Chicago Teachers Union calls on Illinois to help as Chicago Public Schools faces $730M budget shortfall
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago Public Schools are grappling with a more than $700 million budget gap.

The Chicago Teachers Union said this is Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s problem too.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Kids still don’t go back to school for another month, but both the CTU and CPS are already raising concerns about district finances and funding.

Leaders and members of the Chicago Teachers Union convened outside the Chicago Public Schools’ Loop headquarters, urging state legislators and the governor to ensure that Illinois education is safeguarded from what they describe as ‘Trump-Proof’ measures.

The governor has previously said there are no plans in place to boost education funding.

This press gathering occurred early in the morning following announcements from the Trump Administration regarding the withholding of over $6 billion in federal educational grants allocated for schools across various states.

SEE ALSO: What to know about impact of CPS layoffs as district tries to close budget shortfall

The funds, previously sanctioned, were intended to finance after-school initiatives, student support services, and teacher training, among other crucial needs. However, with the rapidly approaching new school year, states are left uncertain about the availability of these resources.

CTU officials are calling on the state to pay CPS $1.2 billion in what they believed is owed to them by Illinois and to call a legislative session to fund public schools.

“Enough is enough, that’s why we are here today calling on Governor JB Pritzker,” Jackson Potter with the Chicago Teachers Union. “These cuts are severe as they are perverse and we won’t let it stand and neither should the governor especially one that wants to fight these Trump attacks on working families.”

“We’re not just reducing staff, we’re removing the lifelines for some of the most marginalized students in our classrooms,” special education teacher Keerti Nandan said. “Please do not balance the budget on the back of kids with disabilities.”

The comments made by the CTU came before a CPS Board agenda review meeting, where a number of big issues were front and center, including how the district is supposed to fill a whopping $734 million budget gap.

The budget for the coming school year has not yet been unveiled.

District leaders say it will be announced later this month or in early August after the superintendent has had a chance to look at solutions to fill that budget deficit.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Crockett said she 'broke down in tears' watching Alex Padilla get forcibly removed from press conference

Crockett Said Watching Alex Padilla Being Forced Out of Press Conference Made Her Cry

In a recent podcast interview, Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas expressed that…
Shark bites beach fisherman who dragged thrashing predator back to water after catch

Fisherman bitten by shark as he returns the struggling predator to the ocean

During the July Fourth weekend, a fisherman in a lavish beach vacation…
Utah judge schedules execution by firing squad for a man with dementia

Utah Judge Orders Firing Squad Execution for Inmate with Dementia

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah judge on Wednesday set an execution…
Number of law enforcement officers killed nationwide decreased in first half of 2025 compared to last year, data shows

Data Indicates a Decrease in Nationwide Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities in the First Half of 2025

CHICAGO (WLS) — A statistical pattern is heading in a positive direction,…
Trump administration resumes sending some weapons to Ukraine after Pentagon pause

Trump Administration Restarts Limited Arms Shipments to Ukraine following Pentagon Interruption

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has resumed the delivery of certain weapons…
Smoke plumes rising from a bombed-out city.

Hamas Agrees to Release 10 Hostages; Trump Optimistic About Potential Ceasefire Deal This Week

HAMAS has said it will release 10 hostages amid ongoing efforts to…
Frank Layden, beloved Jazz head coach and GM, dead at 93

Frank Layden, esteemed Jazz coach and general manager, passes away at 93

Frank Layden, who guided the Jazz to their inaugural NBA playoffs in…
Photo of a smiling baby in a field.

Heartbreaking: 1-Year-Old Dies in Overheated Car as Mom Attends Beauty Appointment

A ONE-year-old boy has died a horrific death after being left in…
A 60cm-tall mud volcano in Cusco, Peru.

Locals in Peru Discover the ‘World’s Smallest Volcano’ Erupting with Gases and Sludge

A VOLCANO touted as the smallest in the world has been discovered…
Blackshear residents face daylong road closure Monday

Blackshear Residents to Experience All-Day Road Closure on Monday

A few hundred people living in Oak Ridge in Blackshear will have…
Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Melania Trump at a state funeral.

Revealed: The Surprising Truth Behind the Amusing Exchange Between Trump and Obama at Jimmy Carter’s Funeral

THE truth behind President Donald Trump and rival Barack Obama’s cheery conversation…
Multiple Secret Service Agents Suspended In Connection with Trump Assassination Attempt

Several Secret Service Agents Suspended Over Alleged Involvement in Attempted Trump Assassination

On Wednesday during “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Fox News, the host shared…