Dear CPS Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,
I’m pleased to share the news that the Chicago Board of Education has now approved a four-year labor agreement for our teachers. You can review the details of the contract here. The Board also passed an amendment to this year’s budget to fund the first year of this contract, and conversations are ongoing around funding strategies for the remaining three years.
I’m thrilled that even in financially challenging times, we are able to provide our educators with the compensation and benefits they deserve. But our District’s financial outlook for the next several years is sobering, and we will need to work together to find new revenue to ensure our schools have the funding they deserve.
A key part of our strategy will be to secure more education funding from the State of Illinois. That’s why on Tuesday, April 29, a passionate group of CPS students, parents, and educators will travel to our state capitol in Springfield, joining with school districts from around the state to advocate for more education funding.
CPS is asking state lawmakers to support our students in three specific ways:
- Increase evidence-based funding (EBF) for public education across Illinois to $550 million per year.
- Increase support for nutrition, special education, and transportation services to $165 million per year.
- Increase support for early childhood education to $75 million per year so that CPS can continue offering free, full-day Pre-k in all Chicago communities.
We need as much participation as possible in this campaign, and there are plenty of ways for you to get involved. You can call or email your state lawmakers, write a letter to a local newspaper, or create a post on social media explaining what more funding would mean for your school. We have created a series of resources at cps.edu/AdvocacyDay to help you share your stories. I urge you to explore these options and make your voices heard!
With a new labor agreement now in place, our District can unite around securing the funding needed to help our students continue thriving. I thank you for your partnership along this path and hope you will join forces with us this Tuesday, April 29!
Ensuring Students Have a Seamless Pathway to Earning a Bachelor’s Degree
This week, our District announced the Roadmap 2.0 initiative with our partners from City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). It builds on the Chicago Roadmap, our District’s strategy to provide students with a seamless transition from high school to CCC. By partnering with UIC, we will be able to continue this transition all the way to a four year degree, putting more students on the path to their dream careers.
This work has already been extremely successful. We have seen a 62% increase in CPS students enrolling in early college courses, as well as greater exposure to career pathways through hands-on work-based learning. Now, with Roadmap 2.0, UIC will help students retain earned credits and reduce barriers to transfer so that they can be successful in earning their bachelor’s degrees. Students will have access to personalized degree planning, coordinated academic advising, and additional resources and support.
We know that each of our students has amazing potential, and the continued collaboration between CPS, CCC, and UIC will help them succeed both inside and outside of the classroom every step of the way.
Announcing New District Leadership
Finally, I am excited to share that two exceptional CPS leaders will be taking on new roles to serve our schools and students.
- Sydney J. Morris is our new Chief Schools Officer. In this role, she will be responsible for leading the District’s Office of Network Support by ensuring that schools across the District have strong leadership and receive the resources they need. She most recently served as the Chief of Staff to the Chief Education Officer and has also served as a CPS teacher and principal.
- Devon Morales, Sr. is our new Executive Director of Sports Administration. He will be in charge of managing our District’s athletic programming, including both high school and elementary level athletic competitions. He has most recently served as the principal of Clemente Community Academy and is a proud product of CPS.
I hope you will join me in congratulating these two fantastic members of our CPS community. Please have a great weekend, and we look forward to welcoming your students back to school on Monday.
Sincerely,
Pedro Martinez
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Public Schools
Help Us Highlight Your School
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A Look Around the District
Check out these highlights from celebrations across our District!
This Arab American Heritage Month, Peck Elementary in West Elsdon hosted a Cultural Awareness event to celebrate. In partnership with UIC’s Arab American Cultural Center, the event promoted unity and appreciation of the school’s diverse student population through presentations of cultural artifacts and other interactive activities.
And at Salazar Elementary, located in the Near North Side neighborhood of Chicago, the school community celebrated Holi– a Hindu tradition known as the Festival of Colors, Love, Equality, and the arrival of Spring. Students enjoyed a day of throwing bright colored powder and greeting each other with happy wishes!
Finally, the RE•VER•BER•ATE arts festival took place this week! It provides students of all grade levels with exhibition and performance opportunities, workshops, and academic and professional collaboration resources. Check out our recap on the CPS blog!
