Additional Hearings Scheduled to Gather Further Input from Public

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate and House Democratic caucuses today released an updated Chicago Elected School Board District map proposal and have scheduled additional hearings to gather further input from the public.

The updated map is available for review at www.ilsenateredistricting.com and www.ilhousedems.com/redistricting. The proposal incorporates suggestions put forth through online map making portals and public hearings, including requests to keep communities of interest as whole as possible and to ensure the maps reflect the diversity of Chicago. The proposal consists of 20 potential districts.  Current law requires that one member be elected and one member be appointed by the mayor from each of ten districts. Lawmakers are seeking guidance on whether current law should remain the same and, if so, guidance on the best way to pair the 20 districts into 10 districts. 

The Senate Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board will hold a virtual hearing regarding the updated map at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 18 at www.ilga.gov. Additional opportunities to provide comment can be accessed online at www.ilsenateredistricting.com or through email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The House will hold a hearing on the proposed map on Friday, May 19th. Hearing information can be found at www.ilga.gov. Feedback can also be emailed at any time to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

“We are ushering in a dramatic change in how we deliver education in Chicago that will empower families to elect school leaders who understand their communities and share their dreams,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board. “The future has never looked brighter for our children, and I’d like to thank the parents, educators, students and advocates who worked so hard to make this possible.”  

“This map continues our effort to create a robust, representative map using feedback received from the public and stakeholders. We look forward to hearing additional input,” said Rep. Ann Williams, who leads the House Democrats’ CPS Districting Working Group.

The General Assembly faces a July 1 deadline to draw Chicago school board districts, which must be consistent with the Illinois Voting Rights Act. That law ensures districts are crafted in a way that preserves clusters of minority voters if they are of size or cohesion to exert collective electoral power.

Currently appointed by the mayor, the Chicago Board of Education will transition to become fully-elected over the course of a two-year hybrid period.

During the November 2024 election, ten members of the Chicago Board of Education will be elected by voters, and ten members and the board president will be appointed by the mayor. Elected members will serve four-year terms, while appointed members, including the appointed board president, will serve two-year terms. The board will become fully-elected after the November 2026 general election.

“We are here because of the passion and dedication of community members who fought for a greater say in how our schools are run,” said Sen. Robert Martwick, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board and sponsor of the legislation creating an elected school board in Chicago. “This transition will bring accountability and transparency to Chicago Public Schools that is long overdue, creating a truly community-centered education experience that puts students first.”

“Our goal throughout this process is to ensure our neighborhoods are given a strong voice in shaping our children’s education,” said Sen. Omar Aquino, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board. “We have the opportunity to reverse years of disinvestment and chart a new path forward for our children and our communities.”

Pursuant to Public Act 102-0177 the General Assembly will fulfill their responsibilities to draw districts to implement new Chicago elected school board districts.

In 2021, the Senate and House passed House Bill 2908, which creates a fully elected school board for Chicago Public Schools that will be in effect as of January 15, 2027.

Starting January 15, 2025, a two-year hybrid period begins, with 10 members being elected to four-year terms, 10 members being appointed by the mayor to two-year terms, and the board president being appointed by the mayor for a two-year term.

Starting January 15, 2027, when the mayor-appointed terms expire, the 10 members and the elected at-large member will be elected to four-year terms.

The General Assembly must comply to the July 1, 2023 deadline to draw Chicago school board districts, which must be consistent with the Illinois Voting Rights Act.

 To ensure public input is considered throughout this process, the Senate Democratic Caucus launched an online map-making portal to allow the public to draw and submit proposed communities of interest as legislators seek to gather input on mapmaking from across the city’s diverse communities. Soon, members of the public will also be able to submit district boundaries as well.

All maps submitted through the portal will be reviewed as part of the public record. In addition, the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board will conduct citywide hearings to gather information and ideas from a wide variety of stakeholders including parents, education advocates and community groups.

This website will service as a resource for parents, education advocates and community organizations to stay updated and contribute their thoughts, concerns and ideas to be considered throughout this process.

If you would like to testify or submit written testimony to the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

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De conformidad con el Public Act 102-0177 la Asamblea General cumplirá con sus responsabilidades de dibujar los distritos para implementar la nueva Junta Escolar Electa de Chicago.

En 2021, el Senado y la Cámara de Representantes aprobaron House Bill 2908, que creó una nueva junta escolar para las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago que entrará en funciones el 15 de enero de 2027.

A partir del 15 de enero de 2025, un periodo híbrido comienza, con 10 miembros electos para un término de cuatro años, 10 miembros designados por el alcalde para un periodo de dos años, y un presidente de la junta designado por el alcalde para un periodo de dos años.

A partir del 15 de enero de 2027, cuando los periodos de los miembros designados expiren, los 10 miembros y el nuevo presidente serán electos para un periodo de cuatro años.

La Asamblea General deberá cumplir con el plazo estipulado el 1 de julio de 2023 para dibujar los distritos para la junta escolar de Chicago, que deberá ser consistente con la Ley de Derechos al Voto.

Para garantizar escuchar las opiniones del público durante este proceso, el grupo parlamentario Demócrata del Senado lanzó un mapa para dibujar distritos en línea para que el público dibuje y someta sus propuestas de parte de comunidades de interés, al tiempo que los legisladores buscan recabar ideas para diseñar el mapa distrital de las diversas comunidades. Pronto, los miembros del público también podrán someter propuestas que señalen los límites de los distritos.

Todos los mapas que se sometan a través del portal serán revisados como parte de los récords públicos. Adicionalmente, el Comité Especial sobre la Junta Escolar de Representantes Electos de Chicago conducirá audiencias en toda la ciudad para recabar información e ideas de una gran variedad de las partes interesadas que incluye a los padres, promotores de la educación y grupos comunitarios.

El sitio de internet servirá como un recurso para que los padres, promotores de la educación y los grupos comunitarios se mantengan al tanto y contribuyan con sus ideas y preocupaciones para que sean consideradas a lo largo del proceso.

Si usted desea testificar o someter un testimonio por escrito al Comité Especial sobre la Junta Escolar de Representantes Electos de Chicago contáctenos en This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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