Dear CPS Partners,
As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and partnership, we want to provide you with a summary of our monthly Chicago Board of Education meeting. Our goal is to keep you informed about the key moments, decisions, and discussions that shape our district’s priorities and ensure that you have timely insight into how these conversations connect to our shared work on behalf of students. Today’s highlights include:
- An update on Districtwide enrollment and attendance
- A spotlight on Early Childhood Education featuring a Pre-K classroom
- Recognition of neighborhood schools making a difference for students and their communities
- Key District leadership appointments
Thank you for your continued partnership and support of Chicago Public Schools. We remain committed to keeping you informed and working together in service of our students, families, and communities. Read the recap below for more on today’s meeting.
With gratitude,
Dr. Macquline King
Superintendent/CEO
Chicago Public Schools
Summary of the September 24, 2026 Chicago Board of Education Meeting:
20th Day Enrollment and Attendance
The primary news item from this month’s Board meeting was the announcement of CPS’ 20th-day enrollment figures. You can view the full presentation here.
- As of the 20th day, the District’s official enrollment stands at 304,687 students, representing a decrease of 11,537 students from last year.
- However, because declining public school enrollment — especially in large urban areas — is a nationwide trend, CPS has reclaimed its place as the third-largest school district in the country.
- Enrollment declines were fairly consistent across grade levels, races, and priority student populations, with the exception of a slight enrollment increase for 3 year olds in pre-k, and the fact that the District is serving a larger number of students with disabilities.
- Attendance is down slightly as of the 20th day of this school year. However, CPS also reported a 1 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism in the 2025-26 school year — driven by a 4.7 percent drop in chronic absenteeism at the pre-k level.
Summary of Remarks from Superintendent/CEO Dr. Macquline King
North Lawndale STEAM Partnership
Dr. King shared updates from across the District, beginning with a focus on the new North Lawndale STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) Partnership. The completion of this initiative means that students at three neighborhood schools — Chalmers Elementary, Johnson Elementary, and Collins High School — will be part of a continuous STEAM-focused pathway from the early grades to graduation that prepares them for careers in fast-growing, high-demand fields.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Dr. King also highlighted district-wide and school-based celebrations taking place for Hispanic Heritage Month. With nearly half of all CPS students (47 percent) identifying as Latinx, CPS works to celebrate the wide variety of Latin American cultures among our families and staff, representing countries and communities throughout the Americas.
National Literacy Month
Dr. King marked National Literacy Month by spotlighting the 81 Club, an initiative that allows CPS students to use their ID as a library card for all 81 Chicago Public Library branches. Dr. King also spoke about a key CPS strategy driving literacy progress in the early grades: according to preliminary results from the Chicago Consortium on School Research, schools utilizing District professional learning and the District's centralized ELA Skyline curriculum for three years show the highest levels of reading growth among students in grades K–2.
Election Day Guidance and Civic Engagement
Dr. King reminded parents that schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 3 for Election Day, and encouraged all eligible voters to do their research and cast their ballot, including for the fully-elected school board. She noted that CPS remains strictly neutral on candidates and ballot measures, and that candidates are prohibited from using CPS property or CPS resources for campaigning. Furthermore, the District is implementing the Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Act thoughtfully in a way that complements CPS’ ongoing efforts to promote voter registration and civic engagement while ensuring safeguards are in place to protect undocumented students and families who are ineligible to vote.
Additional Highlights
- GoCPS Applications: The GoCPS application window for the next school year is now open through November 13, 2026, at 5 p.m.
- Arts in Education Week: CPS celebrated Arts in Education Week by highlighting student artwork currently on display as a permanent exhibition outside the Board Chambers.
- Recognition of Top High Schools: Dr. King highlighted a recent Chicago Magazine article titled "The Best Chicago Public High Schools," praising its holistic evaluation metrics—such as consistent attendance and academic growth—alongside standard test scores and graduation rates. The article recognized selective enrollment schools as well as neighborhood and charter options, including Amundsen, Von Steuben, Back of the Yards, and Urban Prep Charter School.
Honoring Excellence
Chief Education Officer Dr. Karime Asaf introduced Leslie McKinily, Chief of Early Childhood Education, who presented on the District’s strategies and successes in boosting Pre-k attendance.