Eleven CPS Students Receive Prestigious Scholarship from Amazon
Congratulations to the students from Jones, Lindblom, and Chicago Math and Science high schools who were recently awarded the Future Engineering Scholarship from Amazon. In addition to financial support in the amount of $40,000, these students will be given the opportunity to participate in a paid internship with an Amazon engineering team during each summer of their college careers. Amazon will host a dinner celebrating these students and their accomplishment later this spring.
Join an Inclusive Summer Jobs Expo for Young Adults with Disabilities
The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, the Department of Family and Support Services, and One Summer Chicago invite you to an Inclusive Summer Jobs Expo for Young Adults with Disabilities (ages 14-24). This event is a great opportunity to connect with job resources, get help navigating benefits, and apply for summer jobs—all in one place! It is taking place tomorrow, Saturday, April 26, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Little Italy Branch of the Chicago Public Library (1336 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607). Please register for the event here.
Complete the CPS Spring 2025 Survey
CPS often uses surveys to ensure our families and staff have a voice in the District’s decision making. To simplify this process, we have now combined several of those tools into one SY25 Spring Survey. This survey covers several important topics, including capital planning, school culture and climate, and parent engagement. Each section will take five to ten minutes to complete, and all responses are anonymous. The survey is open through May 17, 2025, and is available in Chinese (simplified), English, Polish, Spanish, Tagalog, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Application Deadline Extended: Apply through May 12 to Become the District’s Next Honorary Student Board Member
The Chicago Board of Education is looking for a student leader to serve as its Honorary Student Board Member (HSBM) for the 2025–26 school year. Selected annually, the HSBM represents the interests and perspectives of all CPS students by attending the Board’s monthly meetings, which are generally held on the fourth Thursday of each month at the CPS Loop Office (42 W. Madison St. in Chicago). The HSBM is also an active participant in the Student Voice Roundtable initiative, which provides a platform for students from across the District to engage with CPS leadership and Board members on topics that are important to Chicago’s youth. The HSBM will also be awarded a $1,000 scholarship to be used to support enrollment in a two or four-year college or university.
To be eligible for this opportunity, students must be a rising junior or senior (current 10th or 11th-grader), hold a 3.0 G.P.A. or higher, and demonstrate proven leadership experience.
Applications are being accepted through May 12, 2025. Students can visit cpsboe.org for more information and to apply.
Options for Getting the Measles Vaccine
Cases of measles are currently on the rise around the country, and as of this week, there has been an identified case in Illinois. While none have been reported in Chicago this year, we want to make sure our CPS community is protected from this very contagious disease. The best way to do this is by making sure you and your children are up to date on the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which provides lifelong protection against measles.
Most people will have gotten the MMR vaccine during childhood. But for those who have not, there are many opportunities to get the vaccine. CPS offers school-required vaccinations like MMR, and other recommended vaccines at our school-based health clinics, and through our elementary, high school, and charter mobile clinics. Please use these links to schedule an appointment for a vaccine. Vaccines through CPS are free for those who are uninsured, underinsured, or who have health insurance through Medicaid or Medicare. For those with private insurance, please contact the clinic for details on which insurance carriers they accept.
The Chicago Department of Public Health also offers no-cost vaccines for those who are uninsured or under-insured at four immunization clinics in the city. Click here for details on these clinics. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is highly encouraged. Create an account and register for an appointment at https://getvaxchi.chicago.gov or by calling the clinic.
Individuals with private insurance or Medicaid/Medicare can also receive vaccines at health care providers or local in-network pharmacies throughout the city. Visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccine provider. Anyone unsure about which providers are in-network should call their health insurance company before getting vaccinated to avoid out-of-network charges.
Supporting Families Amidst Federal Policy Changes
With the transition to a new presidential administration, many in our school communities are experiencing anxiety, especially regarding immigration issues. CPS is committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe, inclusive, and welcoming educational environments that embrace and celebrate everyone in our diverse communities. CPS has strong protections in place for our students and staff; you can read about them here.
