Chicago’s Elected School Board

During the Illinois General Assembly’s November veto session, lawmakers agreed on a third draft of an elected school board map that divides the city into 20 districts. The map has seven majority Black districts, six where Latinos make up 50% of the population, and five where the population is 50% or more White.

The legislators could not decide on how the elections would take place in 2024 and 2026 as the school board transitions to be fully elected. Senate President Don Harmon put forth a plan for an election of all 20 board members as soon as 2024. Lawmakers in the House passed a different proposal that would result in the election of ten members as soon as 2024 with another ten appointed by the mayor. The ten districts with appointed members would elect representatives in 2026. President Harmon did not bring the House plan up for consideration. No agreement was reached before the session ended.

The Illinois House and Senate passed a bill agreeing to ethics provisions and creating a Black Student Achievement Committee.  

The Invest in Kids private school voucher program, which the League has advocated against, was allowed to sunset.

The next legislative session will be held in mid-January 2024.