Chief McKinily, highlighted that consistent Pre-K attendance sets foundational habits and boosts Kindergarten readiness, builds early literacy, math, and social-emotional skills, and helps to foster a sense of community.
Over the past two school years, Pre-K attendance growth has significantly outpaced K–12:
- Average Daily Attendance: Improved by1.7% in Pre-K, compared to 0.3% in K–12.
- Chronic Absenteeism: Decreased by over 8% in Pre-K, compared to a 1.9% drop in K–12.
The Office of Early Childhood Education (OECE) uses several strategies to drive these results:
- Data-Driven Support: OECE monitors attendance trends to address root causes early. Twelve Family Engagement Coordinators work with school leaders using updated attendance dashboards that include Pre-K data.
- Practical Toolkits: Schools receive resources to turn attendance data into actionable strategies and integrate Pre-K students into broader schoolwide attendance initiatives.
- Family Partnerships: OECE prioritizes authentic family engagement, as young learners rely entirely on caregivers to get to school.
- Building Connections Initiative: Operating in three schools per network, this program focuses on family engagement, early attendance foundations, and strong school culture. OECE is actively scaling these core strategies district-wide.
Chief McKinily then introduced Chalmers Elementary Principal Dr. Romian Crockett and teacher Ms. Brittany Brown, who shared how the school boosted pre-k attendance to 94% last year, with former Pre-K students now reaching 98.4% attendance in kindergarten.
They highlighted several effective strategies:
- True Family Partnerships: Engaging parents as equal collaborators through bi-weekly Class Dojo updates, quarterly events, and end-of-unit celebrations.
- School Culture & Community: Making school enjoyable, removing attendance incentives in favor of genuine engagement, and greeting students as valued individuals rather than data points.
- Removing Barriers: Partnering with community organizations to provide families with food, clothing, emergency funds, and transportation support.
Operations Update
Chief Operating Officer Charles Mayfield spoke about several CPS capital improvements and a student nutrition update:
- Johnson STEM Elementary: Celebrated a $15M TIF- and-CPS-funded renovation (science labs, maker spaces, structural repairs), completing the North Lawndale STEAM consortium alongside Chalmers Elementary and Collins High School.
- Mollison Elementary: Unveiled a renovated staff lounge funded by a Target grant.
- Dubois Elementary: Replaced an obsolete structure with a new playlot, artificial turf field, running track, and outdoor learning space.
- Haley & Funston: Completed roof replacements to prevent water leaks and improve energy efficiency.
- Student Nutrition: Celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with local partners, hosting student tasting panels and a CTE Chef Council event featuring Costa Rican cuisine.
Key Leadership Appointments
The Chicago Board of Education approved the appointment of several District leaders:
Walter Stock: Chief Financial Officer
With 30+ years of finance experience (including a decade at CPS), Stock is responsible for safeguarding the District’s fiscal integrity, overseeing cash forecasting, debt, budgeting, and risk management to ensure long-term stability and support student academic progress.
Jerry Taylor: Chief Talent Officer
A 22-year CPS veteran, Taylor leads CPS’ strategy to attract, develop, and retain educators and staff, focusing on equitable talent systems, HR operations, and improving the employee experience.
Jeffery Mosley, Ed.S: Chief Schools Officer
Bringing 20+ years of leadership, Mosley oversees all 17 CPS networks, a portfolio that encompasses more than 500+ CPS schools. He leads executive teams and network chiefs, strengthens principal pipelines, and uses data to inform resource allocations that drive instructional quality and student achievement.
Dr. Patricia Harper Reynolds: Network 3 Chief of Schools
A CPS graduate and experienced administrator, Dr. Harper Reynolds is an instructional leader with deep operational expertise who is focused on designing high-leverage strategies that build educator capacity and drive continuous school improvement.
José J. Torres: Network 4 Chief of Schools
A 30+ year CPS veteran, former English learner, and CPS graduate, Torres is focused on mentoring school leaders, advocating for social-emotional learning, increasing instructional rigor and monitoring progress to boost student achievement.
Keep Up With CPS
For more on everything happening at CPS, please bookmark cps.edu/media to see the latest community updates, blog posts, and press releases from CPS.
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