Chicago’s school board election is coming. Here’s what to know and what’s at stake.
Soon, voters will elect all 21 members of the Chicago School Board for the first time.
It’s a significant shift for the governing body, which was under mayoral control for decades. The city held its first-ever school board elections in 2024, but that year only 10 seats were up for grabs. The rest, including the board president, were appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
The change marks the culmination of years of work by advocates who pushed for an elected board, arguing that it would inject democracy and community voice into the board’s decision-making. Though there are concerns that big money expected to flow in this year’s races will undermine that.
There’s also gaps in voter awareness to overcome. Two out of three Chicago residents didn’t know the board would become fully elected, according to a poll by the nonprofit Kids First Chicago. And many voters don’t know exactly what the school board does.
Here’s what you need to know about the board’s responsibilities and what to expect in the elections later this year.
What does the school board do?
The board has several responsibilities, including opening and closing schools, hiring and evaluating the CPS CEO, approving the budget, the school calendar and vendor contracts and deciding which school buildings get upgrades.
They meet at least twice a month at their headquarters in the Loop and can expect to spend potentially more than 30 hours a month on their duties, according to the board website. But members aren’t paid to serve on the board. Some have raised concerns that lack of compensation discourages parents from low-income households from representing their communities.
The board also sets academic goals and priorities for the school year. That means members spend time attending community events, hosting office hours and visiting schools to get a sense of what their constituents want.
How will the election work?
For the upcoming election on Nov. 3, the city has been divided into 20 subdistricts. Residents will vote for one candidate to represent the area where they live. (You can look up your school board subdistrict here.) But everyone will be able to vote for the school board president, which is a citywide seat.
The terms of the newly elected members aren’t all the same because of the board’s transition from being partially elected to fully elected.
Candidates who win races for seats currently held by appointed members will serve two-year terms. Those who win seats currently held by elected members will serve four-year terms. The board president will serve for four years.
From there on, elections will be held every two years so only half the seats are up for election at a time.
When will I know who’s running for the school board?
The window for interested candidates to get their names on the ballot is open. Each elected board member must live within the subdistrict they represent. Board member candidates need 500 to 1,500 valid signatures to enter the race. Those running for school board president have to submit at least 2,500.
Interested candidates began collecting signatures on Feb. 24. They have to submit their paperwork by May 26, at which point voters will know who the candidates are, though some will likely face ballot challenges.
The list of candidates will be finalized by Aug. 27, when the county clerk must certify the election ballot.
Will campaign contributions be important in this election?
Many expect spending in this year’s school board elections to exceed what was spent on the first-ever school board race in 2024. That came out to $13 million, according to a Chalkbeat Chicago analysis.
But with twice as many district seats at stake this year, plus a citywide campaign for board president, many more dollars may pour in.
Labor-backed and pro-charter school factions are expected to play a role like they did in the 2024 elections. The business community, which has come out strongly against Mayor Brandon Johnson and his allies on the school board, could also factor in.