Chicago Budget Board of Education: CPS Budget, School Calendar, Board Office and Meetings
This Chicago Board of Education budget guide helps parents, teachers, students, Local School Council members, staff, community groups and residents quickly find official Chicago Public Schools budget pages, FY2026 budget details, FY2027 budget-process updates, school budget planning, CPS school calendar links, Board Office phone number, office-hours help, public meeting schedule, planning calendar, agendas, past meeting actions, videos, public participation rules, written comments, livestreams and official links.
Searches for “Chicago board of education budget” often mix budget books, school calendars, board meetings, office hours, public comment and school-level budget questions. Use this quick finder to reach the right official route.
Chicago Board of Education Budget Quick Answer
The official Chicago Board of Education and CPS budget information is split across two official systems. Use cps.edu for the CPS budget, district calendar, Board Office department page and district resources. Use cpsboe.org for Board meetings, public participation, planning calendar, past meetings, actions, videos, office-hours help and Board Office routing.
The Board Office is listed at 42 W. Madison Street, Garden Level, Chicago, IL 60602. The Board Office phone number is 773-553-1600. For general Chicago Public Schools information, CPS lists 773-553-1000.
Chicago Board of Education Budget and Office Facts
These quick facts help you avoid common confusion between CPS finance pages, the Board Office, public board meetings and student calendar pages.
What This Chicago Board of Education Budget Guide Covers
Official Chicago Board of Education Budget Links
Use these official pages first. They reduce the risk of using an old budget PDF, a wrong meeting link, a stale YouTube stream, a city-budget page instead of CPS budget, or a third-party calendar copy.
💰 CPS Budget 2026
Budget overview, approved budget book, interactive reports, department details and public hearing information.
Open Budget Page🧾 Board Meetings
Scheduled meetings, registration windows, livestream access, written comments and meeting details.
Open Meetings📅 Planning Calendar
2026-2027 Board meeting and Agenda Review Committee planning dates.
Open Planning Calendar🏢 Board Office
Board Office address, phone number, responsibilities and related Board links.
Open Board Office📆 CPS Calendar
Family calendars, staff calendars, Board of Education events and district calendar filters.
Open CPS Calendar▶️ CPS YouTube
Board meeting livestreams, archived meetings and CPS video updates.
Open CPS YouTubeChicago Public Schools FY2026 Budget: What Users Need to Know
The CPS Budget 2026 section is the official place to start for the district budget. The Budget Overview 2026 page states that CPS outlined a balanced $10.25 billion FY2026 budget that protects school budgets, funds commitments to labor partners and avoids beginning-of-year or mid-year cuts to schools.
The Budget 2026 page also links related resources such as the FY2026 Approved Budget Book, interactive reports, department pages and organizational chart. For serious review, use the budget overview to understand the story, then use the approved budget book or interactive reports to inspect details.
| Budget need | Use this official route | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Budget summary | Budget Overview | Best for plain-language summary and major budget themes. |
| Full budget detail | Approved Budget Book | Best for formal budget sections, tables and official document review. |
| Interactive budget data | Interactive Reports | Best for users comparing departments, school categories or budget lines. |
| Public hearing record | Budget hearings | Best for hearing time, transcript, written comments and public participation context. |
FY2027 Chicago Board of Education Budget Process and School-Level Planning
CPS published a May 2026 community update explaining the beginning of the budget process for the 2026-2027 school year. The update says CPS leadership met with principals and provided individual school budgets, describing that as the first step in the annual budget process.
The same update explains CPS is facing major budget pressure due to revenue, enrollment, student needs, labor contracts, facilities, pensions and debt. It also says CPS planned to present a full operating budget for the 2026-27 school year to the Chicago Board of Education for approval later in the summer.
School leaders receive individual school budgets early so they can plan for the next year.
Principals work with Local School Councils as school-level budgets are shaped.
CPS says broader reductions may include Central Office, Network Offices and citywide expenditures.
The full operating budget is presented to the Chicago Board of Education for approval later in the process.
How CPS School Budgets Connect to the Board Budget
School-level budgets and the full district operating budget are related but not identical. Families often hear about staffing at their school before the full Board budget vote. CPS’ annual budget process typically begins with individual school budget planning, then moves toward a district-wide operating budget presentation and Board action.
