Your school must follow District and State policies to ensure equitable education is in place at all schools. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) provides leadership and resources in formulating and advocating for policies that enhance education, empower districts, and ensure equitable outcomes for all students in Illinois. The Chicago Public Schools Board of Education is responsible for the governance, organizational and financial oversight of Chicago Public Schools and establishes policies, standards, goals and initiatives to ensure accountability and provide a high quality, world-class education for all students.

To review Chicago Public Schools policies, consult the CPS Policy Handbook. Relevant health and wellness policies include:

1. Local School Wellness Policy
2. Sexual Health Education Policy
3. Chronic Conditions Management Policy

Healthy CPS summarizes the mandatory health and wellness policies and provides a yearly Healthy CPS Checklist. Your school should have efforts and initiatives in place to meet each of the criteria outlined in the checklist. Healthy CPS progress should be reported quarterly to your school's Local School Council (LSC). To ensure that your school is adhering to Healthy CPS criteria, please review the Healthy CPS Checklist and reach out to your school's Wellness Champion, Administration, or Wellness Team student representative. For additional information or questions, please call the Healthy CPS Hotline at 773-553-KIDS (5437) or email the Office of Student Health and Wellness at OSHW@cps.edu.

The School Wellness Team is a group of school stakeholders interested and invested in school wellness and student health. They plan and implement school initiatives concerned with the health and wellbeing of students. Their responsibilities are:

• Assess the health and wellness needs of students, families and staff.
• Implement programs, activities, and policy changes to meet identified needs.
• Ensure that the school is in alignment with health and wellness requirements, including the Local School Wellness Policy and Healthy Snack and Beverage Policy

All Wellness Teams should include at least one (1) student representative. If you are interested in participating in your school's Wellness Team, please contact your school's Wellness Champion or Administration.

• CPS Wellness Champion List

Student Voice Committees (SVCs) are school-based student leadership teams designed to forge student-adult partnerships in school improvement. SVCs seek to partner directly with administration on persistent problems the school is actively seeking to address. As a key partner in school improvement, SVC’s should be a part of school quality assessment, school visioning and planning, and the decision making process. The SVC works to elevate youth perspective and expertise in understanding the problems schools face, and to strengthen the decisions schools and teachers make. If you’d like to get involved in your school's Student Voice Committee, reach out to your school's administration for more information.

School gardens provide students and school communities with the opportunity to more deeply engage with where food comes from, the native environment of Illinois, and build connections that support student curiosity, health, and wellness. If your school currently has a school garden there are many ways to get involved, including joining or starting a garden club or encouraging your teachers to spend class time in the garden. If you are interested in starting a garden at your school, contact Gardenteam@cps.edu for more information!

The Children and Family Benefits Unit (CFBU) can provide you and your family with social services support, including Medicaid and SNAP enrollment and utilization. CFBU can connect you to free and low-cost food, healthcare, and emergency resources to keep you healthy and safe. CFBU is also able to support you with navigating benefits as an unaccompanied youth or student in a temporary living situation. Visit cps.edu/health or call the Healthy CPS Hotline at 773-553-KIDS (5437) for assistance.

School-Based Health Centers

There are 33 School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) throughout Chicago that provide no cost healthcare services to CPS students (some SBHCs are only available to students enrolled at the school; some to all CPS students; and some are open to the community). Services include but are not limited to: immunizations, physical exams, sports physicals, behavioral healthcare, chronic condition management, sexual and reproductive health care, and acute care. Find a CPS School-Based Health Center Near You.

Hearing & Vision Services 

Hearing and vision screenings are offered to students at no cost. When applicable, referrals can be made for vision and hearing exams. For more information, please visit the Student Health Services page or email OSHW@cps.edu.

Vision Clinic

The vision clinic at the Lewenson Center provides comprehensive eye exams and glasses to CPS students. For more information, please email OSHW@cps.edu. To make an appointment, please call 312-949-7990.

Sexual Health Services

In Illinois, youth 12 years of age and older can access most sexual health services confidentially and without parental or caregiver consent or permission. CPS oversees sexual health service referrals, condom availability, and menstrual hygiene products. For more information, please email OSHW@cps.edu. Sexual health services are also available at some School-Based Health Centers.

Visit the Chronic Conditions webpage for information on documenting your chronic condition at school.