Chicago School Board

Hearings Will Focus on Reviewing Proposed Maps Submitted by Public and Exploring Best Ways to Transition to a Fully-Elected School Board

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board will hold additional hearings to gather public input on the creation of new Chicago elected school board districts.

The hearings are scheduled to be held online at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3 and 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 12 at www.ilga.gov. The hearings will focus on reviewing proposed citywide maps submitted through the portal and will explore suggestions on how to transition to a fully-elected school board in a manner that will provide equitable representation for all of Chicago’s diverse communities.

Comments can be submitted via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or online at www.ilsenateredistricting.com. That website also hosts an online map-making portal where stakeholders including parents, education advocates and community groups are encouraged to draw and submit proposed district boundaries ahead of the scheduled hearings. The online map-making portal has been available since March and remains open for submissions.

“We are committed to ensuring voices from across our city’s diverse communities are heard throughout this process,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, who is serving as Chair of the committee. “We appreciate those who have already taken the time to submit testimony and draw suggested maps, and we want to hear from more of our friends, neighbors and fellow community members on those submissions. I look forward to continuing our shared work of empowering families and uplifting our children.”

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.

School board districts must be consistent with the Illinois Voting Rights Act, which 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.

“Our goal is to create a community-centered education experience our city can be proud of,” 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. “I thank all of the dedicated advocates who have brought us to this point and am excited to continue this important, transformative work.”

“Students and parents deserve a Board of Education that is accountable to their communities,” said Sen. Omar Aquino, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board. “That’s why we are dedicated to making sure all of our neighborhoods are given a strong voice in how district boundaries are created.”

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.

“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.”