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Quote/Term of the Week

Equitable / adjective

Dealing fairly and equally with all concerned. Often, specifically: fair in a way that accounts for and attempts to offset disparities in the way people of different races, genders, etc. are treated.

Hey there, Chicago Board of Education…

Chicagoans will vote for the city’s first fully elected, 21-member school board in November. Why does it matter?

The Chicago Board of Education is the oversight body for Chicago Public Schools, and its members are meant to represent the needs of CPS communities. 

In 2024, voters elected 10 of the 21 unpaid board positions, while the remaining 11 were appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. The election marked a historic shift away from the former model which included seven members all appointed by the mayor. 

Now, Chicago voters will elect all 21 members to two-year terms for the first time. 

Despite years of advocacy and state legislation to bring this change to fruition, last year, WBEZ reported that 2 out of 3 Chicago residents do not know that the Board of Education will become a fully elected body in 2027.

Among other things, the board approves the CPS operations and capital budgets, hires (or fires) the schools superintendent, sets district-wide policy and calendars, and oversees how charter schools operate within the CPS system (along with any of their subsequent closures). 

Even if you don’t have a loved one attending or working within CPS, all of us have a stake in a well-funded, equitable school system. 

With school board elections coming in the fall, a new schools CEO taking the helm and another budget deficit to tackle, there are some big decisions involving our Board of Education you may want to have your say on. 

Want to address the board members directly? Here’s how you can give public comment at a BOE meeting:  

  1. Attend an upcoming meeting: Head to cpsboe.org and select the meetings tab.

    1. Attend virtually: Go to cpsboe.org and click on the livestream link.

    2. Attend in-person: Registration to attend in-person opens on cpsboe.org 48 hours before a scheduled meeting. There are 100 observer slots available for advance observer registration.

  2. Register to give public comment 48 hours in advance:  

    1. The advance speaker registration opens 48 hours before the meeting and will remain open for 24 hours. Speakers can register via cpsboe.org (recommended) or by calling (773) 553-1600. 

    2. During the 24-hour registration period, anyone interested in speaking can sign up. After this time, a lottery will randomly select a set number of speakers from those who registered. The Board will allocate no more than 30 speaking slots to members of the general public to speak to the Board.

  3. Make a public comment: After the lottery, those who registered will receive an email confirming whether or not they have been selected to speak. Instructions for participating in the meeting will also be provided. Those selected will have the option to attend in person at the location of the Board meeting or via electronic/telephonic means.

    1. Pro-tip: You only get two minutes to make your comments to ensure everyone who signs up for a speaking slot gets a fair chance to address the board. Try writing out your comments and time yourself at home to make sure it fits within time limits and you don’t get cut off. You can check out more public participation guidelines here.

What you can do:

Get resources & learn more: Follow Raise Your Hand for  ways to engage with the BOE election along with other education-related resources. 

Catch up on the history & headlines:

  • 5 things to watch in 2026 in Chicago Public Schools and across Illinois | Chalkbeat Chicago

  • Chicago’s School Board Election Is Coming This Fall — Here’s How It Will Work | WTTW

A version of this story was first published in the April 15, 2026 issue of the Newswire, an email newsletter that is your weekly guide to Chicago government, civic action and what we can do to make our city great. You can sign up for the weekly newsletter here.

Have thoughts on what you'd like to see in this feature? Email Civic Editor Dawn Rhodes at dawn@citybureau.org.