An Open Letter To The Next CPS CEO*
On Monday, May 3, Chicago Public Schools CEO Dr. Janice Jackson announced that she will be leaving CPS at the end of her contract. We at Raise Your Hand understand the need for more family time and wish Dr. Jackson the best of luck with the next chapter.
As Mayor Lightfoot selects CPS’ 8th CEO in 12 years, we are again disappointed that this process will not be led by a fully elected representative school board. Past mayors like Daley and Emanuel, time and time again, appointed rubber stamp CEOs who carried the mayor’s special interests. While we are hopeful that Mayor Lightfoot will engage stakeholders directly in this search, this pattern will continue until mayoral control is dismantled. As a citywide, grassroots parent advocacy organization that organizes parents around systemic issues in education, we intend this open letter as guidance for the next CEO* of CPS. We look forward to working with them and their leadership team on ensuring parents have a seat at the table.
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To the Next CEO* of CPS,
As we are sure your predecessor will tell you, this may be the hardest job in your career. CPS suffers from decades of disinvestment, mismanagement and unilateral decision making without real stakeholder inclusion. The top down approach that focuses on image and perception has resulted in frequent state and federal intervention in CPS. You have the opportunity and immense responsibility of continuing to change CPS culture. You have the opportunity to build trust through transparency and integrity. We hope for a productive relationship with you and your leadership team; here are our recommendations for your tenure.
Fund Black Communities. Full Stop.
Stop the practice that in order for predominantly Black communities to receive new investment, something needs to be taken away. In order for Englewood to receive a new school, others needed to be closed. In order to build a new high school, there was an attempted closure of National Teachers Academy, a successful predominantly Black elementary school. Now, in order for North Lawndale to receive new investment, CPS is claiming 3 other schools need to be closed. Chicago has seen systematic school closures and chronic disinvestment that has destabilized Black and Brown communities and further exacerbated the push out of Black families and Black teachers in Chicago. We must be aggressive in funding education in these school communities without being extractive.
Create Real Opportunities for Authentic and Meaningful Engagement
In Chicago, parents and students are treated like a check box. They have participated in meetings and spoken in hearings only to see the district move forward with the plan they already had in place. We ask that you create meaningful opportunities for parents and other stakeholders to not just inform CPS policies but help to create them. We have a wealth of leaders on Local School Councils that are ready to serve. Keep your ear to the ground for parents who are most directly impacted by CPS decisions and let them guide your policy. From facilities investment to how the district should spend the ARPA funding, communities must have a voice. As the leader who will guide us through to being a post-pandemic district, we must not focus on returning to normal. Normal has never been enough for many CPS families. Now is the time to be transformational - and that starts with parents and students who have been historically harmed by CPS practices.
Dismantle Institutional Adultism
Too often students are last in line for feedback. They are given advisory roles with no real power. We must trust our students to make real decisions for this district. If we say we center youth experiences, we must actually deliver on their demands. That is why RYH supports the youth led #CopsOutCPS campaign and their calls to reimagine safety in their schools. That is why we believe that special education students, with their IEP team, are able to determine their high school placements.
In order to achieve a robust, well-funded and healthy CPS community, we urge you not to make the same mistakes as your predecessors. Please listen to the needs of CPS students, families and educators. Stand with those that most need your support to thrive in Chicago Public Schools.
We look forward to working together with the district.
Best,
Raise Your Hand Board & Staff
*We would love to have a Superintendent instead of a CEO.
