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The survey, conducted in conjunction with WBEZ and the Joyce
Foundation, also found that most city residents give the system
an overall grade of C and feel that the lack of learning largely
stems from the staggering levels of poverty affecting most CPS
students.
Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, laments the poll
only confirms what he’s always known.
“CPS for generations has failed families … generations have been
neglected,” Ford told The Center Square. “The way it is, if
you're born in poverty and you are a student in a family that's
attending a Chicago public school, you will probably continue to
live in poverty and probably die in poverty because education is
the ... key to making sure that you have a path out.”
Recent data shows that nearly three out of every four CPS
students (71%) come from low-income families and that most
parents think the money already allocated for the system is not
being spent effectively.
Still, Ford says he still holds out hope for the system,
especially given some of the recent steps taken by Mayor Brandon
Johnson and his administration.
“The mayor is saying let’s have some equity,” Ford said.
“There's a lot of areas that I have concern with the city's
governance, but I feel confident that the mayor has a handle and
understanding of the need to have equitable funding and fair
access to high quality education.”
Ford said he understands it’s Johnson’s view that selective
enrollment schools are not being equitable and that has to
change.
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