Chicago City Wire

The call for a federal consent decree to address issues within the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is gaining momentum. Advocates argue that this legal intervention by the U.S. Department of Justice is necessary to dismantle barriers created by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and its political allies, which they claim systematically deny poor children, predominantly Black and Latino, their right to quality education.

Proponents of the consent decree assert that it would ensure education funding follows students, provide families with meaningful school choices, and grant local leaders the autonomy to adopt effective educational models. They criticize CPS as a system of "educational apartheid," where CTU's resistance to reforms allegedly protects its power at the expense of student outcomes.

The academic performance within CPS has been under scrutiny, with only one-third of students proficient in reading and even fewer in math. Despite high graduation rates reported in 2023 for Black and Latino students, proficiency levels remain low. The adoption of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) as a benchmark since 2017 has shown declining scores across demographics.

Enrollment figures have also dropped significantly over a decade, attributed partly to families seeking better alternatives outside CPS. The CTU's response has been criticized for attempting to eliminate competition rather than reforming existing systems.

Charter schools are seen as viable alternatives but face challenges due to CTU-imposed constraints such as growth caps and funding disparities. The Acero Charter Schools' experience illustrates these challenges, with unionization leading to increased costs and campus closures.

Selective enrollment and magnet schools are also targeted by CTU efforts, despite serving minority and low-income populations effectively. Research from Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) highlights charter schools' success in advancing academic progress among Black and Latino students compared to traditional schools.

Catholic schools outperform public counterparts according to national assessments but remain inaccessible for many low-income families due to scholarship cuts influenced by union lobbying efforts.

Governor J.B. Pritzker is urged to intervene by reestablishing oversight similar to past financial governance structures but expanded to include educational equity measures. Critics argue his current stance favors CTU interests over student needs.

The debate underscores broader concerns about educational access as a civil rights issue, emphasizing the need for systemic change through potential federal intervention via a consent decree.