School receives budget planning details
Principals use CPS school budget information to plan staffing and program needs for the next year.
Local School Council reviews local impact
LSCs and school communities may discuss how budget details affect the school’s priorities.
CPS prepares district-wide budget
The district organizes school, central office, network and citywide budget details into an operating budget.
Chicago Board considers approval
The Board considers the full operating budget and related public comment or hearing process according to official postings.
Chicago Public Schools Calendar: Family Calendar, Staff Calendar and Board Events
The official CPS Calendar page is the best route for family calendars, staff calendars and district calendar filters. It also shows Board of Education event categories. For family planning, use the CPS family calendar; for employment planning, use the staff calendar; for board meetings, use cpsboe.org planning calendar.
The CPS calendar page currently shows school-year calendar resources including 2027-2028 Family Calendar and Staff Calendar links. Always confirm the correct school year before planning childcare, work leave, travel, conferences or graduation events.
Best for first day, breaks, student non-attendance days, report card dates and family planning.
Best for employees checking staff workdays and school-year planning.
Best found through cpsboe.org planning calendar, not only the district event filter.
Also check your school page for ceremonies, local events, open houses and school-specific updates.
Chicago Board of Education Meetings and 2026-2027 Planning Calendar
The cpsboe.org Meetings page lists scheduled meetings, current registration windows and live stream access. The 2026-2027 Planning Calendar shows Board Meetings and Agenda Review Committee Meetings at the CPS Loop Office, 42 W. Madison Street, Garden Level, Board Room, with many listed at 10:30 a.m.
| Meeting task | Official route | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| Upcoming meeting | Meetings | Check date, time, location, registration opening and livestream access. |
| Full yearly planning | Planning Calendar | Good for seeing Board Meeting and Agenda Review Committee patterns. |
| Past actions and videos | Past Meetings | Includes actions, videos, reference materials and proceedings where available. |
| Public participation | Guidelines | Review speaker and observer registration before the meeting. |
How to Speak, Observe or Submit Written Comments to the Chicago Board
The Board’s meeting page explains that advance speaker and observer registration windows open before meetings and that registration can be online or by phone at 773-553-1600. Public participation slots are limited, and the Board’s guidelines explain how observing, speaker registration, in-person attendance, virtual participation and written comments work.
For Board meetings, registration windows are time-limited and may use a lottery if more people register than slots allow.
Advance observer registration may be required for in-person attendance due to room capacity.
Written comments can be submitted through the Board website or mailed to 42 W. Madison Street, Garden Level.
Budget and capital plan hearings can have separate public comment forms and registration windows.
Chicago Board of Education Office Address, Phone Number and Office-Hours Help
The CPS Board Office page lists the Board Office phone as 773-553-1600 and address as 42 W. Madison Street, Garden Level, Chicago, IL 60602. The Board Office supports Chicago Board of Education members, public access and engagement, transparency, board meetings, agendas, speaker registration, Board rules, policies and CPS archive functions.
The cpsboe.org office-hours/help page gives help links for complaints, enrollment, school-related issues, school records, HR/payroll/benefits, students with disabilities, employee verification and more. It also repeats the general CPS number 773-553-1000 and Board questions number 773-553-1600.
| Need | Call or open | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Board meeting, agenda, comment | 773-553-1600 / cpsboe.org | Board Office manages meeting administration, agendas and participation. |
| General CPS information | 773-553-1000 / cps.edu | General district questions should start with CPS contact routing. |
| Student-specific school issue | Your school first | Attendance, teacher contact, records and daily school matters usually start locally. |
| Budget documents | CPS Budget | Budget book, reports and hearing materials are posted on CPS Finance pages. |
Chicago Board Past Meetings, Actions, Proceedings, Presentations and Videos
The Past Meetings page says information from past Board meetings includes actions, videos of the meeting, proceedings and presentations made by senior leadership. Use this page when you need to verify what happened at a meeting rather than relying on memory, social media or a partial livestream clip.
Useful for official Board decisions and action records connected to a meeting.
Useful for watching discussion, comments, CEO remarks and meeting flow.
Useful when posted for a more formal meeting record or written proceedings.
Useful for slides, reports, presentations and budget-related files.
