Chicago Public Schools Under Scrutiny for Travel Spending
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is facing criticism for its significant expenditure on travel for district employees, particularly in light of the fact that under a third of its students are meeting reading proficiency standards.
A report from the CPS Office of Inspector General highlighted the rising costs related to travel. Officials have reportedly journeyed to destinations like Las Vegas, Egypt, Finland, and South Africa. The report indicated that in fiscal years 2023 and 2024, CPS allocated $14.5 million towards travel expenses categorized as “excessive.” In just fiscal year 2024, this spending reached $7.7 million, a stark increase from the $300,000 spent in fiscal year 2021.
While officials were jetting off to various international locations, data revealed that only 30.5% of students in grades three through eight were proficient in reading.
A report from February 2023 noted that 55 CPS schools had no students achieving proficiency in either math or reading.
Pastor Corey Brooks from Chicago shared his thoughts on the travel spending, stating that it reflects poorly on the city and its leaders. He expressed concern that these expenditures prioritize personal benefits over the educational needs of students who deserve better.
According to NBC Chicago, part of these travel costs can be attributed to federal coronavirus relief funds and inadequacies in the travel reimbursement process, which lacked proper oversight.
Pastor Brooks further commented on the impact on students, noting that many are struggling with reading and may ultimately become disenchanted with their education. He also pointed out the issue of parents allowing their children to disengage, leading to a growing sense of apathy among students.
Interestingly, a study cited by Breitbart News in August 2024 found that nearly one-third of Chicago public school teachers are choosing to keep their children out of the CPS system. Additionally, an April report revealed that in 80 schools across Illinois, no child was rated as proficient in math, and 24 schools reported a similar situation in reading.
