Catholic schools in Chicago abruptly lost federally funded instructional support services April 10 after the city’s public school system terminated the program, leaving more than 800 students without academic support.
The Archdiocese of Chicago said in an April 10 statement that Chicago Public Schools (CPS) informed the archdiocese’s Office of Catholic Schools that the federally funded services would end, which provide tutoring in math, reading, and writing.
Superintendent of the Chicago Archdiocese, Greg Richmond, said something clearly “went wrong” with the handling of the program, adding the abrupt termination was unexpected.
“We were rather shocked to be told a week later that they’re ending,” Richmond told WGN, “and we just want to do everything we can to help these kids get the help they need.”
Under federal law, students with disabilities in nonpublic schools are eligible for services funded through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which are distributed by local public school systems. CPS manages the program and oversees how those services are provided.
The archdiocese said it may pursue legal action on behalf of its students, and Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, said the disparity was unacceptable.
“We cannot allow this shocking and possibly discriminatory action by CPS to stand,” Archbishop Cupich said in the statement, “not only given its affront to Catholics, but even more so since this injustice would disenfranchise the students we serve.”
The statement said CPS originally told the archdiocese that the program would continue through the end of the school year, but later informed the archdiocese that it would end April 10. The program is part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the archdiocese noted.
According to the statement, the services appear to have been terminated only for Catholic schools, as the archdiocese noted it is not aware of any other school system facing similar issues. It added that the reason for the disparity remains unclear.
The archdiocese also raised concerns about possible mismanagement of IDEA funding, noting that CPS assured the archdiocese March 25 that there was sufficient funding left for Catholic school students before claiming the funds were “dried up” just two weeks later.