Parent, Student and School-Level Questions That Are Not Budget Questions
Many users land on budget pages when they really need school enrollment, school records, a student portal, transportation, disabilities support, HR, payroll, benefits or complaints. Use the Board office-hours/help page and CPS website menus to choose the right route before calling.
Use CPS enrollment and school-specific pages, not a Board budget page.
Former student record requests have a separate help route on the Board help page.
The Office for Students with Disabilities has separate support routes.
Complaint processes depend on the issue. Use official CPS/Board help links, not public comments for private student details.
Chicago Board of Education Meeting Video and CPS YouTube
The Board meetings page directs the public to live stream access through cpsboe.org, and CPS posts meeting videos on the Chicago Public Schools YouTube channel. Use video for context, but use actions, proceedings and reference materials for formal review.
Watch a Recent Chicago Board Meeting
This embedded video uses a Chicago Public Schools Board meeting video. For the newest stream, open cpsboe.org meetings or the CPS YouTube channel.
Map to Chicago Board of Education and CPS Loop Office
The Chicago Board of Education and Board Office pages list 42 W. Madison Street, Garden Level, Chicago, IL 60602. Meetings are commonly listed at the CPS Loop Office, Garden Level, Board Room. Always check the exact meeting posting before visiting.
CPS Loop Office / Chicago Board of Education
Use this map for general direction planning. Confirm registration, room access, security and meeting status before attending.
Chicago Board of Education Budget FAQs
Where is the official Chicago Board of Education budget page?
Use the Chicago Public Schools Finance budget page. For FY2026, CPS provides the budget overview, approved budget book, interactive reports, department pages and public hearing details.
Is the Chicago Board of Education budget the same as the City of Chicago budget?
No. CPS budget information is on cps.edu under Finance and Budget. City budget information is separate. The Chicago Board of Education reviews CPS district matters, not every City of Chicago budget item.
What is the Chicago Board of Education phone number?
The Chicago Board of Education phone number listed on Board Office and cpsboe.org pages is 773-553-1600.
Where is the Chicago Board of Education office?
The Board Office is listed at 42 W. Madison Street, Garden Level, Chicago, IL 60602.
Where can I find the CPS school calendar?
Use the official CPS calendar page for family calendars, staff calendars, district events and filters. Do not use Board meeting dates as student attendance dates.
Where can I find Chicago Board meeting dates?
Use cpsboe.org meetings and the planning calendar. The planning calendar lists Board Meetings and Agenda Review Committee meetings with dates, times and locations.
How do I speak at a Chicago Board meeting?
Use the public participation guidelines and meeting page. Registration windows are limited, and a lottery may be used when more people register than available speaking slots.
Can I submit written budget comments?
Budget and Board meeting comment rules vary by meeting or hearing. CPS budget pages and cpsboe.org meeting pages explain current written comment windows, forms and mailing instructions.
Where are past Chicago Board meeting actions and videos?
Use the Past Meetings page on cpsboe.org. It lists actions, videos, proceedings and reference materials where available.
What is the Board Office responsible for?
The CPS Board Office supports Board members, public access and engagement, transparency, board meeting administration, agenda release, speaker registration, Board rules, policies and the CPS archive.
How do school budgets connect to Local School Councils?
CPS says principals work with Local School Councils to create final budgets for the next school year. School-level budget questions should often start with the principal and LSC before moving to district-wide Board budget pages.
Where can I watch Chicago Board meetings online?
Use cpsboe.org meetings for live stream information and the Chicago Public Schools YouTube channel for archived meeting videos.
What number should I call for general CPS information?
CPS lists 773-553-1000 for general Chicago Public Schools information. Use 773-553-1600 for Chicago Board of Education questions.
Should I use the Board budget page for student records?
No. Student records, enrollment, special education and school-related issues have separate CPS routes. Use the Board help page or your school first for student-specific issues.
Best Way to Use This Chicago Board of Education Budget Guide
Start with CPS Finance budget pages when you need budget overview, approved budget book, interactive reports, hearing information or school budget process updates. Start with cpsboe.org when you need Board meetings, planning calendar, speaker registration, written comments, past meeting actions, videos and reference materials.
For family planning, use the CPS school calendar. For office questions, use 773-553-1600 for the Board Office and 773-553-1000 for general CPS information. For student-specific questions, begin with your school or the correct CPS help route instead of trying to solve it through a public Board comment.