Access Living's critique of the CPS budget... Major budget analysts challenge Board of Education's FY 2017 budget while hundreds protests and dozens speak against Chicago's latest round of school-based cuts....
The August 24, 2016 meeting of the Chicago Board of Education was once again devoted to a delayed approval of the budget for the school system's fiscal year (which began on July 1, 2016), and once again the majority of analysts -- as well as dozens of parents, teachers and others -- criticized the Board members to their faces as they discussed how the leaders of the nation's third largest school system established its annual "operating budget" of more than $5.5 billion. Lengthy critiques of the Board's priorities were provided by the disability rights group Access Living, the Civic Federation, and the Chicago Teachers Union, while individuals -- including teachers whose jobs had been cut in the latest round of CPS layoffs -- detailed how the Board's priorities would impact local schools.
Access Living's policy analyst Rodney Estvan speaking at the August 24, 2016 meeting of the Chicago Board of Education. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.The Board of Education meeting and budget discussion followed an unprecedented three days of hearings which the Board characterized on the "budget," but which frustrated members of the public because of their vague titles, because of the actual lack of transparency and even basic information, and because of the refusal of the Board members themselves to show the public the courtesy of attending the hearings, which were held from August 18 through August 20. The seven members of the Chicago Board of Education are currently appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, although legislation providing for an elected school board has passed the Illinois House of Representatives and is expected to pass the Illinois Senate. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has not said whether he will sign legislation to elect the Chicago Board of Education.
One major criticism of the school system's budget was delivered by Access Living, Chicago's leading disability rights group. Speaking on behalf of the group (as he has for more than a decade), Rodney Estvan told the Board that the budget lacked credibility, and cited Access Living's lengthy (33-page) study of the budget that had been public released the day before. Estvan thanked the Board members for meeting with Access Living, but noted that transparency was one of the problems with how CPS was handling its budgeting process.
Estvan's comments to the Board closely followed the Access Living Press Release, which follows here:
Chicago – On August 23, 2016, Access Living released the FY 2017 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Budget Review to the public. Near the start of each school year, Access Living publishes an annual review of the CPS Budget. The publication analyzes the impact of the CPS Budget on special education and students with disabilities, and makes a series of recommendations. The report is authored by Access Living’s Education Policy Analyst, Rodney Estvan. On Wednesday, August 24, Estvan is scheduled to testify at the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education Meeting, where he will speak about the Budget Review. A copy of the Budget Review was provided to each CPS Board Member prior to the meeting.
The FY 17 CPS Budget was published in a new format from previous years, making transparency a serious issue. The Chicago Public Schools breaks down the Special Education Budget into up to 50 specific instructional program codes. Under the FY 17 format, which merges categorical district wide special education funding into Core Instructional Funding, many program codes read zero. In the report, Estvan notes, “We spent a good part of this report explaining where these funds went and how they return to schools, (page 3).” Nevertheless, because of the new CPS formatting, it is impossible to determine “how much CPS is spending on many different groupings of students with disabilities due to this merger of funds, (page 4).” Despite the difficulties posed from lack of transparency, the Budget Review concludes that “CPS remains in a deep fiscal crisis, (Page 3).” According to the Budget Review, this crisis “has an impact on special education and what can be done for students with disabilities within CPS . . ., (Page 3).”
The Access Living Budget Review credits CPS for publishing a White Paper on Special Education outcomes within the Chicago Public School. The report, “Closing the Achievement Gap and Improving Outcomes for Students with Disabilities,” was issued in July 2016. Though Access Living was pleased CPS produced the report, the Budget Review discusses many problems with the White Paper. Specifically, the White Paper fails to recognize the prevalence of Emotional Behavior Disability among African American students. “In the past CPS has found that African American students are over two and one half times more likely to be identified as having an emotional disability than all other students . . . [yet] the white paper makes no mention at all relating to the identification of African American students and Emotional Behavioral Disability, (p. 25).” This omission is critical within the context of work to address the School to Prison Pipeline. The rate of expulsion and suspension is much higher for African Americans with disabilities compared to other students. Access Living recommends that CPS publish a Special Education Analysis on an annual basis.
The Budget Review includes a list of recommendations for CPS, such as the reestablishment of an office that addresses specific Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) issues. Across the school district, there are hundreds of employees, students and family members of students who need ADA accommodations. Yet, there is no clear CPS staff member for stake holders to contact on this issue. In 2015, CPS laid off the two employees who staffed the ADA Office. Currently, there is no listing of an ADA Office in the CPS Directory. Other recommendations in the Budget Review include issues related to the fiscal issues at CPS, Universal Design in learning, the crisis of violence faced by CPS Students, and the problems created when combining Instructional Funding and Special Education Funding. The full Budget Review report is available for download on the Access Living website. Established in 1980, Access Living is a non-profit, Chicago-based disability rights and service organization that provides individualized, peer-based services for people with disabilities. With a strong influence in public policy and social reform, Access Living is committed to challenging stereotypes, protecting civil rights and breaking institutional and community barriers. For more information, contact Gary Arnold at 312-640-2199(voice), garnold@accessliving.org, 312-640-2102(TTY).
