Overview
- Jessica Biggs declared victory after Tuesday’s vote as preliminary counts showed her with roughly half of the ballots while final certification remained pending.
- Returns indicate the 20-member board will be about evenly divided between candidates backed by the Chicago Teachers Union and those who are not, producing no clear majority.
- Outside groups and wealthy donors poured millions into the campaign, with the Sacks‑backed Common Ground Collective and other pro‑choice and business‑aligned donors spending heavily against CTU‑backed candidates.
- The president will preside over meetings, set agendas and share authority with 20 district members who together oversee a roughly $10 billion CPS budget that currently assumes $150 million in state funding that has not been approved.
- Certification of results, the Jan. 15, 2027 swearing‑in and an upcoming Illinois legislative session set the timeline for the new board to decide whether to seek state aid, cut costs, or make staffing changes that will affect students and school services.