Teachers Challenge Chicago’s Timeline for Adding School Support Staff at Budget Plan Hearing
August 21, 2019
By: Cassie Walker Burke
Source: Chalkbeat
Despite Chicago Public Schools reaping $198 million more for the coming school year for its $6.1 billion operating budget, the district will add just around 100 more special education case managers, social workers, and nurses to schools.
Why Chicago’s 600-plus schools won’t immediately see a bigger surge in support staff was a central question at a budget hearing Tuesday. Of the expected increase, the district proposes earmarking $73 million more for school sites.
While the budget plan directs $73 million to schools next year, most of that money is intended to support special education and new programs, not fill gaps in support staff. Among the other areas of new investment are supplemental bilingual teachers, opening more preschool classrooms, and awarding “equity grants” to spread desirable programs to under-enrolled schools.