Chicago school board ends school ranking to promote equity

On Wednesday, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) unanimously approved a five-year strategic plan aimed at promoting equity within the school system. This plan, introduced by CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, marks a significant shift away from ranking schools based solely on student outcomes. Instead, the focus will be on a broader definition of student success, emphasizing the importance of practices, resources, and supports necessary for driving student achievement. The initiative is a response to the historical issues of structural racism and socio-economic inequality in Chicago's education system. The strategic plan includes a new budgeting model designed to allocate funds more equitably, ensuring that schools with the greatest needs receive additional resources. This approach aims to close the equity gap and enhance the educational experience for all students, particularly Black students, through targeted programs such as the 'Black student success plan.' The CPS leadership has expressed a commitment to ongoing public input to refine and adapt the plan as necessary. Despite the positive intentions behind the plan, there has been criticism from various stakeholders. Some argue that the focus on equity may detract from the performance of selective schools and that the redefinition of student success does not adequately address the challenges faced by the district. Critics, including policy advisers, have raised concerns about the effectiveness of increased funding in improving student outcomes. Overall, the CPS's new approach represents a significant change in how educational success is measured and prioritized, with an emphasis on equity and community engagement as central tenets of the district's future direction.