Chicago Schools Face Budget Cliff as Classrooms Reopen, Thousands of Jobs at Risk
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students are heading back to classrooms this week amidst a swirling storm of budget uncertainty, with the district's approved $10.11 billion budget for the 2026-2027 school year precariously balanced on $150 million in unconfirmed state funding. This financial tightrope walk has school leaders warning of potential credit downgrades, higher borrowing costs, and even mid-year cuts if the promised state dollars don't materialize, casting a long shadow over the new academic year just as classes resume.















