More on the election Chicago School Board What you need to know about Chicago’s elected school board City voters will elect school board members this fall for the first time. We break down how candidates got on the ballot and how to vote. By Nader Issa , Sarah Karp , and 1 more [month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]   The Sun-Times/WBEZ and Chalkbeat emailed a questionnaire to candidates who filed to run in the city’s first school board elections on Nov. 5. Answers have been lightly edited for typos, grammar and consistency in styling, but not for content or length. Age was calculated as of Sept. 1, 2024. *Reader questions: We surveyed hundreds of CPS parents to learn what they wanted to hear from the candidates and used several of their questions on our questionnaire. Jump toAbout the candidateQuestions:AcademicsCPS financesSchool choiceIndependencePolice in schoolsBusing and facilitiesBilingual educationTop local issue Academics About 31% of Chicago Public Schools elementary students are meeting state standards in reading, and 19% are meeting math standards. How would you approach growing reading and math achievement?* These numbers are unacceptable. Our children deserve better. Improving reading and math achievement requires a multifaceted approach. I will advocate for evidence-based instructional practices, targeted interventions and professional development for teachers. Early literacy programs, extended learning opportunities and engaging, culturally-relevant curricula are crucial. Additionally, using assessments to inform instruction without over-testing will help ensure we are meeting students’ needs effectively. Do you support standardized testing more than once a year? Yes. While I believe assessments are vital to understanding students’ progress and identifying areas where they need support, I do not advocate for over-testing. Standardized tests should be meaningful and informative in helping educators tailor instruction to meet students’ needs without overwhelming them. I support a balanced approach that includes formative assessments throughout the year to guide instruction and one comprehensive standardized test annually to measure overall student achievement. Do you support requiring all schools to select from a certain curriculum authorized by the board of education? No. I believe in providing schools with a framework of high-quality curricula that align with state standards, but I also value the importance of teacher autonomy and local context. Schools should have the flexibility to choose and adapt curricula that best meet the needs of their students while ensuring consistency and rigor across the district. This approach empowers educators to deliver engaging and relevant instruction while maintaining high academic standards.Chicago Public Schools has consistently fallen short when it comes to serving students with disabilities. What would you do to improve special education? To improve special education, I would advocate for increased funding, specialized training for educators and the integration of inclusive practices. Utilizing data-driven approaches to tailor support and monitoring compliance with IEPs [Individualized Education Programs] ensures that students with disabilities receive the services they need. Additionally, I would establish strong parent support networks, providing families with the resources and guidance necessary to navigate the special education system effectively. CPS finances In recent years, Chicago’s Board of Education has consistently raised the property tax levy to the maximum allowed by state law every year. Should the board continue to raise the levy to the maximum? No. Ensuring adequate funding for our schools is critical, but we must balance this need with the financial burdens on our residents. I support a thorough review of the budget to identify efficiencies and ensure transparency in spending. Raising the levy should be the last resort and if done, it should be done with clear communication to the public about how the funds will be used to directly benefit our schools and improve student outcomes.Do you think CPS needs more funding, or do you think the school district’s budget is bloated? How would you balance the CPS budget?* While CPS may need more funding in certain areas, we must also ensure that existing funds are used efficiently and transparently. The current CPS budget is approximately $9.4 billion, with a deficit that was around $600 million. I am certified by Georgetown University in board of education budgeting. I will work to identify and eliminate wasteful spending, prioritize investments in classrooms and student support services and advocate for equitable funding across all schools. Balancing the budget will require careful analysis, stakeholder input and a commitment to making decisions that directly benefit our students. I would advocate to the state for equal funding for pensions. All other districts get 100% of pension funding from the state and that would create more funding that could go directly to students. Chicago residents pay taxes and we should see the same level of return on our spending as our counterparts in the suburbs. More on the election Education How much cash is being raised by Chicago school board candidates? WBEZ and the Sun-Times are tracking campaign contributions for every candidate running for Chicago’s School Board on Nov. 5. By Jesse Howe , Nader Issa , and 3 more [month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]   Jump toAbout the candidateQuestions:AcademicsCPS financesSchool choiceIndependencePolice in schoolsBusing and facilitiesBilingual educationTop local issue School choice Do you support the current board of education’s decision to prioritize neighborhood schools and shift away from the current system of school choice with selective enrollment, magnet and charter schools? No. Every family should have access to high-quality educational opportunities, regardless of their ZIP code. I support a balanced approach that prioritizes strengthening neighborhood schools in addition to preserving options for families through selective enrollment, magnet and charter schools. My focus will be on improving the quality of education in all schools, ensuring equity and providing families with the choices they need to best support their children’s unique learning needs. Given the board of education’s decision to prioritize neighborhood schools, how would you balance supporting those schools without undermining the city’s selective enrollment schools and other specialized programs?