As parents and community leaders, we are deeply concerned by reports that the Chicago Board of Education, at the direction of the Mayor of Chicago, may move to fire Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez. This decision, at the beginning of the school year, during ongoing negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union, and just months before the transition to an elected school board, could have a negative impact on Chicago’s students.
The fact that hundreds of principals and assistant principals have voiced their support for CEO Martinez indicates just how seriously a move like this must be considered before acting.
We urge both the Mayor and the Board of Education to act in the best interest of students and families by offering transparency and accountability in their decision-making during this critical time for Chicago Public Schools.
Why Illinois Must Fully Fund Education Now
Claiborne Wade, chair of Kids First Chicago’s Equitable Funding Task Force, CPS parent, and staff member at DePriest Elementary, presses the state board and state legislators to guarantee more adequate education funding in the FY2026 budget.
Katrina Adams Reacts to CPS Special Board Meeting and CEO Sacking, on Eve of Winter Break
Parent leader Katrina Adams reflects on what the special December 20 Board of Education meeting and the Board’s decision to fire CEO Martinez means about the city, the mayor, and who gets prioritized by politicians.
Statements from Kids First Chicago & Kids First Chicago Parent Advisory Board on Special CPS Board Meeting
Kids First Chicago and its Parent Advisory Board offer statements on the Board of Education's special session, called with just two days' notice on the brink of the CPS Winter Break.