Black Student Success

Community Roundtables

Help create a more equitable and accessible path to success for Chicago’s Black students.

The Black Student Success Plan is built on and will be driven by the powerful voices and collaboration of the community. We are inviting you, Chicago’s ecosystem of students, parents, community-based organizations and leaders, higher education institutions, philanthropic partners, and government agencies, to join the conversation and collaboration.

This March, join us for one of several Black Student Success Plan Community Roundtables. These community discussions will be held throughout the city (and virtually) and will give you the opportunity to:

Learn about plan updates and implementation progress post February 2025 launch.
Discuss and learn what role you can play in the plan’s implementation and impact on student success.
Identify opportunities for collaboration and future ways to engage and support implementation.

If you have any questions regarding the roundtables, please do not hesitate to contact us at bss@cps.edu

Date	Time	Location	Registration Link
March 10, 2026	5:30-7pm	Greater West Town Community Development Project (500 N Sacramento Blvd)	Register
March 11, 2026	5:30-7pm	Phillips High School (244 East Pershing Rd, Chicago 60653)	Register
March 12, 2026	5:30-7pm	Metcalfe Elementary School (12339 South Normal, Chicago 60628)	Register
March 16, 2026	5:30- 6:45pm	Virtual	Register

Transforming the Educational Landscape

The mission of CPS is to provide a high-quality public education for every child in every neighborhood that prepares them for success in college, career, and civic life. While CPS has made efforts to address long-standing racial inequities in education, Black students continue to face historic and persistent disparities in educational opportunities and outcomes. To confront these systemic inequities—and after years of advocacy from parents, educators, and community organizations—CPS will launch the Black Student Success Plan on February 21, 2025.

The plan is an essential strategic priority included in the District’s 5-year Strategic Plan to improve Black students’ daily learning experiences and life outcomes in CPS by addressing opportunity gaps and advancing equity. This work has been codified and mandated in state law (105 ILCS 5/34-18.85), demonstrating the district’s commitment to aligning its efforts with legislative requirements.

Reporting and progress monitoring at the Board level will adhere to Illinois Public Act 103-0584, which established the Chicago Board of Education Black Student Achievement Committee. These legal frameworks underscore the institutional support and accountability driving the plan’s implementation. This plan underscores our unwavering commitment to transforming the educational landscape to ensure every student, including Black students, thrives academically, socially, and emotionally.

Identity, Culture, and Voice

Empower and elevate Black students' voices while celebrating their cultural diversity to create inclusive environments that honor their unique contributions and perspectives.

Whole School, Whole Child Supports

Provide comprehensive, culturally responsive supports that address Black students' academic, social, emotional, and cultural needs, enabling them to thrive.

Inclusive and Culturally Responsive Curriculum and Instruction

Implement culturally relevant teaching practices and expand access to high-quality, rigorous coursework and experiential opportunities that affirm Black students’ identities and enhance academic success.

Culturally Responsive Family and Community Engagement and Empowerment

Strengthen engagement with Black families and communities through culturally competent workshops and partnerships that empower families to be active participants in their children’s education.

Learning, Development, and Liberatory Thinking

Focus on professional development for educators and leaders to address biases, combat anti-Blackness, and create a culturally responsive community that uplifts Black students and families.

Recruitment, Retention, and Support of Black Educators and Leaders

Build a diverse and representative workforce by recruiting, retaining, and supporting Black educators and leaders with targeted efforts and professional development opportunities.

Systems, Policies, and Practices

Transform policies and systems to eliminate inequities, ensure equitable resource distribution, and establish accountability measures for an inclusive educational environment.

BSSP Students

Future State of Black Students

Every Black student will have access to high-quality educational opportunities within their school and neighborhood, where they receive the necessary support to excel academically, socially, and emotionally; where they are prepared for college and family-sustaining careers; where they are empowered and affirmed in their identity; and where Black students, families, and communities feel valued, supported, and heard; while also ensuring that Black leaders and educators are increasingly supported and empowered with the resources and professional growth opportunities needed to drive positive change.

BSSP Teachers and Students

Frequently Asked Questions



: Yes. The Black Student Success Working Group (BSSWG) is committed to a diverse and inclusive membership rooted in the CPS Equity Framework. The BSSWG will amplify the voices of all stakeholders by organizing community roundtables where parents, students, and community organizations can discuss the plan’s implementation, address challenges, and collaboratively set priorities.



: Targeted Universalism (TU) is an approach to equity work that recognizes groups of people have differing needs and require specific support to reach the same goal. TU recognizes the critical role of systems and structures in students’ everyday experiences and acknowledges that the way students interact with those systems and structures differs depending on identity and students’ life circumstances, both of which can affect how they perform in school.