Chicago’s Board of Schooling unanimously authorized a decision Friday that aimed to avoid wasting seven Acero constitution colleges slated for closure for yet one more yr then take over 5 of them in 2026.
Acero mother and father and educators noticed the vote as an enormous win after weeks of protests towards the deliberate faculty closings. Dozens broke into enormous cheers and applause at a particular board assembly Friday evening that was dominated by Chicago Public Colleges CEO Pedro Martinez’s future.
It remained unclear whether or not Acero constitution officers would cooperate with the board’s needs. The board and CPS don’t have the authority to pressure Acero to maintain its colleges open.
However the decision referred to as on the varsity district to make a plan with Acero officers that might assist the publicly funded, privately managed constitution community keep the seven campuses subsequent faculty yr. Formally bringing 5 of the colleges beneath district management within the 2026-27 yr would require a separate motion subsequent yr.
In a letter to Acero households Friday evening, CPS officers stated they intend to observe the board’s route however reiterated that Acero and the varsity board would nonetheless want to achieve a memorandum of settlement.
“Households, I do know the previous few months have left your faculty communities anxious and unsure,” the letter learn. “We wish to thanks for making your voices heard on this course of. As we work by way of the logistics of this path ahead, we are going to proceed to maintain you knowledgeable.”
The plan would nonetheless see two colleges shut: Acero’s Paz and Cruz campuses. CPS officers have stated these two colleges are chief contributors to Acero’s projected deficit that has been cited because the chief motive for closure.
