Introducing Our New Strategic Plan
Together We Rise is centered on the historical and present conditions that our students, families, and communities face, and works to create anti-racist solutions that address systemic disinvestment.
While we have made progress toward providing a high-quality public education for every child in every neighborhood, we continue to face long-standing challenges and opportunity gaps. If we want our system to make bold and transformational changes in our students’ lives, then we have to make bold and transformational changes to our system. This plan outlines how we can meet the challenge of this moment.
Our Three Priority Areas:
Every Student, Every School, Every Community
Student
Every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.
These targeted priorities are designed to ensure that all students receive the opportunities and resources that meet their unique needs and aspirations, prioritizing those most harmed by the past.
School
To be successful, we must resource every school across the District to meet the necessary conditions for a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience, empowering those most impacted by structural inequity to reach their full potential.
Community
We are committed to strengthening the connections between our schools and our communities to improve the daily learning experience for all students across all school types, including neighborhood, selective enrollment, magnet, charter, and alternative school options.
Targeted Priorities
Bridging From Our Past to Our Future
Success 2029: Together We Rise builds on our existing vision for the District by connecting our past and future.
Our Mission
To provide a high-quality public education for every child, in every neighborhood, that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.
Our Transformed Philosophy to Achieve Our Vision
Students
How We Define Student Success
Past Approach
Student success was defined by a narrow set of metrics.
Our Approach
Student success and achievement are defined by robust and holistic learning and well-being measures.
Schools
Our Approach to Accountability and How We Support Schools
Past Approach
Our accountability system ranked and labeled schools, adversely encouraging families to select schools with the highest ratings; school resources were based on the number of students enrolled.
Our Approach
Schools are not ranked. Shared accountability for student success between the District and schools. The District provides equitable resources and ongoing support to schools, so schools can create the necessary conditions to improve student learning experiences.
Community
How We Invest in Schools and Communities
How We Make Major Decisions
Past Approach
System failures were addressed by creating new schools, which led to a culture of schools competing for students and resources.
Unilateral decisions were made by CPS and city leadership.
Our Approach
Every community will be anchored by high-quality pathways from preschool to high school in neighborhood schools while ensuring equitable access to a range of programmatic offerings across different school types, which is supported by targeted investments in disinvested communities.
Decisions are informed through robust stakeholder engagement; students, families, staff, and communities are engaged in the design of policies and practices.
Our Theory of Action
Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. We believe:
If CPS
Ensures:
- Every student is heard, valued, and affirmed and engages in decisions impacting their school and the District
- Every school creates the conditions and implements the practices to drive continuous improvement of student learning and well-being through an equity lens
- The District provides equitable resources and supports to each school
- Every community, especially those that have experienced historical disinvestments due to structural racism, is engaged as a partner to envision high-quality schools and programmatic options
Then:
- The daily student experience will be rigorous, joyful, and equitable
- Student learning and well-being will improve, providing students with the skills and competencies they need to thrive, obtain family-sustaining jobs, achieve upward economic and social mobility, and contribute to thriving communities
Universal Five-Year Goals
Every Student
has a rigorous, joyful, and equitable daily learning experience
100% of students will have access to high-quality instructional materials (curriculum) that are grade-level aligned and culturally responsive in all content areas across all classroom settings.
Increase by 20% the number of 3rd-8th graders who meet or exceed proficiency levels on the state’s IAR assessment for English language arts and math.
Every School
creates the conditions and implements the practices to drive continuous improvement through an equity lens
100% of schools will implement an equity-based Multi-Tiered System of Supports and fully integrate social-emotional learning practices into student experiences.
The overall District rate for chronic absenteeism will decline by 15%.
Increase the percentage of schools rated as “strong” or “very strong” on the Supportive Environment Essential on the 5Essentials survey to at least 25%.
All middle and high school students will have equitable access to high-quality postsecondary opportunities through college and career readiness instruction, advanced coursework, and career and technical education.
70% of CPS graduates will have earned the equivalent of a semester of college credit or an advanced career credential.
The District
provides equitable resources and supports to each school
Every year, the District will continue to equitably deliver resources and support to schools to strengthen the practices and conditions outlined in the Continuous Improvement Data Transparency policy.
All schools will demonstrate annual growth on school-based CIDT measures, resulting in achieving the goals in their Continuous Improvement Work Plans.
Every Community
has inclusive and collaborative partnerships for thriving schools
Partner with our communities to strongly advocate for full, fair, and equitable school funding across all levels of government, leverage philanthropic investments, and strengthen collaborative partnerships in every community.
Align The Chicago Board of Education’s annual legislative agenda to advance the values and goals of the District and community and to strengthen advocacy for full, fair, and equitable school funding.
Reach at least 90% funding adequacy, based on the state’s funding adequacy assessment, so schools have the resources they need to ensure a high-quality and equitable student experience.
Our Core Values
Our core values guide the work we do every day for our students. By grounding ourselves in these values, we strengthen coherence and find common ground as we work together across the District to implement programs, services and initiatives.
Student Centered
We place students at the center of everything we do.
Whole Child
We support our students so they are healthy, safe, engaged, and academically challenged.
Equity
We eliminate barriers to success and ensure equitable opportunities for all students.
Academic Excellence
We provide diverse curriculum and programs with high academic standards to prepare students for future success.
Community Partnership
We rely on families, communities, and partners in every neighborhood to shape and support our shared mission.
Continuous Learning
We promote an environment of continuous learning throughout CPS for students, teachers, leaders, and district staff.
Ethical and Collaborative Leaders
Inquisitive Learners
Empowered Decision Makers
Engaged Community Members
Adaptable and Independent Thinkers