After weeks of protests from families and staff, Chicago’s Board of Education announced a plan to keep all seven Acero charter schools slated for closure open for one more year. In 2026, the district will take over five of the campuses. The board also issued a significant threat: it will consider not renewing Acero’s contract to operate its remaining schools.
A special board meeting was scheduled for Friday to finalize a resolution outlining this plan. The resolution directs Chicago Public Schools (CPS) officials to negotiate with Acero to cover the operating deficit for the 2025-26 school year. This could involve providing additional funding to the charter network, though CPS will explore cost-saving measures and Acero’s existing reserves. This hybrid solution, chosen from several options presented last week, was deemed the most financially feasible. Other options included a full district takeover of all seven schools, closure of all seven schools, or increased funding to keep them open for at least two more years.
A recent WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times analysis revealed that despite declining enrollment and rising teacher costs, Acero possesses tens of millions of dollars in cash reserves. This raised questions about the necessity of closing schools. Under the board’s plan, two schools—Acero Paz in Little Village and Acero Cruz in Rogers Park—would close after the 2025-26 school year. CPS officials cited these schools as major contributors to Acero’s projected deficit, suggesting its elimination if they closed. However, the board left open the possibility of taking over these schools in 2026. The remaining five schools—Cisneros, Casas, Fuentes, Tamayo, and Santiago—would become district-run schools in 2026-27. The resolution emphasizes district support for parents and staff during the transition to ensure teacher and student retention. The board explicitly linked Acero’s cooperation to the renewal of its charter agreement in 2026, highlighting concerns that Acero’s actions are inconsistent with the board’s educational mission.
While CPS and the school board lack the authority to force Acero to keep its schools open, both entities have expressed a willingness to collaborate. Acero’s chief culture officer, Helena Stangle, stated that the network learned of the resolution publicly and looks forward to reviewing the plan and continuing discussions with CPS.
Questions remain about the necessity of these Acero schools for CPS. Several schools are located in aging buildings, requiring significant upgrades. Declining neighborhood school enrollment over the past decade also presents a challenge. CPS officials also noted the need for substantial adjustments to meet district curriculum standards.