* To balance supporting neighborhood schools while maintaining the excellence of selective enrollment and specialized programs, I would ensure equitable funding and resources for all schools. Implementing community-based initiatives and fostering partnerships can enhance neighborhood schools without detracting from specialized programs.The first charter school opened in Chicago in 1997 and these privately run, publicly funded schools grew in number throughout the 2000s. Today, 54,000 Chicago Public Schools students, or about 17%, attend charters and contract schools. Do you support having charter schools in CPS as an option for students? Yes. I support having charter schools as one of the options available to families within CPS. Charter schools can offer innovative programs and specialized instruction that meet diverse student needs. However, they must be held to the same standards of accountability and transparency as district schools to ensure they provide high-quality education and equitable opportunities for all students. IndependenceIf elected, how will you maintain your independence from the mayor’s office, the Chicago Teachers Union or other powerful forces shaping the school system?* Maintaining independence is crucial for making unbiased decisions in the best interest of students. I am committed to transparency, accountability and listening to the voices of our community. My decisions will be guided by what is best for our students, informed by data and stakeholder input and rooted in my values of integrity and fairness. I will work collaboratively with all parties while always prioritizing the needs of our children. My extensive experience in education and leadership, along with my academic background, provides me with the knowledge and confidence to remain independent and make decisions that truly benefit our students and community. It also makes it easier since I was not endorsed by CTU to be independent from them and the mayor’s office. Police in schoolsDo you support having sworn Chicago Police Department officers stationed in schools? Yes. Safety in our schools is paramount; students can’t learn if they do not feel safe. I support a comprehensive approach to school safety that includes restorative justice practices (a way to help students share their concerns with each other, mental health support and positive relationships between students and staff). Any decision regarding police presence in schools should involve input from the entire school community and LSC, be based on the specific needs of each school and ensure the presence of police officers never creates a climate of fear. Jump toAbout the candidateQuestions:AcademicsCPS financesSchool choiceIndependencePolice in schoolsBusing and facilitiesBilingual educationTop local issue Busing and facilities Last year, in an effort to prioritize transportation for students with disabilities as required by state and federal law, CPS canceled busing for general education students who attend selective enrollment and magnet schools and hasn’t found a solution to reinstate that service. Do you support busing for general education students? Yes. As a belief that there should be options for families, I believe that children should go to a school that best fits them and busing should be provided. Please note that most suburbs provide busing for their children.About one-third of Chicago public school buildings have space for at least double the students they’re currently enrolling. Chicago officials have previously viewed under-enrolled schools as an inefficient use of limited resources — and a decade ago the city closed a record 50 schools. Do you support closing schools for low enrollment? No. School closures should be a last resort. Instead, we should explore creative solutions to utilize these spaces effectively, such as consolidating resources, creating community hubs or introducing new programs that attract and retain students. Any decision to close a school must be made with extensive community input and a thorough analysis of the impact on students, families and neighborhoods. We need to be creative in how we use our buildings. Bilingual educationCPS has long struggled to comply with state and federal laws requiring bilingual programs at schools that enroll 20 or more students who speak a different language. The recent influx of migrant families has exacerbated the problem. What policies do you support to ensure the district is supporting bilingual students and in compliance with state and federal laws? To support bilingual students, I propose hiring more bilingual educators and providing ongoing professional development. Implementing dual-language programs and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws is crucial. I support policies that allocate adequate resources to schools with significant bilingual populations to meet these requirements. Furthermore, engaging parents through language-specific outreach and support services will empower them to be active participants in their children’s education, fostering a more inclusive and supportive learning environment and maximizing the BIC’s at the school level. Top local issuePlease share one issue that’s a top concern for your community or your larger elected school board voting district. A top concern in my community is ensuring a balanced budget with a strong return on investment. Homeowners who pay taxes deserve to see their contributions effectively used in our schools. I advocate for a transparent and accountable budget process, prioritizing expenditures that directly impact student achievement and community well-being. By focusing on efficient spending and clear outcomes, we can ensure that tax dollars are invested wisely, leading to improved educational results and a stronger community. School board election 2024 Voter guide Latest news Campaign finance tracker District maps