Chicago Board of Education to Hire New CEO

The Chicago Board of Education has begun its search for a replacement CEO following the removal of Pedro Martinez who is set to depart in June. Martinez was terminated in December of 2024 after disputes with Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson’s newly appointed board. Because his termination comes without cause, his contract entitled him to maintain his position for an additional 6 months.

Applications opened on April 25 as the board actively seeks to find a new CEO. Board President Sean Harden stated, “We are seeking a leader who will think boldly, embrace innovation, and build an equitable, student-centered future.”

The first of ten public engagement meetings began on Thursday, May 15th, encouraging community engagement. Once the meetings have concluded, the board is set to create a “leadership profile” to determine the qualifications and qualities desired in the next CEO. This will be used to evaluate candidates as the board works with a search firm to fill the position.

Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

New Illinois Education Association Survey

According to a new poll released by the Illinois Education Association (IEA), public school funding is a concern for many Illinois residents. The poll, which was conducted on over 1,000 people cites 83% of individuals believe that funding education is an important issue within their community and 16% of individuals believe it is the single most important issue. Of those surveyed, 71% believe Illinois should increase its funding for public schools. Chicago and surrounding suburban residents account for 40% of those surveyed.

This survey illuminates the public perception of the Illinois public school system at large. Overall, Illinois residents have a negative opinion of the state’s public education. IEA’s President, Kathi Griffin claims that 62% of residents think “the state is on the wrong track” concerning public school education. When asked to compare the quality of public schools nationally versus those in Illinois, residents were more likely to give Illinois schools a failing status.

Though many concerns were raised regarding the Illinois public education system, residents have a much higher opinion of teachers as individuals. Around 58% of residents had positive statements about teachers, believing they are underpaid for the necessary work they do. This sentiment is echoed as many individuals believe teachers should be the ones developing standards for students in the public school system. The Illinois Education Association hopes this new information will propel lawmakers to implement changes regarding the funding of Illinois public schools.

Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

CPS to Absorb Five Acero Charter Schools

In October of 2024, the Chicago based Acero charter network announced the closure of seven of its schools by June of 2025. These schools include Cisneros, Casas, Fuentes, Paz, Cruz, Santiago, and Tamayo. The network claims these closures are necessary due to rising maintenance costs, low attendance, and a $40 million dollar deficit. The shutdowns would affect 2,000 students and more than 250 teachers, making the decision extremely controversial amongst the community.

While Acero asserts that students who previously attended these schools would be allowed to assimilate to one of the several remaining Acero campuses, parents remain unsatisfied with this solution. They fear their students will not receive the same quality of education because of larger class sizes and transition adjustments. To fight this outcome, parents and teachers have come together to seek a solution through Chicago Public Schools. At the forefront of this crusade, Stacy Davis Gates, President of the Chicago Teachers Union, demanded that CPS absorb the schools in jeopardy.

Following months of public outcry and intense negotiations, the Chicago Board of Education voted to keep five of the aforementioned seven charter schools open. In a 16-3 vote, the decision to absorb these schools won by an overwhelming majority. However, those who voted against the notion fear that there is not enough money in the budget as CPS is currently operating under a $500 million dollar deficit. Nevertheless, Cisneros, Casas, Fuentes, Santiago, and Tamayo will remain open for the 2025-26 school year while Paz and Cruz will close as originally planned.

Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

Illinois Child and Education Expense Tax Credit Information

The state of Illinois has introduced new laws expanding tax credits for residents. Low to middle-income individuals will benefit from the new initiatives from the department of revenue known as The Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), The Illinois Child Tax Credit (CTC), and The Education Expense Credit (EEC).

The Illinois Child Tax Credit will benefit families who qualify for the EITC and have at least one child under the age of twelve years old so long as this child is a dependent. This credit accounts for 20% of the total EITC. This will be increased to 40% in the 2025 tax year.

The Education Expense Credit will allow parents or guardians of students under the age of 21 to claim education expenses between $250 - $750 on their taxes. For traditionally schooled children, these expenses include textbooks, tuition, and lab fees paid to the school. For homeschooled students, textbook and lab fees are qualifying expenses. Families will receive a 25% credit for these payments if their student is enrolled in a full-time K-12 program.

David Harris, Illinois Department of Revenue Director, urges Illinois residents to “double check their eligibility status and take advantage of these benefits when filing their returns this year.”

Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

CPS Application Result Dates Announced

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has released information regarding application result dates and wait-listing for students applying to choice and selective enrollment schools. Applicants can receive up to one offer for choice and selective enrollment programs. Students applying for high schools (9th grade) will receive their results on March 14th while elementary students from grades K-8 will receive their results on April 11th.

Once results have been released, a rolling waitlist for non-admitted students will be set up.  Students offered placement at schools will be given a deadline to decide at which point students on the waitlist will be offered spots accordingly.

Additional deadlines for students who have not yet tested should be noted. Selective enrollment students should request a rescheduled date by February 2nd. The final SEES testing date for 1st-8th graders is February 16th and Kindergarten students will have until February 21st.

Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

CPS and Catholic School Application Process

CPS Applications

All high school and elementary students who wish to apply to CPS schools outside of their neighborhood must apply through GoCPS. Families are required to rank their top choice schools and apply by the extended deadline of December 15th at 5:00 PM. The ranking process requires applicants to order their top 20 choice programs or top 6 selective enrollment schools. Applicants can be offered one choice school option and one selective enrollment option.  Students applying to selective enrollment schools or academic centers are required to participate in the testing requirements while all other applicants will be chosen via an independent lottery system or audition process. All offers will be announced in the spring of 2025.

Catholic School Applications

Students looking to test into Catholic Schools are required to complete their applications prior to the coming holiday break. While most students have already completed the required testing for exams, all remaining application requirements must be completed in the coming weeks to be considered for the 2025-26 school year. Students who were unable to test on their originally scheduled test date will be able to attend a make-up test on December 14th at specific schools such as St. Patrick’s and De La Salle.

Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266

Illinois Education Plan - Vision 2030

Vision 2030 is Illinois’ newest plan to improve and re-strategize the state of education throughout its school districts. The initiative seeks to improve safety, encourage high-quality teacher retention, and increase post-secondary student success through structural adjustments. These changes will target standardized testing requirements to make them more effective for student growth. The plan also seeks to attract more diverse educators through pension reform. Executive Director of the Illinois Association of School Boards, Kimberly Small, is quoted as saying the new program “seeks to put systems and processes in place that support all school districts throughout the state in sharing what works for our kids and our communities.”

The plan comes as a development from several teams including The Illinois Association of School Administrators, the Illinois Association of Regional School Superintendents, the Illinois Principals Association, and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials. Each organization is working in tandem to use Vision 2030 as an outline for the implementation of long-lasting legislative and policy changes. Education leaders working on the project claim the new structure will continue to protect the evidence-based practices currently utilized.

Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266