Nearly two years after its 21 members were seated — and just three weeks before a consequential election — the Chicago school board finally put its three standing committees on finance, operations and student success to work.
It’s unclear why the Board of Education took so long to form the committees, even though its bylaws require them. Advocates have long viewed the model as a way to streamline governance by having small groups zero in on specific issues. Committee appointments were announced last month, and the groups convened for the first time Thursday.
A board spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
With the election weeks away, the board’s makeup is likely to shift significantly in just a few months. All 21 board seats are up for grabs, and though most members are running to keep their seats, the races are expected to be hotly contested.
Committee meetings for special education and the district’s Black Student Success Plan — which are led by board members but composed of community members — are also scheduled for the next six weeks. Both committees began accepting applications last year, but their rollout has been mired with delays.
Chicago Public Schools’ 21-member board is among the largest in the country, and its shift from decades of mayoral control to a hybrid body has at times brought growing pains. Currently, 10 members are elected and 11 were appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. That dynamic has fueled division between board members aligned with Johnson and his ally, the Chicago Teachers Union, and those who are not.
Amid the politics, the seven-member committees can help the board focus on clear priorities, according to Hal Woods, chief of policy at Kids First Chicago. They can also give board members more substantive information before they make decisions.
“You need to have smaller groups of members who can dig into those issues, ask questions and basically bring better-informed recommendations,” Woods said.
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Committees are a hallmark of many large elected bodies. For example, the Chicago City Council has 19 standing committees overseeing a wide range of issues, from public safety to housing.
The school board’s three committees will meet monthly to review contracts, policies and other action items before they go up to vote at the full board’s monthly meeting. For each item, the committee recommends how the full board should vote.
The district’s Black Student Success Plan is codified in state law, and the board began accepting applications last fall for the committee overseeing its implementation. But the plan largely stalled amid a Trump administration investigation alleging the effort was discriminatory. The plan aims to close historic academic and opportunity gaps for Black students.
The previous 7-member board formed the special education advisory committee, but it has not met since November 2024.