Next Hearing Will Examine Best Ways to Transition to a Fully-Elected School Board

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board is seeking further input from parents, education advocates, community groups and other stakeholders regarding the transition to a fully-elected school board.

The committee will host a public hearing online at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 12 at www.ilga.gov to explore suggestions on how the transition can be done in a way that ensures equitable representation for all of Chicago’s diverse communities. Recent hearings have raised questions about a number of provisions required under current law, including the hybrid period in which some districts will be represented by members who are elected and others will be represented by members who are appointed, as well as the petition and election process for prospective board candidates.

Comments can be submitted prior to the hearing 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 anyone can draw and submit proposed district boundaries for consideration.

“Changes of this magnitude aren’t easy, and we understand the concerns raised by our friends, neighbors and community members about the complexity of this process,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, who is serving as Chair of the committee. “We are dedicated to getting this right and look forward to diving deeper on these important questions.”

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.

Under current law, ten members of the Chicago Board of Education will be elected by voters during the November 2024 election, 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.

“This effort has always been community-led, and the continued dedication of parents, students and advocates will help carry us forward,” 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. “There are various opinions about what these districts should look like and how the Board should ultimately be structured. But we share the same goals: to bring accountability and transparency to Chicago Public Schools so it can better serve our children.”

“We are setting a new path forward that will result in better representation of all of our city’s vibrant neighborhoods,” said Sen. Omar Aquino, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board. “I thank everyone who has fought so hard to get us to this point. Together we will get the job done for our children.”

Hearings Scheduled to Gather Input, Consider Adjustments

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate and House Democratic caucuses today released a draft Chicago Elected School Board District map for the public to review ahead of hearings to gather feedback and consider potential changes.

The draft map is available for review at www.ilsenateredistricting.com and www.ilhousedems.com/redistricting. The proposal incorporates suggestions gathered through online map making portals and citywide public hearings, including requests to keep communities of interest as whole as possible and to ensure the maps reflect the diversity of Chicago. The map consists of 20 potential districts, and lawmakers are soliciting input on the best way to make sure the 2024 election provides equitable representation for all of Chicago’s communities.

The House will hold a hearing on the draft map in-person Saturday at 10 a.m. at Curie High School, 4959 S Archer Avenue in Chicago. Feedback can also be emailed at any time to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Senate Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board will hold a virtual meeting to receive testimony regarding the proposed map at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9 at www.ilga.gov.

Additional opportunities to provide comment can be accessed online at www.ilsenateredistricting.com or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

“We thank the dedicated and passionate students, parents and educators who took time to share their perspectives on the best way to ensure the leadership of our state’s largest school district reflects the diversity of our neighborhoods. This draft map is intended to continue those conversations as the legislature works toward adopting boundaries that will help empower families and uplift children,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board.

“Chicago’s new elected school board is a major step forward for representation. Moving to a popularly elected board is about equity for all Chicago communities, giving everyone a say and a stake in the future of our neighborhoods. Delivering on this goal starts with districts that reflect our unique and diverse communities,” said Rep. Ann Williams, who leads the House Democrats’ CPS Districting Working Group. “People in neighborhoods across our city deserve a voice in our schools, and using their insight to help shape the districts can make that a reality.”

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.

“With this proposal, we are another step closer to our goal of community-led education that puts students first,” 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 is an exciting transition that will bring much-needed accountability and transparency to Chicago Public Schools.”

“To address the challenges facing our schools, we must ensure the Board of Education includes voices from across our vibrant communities,” said Sen. Omar Aquino, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board. “While our work is not yet done, our focus remains on ensuring better representation for all of our neighborhoods.”

Lawmakers Continue to Gather Information as Part of Mapmaking Process

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus today launched an updated online map making portal where the public can draw and submit proposed district boundaries for the new Chicago Elected Representative School Board.

The portal builds on the commitment by Senate Democrats to encourage robust public participation in the creation of the new Chicago elected school board districts. This includes a series of public hearings held by the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board in recent weeks to gather input from across the city’s diverse communities.

The portal can be accessed at www.ilsenateredistricting.com. All maps submitted through the portal will be reviewed as part of the public record. Previously, the public was able to draw and submit proposed communities of interest and upload proposed district boundaries.

“We are entering a new era in community-led education that will empower families to elect school leaders who reflect the diversity of our neighborhoods. That begins with this mapmaking process, and we want to gather as much input as possible about the unique needs of communities across Chicago,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board.

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, when the number of electoral districts will expand from 10 districts to 20 districts.

“By providing parents with a greater say in how our schools are run, we can make sure students are equipped with the tools they need to succeed,” 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 is an exciting opportunity for residents to participate in shaping the future of our education system.”

“Our neighborhood schools are facing incredible challenges. This is a once-in-a-generation chance to chart a new path forward that will transform the lives of our children and help revitalize our communities,” said Sen. Omar Aquino, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board.

Citywide Hearings Designed to Gather Input on District Boundaries

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

Stakeholders including parents, education advocates, community groups and others are encouraged to participate in the hearings as legislators seek to gather input on mapmaking from across the city’s diverse communities. Members of the public may request to provide in-person testimony, submit written testimony, or submit witness slips in advance of the hearings via the General Assembly website www.ilga.gov or through email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

“As we work to ensure the leadership of our state’s largest school district reflects the diversity of our neighborhoods, it’s important for community members to make sure their voices are heard throughout this process,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, who is serving as Chair of the committee. “Transitioning the Chicago Board of Education to an elected body is about empowering our families, and that starts now.”

The Special Committee on the Chicago Elected Representative School Board hearing schedule is as follows:

April 5, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., George Westinghouse College Prep, 3223 W. Franklin Blvd., Chicago, IL 60624

April 6, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Imani Village, 901 E. 95th St., Chicago, IL 60619

April 12, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630

April 13, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19^th Street, Chicago, IL 60608 

April 17, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Virtual Hearing

The hearings follow the launch of an online map making portal that allows the public to draw and submit proposed district boundaries. The portal can be accessed at www.ilsenateredistricting.com. All maps submitted through the portal will be reviewed as part of the public record.

“This is the start of an exciting new era in community-led education,” said Sen. Robert Martwick, who is serving as Vice Chair of the committee and sponsored the legislation creating an elected school board in Chicago. “Parents, advocates and community groups have long asked for a direct say in how Chicago Public Schools are run. That time is finally here.”

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, when the number of electoral districts will expand from 10 districts to 20 districts.

“The strength of our city lies in its diversity, and we look forward to hearing the ideas our neighbors will bring forward,” said Sen. Omar Aquino, Vice-Chair of the committee. “We are facing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to chart a new path forward for our schools, students and communities.” 

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