We have also created a website with many resources on immigration services, as well as details on “Know Your Rights” trainings and workshops that are being held throughout Chicago. Some of these sessions are being conducted by our District’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Team, while others are being presented by our community partners. Families can find complete details at cps.edu/newadminguidance. This website will be updated frequently to reflect new training opportunities and any changes to federal law, so we encourage everyone to visit regularly. Mental health supports are also available to students through their schools. Parents who feel their children could benefit from these supports should contact their child’s teacher, principal, or school counselor directly.
Explore Student Job Opportunities for the Summer
Online applications are now open for One Summer Chicago—the youth employment program that partners with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and city agencies to provide paid work experience, work-based learning, and skill development opportunities for young people ages 14–24 over six weeks during the summer. Students should visit onesummerchicago.org for more information and to apply.
CPS Scoreboard: This Week in District Athletics
Bell Elementary made history in CPS SCORE! Elementary Cheer this past year, but the story didn’t stop there. Learn more about Bell’s incredible program for students that are deaf / hard of hearing and how they are shining in the cheer program at the Northside School.
High School and Elementary Spring Sports are in full swing, with athletes from 5-12 grade competing in a full slate of spring programming! For schedules, stories, photo galleries and more, make sure to visit CPSAthletics.com or follow the leagues on Instagram @cpsathletics_
Whitney Young’s Destiny Jackson was named the 2025 Illinois Girls Basketball Player of the Year, continuing to make history in her academic and athletic journey with the Dolphins. Jackson will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign next fall to continue her education and basketball career. Congratulations to Destiny and the Dolphins’ community!
Michele Clark’s Anthony Spivey’s football skills were on full display as he served as CPS’ representative in the Blue / Gray All- American Game in Dallas, Texas at AT&T Stadium, home of the Cowboys. Spivey received all city honors this past season in the Chicago Public League and was part of this showcase event, highlighting the top players across the country.
Simeon Alum Aneesah Morrow made history as she was drafted to the Connecticut Sun in the top-10 in the WNBA Draft. Morrow stared at Simeon and then continued her athletic and academic career at DePaul and LSU. Congratulations to Aneesah and the Simeon community on this historic achievement
CPS SCORE! Is excited to partner with the Chicago Sky and Sky Cares Foundation to host a free clinic for this past season’s 7th and 8th grade final eight teams in girls basketball. The clinic will feature expert instruction and an unforgettable day for our student-athletes!
On Sunday, May 4th at the University of Chicago Lab School, CPS students are invited to FREE cardiac screenings for student athletes at the Zeke Upshaw Memorial Event. These screenings are open to all athletes regardless of gender or race. While studies show Black athletes are 5x more likely to experience sudden cardiac arrest than white athletes and Latino athletes also face elevated risk factors, this is the leading cause of death among all student athletes. Register Here
The event (10AM-2PM) includes:
- FREE cardiac screenings
- Career expo with professionals from various fields
- Youth basketball camp (specifically for middle school students, 9-11AM)
- Lab Alumni All-Star basketball game
REMINDER: New Year… New Platform - Chicago Public Schools Athletics is excited to announce their official launch on Instagram and Facebook, highlighting the incredible accomplishments of our student-athletes and programs across the District! Make sure to follow these accounts and interact with us on these new social platforms in addition to the already existing X account.
Discounted Tickets for CPS Staff and Families
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs invite CPS teachers, administrators, and staff to visit Wrigley Field on Monday, May 5 at 6:40 p.m. for Teacher Appreciation Night! Discount tickets are available from $24 and include a Cubs quarter-zip. Get your tickets here!
Chicago Fire FC
CPS families and staff can wrap up Teacher Appreciation Week with the Chicago Fire on Saturday, May 10. Each ticket purchased through this link includes a special-edition scarf. The 1:30 p.m. match at Soldier Field is also the Fire’s annual Family Day and the first 5,000 fans receive a plush giveaway of their mascot Sparky!
Important Dates
For more upcoming events around the District, visit cps.edu/calendar.
- April 8–29: Spring 2025 Capital Plan Community Meetings. Learn more on the CPS website.
- Wednesday, May 14: Board Agenda Review Committee meeting. Learn more at cpsboe.org.
- Monday, May 26: CPS offices and schools are closed in observance of Memorial Day.