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
Patricia Heaton landed 'Everybody Loves Raymond' role thanks to this wild audition move

Patricia Heaton’s Bold Audition Secret: The Unconventional Move That Won Her ‘Everybody Loves Raymond

Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton recently took a nostalgic look back at…
Multiple victims with gunshot wounds at Valley Fair Mall in California on Black Friday: police

Gunfire Erupts at California’s Valley Fair Mall on Black Friday, Police Report Multiple Injuries

A shooting at Westfield Valley Fair Mall in San Jose, California, has…
NY Jets cornerback Kris Boyd says he's back in the hospital after NYC shooting

NY Jets Cornerback Kris Boyd Returns to Hospital Following NYC Shooting Incident

New York City is once again the focus as New York Jets…
Sex trafficking has to be confronted

Urgent Action Required: Addressing the Crisis of Human Trafficking

Parents naturally want to ensure the safety of their children. However, an…
NFL news: Chicago Bears beat defending Super Bowl champions, Philadelphia Eagles, 24-15 on the road, advance to 9-3

Chicago Bears Triumph Over Super Bowl Champs Eagles, Secure 9-3 Record with Dominant Road Win

Kyle Monangai delivered a standout performance, rushing for 130 yards and securing…
Black Friday theft threat turns holiday weekend into shoplifters' 'Super Bowl': former detective

Black Friday Heists: Why Shoplifters Treat This Weekend as Their ‘Super Bowl

Black Friday, once synonymous with holiday shopping excitement, has now become a…
Kim Kardashian reveals new brain scan following aneurysm diagnosis

Kim Kardashian Unveils Latest Brain Scan Results Post-Aneurysm Diagnosis

Kim Kardashian recently underwent a brain scan on her show “The Kardashians,”…
Mike Brown: Knicks’ Jalen Brunson belongs in MVP conversation

NBA Insight: Mike Brown Advocates for Jalen Brunson’s Spot in MVP Race with New York Knicks

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown is championing his star point…
Israel releases body-cam video of deadly Syria raid targeting Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated terrorists

Israel Unveils Body-Cam Footage of Strategic Syria Operation Against Muslim Brotherhood-Linked Militants

IDF battles terrorists in Syria raid Footage from a body-camera captures a…
Pei-Yun Chung: 'Dine-and-dash diva' accused of skipping out on bills at high-end Brooklyn, New York City restaurants

Brooklyn’s ‘Dine-and-Dash Diva’ Allegedly Leaves High-End Eateries Without Paying

NEW YORK — A social media influencer, notorious for allegedly evading payments…
US passenger goes missing while on shore during Caribbean cruise

Unraveling the Mystery: Latest Developments in US Cruise Passenger’s Disappearance in the Caribbean

The perplexing case of a missing American tourist on a Caribbean island…
Man arrested after allegedly attempting to kidnap two 12-year-old girls in Glynn County

Attempted Kidnapping in Glynn County: Man Arrested for Allegedly Targeting Two 12-Year-Old Girls

A 21-year-old man, Evert Luna, has been taken into custody by Glynn…