Chicago Public Schools Encourages “Shape Our Future Survey” Participation and Input on Five-Year Strategic Plan

CHICAGO—Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is reminding staff, parents, and all community members to provide feedback about their District experience in the “Shape Our Future Survey” before the survey closes at the end of this week. The survey, which opened in mid-November, offers an opportunity for stakeholders to share what is working in the District, what needs to improve, and what the District should prioritize through the development this spring of a new five-year strategic plan.

“Community feedback is a crucial step as the District considers the direction of the next five years,” said Board of Education President Jianan Shi. “This Board values the perspective of all stakeholders – students, parents, staff, labor partners, community leaders, and advocates.” 

The survey results, along with community engagement around the plan, will continue through this spring and inform the development of the District's next five-year strategic plan. To date this school year, the District has hosted State of the District community sessions as well as Budget roundtable sessions that have generated feedback for the plan. Community engagement sessions for The Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP) began in December and will continue through February and also promise to inform the strategic plan. District leaders are expected to take the final draft strategic plan to the Board of Education for approval this summer. The plan will guide the District’s work from 2025 through 2029.

“As the District embarks on the next strategic plan, I implore our 6th through 12th grade students and valued partners to complete the `Shape Our Future Survey,’” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “This survey really is a way to make your voice heard and an opportunity to shape the direction of our District.” 

The survey has been shared with students, staff and parents, and will close at 5 p.m. Friday, January 12. The survey is available in six languages – English, Spanish, Arabic, Polish, Urdu, and Simplified Chinese. The anonymous survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and can be accessed here. 

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