Chicago Board Urges Acero to Reconsider Charter School Closures

The board seeks alternatives to the closure of seven Acero campuses affecting thousands of students and staff.

The Chicago Board of Education passed a resolution urging the Acero charter network to explore alternatives to closing seven campuses due to a $40 million budget shortfall.
Acero's planned closures would impact approximately 2,000 students and 500 staff members, with a significant majority of affected students being Latino.
The board's resolution, while nonbinding, requests that Acero return unspent public funds if closures proceed without exploring alternatives.
CPS has proposed options including financial support to keep campuses open or transitioning them to CPS-run schools to minimize disruption.
The board is also hiring outside legal counsel to ensure accountability and independence in its decision-making process.