End of Week Message: Congratulations! We Made It!

Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,

Congratulations to our students, families, and school communities on finishing the school year strong! 

As the school year comes to a close, many of our students, families, and staff are looking forward to spending time together, making lasting memories, and taking advantage of all that summer has to offer.

You can visit cps.edu/summerprograms to explore all of the options that are available through CPS. These include:

• Preview to Pre-k, Kickoff to Kindergarten, and High School Connection
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Camps
• Out-of-School Time programming at more than 200 CPS schools (reach out to your school directly for specific details!)
• Safe Haven Sites

Our summer programs website also now includes many options available from our partner organizations throughout the city, including the Chicago Park District and our public libraries. In addition, the CPS Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) has created a website for families to explore new spaces and connect with local community resources and partner organizations during the summer months. Families can click here to review a wide range of activities, performances, and camps that are accessible to students with disabilities. 

In exciting news for our young people, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is offering free memberships to Chicago teens, so they can stay active, healthy, and connected through the organization’s  Get Summer program. From June 8 through the end of August 2026, Chicago teens ages 12–18 can access these participating YMCA locations free of charge:

• Irving Park YMCA — 4251 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60641
• Kelly Hall YMCA — 824 N. Hamlin Ave., Chicago, IL 60651
• Lake View YMCA — 3333 N. Marshfield Ave., Chicago, IL 60657
• McCormick YMCA — 1834 N. Lawndale Ave., Chicago, IL 60647
• Rauner Family YMCA — 2700 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60608
• South Side YMCA — 6330 S. Stony Island Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
• West Garfield Park YMCA — 4305 W. Madison St., Chicago, IL 60624

Teens will have access to fitness centers, gymnasiums, swimming pools during open swim hours, athletic fields, and other recreational opportunities in a safe and welcoming environment.

A valid form of Chicago residency is required for registration, and teens ages 12–17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when signing up. For more information about the Get Summer program, teens should visit their nearest YMCA location, or go to ymcachicago.org/getsummer.

I encourage all CPS families to take advantage of these many options to keep students productive and engaged this summer!

Announcing Community Budget Feedback Sessions

CPS is in the process of crafting our budget for the 2026–27 school year, and we need your feedback!

Similar to last summer, the District will be hosting Community Budget Feedback Sessions in the coming weeks. These will be an opportunity for students, families, and staff to come together and share how you feel CPS’ limited financial resources can best support your school communities. This feedback will be used to inform our final budget for the coming school year. 

Details on the Community Budget Feedback Sessions are as follows:

• Tuesday, June 23, in-person at Westinghouse College Prep High School (3223 W. Franklin Blvd.) from 5:30 to 7:30pm
• Spanish Language Session: Saturday, June 27, in-person at Back of the Yards College Prep High School (2111 W. 47th St.) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 30, in-person at Dyett High School (555 E. 51st St.) from 5:30 to 7:30pm
• Virtual Session: Wednesday, July 1 from 5:30 to 7:30pm (attendance link will be sent once RSVP is received)
• Tuesday, July 7, in-person at Roosevelt High School (3436 W Wilson Ave.) from 5:30 to 7:30pm.

If you are interested in attending one of these meetings, please RSVP here. 

An Exciting Addition to our Leadership Team

I am thrilled to share that Dr. Annise Lewis, our District’s former Acting Chief for the Office of Teaching and Learning, is CPS’ new Deputy Chief Education Officer. Dr. Lewis brings twenty-four years of leadership experience in urban education to this role, including sixteen years of dedicated service as a CPS assistant principal, principal, and network chief. Her leadership is rooted in a cohesive vision that blends academic rigor, social-emotional supports, and student-centered learning conditions. I look forward to partnering with Dr. Lewis as she works to maximize the potential of our teachers, leaders, and students across the District.

Thank You for a Great First Year!

As we close out this school year and this final newsletter, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our students, families, school leaders, staff, and community partners. It has been a rewarding experience to serve as the leader of Chicago Public Schools during this remarkable year.

What defines Chicago Public Schools is the extraordinary talent, resilience, and potential of our students, along with the unwavering dedication of the educators, staff, families, and partners who support them. Throughout this year, I have seen countless examples of perseverance, achievement, innovation, and community that reaffirm what is possible when we work together on behalf of our young people. Our challenges are real, but they are far outweighed by the promise of our students and the dedication of the educators, staff, families, and partners who believe in them

As we look ahead to the next school year, I am excited about the opportunities before us. We will continue building on the progress we have made. I am confident that our shared commitment to student success will continue to move our District forward. The momentum we are building today will create even greater opportunities for our students tomorrow, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the year ahead.

I wish everyone a wonderful summer, and look forward to seeing all CPS students in class, ready to learn, on Monday, August 24 (K–12) and Tuesday, August 25 (pre-k)!   

Sincerely,

Dr. Macquline King
Superintendent/CEO
Chicago Public Schools