Courtesy of The Chicago City Council Latino Caucus

This is a pivotal time for Chicago schools and also a critical time in Chicago’s history. Since 1995, Chicago’s mayor has had control over the city’s public schools. However, the state voted and passed legislation in 2021 to transition this power over to an elected school board in 2024. In 2024, 11 of the seats would be appointed by the mayor and 10 would be elected. Two years later, in 2026, elections would be held for the 11 appointed seats, leading to a fully-elected board by 2027. However, the ability to vote and run in school board elections is currently limited to U.S. citizens. Illinois State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) introduced SB1565 in the Senate in February 2022 to allow non-citizens to vote in the school board elections across Illinois. “Local School Councils allow for non-citizen participation and the bill should follow suit,” said Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36), Chairman of the Chicago City Council Latino Caucus. “When the city receives funding from the federal and state governments, one’s immigration status is not taken into consideration. Not allowing parents who are non-citizens but taking the funding from the federal and state government to fund CPS is akin to taxation without representation.”

The Chicago City Council Latino Caucus urges for immediate passage of this bill so the board making imperative decisions about our children’s education and quality of life is fully representative of the true makeup of the public school system. The Chicago City Council Latino Caucus was created to fight for the well-being and betterment of all Latino residents of Chicago. The Caucus includes 13 members from across the city. They represent wards as diverse as Chicago itself. In addition to Chairman Gilbert Villegas (36) and Ald. Rossana Rodriguez (33), the Caucus membership includes: Ald. Daniel LaSpata (1), Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10), Ald. Anabel Abarca (12), Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22), Ald. Silvana Tabares (23), Ald. Bryon Sigcho-Lopez (25), Ald. Robert Maldonado (26), Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30), Ald. Felix Cardona (31), Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35), and Ald. Andre Vasquez (40). Chicago’s Clerk Anna Valencia is an ex-officio member of the Latino Caucus.