Updated Aug 5, 2025 - Education

CPS expands enhanced schools amid budget crisis

Monica Eng

A man in a navy suit, white shirt, polka dot tie, and sunglasses speaks at a podium with two microphones. People behind him clap, wearing casual clothing and glasses. — Mayor Brandon Johnson stands with Chicago Teachers Union members to announce a sustainable community schools expansion Monday in South Shore. Screenshot: Courtesy of City of Chicago livestream

Chicago is nearly doubling its stable of public schools that offer enhanced educational, social, medical and mental health services.

Why it matters: This expansion of sustainable community schools (SCS) from 20 to 36 locations — costing $500,000 per school annually— is rolling out as CPS continues to lay off staffers and cut services to close a $734 million budget deficit in the next two weeks.

State of play: First launched in 2018, sustainable community schools partner with groups to provide health services, meals, trauma treatment, restorative justice programs, parental help and after-school activities in the school building to create a community hub.

Between the lines: The expansion is being cheered on by Mayor Brandon Johnson, CPS interim CEO Macquline King and the Chicago Teachers Union, which secured plans for 70 SCS schools by 2028 as part of its latest contract.

What they're saying: "Until our schools become community hubs in every single neighborhood, we will not see real transformation," Johnson said during a Monday event in South Shore to announce the expansion.

He said it was a sign of leadership that the expansion was continuing during "real fiscal challenges" and characterized it as part of the city's violence prevention strategy.
Johnson further urged the state to better fund CPS programs, adding, in a swipe at Gov. JB Pritzker, "as much as I appreciate Illinois helping out people from Texas, the South Side and the West Side could use that same level of energy."

The other side: Skeptics of the model, including Daniel Anello of parent advocacy organization Kid's First, want more data and community input in the SCS process as well as scrutiny over ties between partner organizations and the CTU.

In a Tribune op-ed last year, Anello referenced a 2021 report that showed sustained improvement at only two of the 20 SCS schools when it comes to attendance, discipline and academics.

Zoom in: While most of the newly announced SCS schools are located on the South and West Sides, they also include Gale Community Academy in Rogers Park, Mather High School in Peterson Park and McCutcheon STEAM Elementary School in Uptown.

What's next: After a series of community meetings, the 16 newly chosen schools are expected to launch their full suite of services in the 2025-26 school year.

CPS leaders have less than two weeks to present a budget to the board, which must be approved by Aug. 28.

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CPS expands enhanced schools amid budget crisis

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