Chicago Education Alliance Launches to Tackle CPS Challenges

The newly established Chicago Education Alliance aims to address pressing issues facing Chicago Public Schools (CPS), including budget deficits and the challenges of under-enrollment. Launched in March 2023 by former CPS official Arnie Rivera, the organization seeks to influence educational policy through research and community engagement. Rivera plans to meet with parents, teachers, and community members to identify the most critical issues affecting students and academic performance.

As CPS transitions to a fully elected 21-member school board, the dynamics of discussions around education policy are anticipated to become more complex. Previously, the mayor appointed the entire board, resulting in limited public discourse on education matters. With the shift to an elected board, the Chicago Education Alliance endeavors to provide clarity and support to board members as they navigate these challenges.

Rivera, who has held various positions within CPS, emphasizes the need for informed decision-making. He stated, “Really taking a look at, if we do this, what does that mean?” This approach is crucial as the board grapples with decisions that may involve difficult trade-offs.

Background and Goals of the Alliance

The Chicago Education Alliance was formed through the collaboration of several philanthropic organizations, including The Joyce Foundation and Crown Family Philanthropies. Together, they have raised over $5 million to support the initiative. Their goal is to create a voice that can effectively advocate for students and academic outcomes, particularly amidst the uncertainty surrounding the transition to an elected school board.

In developing the Alliance, the philanthropies engaged nationally recognized consultants to conduct interviews and focus groups with stakeholders in the education sector. They aimed to understand the current landscape and identify gaps in advocacy efforts. The result is a vision similar to that of Advance Illinois, which has played a significant role in shaping state education policy since its inception.

According to Robin Steans, the first president of Advance Illinois, “If ever there was time for something like this, this is it.” She highlights the importance of combining community input with data analysis to craft effective education policies. Notably, Advance Illinois operates independently of interest groups and government funding, allowing it to maintain objectivity.

Challenges Ahead for Chicago Public Schools

CPS faces a series of daunting challenges in the coming years, including ongoing budget shortfalls and declining enrollment. One of the most contentious issues involves the future of charter schools. Currently, approximately 17% of CPS’s 316,224 students attend charter schools, which have been losing support and facing operational difficulties. Some charters have struggled with enrollment, leading to financial instability and, in some cases, closure.

As Rivera noted, the key questions revolve around how decisions will impact the long-term viability of these schools. He aims to ensure that the implications of educational policies are fully considered, asking, “How are you making sure that the decisions take all the implications and all the complexities into account?”

The board of the Chicago Education Alliance is co-chaired by Sylvia Puente of the Latino Policy Forum and Karen Freeman-Wilson of the Chicago Urban League. Both leaders have dedicated their careers to improving educational conditions for Latino and Black communities. They advocate for equitable education access, emphasizing that children from different neighborhoods should receive the same quality of education.

Freeman-Wilson expressed a desire for the Alliance to serve as an independent mediator, helping to clarify how policy decisions may affect students and schools across the city. She believes that the voices of those directly impacted by education policies must be heard and integrated into the decision-making process.

As the Chicago Education Alliance moves forward, the organization will play a critical role in navigating the complexities of education policy in Chicago. Rivera’s experience in various educational roles, combined with the support of a diverse board, positions the Alliance as a potentially influential entity in shaping the future of public education in the city.