Its The 1st Day Of School At Chicago Public Schools. Here Are 5 Things Were Watching

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) opens the school year with a $734 million deficit and no finalized budget, which the Chicago Board of Education must adopt by August 29. The board is currently divided over the district's budget proposal, with a crucial vote scheduled for August 28. Families will notice changes from a new teachers union contract, which aims to reduce class sizes and increase staff support. Last year, CPS experienced a slight increase in enrollment, attributed to an influx of migrant families, but concerns linger about potential drops in attendance due to stricter immigration policies. Advocates worry that heightened enforcement could discourage immigrant families from sending their children to school.

Meanwhile, Illinois is altering its criteria for measuring student proficiency, which may influence perceptions of educational quality. New school accountability dashboards will provide additional metrics on student well-being and performance. Budget cuts may also affect essential services like meals and school maintenance, compounding the challenges for CPS this year.