Proposed $9.4 Billion Budget Makes Strategic Investments, including Additional $128M to Support Students with Special Needs POLITICAL AFFAIRS

CHICAGO – Chicago Public Schools

(CPS) posted a proposed $9.4 billion FY2024 District budget that supports the critical investments that have guided students’ academic recovery from the wide-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and increases investments in key areas to support the District’s Diverse Learners and students with the greatest needs, from Pre-K through high school. The CPS budget, covering the educational and operational mission of the District and its more than 600 schools, is posted on its public website and available at the District’s central office for review in advance of budget hearings next week and the Board of Education’s monthly meeting June 28.

”This proposed budget is a step toward fulfilling CPS’ commitment to providing resources for every school community so that our students are healthy, safe, engaged, and on the path to long-term success,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This investment in our children is not only an investment in a stronger future for them and their families but is essential to living up to Chicago’s promise as a world-class city.”

Since the District’s release of draft FY24 school budgets in April, the FY2024 budget now contains $4.8 billion in school-level funding, an increase of more than $480 million over the past two years. Increased allocations address school-specific concerns and the continued multi-year move away from student-based budgeting and toward funding that better considers students’ varied needs. Highlights of the revised school budgets include: and school communities have shared are critical student success, including:

Per-pupil spending is increasing by more than $1,000 in school budgets next year.

Ninety-two (92) percent of schools will have a higher per-pupil funding level compared with last year — up from the 91 percent reported in April.

Ninety (90) percent of schools will see increased funding over last year — up from the April projections of 82 percent and up from 70 percent last year.

Thirty-nine (39) percent of funding in school budgets is allocated according to Student-Based Budgeting — down from the 43 percent reported in April and down from 46 percent in FY2023.

Reasonable class sizes

Limited split classrooms

Access to high-quality arts education

More intervention supports, including the hiring of more nurses, counselors, social workers, academic interventionists, and advocates for students in temporary living situations (STLS).

“We’re grateful to be able to fund these priorities - this foundation for what all schools should and can expect to receive,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “We will continue to work to ensure every school has the resources necessary to meet students’ instructional needs as our District moves forward, from expanding services to preschoolers to increasing our graduation rate and the dollars earned in college scholarships.”

Any schools that saw cuts to their budgets this year are schools that have seen significant enrollment declines or have seen decreases in specific student populations, such as diverse learners or preschool students. FY2024 budgets include loss mitigation strategies, including $11 million to cap local funding losses at three percent and a $5 million increase to equity grants.

HUNTER’S CHILD WELFARE MEASURE BECOMES LAW

To further reinforce the goals of the Department of Children and Family Services, State Senator Mattie Hunter’s legislation that removes obsolete language from the Children and Family Services Act was signed into law.

“DCFS services are meant to be temporary, and our focus should remain on reuniting children with their families or placing them in safe, permanent homes,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “This law makes these goals clear and ensures the language within this important act is current and compliant.”

Amending the Children and Family Services Act, the new law provides that DCFS is responsible for placing children in permanent family homes through guardianship or adoption — rather than adoptive homes — when restoration to the biological family is not safe, possible or appropriate. The measure clarifies DCFS’ responsibility for children or youth whose jurisdiction could not be clearly named as under one individual agency, or whose services may be provided by multiple agencies, and reaffirms that welfare services offered by DCFS are intended to be temporary until safe reunification or timely and permanent placement can be achieved.

CHATHAM-SOUTHEAST

Chatham, Avalon Park, Park Manor,GreaterGrand Crossing, Burnside,Chesterfield, West Chersterfield, South Shore,and Calumet Heitghts.

SOUTH END

Washington Heights,Roseland,Rosemoor, Englewood,West Englewood, Auburn-Gresham, Morgan Park, Maple Park, Mt. Vernon, Fernwood, Bellevue, Beverly, Pullman, West Pullman, West Pullman,Riverdale, Jeffrey Manor and Hegewisch.

SOUTH SUBURBAN

Serves communities in Harvey, Markham, Phoenix, Robbins, Dixmoor, Calumet Park, Blue Island,SouthHolland,and Dolton.

Shopping- their favorite pastime!

HYDE PARK Lake Meadows, Oakland, Prairie Shores,Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, Woodland,South Shore and Hyde Park.

CHICAGO WEEKEND

Chicago Westside Communities, Austin and Garfield Park

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

BloomTownship, Chicago Heights, Flossmoor,FordHeights, Glenwood, Homewood, Lansing ,Lynwood, Olympia Fileds, Park Forest,Sauk Village,South Chicago and Steger

Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., (CNGII), Publisher of the ChathamSoutheast,South End, ChicagoWeekend,South Suburban and Hyde Park Citizen and

Overall, schools will receive more than $240 million more in their budgets compared with last year — this figure is up more than $90 million from the $150 million increase reported in April.

The school budgets continue to support the priorities that CPS principals

The remainder of the District’s annual budget is made up of the budgets for the CPS departments that support schools, academically and operationally, along with the District’s pension obligations, debt service, and capital budget. The FY24 budget maintains a sharp equity focus on continued academic recovery, mental health service and best serving our priority students, including our Diverse Learners, English Learners, Students in Temporary Living Situations, and students who are chronically absent or truant.