CHICAGO – To bring more accountability to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and give parents a greater voice in their children’s education, state Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is cosponsoring legislation that would create an elected school board at CPS.
“The status quo at CPS is not working for our neighborhood schools, students or teachers,” D’Amico said. “Decades of mismanagement at CPS have led to slashed budgets, teacher layoffs and increased classroom sizes. Children in our neighborhoods deserve better.”
D’Amico has signed on as a cosponsor of House Bill 1774. His proposal abolishes the unaccountable, mayoral appointed board and replaces it with an elected, 21 member body. During the last municipal election, voters overwhelmingly approved an elected school board with nearly 90 percent of respondents in support of the proposal. The proposed structure of the board would mirror how other Illinois school boards are currently arranged.
“When CPS is forced to sue the state due to a lack of resources and unfair funding formula, something is clearly wrong,” D’Amico said. “Our communities, just like every other school district in the state, deserve to have their voices heard and hold decision makers accountable.”
A similar piece of legislation passed the House of Representative last year, yet was unable to pass the Senate. House Bill 1774 is currently awaiting a vote in the Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum and Policies Committee.
Rep John D’Amico 
(D-Chicago)
15th District
Springfield Office:
279-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8198
(217) 782-2906 FAX
District Office:
4404 W. Lawrence Avenue
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 736-0218
(773) 736-2333 FAX