CPS Shares Plan To Keep Open 5 Of 7 Acero Charter Schools Due To Close
Chicago Public Schools’ Recommendation
As angst grows about the planned closure of seven Acero charter schools on Chicago’s Southwest Side, CPS suggested Thursday that the best option would be to support keeping five of the schools open.
Public Comment and Feedback
The district’s recommendation came after nearly two-and-a-half hours of public comment during which teachers and families pleaded with the district to help save the seven campuses. Acero charter network announced in October that before the 2025-26 school year, it would close seven of its schools — where more than 1,800 students are enrolled and staff are members of the Chicago Teachers Union — because of a $40 million budget shortfall. Since then, families and the union immediately launched rallies and began attending board meetings to press CPS to prevent the closures.
Options Presented
Alfonso Carmona, chief portfolio officer who oversees charters in the district, presented a slew of options during Thursday’s board meeting. These included transitioning the seven campuses into CPS-run schools, or just helping affected students enroll at district schools. Carmona said that based on the feedback they’ve received, “what we’ve heard from these families is that we should not close these campuses.”
Hybrid Option
But the option he ultimately recommended was more of a “hybrid” option: He said CPS supports keeping five of the seven campuses open and “phasing out” the other two, known as the Paz and Cruz campuses. Under this option, the district would help Acero cover its budget deficit. Carmona said this could be the best option because it’s likely CPS won’t actually have to open its wallet under this scenario. He said the charter network would “break even” if it closed the Paz and Cruz campuses — both of which “contributed substantially” to the network’s projected deficit, according to a district analysis.
Funding and Transition
Carmona said that the district would help students from Paz and Cruz enroll in CPS or charter schools. It was unclear how many schools would potentially be absorbed. The district would also help Acero cover its budget deficit, with the goal of keeping five of the seven campuses open. Carmona said the district would “break even” if it closed the Paz and Cruz campuses, which are for sale and in disrepair.
Board Reaction
The district’s proposal was met with mixed reactions from the board. Vice President Mary Gardner asked Carmona to provide more details on the option of absorbing all seven Acero campuses, which the district estimates would cost between $21 million and $28 million. Board member Michilla Blaise said the board is “working hard” to give families direction on the issue.
Conclusion
The fate of the seven Acero charter schools remains uncertain, with the district presenting a hybrid option that keeps five of the schools open and phases out the other two. The board will need to deliberate on the proposal and decide which path to take.
FAQs
* What is the current plan for the seven Acero charter schools?
+ The current plan is to close seven of the 15 charter schools operated by Acero, affecting over 1,800 students.
* What is the reason for the planned closures?
+ The reason is a $40 million budget shortfall.
* What is the hybrid option presented by CPS?
+ The hybrid option is to keep five of the seven campuses open and “phase out” the other two, Paz and Cruz campuses.
* How will the remaining students be affected?
+ The district will help students from Paz and Cruz enroll in CPS or charter schools, but the exact number of absorbed schools is unclear.
