Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has decided to put a hold on school closings and sharing buildings until the end of the 2026-27 school year. They hope this will give students some stability. However, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) isn't so sure about CPS's plans. The union has a list of schools that might still close or merge. CTU believes that not giving schools enough resources can also lead to them closing down, even if they aren't officially shuttered. They want to see the number of community schools, which are more sustainable, grow from 20 to 200 by the end of the 2027-28 school year.
The union is worried that CPS might not be as committed to keeping schools open as they claim. They think that some schools could still be at risk of closing if they don't get the support they need. CTU wants to see more investments in community schools, which they believe can better serve students and communities in the long run.
CPS's announcement has sparked a debate about what's best for students and schools in Chicago. Some people agree with CPS that stability is important, while others side with the union and think more needs to be done to support schools. The future of many schools hangs in the balance as these discussions continue.
