of Multilingual-Multicultural Education (OMME)
- Iris Millán: Chief of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA)
- Dr. Brigitte Swenson: Chief of Options Network
Read more about these leaders and their extensive backgrounds here.
Latest Update on the CPS Budget
Thanks to everyone who joined our Truth Builds Trust Webinar earlier this week for an update on where things stand with the CPS budget. Our next webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 18 at 6 p.m.; please RSVP here.
Our major update from this week is that CPS is continuing to make good progress in securing the short-term financing we will need to start the school year strong and ensure employees do not see any interruption to their paychecks.
We are also continuing to implement our budget in a thoughtful and strategic way, especially when it comes to restoring staff positions to schools. Even if additional funding from the State of Illinois does eventually come through, the budget approved by the Board of Education last month does not allocate enough funding to restore all impacted positions. So we are working closely with our principals to learn what positions would be most helpful to their communities this school year, all while keeping the needs of our students at the center.
There’s no doubt that our budget situation is taking up a lot of time and effort right now, but our top priority remains the same - provide every student from every community in Chicago with a rigorous, joyful, and equitable daily learning experience.
I thank you for your partnership and cannot wait to see all of our students back in class beginning Monday, August 24!
Sincerely,
Dr. Macquline King
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Public Schools
News You Can Use
Back-to-School Planning: What Families Need To Know
Here are the main things families should know when planning for a great first day of school!
- K–12 students start on Monday, August 24, and pre-k students start on Tuesday, August 25
- All CPS students ride FREE on CTA buses and trains on the first day of school!
- There are plenty of resources available on our back-to-school website, including:
- Our full calendar for the school year
- All required forms, including medical forms
- School supply lists
- Information on school meals, which are free to CPS students every day
We can’t wait to see our students back, ready to learn!
CPS Story of the Week
Celebrating our Student Inventors!
Congrats to the CPS students who were invited to ring the opening bell at the Chicago Board of Options Exchange (CBOE) earlier this week! Check out the video here!
Both students were granted this experience based on earning top honors at last school year’s Illinois Student Invention Convention (ISIC). A program from Chicago Innovation, the ISIC provides free K–8 STEM curriculum and competitions to help young students design, prototype, and pitch their own real-world inventions.
Jonah B., who rang the bell first, is a rising 5th-grader at Pulaski International School in Bucktown. Along with his classmate, Jak H., Jonah invented "Stashee," a secure, movable pocket designed to help kids safely carry medicine, money, and keys. This invention earned Jonah and Jack second place in the overall ISIC competition.
Elyse, a rising 6th-grader at Chicago World Language Academy on the Near West Side, rang the bell second, having earned 1st-Place in the ISIC’s 5th-grade category last school year. Along with her partner, Cynthia Y., Elyse invented "ThermoPaw," a sensor-based system that monitors a dog's temperature and warns owners of overheating risks.
Congratulations to both student inventor teams, who in addition to ringing the CBOE bell this week, were invited to attend the US Nationals competition!
Special Discount Offers
Save on Back-to-School at Target
Target is making classroom essentials more affordable for teachers! Those educators who are part of the free Target Circle Loyalty Program can access exclusive savings, including 20% off one storewide purchase through September 12. Verify your teacher status in the Target Circle app today!
A Special Ticket Offer from the Chicago Fire
Attend the Chicago Fire’s Teacher Appreciation Match on Sunday August 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Soldier Field! CPS staff receive 30% off tickets purchased through this link, and will receive a special teacher appreciation jersey from the team!