Chicago Public Schools laying off thousands of teachers after spending $900 Million to educate illegal migrants
CPS is facing a $734 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year, leading to significant layoffs and budget adjustments, in fact the district has announced the layoff of:
1,458 Employees, including 432 Teachers
132 Special Education teachers, and
677 Special Education Classroom Assistants.
The layoffs follow a prior round of 161 layoffs
including 87 crossing guards, and
the elimination of 209 vacant positions.
The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and SEIU Local 73 have criticized the layoffs, saying the state needs to provide more money… i.e. taxpayers.
They advocate for using Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds or a high-interest loan proposed by Mayor Brandon Johnson to address the shortfall.
CPS spent the $900 million on educating illegal migrant students from 2021 to 2025.
Overall – Chicago has spent $1 billion to $1.6 billion on illegal migrants in the same time period including city services like free housing, free healthcare, free travel, free SNAP and education costs.
Illinois will spend a total of $2.5 billion by the end of 2025, including $1.6 billion on healthcare for migrants and $478 million since 2023 for the Welcoming with Dignity initiative (welcome centers, housing, food, and resettlement services)
