Chicago schools face £732M budget crisis as cuts threaten staff and programs
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is facing a major budget crisis, with a projected shortfall of £732 million for the 2026-27 school year. The district has announced plans to cut programs and staff, including assistant principals, counsellors, and bilingual coordinators, as it struggles to balance its £10 billion budget.
The moves come after federal pandemic-era funding, which had boosted staffing levels, ran out. Now, school leaders are scrambling to finalise their budgets before a June 9 deadline, while the school board must approve a balanced plan by the end of August. CPS intends to reduce the number of assistant principals at schools with fewer than 250 students, cutting around 120 positions. Other programs on the chopping block include sports, music, and support roles like bilingual coordinators. Joe Ferguson, president of the Civic Federation, pointed out that the loss of federal pandemic funds has left the district with fewer resources than before.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has urged state lawmakers to step in with additional funding for CPS in the next budget. Meanwhile, the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association (CPAA) has criticised the budget process as 'deeply flawed,' citing late planning and shifting financial targets. Critics warn that these cuts could hit Black and Latino students, as well as working families, the hardest.
Principals must submit their finalised school budgets by June 9. The school board then has until late August to approve a district-wide plan that closes the £732 million gap without further disruption to education services. The budget cuts will reduce staffing and programs across CPS, affecting thousands of students and families. With the school board’s deadline looming, officials must now decide how to allocate limited funds while minimising harm to schools. The outcome will shape education in Chicago for the coming academic year.
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