CPS told parents the start of school could be affected by budget changes. Experts say that’s unlikely
<p>Claiborne Wade was troubled when he woke up Friday morning to an email from the head of Chicago Public Schools telling parents like him that the school board had made a last-minute change to the budget that could affect the start of school.</p><p>At the time, Wade, a parent leader at the nonprofit advocacy group Kids First Chicago, wondered if most parents were even aware of the budget overhaul. It happened at night, after a marathon meeting, when “parents were getting ready for dinner, getting their kids ready for bed,” he said.</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.cps.edu/media/community-updates/2026/july/budget-update/" target="_blank" ><u>In her message</u></a>, Supt.
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<p>Claiborne Wade was troubled when he woke up Friday morning to an email from the head of Chicago Public Schools telling parents like him that the school board had made a last-minute change to the budget that could affect the start of school.</p><p>At the time, Wade, a parent leader at the nonprofit advocacy group Kids First Chicago, wondered if most parents were even aware of the budget overhaul. It happened at night, after a marathon meeting, when “parents were getting ready for dinner, getting their kids ready for bed,” he said.</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.cps.edu/media/community-updates/2026/july/budget-update/" target="_blank" ><u>In her message</u></a>, Supt. Macquline King warned that the district may not be able to get the short-term loan it needs to make payroll, “which would effectively shut down the district just as staff and students are set to return.”</p><p>“My goal as a leader is to always be transparent, and it’s only fair that I be honest with you about where we are,” King wrote.</p><p>The message was dire, but even experts who are critical of the budget changes say it’s likely CPS will be able to borrow the money it needs and King sounded the alarm about a consequence that won’t play out. Still, they say it’s possible the changes, which <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/chicago-school-board/2026/07/30/chicago-school-board-approves-budget-that-reverses-layoffs-but-counts-on-shaky-state-funds" target="_blank" ><u>board members hope will rescind about 1,000 staff layoffs</u></a>, could lead to midyear disruptions, especially if the state doesn’t come through with the extra $150 million the school board is now counting on.</p><p>“I suspect CPS will come up with a way to limp along so that the front end of the school year starts and continues as planned,” said Joe Ferguson, the president of The Civic Federation, a fiscal watchdog that keeps tabs on the district’s finances.
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- <p>Claiborne Wade was troubled when he woke up Friday morning to an email from the head of Chicago Public Schools telling parents like him that the school board had made a last-minute change to the budget that could affect the start of school.</p><p>At the time, Wade, a parent leader at the nonprofit advocacy group Kids First Chicago, wondered if most parents were even aware of the budget overhaul. It happened at night, after a marathon meeting, when “parents were getting ready for dinner, getting their kids ready for bed,” he said.</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.cps.edu/media/community-updates/2026/july/budget-update/" target="_blank" ><u>In her message</u></a>, Supt.
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- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
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- 5m ago.
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CPS told parents the start of school could be affected by budget changes. Experts say that’s unlikely
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times