CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The proposed Chicago Public Schools budget for the next academic year puts more money towards students with high needs and in communities hardest hit by the pandemic.
Chicago Public Schools released Tuesday its proposed $9.3 billion budget for the next academic year, which includes over $225 million in additional funding for school budgets, prioritizes more than $672 million in equitable facility investments throughout the city, and dedicates more than $1 billion in federal ESSER funding to provide support for students and schools through the historic Moving Forward Together initiative, as well additional support for schools as they prepare to offer in-person learning five days a week in the fall.
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“As we turn the chapter on COVID-19, it is imperative that we give all of our students the best chance at academic success and recovery from what has undoubtedly been a challenging 16 months,” said Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, in a statement. “Through this proposed budget, we will be able to provide our school ecosystem with the tools and resources they need to fully serve students who require the most support.”
The district is receiving $2.6 billion total for fiscal year 2021 through fiscal year 2024 in COVID-related emergency federal funding. Of that, CPS will use $267 million to support year-one investments in the district's two-year, $525 million Moving Forward Together initiative; $132 million to support student re-engagement and school opening costs in the fall, covering one-time costs related to technology, PPE, cleaning supplies, school maintenance, vaccination efforts, and other costs that may arise as CPS transitions back to a full return to school; $100 million to support projects focused on improving air quality by renovating and replacing school mechanical systems; $288 million to support school-based programmatic investments, allowing the district to grow investments in equity grants, special education teachers and paraprofessionals, and the expansion of new academic programs and early childhood classrooms;$178 million to fund school-based instructional positions; and $95 million to provide a proportionate share of ESSER funding to charter and contract schools.
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Additionally, the district is spending $672 million in equitable capital investments to ensure schools are ready to welcome students back full-time in the fall by focusing on critical building repairs, modernization efforts, ADA accessibility, IT infrastructure and capital upgrades to support 21st-century learning environments. Plus, CPS is allocating over $328.6 million in capital funding to address facility needs and interior improvements at over 92 schools throughout the city. These critical projects — which include rebuilding roofs and mechanical infrastructure, stabilizing chimneys, and replacing fire alarms — will help ensure that Chicago’s school buildings remain safe, and provide modern learning environments for students for years to come.
Other areas of spending include a $46.4 million investment to upgrade school network infrastructure to address equitable connectivity, replace aging hardware at schools, and upgrade the data warehouse and data backups. The district is also investing $2 million in new security equipment including cameras, intercom phones and alarms. Plus, a $37.6 million investment to develop new playgrounds, playlots, and site upgrades at more than 30 schools across the city. These investments leverage external funding and will help ensure students can benefit from a well-rounded education that promotes healthy and active development, while providing a resource for each school’s surrounding community.
To promote high-quality instruction throughout the district, as announced in April, CPS is investing more than $225 million in additional school budget funding in fiscal year 2022 and allocating additional funds to promote equity and prioritize the schools that need the greatest levels of support. These additional investments focused on the need to address enrollment loss due to the pandemic, academic and social and emotional needs created during the past year, and resource equity. Key investments in school budgets include $66 million in equity grants for high-needs schools; $32 million investment to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on district enrollment; $17 million in additional funds for 78 nurses, 44 social workers and 51 special education case manager positions, resulting in a total of 504 nurses, 580 school social workers, and 214.5 case managers in CPS schools; and, $30 million in additional funds to support special education needs, including expanding opportunities for diverse learners at selective enrollment high schools.
Online budget hearings start next week.
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