CHICAGO — Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has laid off 161 employees, including dozens of classroom aides, custodians, and clerical workers, in the latest sign of financial strain as the district tries to cover a projected $391 million budget shortfall, as reported by Block Club Chicago.
The layoffs were confirmed just ahead of the district’s July 1 fiscal year deadline. Officials also warned that more cuts could be imminent as the district adjusts to the expiration of pandemic-era federal funding.
Classroom support staff hit hardest
Of the 161 jobs cut, 94 were school-based roles, including special education assistants and clerical support. CPS stated that most of the cuts stemmed from declining enrollment and staffing realignments, but critics argue the layoffs disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
According to the Chicago Teachers Union, the decision to remove classroom-level staff while central office hiring continues “is shameful and short-sighted.”
“Removing vital support staff harms students who need the most help,” said CTU President Stacy Davis Gates, calling the cuts “a step in the wrong direction.”
$391M deficit with limited options
CPS leadership, including CEO Pedro Martinez, has said the system is facing a “structural deficit” as it transitions toward an elected school board and away from city oversight. The expiration of ESSER pandemic relief funds has created a gap the district now struggles to fill.
In a recent CPS press briefing, Martinez noted that more layoffs are possible once the full 2025 budget is finalized later this summer.
A preliminary draft of the district budget is expected later in July.
Pushback from community and parents
Parents and education advocates have expressed alarm at the district’s decision to lay off aides and paraprofessionals. One CPS parent, Angela Ruiz, told Block Club, “They keep saying enrollment is down, but my son’s class still has 30 kids and not enough help.”
Local parent organizations and advocacy groups have pledged to appear at upcoming Board of Education meetings to protest the layoffs and demand restoration of classroom support.
What’s next for laid-off workers?
CPS has offered limited opportunities for laid-off employees to transfer into other district roles, but union officials say very few equivalent jobs exist. Meanwhile, critics are questioning why central office hiring continues despite school-level cuts.
The district maintains it must shift staffing to “reflect new realities,” but teachers and parents alike fear the cuts will worsen student outcomes in already under-resourced schools.
Do you think CPS made the right call with these layoffs — or should school-based roles have been protected first? Let us know at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
