Chicago Schools Lost $23 Million in Electronic Devices in One Year

Inspector General's report reveals 77,505 devices missing, failure in recovery efforts, and plans for accountability measures.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) lost $23 million in taxpayer-funded electronic devices in one school year, according to an annual report from the Inspector General of CPS.
The missing items include 77,505 electronic devices such as laptops, iPads, Wi-Fi hotspots, printers, document cameras, and interactive whiteboards.
Of the missing items, 4,897 were reported stolen, while 72,608 were reported lost. Many of these devices were given to students and staff, and most were marked as 'unassigned'.
The report also found that CPS failed to execute 'search and recovery procedures' for the missing items, and in many cases, the same students or siblings had reported multiple lost technology devices.
CPS has agreed to implement new recommendations from the Inspector General's office and will use a 'cross-functional committee' to determine ways to hold people accountable for missing devices.