Wishing Moms a Happy Mother’s Day and Important Updates from the District

Dear Colleagues, Families, and Supporters,

This week, we celebrated both Teacher Appreciation Week and National Nurses Week. In these unprecedented circumstances, these professionals are doing an outstanding job of meeting their students’ needs, from supporting their health and safety to providing the academic foundation they will need for success in college, career, and community. We thank all of our teachers and nurses for their unwavering dedication and hope each felt valued and supported by their Chicago Public Schools (CPS) family this week.

With Mother’s Day on Sunday, we also want to acknowledge the incredible moms who are part of our CPS community. Parents are always our most critical partners, but their role in education has taken on a whole new significance during this time of remote learning. Our teachers are doing everything they can to provide their students and their children a positive experience learning at home. We thank all of the mothers who are helping oversee their children’s education, often while balancing the demands of their own careers. You are all heroes, and we wish you a joyful and relaxing Mother’s Day.

As we approach the end of the school year, we are planning our process for ensuring students and staff can safely bring home their belongings from our schools. Additionally, in alignment with guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), we are planning to hold summer school virtually. Please be on the lookout for additional guidance on these plans in the coming weeks.

We know that our parents, students, partners, and staff are all wondering the same thing right now––what will school look like for CPS in the fall? At this point, there are many options on the table, and due to the evolving nature of the public health emergency, no decisions have been made yet for the fall.

While we hope that schools will open on time and at full capacity, we are establishing a variety of contingency plans to ensure families are supported and student learning can continue in the fall. Earlier this week, ISBE officials acknowledged a range of potential scenarios—including having students attend school on alternate days to continue remote learning—and we are working to ensure we are prepared for whatever course of action our local and state leaders and health officials determine is safe and responsive to the needs of our students, staff, and families.

CPS is planning for a robust 2020–21 school year that will provide your child with the quality education they deserve. With continued support from our educators, families, and partners, we have total confidence that we will finish this school year strong and begin our next one as a district on the rise.

We thank you for your patience and cooperation during this unprecedented time and promise to communicate with you regularly as plans take shape for the fall. Please stay healthy and safe until we can all reunite as one CPS family.

Sincerely,

Janice K. Jackson, EdD Chief Executive Officer Chicago Public Schools

LaTanya D. McDade Chief Education Officer Chicago Public Schools