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Welcoming Students Back to Safe and Supportive Schools

August 15, 2025

Click here to view this letter in Spanish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Filipino, Polish, Ukrainian, Urdu, or Vietnamese. Use the Google Translate feature at the top of the page to change the language. 

Dear CPS Families, 

We hope that you have all enjoyed a great summer, and that your children are getting excited to return to school on Monday, August 18 (K–12 students) and Tuesday, August 19 (pre-k students).

It looks like the summer heat will continue on Monday, but our schools have procedures in place to keep everyone safe and cool so that we can have a successful first day!

As a reminder, all CPS classrooms are equipped with air conditioning, and the CPS facilities team will be working with schools to fix any air conditioning systems that may encounter issues. Schools will also observe the following protocols in the case of extreme heat:

  • Ensure that students remain sufficiently hydrated, providing plenty of opportunities for them to refill water bottles and visit drinking fountains.
  • Hold recess indoors and limit physical activity  
  • Keep rooms cool by drawing shades, keeping doors closed, and turning off overhead lights, computers, and monitors when not required for instruction.

For additional health and safety guidance on coping with extreme heat, families can access this resource from the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications. 

In addition to keeping students physically comfortable, we want to ensure our families that CPS remains fully committed to providing every child with a learning environment where they feel safe, welcomed, and supported, and where their unique abilities and life experiences are celebrated every day. This includes all of our students — such as immigrant and refugee students, students with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and others whose identities and experiences enrich and strengthen our District.

Linked below are guidance materials and resources created to ensure members of our community receive the focused support they need during this time.

We encourage you to review any of the above sections with your family.

We thank you for your partnership, and we look forward to welcoming all of our students back to class so that they can continue building on their momentum inside safe, supportive classrooms where diversity is celebrated and embraced.

Sincerely, 

Dr. Macquline King

Interim Superintendent / Chief Executive Officer

Chicago Public Schools

Sean B. Harden

President of the Board of Education

Chicago Public Schools

Supporting Students Amidst Changes in Federal Immigration Policy 

We know that many members of our school communities have concern and anxiety about immigration policy changes from the new presidential administration. CPS remains committed to protecting the right of ALL students to have a free public education regardless of their immigration status or the status of their family members. Toward that end, the District has strong protections in place for our students and staff that were reaffirmed by the Board of Education in a resolution in November of 2024 and February of 2025. 

As a reminder, CPS:

  • DOES NOT ask for our families' immigration status
  • WILL NOT coordinate with federal immigration enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
  • DOES NOT share student records with ICE or any other federal representatives, except in the rare case where there is a court order or consent from the parent/guardian
  • WILL NOT allow ICE agents or any other federal representatives access to CPS facilities unless they produce a criminal judicial warrant signed by a federal judge

As part of our annual back to school training, CPS is taking proactive steps to ensure our school security guards and other school-based staff are up to date on the latest procedures and protocols to respond to any incident in a way that will protect students and staff.

CPS has also created a webpage—cps.edu/immigration—with a comprehensive set of resources for families. 

These include:

  • Guidance documents and Know Your Rights guides from community-based partner organizations
  • A specialized list of immigration services by geographic area
  • Guidance for families applying for financial aid for college or other postsecondary programs
  • An updated calendar of upcoming Know Your Rights trainings

While CPS is doing everything we can to ensure school property remains a safe place for all students, we also recognize that families are feeling anxiety about immigration enforcement actions when outside of the home or school. We encourage families to explore and use the resources Illinois immigrant service organizations have put together at illinoisimmigrationinfo.org to help loved ones and communities stay safe and access legal resources.

Empowering CPS Students with Disabilities

For students with disabilities and their families, we know that the start of the school year can bring some anxiety. To help ease those concerns, the CPS Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) has created this resource to help the families of children with disabilities get ready for a successful school year. 

Included on this page is an overview of special education services in CPS, information on navigating the special education process, and details on ways for families to share their feedback as we continue improving the educational experience of our students with disabilities. These improvements include a new team of Special Education Coordinators (SECs) who will partner directly with schools to support instruction, remove barriers, and promote learning environments that are responsive to each student’s unique needs.

This team will serve as leaders in establishing and maintaining high-quality special education practices and instructional excellence at all schools. They will work directly with teachers, school leadership, and case managers to ensure that learning barriers are identified and addressed proactively so that all students with disabilities can continue to build their skills and grow their knowledge in ways that honor their unique abilities. 

We want our families of students with disabilities to know that we are fully committed to providing the resources and services that students need to reach their full potential and achieve rightful presence in our schools.

Supporting our LGBTQ+ Community

Our LGBTQ+ students, families, and staff are vital to the fabric of our District. CPS will continue advocating for this community with absolute resolve, ensuring our schools are and will remain safe spaces where all students are valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential.

To our LGBTQ community: We see you, we affirm you, and we celebrate who you are. We thank you for the strength, power, and imagination you bring to our community. CPS will continue to rely on state law, local ordinances, and our District’s own strong guidelines to ensure vital protections remain in place for our LGBTQ+ students and staff, and will fiercely protect your rights, your safety, and your ability to learn and grow authentically. 

Below is a collection of resources specifically geared towards LGBTQ+ students and their families. We also want to remind families that there are mental health resources available at every CPS school to help students who may be feeling concern and anxiety. Please reach out to your school principal or counselor to access these resources.

  • Supporting LGBTQ+ Young People: Tips for Parents and Caregivers: English | Spanish
  • Mental Wellness Guides:

         - Taking Care of Your Feelings (for elementary school students): English | Spanish
         - Taking Care of Your Mental Well-being (for middle school and high school students): English | Spanish