After OKing Plan to Save 7 Acero Charter Schools, CPS May Decide to Close Several of Them After All

Two Months After the Board of Education Vote, a Change of Heart

Two months after parents and educators celebrated a Board of Education vote that spared seven Acero charter schools from closure for a year and promised to absorb five of them in 2026, Chicago Public Schools officials are now set to backtrack from that plan.

The About-Face

The about-face would suddenly leave three campuses shuttered at the end of this school year and the other four — along with their families and staff — facing uncertain futures. But it’s not a done deal. Some board members are pushing to keep at least five schools open next year.

The New Plan

CPS officials are asking the Board of Education to vote on the new plan at its monthly meeting Thursday, citing their evaluations over the past couple months that showed saving the schools would require the district to give Acero more funding than allowed under state law.

The Reason Behind the Change

"Where financially and legally possible, the district continues working to keep as many of the Acero campuses open as possible," a CPS spokeswoman wrote in a statement.

The Original Plan

In December, CPS officials presented several options to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s six-member appointed school board to address Acero’s planned closure of seven of its 15 schools. The district recommended the plan that ultimately passed in a unanimous vote: CPS would give Acero, the private charter school organization, additional money to keep all seven schools open next school year, then the district would take over the operations of five of the schools the following year.

The New Reality

After extensive negotiations between CPS and Acero officials, the district now says that plan isn’t possible. Instead, CPS would see Acero’s Cisneros and Paz elementary schools and Cruz K-12 campus close at the end of this spring. Even under the old version, Paz and Cruz would have been saved for only one year and closed after the 2025-26 school year. Cisneros, however, was one of the five campuses that CPS would have permanently taken over. Now, it would close in a few months.

The Future of the Remaining Schools

The Casas, Fuentes, Tamayo, and Santiago campuses would be maintained for the 2025-26 school year like planned. But in another change, they wouldn’t necessarily be saved after that.

The Board’s Role

CPS is asking the school board to vote on an amended resolution that would direct the district to explore the "viability" of transitioning those four charters into district-run schools. Before, the resolution called on the district to "create a detailed plan to transition" the schools.

The Reason for the Change

Two sources close to CPS and Acero’s negotiations said costly facilities upgrades were key reasons the move proved too costly.

The Parents’ Reaction

Melina Pereyra, whose children attend Cisneros, said she and other parents feel betrayed by Acero. "That’s unfair," she said. "I don’t think it’s the boiler. I don’t think it is the floor. I don’t think it is the ceiling because let me tell you, all the Acero schools need fixing."

The Board’s Concerns

Many of the 21 members of the partially elected school board have expressed serious concerns about the Acero closings and asked CPS to do all it can to keep them open. Carlos Rivas Jr., 3rd District board member, said he thinks "Acero is asking for too much." But he said he understood CPS officials’ explanation of state law and didn’t think the board should go against the district’s latest recommendation.

Conclusion

The future of the seven Acero charter schools remains uncertain, with some facing closure and others facing uncertain futures. The Board of Education will vote on the new plan at its monthly meeting, and some members are pushing to keep at least five schools open next year.

FAQs

• What is the current plan for the seven Acero charter schools?
  The district is planning to close three of the schools and maintain the remaining four for the 2025-26 school year.
• What is the reason for the change in the plan?
  CPS officials say that saving the schools would require the district to give Acero more funding than allowed under state law.
• How do the parents feel about the change in plan?
  Many parents are upset and feel betrayed by Acero, saying that the district should be held accountable for mismanagement and hoarding funds.
• What is the Board of Education’s role in the decision?
  The Board of Education will vote on the new plan at its monthly meeting, and some members are pushing to keep at least five schools open next year.