Dear CPS Families, Colleagues, and Supporters,
It’s almost time! Our school year starts in just three days!
Teachers and school staff are back in our buildings, and they are so excited to welcome their students back to class on Monday, August 24 (K–12 students) and Tuesday, August 25 (pre-k students)!
Thank you to all of the schools and community partners who have hosted fun events to get students excited about back-to-school!
The Englewood Community Action Council, for example, hosted a Back-to-School Festival where families could gather for a day of fun while picking up school supplies and gathering important information for the new school year.
Here are some of the many ways we’re already off to a strong start:
- We are beginning the school year with a teacher vacancy rate of just 2.2% — the lowest in recent memory.
- We have added more than 1,000 special education positions this school year, and opened 61 new cluster classrooms to bring services closer to our students with disabilities who have the greatest needs
- We have maintained our number of security guards and Safe Passage Workers to prioritize student safety, and have added more bilingual educators to support the needs of our English Learners.
Preparing for a Great First Day
Here are a few things for families to keep in mind as you prepare for the transition back to school:
- Make sure students get a good night’s sleep the evening before they start school!
- To avoid rushing around in the morning, try to have your children’s backpacks ready to go the night before!
- While water is available at school, it’s a good idea to send students with water bottles, especially as the temperature outside remains warm!
- Check your school’s website for the daily start time to make sure you arrive on time the first day!
- Remember that all K-12 students and a companion ride FREE on CTA, Metra, and PACE on Monday, August 24
Visit cps.edu/b2s for all your back-to-school needs, including the District calendar, all required forms, school supply lists, and information on school meals, which are free to all CPS students every day.
Sincerely,
Dr. Macquline King
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Public Schools
CPS BUDGET UPDATE
Earlier this week, I traveled to Springfield alongside Iris Millan, our District’s New Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs, to meet with state lawmakers on the need for more education funding, not just for CPS, but for school districts around Illinois.
The CPS budget passed by our Board of Education last month calls for $150 million in additional funding from the state for this year. In the long term, we know that reforms are needed, as CPS is only funded at 70 percent of what the state considers ‘adequate’.
In my conversations with lawmakers this week, I stressed that if we do not receive this additional state funding or another source of revenue, CPS could be looking at disruptive mid-year cuts to our classrooms. I thank our elected officials for meeting with me and hope that they will heed this call on behalf of Chicago’s children, as well as public school students around the state.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
Lowering the Cost of Public Transportation for Students
Thanks to additional funding from the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act, the cost for Chicago’s students to ride the CTA and PACE is now just 75 cents per ride! This fare is available any time of the day, any day of the week, even during summer and school breaks, for all K-12 students with a valid Student ID. For help getting started, families can visit the student reduced fare pages on CTA, Metra, or Pace.
Keeping Schools Safe Amid Federal Activity
Over the past year, we have seen an escalation of federal activity in Chicago. Fortunately, we are not currently experiencing the same aggressive tactics we saw in our neighborhoods last fall, but there is still significant federal activity happening around Chicago, and we want to remind everyone what CPS is doing to keep schools and students safe.
Please visit cps.edu/immigration for the latest information, including:
- Our procedures and protocols to ensure safety at school
- Tips for staying safe at home and in the community
- Resources available to families and staff, including “Know Your Rights” trainings and mental health supports
This is a heavy topic to bring up at a time when we are feeling so much joy about the start of school. But given the level of fear and anxiety in our communities, we want to make sure families know that our absolute top priority is ensuring students are safe, supported, and valued at school, no matter where they were born, or which Chicago community they now call home.
No-Cost Vaccines Available for Students
Throughout the fall, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) will be providing student vaccines required by CPS at no cost to families. These include the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) and varicella (chickenpox), as well as seasonal vaccines for the flu and COVID-19. Please visit the CDPH website for complete details on immunization clinics and upcoming vaccine events.
Join the Mayor’s Back-to-School Bash!
The Chicago Mayor’s Office is excited to host a Back-to-School Bash on Saturday, August 22 from 10:30 AM–1:30 PM at Union Park (1501 W. Randolph Street). This event will be a one-stop shop to connect students and families with resources and opportunities from across the City as they prepare for the upcoming school year.
Activities will include:
- Free food trucks
- Backpacks and school supplies
- Vaccinations and sports physicals
- Youth activities and entertainment
- College and career information
- Chicago Public Library resources
CPS STORIES OF THE WEEK
Congratulations to Northside College Prep High School on being named the #1 school in Illinois, and #30 in the country, by U.S. News and World Report! Lane Tech, Walter Payton, and Jones College Prep also ranked among the 100 best high schools in Illinois this year!
The students, staff, and surrounding community of Cooper Elementary in Pilsen will begin the new school year with a revitalized playground and outdoor space! improvements include more shade, more storm capture, and more places for children to play, and thanks to input gathered from the community, this will be an outdoor space that everyone in the neighborhood can enjoy!
For the first time in six years, Beasley Elementary School in Washington Park will be able to offer swim lessons to both students and adults thanks to the renovation of its pool! Huge thanks to the CPS Facilities Team for completing this project before the first day of school!
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!
FREE Admission to Anne Frank: The Exhibition
CPS staff can receive FREE tickets to Anne Frank: The Exhibition with General Admission to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry through December 31, 2026 using the promo code LEGACY.
Anne Frank: The Exhibition is an immersive, full-scale recreation of the Secret Annex where Anne Frank, her family, and four others lived in hiding during World War II. Griffin MSI is the first museum in the Midwest, and only the second in the U.S., to host this extraordinary exhibition, which also features never-before-seen artifacts from Anne Frank’s life.