As we continue to confront the devastating realities of the proposed SY26-27 school budgets, I want to remind every member that CPAA’s first and most urgent priority has been fighting to protect Assistant Principals as foundational positions in every school.
TAKE ACTION! Contact your elected school board members (listed by district in the table below) and remind them that YOUR CHILDREN and THEIR SCHOOLS MATTER.
If you need help balancing the books, ask the leaders who manage their own abysmal budgets every year; we continuously find solutions that aren’t this detrimental to our children.
Five exceptional students are beginning their college journeys with support from the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA), which has awarded them the 2026 Diann Woodard Scholarship.
Some students have lost their mother, while others live apart from her due to divorce, incarceration, military deployment, or other complex circumstances.
We are in budget season… and although CPS has not released next year’s budget yet, we are already bracing for what will be missing. ( $1B State deficit; Federal fund revoked) Federal funding helped carry schools through COVID. It helped us rebuild. In some areas, we are finally seeing gains again. And now that funding is going away. So what does that mean for the progress we’ve made? Especially when we know that the needs in our schools haven’t decreased… they’ve increased.
“As a principal, you’re everything to everyone,” Clarence says. “Our children are our most precious jewels. We have to treasure them. Students need leaders who are passionate about their growth and who hold themselves and other educators accountable.”
The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) announced that its Board of Directors has selected Stephanie A. Morris as the organization’s next executive director. Morris will assume the role on August 1, 2026, following a planned leadership transition.
Well, here we are again. CPS is preparing to roll out school budgets for next year.
This past year was complicated. The FY26 budget was introduced before long-term funding was secured, creating uncertainty across the system and prompting strong advocacy from CPAA. That included our letter-writing campaign around TIF releases and direct engagement with city leadership. The mayor met privately with CPAA members to answer direct questions about what was and was not protected for CPS.
