Chicago Schools Cuts Over 1,450 Jobs

Chicago Public Schools Announces Major Staff Layoffs Amid Severe Budget Crisis

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has announced the layoff of over 1,450 school-based staff members, including teachers, paraprofessionals, and special education classroom assistants. This move comes as the district attempts to address a staggering $734 million budget deficit. The layoffs include 432 teachers, 311 paraprofessionals, 677 special education classroom assistants (SECAs), 33 security officers, and five parent workers.

According to an analysis by The News Pulse of publicly released school budgets, 57% of district-run schools that are not alternative or specialty schools experienced a reduction in positions. The remaining 43% saw no change or an increase in available positions compared to the previous school year.

However, some staff members may have opportunities for retention. Ben Felton, CPS chief talent officer, stated that 123 special education teachers and up to 300 SECAs could be eligible for retention pools. These individuals would receive central payments for the next school year and could be deployed to schools with vacant positions. Felton emphasized that staff with unsatisfactory performance ratings are not eligible for these pools.

Typically, staffing adjustments and layoffs occur in the summer before the school year begins. In the past, about 80% of those laid off found jobs at other schools, according to CPS. The district is working to maintain or improve this rate this year. However, the timing of this year’s layoffs is later than usual due to delays in the budgeting process. The new fiscal year began on July 1, but CPS does not expect to present its budget to the board for approval until next month.

Interim CPS CEO Macquline King sent an email to teachers and principals promising retroactive raises for the previous school year, which will appear in their paychecks by mid-August. This comes after last year’s layoffs of 1,410 staffers, although CPS did not immediately provide information on how many were rehired.

The current layoffs may not mark the end of staffing changes at schools. CPS initially estimated a budget deficit of about $229 million this spring under former CEO Pedro Martinez. At the time, the district hoped for an additional $300 million from the city and state, without accounting for certain potential expenses. When King took over earlier this month, she revealed that the deficit had grown significantly, now reaching approximately $500 million larger than previously estimated. This revision removed the assumption of additional funding and included new costs, such as a controversial $175 million pension reimbursement to the city.

This larger deficit could lead to more cuts in the future. Officials are considering borrowing money, a decision that has sparked debate among the school board and education advocates. CPS is holding a series of public meetings next week to gather feedback on how to close the budget gap.

Budget Director Mike Sitkowski described the situation as “tough” and noted that the district has been transparent about its funding challenges. He said officials are open-minded about addressing the deficit in a way that is student-centered and protects schools.

According to The News Pulse’s analysis, there will be 477 fewer positions across all district-run schools next year. While CPS officials could not immediately confirm this number, Sitkowski explained that position cuts at individual schools are due to reduced needs at those specific locations. He added that the district plans to add more positions after the academic year starts based on student enrollment and demand.

At the same time, CPS is changing how it staffs schools with special education teachers and SECAs to address imbalances across the city. The district emphasized that these changes are unrelated to budget constraints. However, families and teachers have expressed concerns that the shifts could reduce support for students with disabilities.

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has criticized the layoffs, calling them a “harmful and distressing annual ritual.” CTU leaders highlighted the retention pools they negotiated for members. SEIU, another union representing staff, called for collaboration between the city, school board, and state leaders to mitigate the impact of the cuts.

SEIU also raised concerns about the rationale behind the SECA layoffs, citing a “philosophical position” that too much support from SECAs might affect students’ independence after graduation. The union criticized the lack of consultation before the decision was made, warning that it could negatively impact students.

CPS’s funding formula has shifted in recent years, providing schools with positions rather than direct funding. Schools with higher needs, determined by the Opportunity Index, generally receive more resources. A principal on Chicago’s South Side noted that her budget was down by just one position compared to last year, and she is trying to save it through careful budgeting. She warned that more cuts could come and expressed frustration with the current budget, describing it as “monopoly money.”

The principal is advocating for increased funding from the city’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) program to support economic development. She emphasized that the budget she worked on is not fully funded, raising concerns about its reliability.

Reema Amin is a reporter covering Chicago Public Schools. Contact Reema at ramin@The News Pulse.org.