Chicago Politics and Urbanism Daily
CPS Cuts Loom as Reform Tests Hit Schools, Housing and CPD
Thursday, May 7, 2026 · 8 min
Chicago’s reform fights turn hard-edged today: CPS faces possible school-level cuts after years of enrollment decline, a police-accountability nominee advances, an Avondale housing plan shrinks, and another city employee is accused of pandemic-aid fraud.
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Show notes
Chicago’s reform fights turn hard-edged today: CPS faces possible school-level cuts after years of enrollment decline, a police-accountability nominee advances, an Avondale housing plan shrinks, and another city employee is accused of pandemic-aid fraud.
In this episode
- School budget cuts might be inevitable for Chicago Public Schools — Chalkbeat
Parents and principals worry about school budget cuts as major deficit looms - Chalkbeat Skip to main content # Chicago Public Schools campus budget could bring cuts amid massive deficit Expand Some parents and educators worry some interventionist positions could be on the chopping block as CPS contemplated school budget cuts. Teresa Przybyslawski, an interventionist at Chicago’s Brunson…
“Consolidation should be inevitable. Some of these schools are just too small and have little to no extracurricular activities, elective classes, or AP/IB classes. Schools like that do a disservice to the student and serve as little more than a jobs program.” — r/chicago (113 upvotes)
Our take: We agree that very small schools can leave students with fewer AP classes, electives, sports, and support options. But consolidation only works if CPS is honest about travel times, building conditions, and academic tradeoffs — not if it becomes a spreadsheet exercise with kids as rounding errors.
“I mean yeah? We’ve had around a 20% reduction in enrollment and spending has increased by 70% in the last decade. And it’s not like we have anything to show for this massive increase in spending other than the CTU having more sway over elections.” — r/chicago (73 upvotes)
Our take: The enrollment-versus-spending math is exactly why this budget moment is so painful, and CPS cannot dodge that accountability. The one caveat is that higher spending can be tied up in pensions, special education, contracts, and inflation — so the reform question is not just “spend less,” it is “what actually improves outcomes?”
“Enrollment was close to 400k a decade ago and by 2030 it will be in the high 200k range. While employment headcount is nearly at all time highs and CPS has gotten max tax increases almost every year for the past 10 years while test scores and reading levels are getting worse So…” — r/chicago (35 upvotes)
Our take: The Mississippi comparison should make everyone in Chicago sit up straight, because results matter more than civic pride. We are not signing onto “burn it down,” but a district with shrinking enrollment, high staffing, and weak outcomes has to stop treating structural change as unspeakable.
- Key City Panel OKs Nomination of Anjanette Young to Serve on Chicago Police Oversight Board — WTTW
Key City Panel OKs Nomination of Anjanette Young to Serve on Chicago Police Oversight Board | Chicago News | WTTW Search WTTW: Search WTTW: Toggle main menu visibility Search WTTW: #### Crime & Law ## Key City Panel OKs Nomination of Anjanette Young to Serve on Chicago Police Oversight Board Heather Cherone| May 6, 2026, 4:03 pm Anjanette Young appears on “Chicago Tonight” on Oct. 28, 2024. (WTTW…
- Avondale Development Proposal Downsized After Neighbor Concerns — Block Club Chicago
Avondale Townhome, Apartment Development Proposal Downsized After Neighbor Concerns Plans for a vacant lot on California Avenue call for 40 townhomes (pictured) and 65 apartments. Credit: HIRSCH MPG AVONDALE — A development proposal for an Avondale lot has been scaled back over community concerns around density and traffic, though some neighbors still want to see more affordable units in the…
- Chicago Sergeant Charged in PPP Loan Fraud Over $41K — Hoodline
Chicago Sergeant Charged in PPP Loan Fraud Over $41K Real Estate & Development Science, Tech & Medicine More forecasts: Atlanta 30 day forecast # Chicago Sergeant Charged in PPP Loan Fraud Over $41K By Richard M. Sullivan Published on May 06, 2026 A Chicago Police Department sergeant is facing a federal wire fraud charge after prosecutors say she pulled in more than $40,000 in pandemic…