Community Advocacy Toolkit: Demanding a Strong CPS CEO
Empower your neighbors, parents, and local leaders to demand a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Chief Executive Officer who puts students first. Use the following resources to organize, mobilize, and amplify your voice.
— Christian Maxwell For Congress (@themodpun) June 6, 2025
Take the survey that CPS has deployed and answer the questions honestly about how you feel about CPS
Send this letter
I write as a concerned parent and community advocate to urge you to select a Chief Executive Officer with a proven record of raising literacy rates for all students across the district. CPS currently reports that only 26 percent of 3rd–8th graders meet reading proficiency benchmarks. We need a leader who has demonstrably boosted literacy outcomes in a large, diverse system.
Key qualifications to prioritize:
Documented literacy impact: The candidate should present verifiable data showing significant year-over-year improvements in K–3 reading scores under their leadership.
Curriculum expertise: A deep understanding of phonics-based reading programs, balanced literacy frameworks, and intervention models proven to accelerate early readers.
District-wide implementation experience: Evidence that the candidate successfully scaled literacy initiatives across multiple schools—especially in high-need neighborhoods—resulting in measurable gains within two to three years.
Data-driven accountability: A record of using formative assessments, “data walls,” and regular progress reports to monitor student growth and adjust instruction in real time.
Professional development leadership: Experience designing and sustaining teacher training programs focused on literacy coaching, classroom walk-throughs, and continuous improvement cycles.
Selecting a CEO with these qualifications will send a clear message: CPS is committed to reversing its literacy crisis and ensuring every child—regardless of zip code—leaves 3rd grade ready to read. I ask you to require all finalists to submit detailed case studies on how they achieved significant literacy improvements, including the specific strategies, resources, and timelines involved. Additionally, please hold a public forum for finalist Q&A focused exclusively on their plans to improve reading outcomes.
Thank you for your service to our children. We look forward to a transparent, rigorous selection process that prioritizes the literacy needs of CPS students.
Respectfully,
[Your Name]
[Title / Organization]
[Contact Information]
Register for the virtual community feedback session!
Tweets for you to post
CPS students can’t wait: only 26% of 3rd–8th graders read at grade level. We need a CEO with a proven track record of boosting literacy across diverse schools. Demand detailed case studies from each finalist. #StrongCPSCEO #LiteracyFirst
A transparent search means more than lip service. Insist the Board require finalists to share data-driven plans for K–3 reading gains, districtwide scaling, and teacher coaching models. Our kids deserve nothing less. #AccountabilityNow #PutStudentsFirst
What’s your school’s reading score? Call on CPS to host a public Q&A so parents can grill CEO candidates on real literacy solutions—phonics programs, intervention models, and measurable benchmarks. Make your voice heard! 📚✊ #CPSCEO #LiteracyMatters
Background Briefing
Why the CPS CEO Matters
The CEO shapes district-wide policy: curriculum adoption, resource allocation, safety protocols, budgeting, and staffing.
A data-driven, experienced CEO can reverse declining literacy/math performance, modernize outdated facilities, and restore trust.
Current Context
CPS’s recent academic metrics (e.g., 3rd–8th grade reading at 26%) lag state averages.
Budget opacity and under-resourced schools have eroded confidence.
The Board of Education is actively interviewing candidates—community input still matters.
Desired CEO Profile (“Candidate Checklist”)
Instructional Track Record: 10+ years in public K-12, including successful principalship in a high-need school.
Academic Expertise: Deep knowledge of literacy/math programs with documented gains.
Fiscal Stewardship: Proven ability to manage a multi-billion-dollar budget while prioritizing classroom impact.
Community Engagement: History of collaborating with parents, teachers, and local leaders.
Accountability & Transparency: Sets measurable performance goals, publishes regular progress reports, and makes tough decisions when schools fail.
Certifications: Illinois superintendent licensure (Ed.D. or equivalent preferred).
Commitment to Safety & Discipline: Implements effective discipline procedures while ensuring mental-health supports.
