Enrollment at Chicago Public Schools has dropped by about 9,000 students compared with this time last year, the district\u2019s Interim CEO Macquline King announced at the Chicago Board of Education meeting Thursday morning, adding another item onto the pile of worries plaguing a board facing obstacles and problems.<\/p>\n
District enrollment as of the 20th day of school decreased roughly 2.8% to 316,224 students, King said. The decline affects multiple student groups, including those identifying as Black, Latino, economically disadvantaged, English language learners and students in temporary living situations.<\/p>\n
The district did see increased enrollment numbers in some demographics, however, including those identifying as white, Asian and multiracial, as well as students with disabilities. Student attendance rates since school began Aug. 18, are also up compared to previous years, King said.<\/p>\n
More data will become available in later weeks, King said.<\/p>\n
The enrollment drop comes as the district and board wrestle with a multitude of issues, including the potential restructuring<\/a> of central office leadership, recent reports by WBEZ and the Sun-Times that special education students are not receiving legally required services, the upcoming closure of a charter school<\/a> and ongoing financial uncertainty.<\/p>\n Those concerns took center stage at Thursday\u2019s meeting as multiple board members and stakeholders raised concerns about transparency from the central office, including the rollout of possible changes to the district\u2019s \u201cNetwork\u201d system.<\/p>\n King\u2019s potential restructuring of the school networks could reduce the number of \u201cnetwork chiefs\u201d or liaisons between schools and CPS\u2019 central office from 17 to 14. The district touts its long-term network system as a way to provide groups of geographically-divided elementary and high schools with specialized support, direction and leadership.<\/p>\n The network chiefs interact with the school staff and communities, and act as a direct link between principals and the district\u2019s administrators, providing expertise on curriculum, instruction and programmatic initiatives. A reorganization could shift the long-standing relationships between schools, their principals and CPS leadership.<\/p>\n At Thursday\u2019s meeting, King reiterated that no decisions have been made and CPS intends to move forward with transparency, something board members said was lacking when the changes were first floated to school principals last week.<\/p>\n Multiple members of the hybrid elected and appointed school board echoed a need for stronger communication between the board, district leadership and school communities. Good communication strengthens relationships and trust between communities and CPS, which has frayed in some places, members said Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt felt very uncomfortable to be blindsided by this and not be able to give responses to the people reaching out to us about this,\u201d Carlos Rivas, who represents District 3B said to King. \u201cAnd notably that it was very upsetting for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Students, community members voice concern for charter school\u2019s future<\/p>\n