A report from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) revealed that the district spent $14.5 million on travel expenses during fiscal years 2023 and 2024. This spending coincides with concerning academic performance, as only 30.5% of students in grades 3–8 were proficient in reading, and just 18.3% were proficient in math in the spring of 2024.
The report highlights that CPS’s travel expenses increased by 2,467% from $300,000 in fiscal year 2021 to $7.7 million in fiscal year 2024. The expenditures included trips to Las Vegas, Egypt, Finland, and South Africa. These trips, often for professional development, featured lavish activities and were not always pre-approved.
Pastor Corey Brooks criticized the school leaders, telling Fox News, “It is a sad commentary on just how far our city has fallen and how bad the leadership is.” He emphasized the need for funds to benefit students rather than administrators.
CPS responded by forming a committee to review travel expenses and implementing new policies to restrict employee travel. A spokesperson for CPS said, “We take seriously the findings and recommendations from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and will continue to ensure our District policies and procedures support the highest ethical standards.”
The report also noted that 40.8% of CPS students were chronically absent in 2024, further highlighting the challenges faced by the district. Corey DeAngelis, Executive Director of the Educational Freedom Institute, called the situation “a complete dumpster fire,” emphasizing the need for reform in the education system.
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