Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has restored funding for students with disabilities in Catholic schools, reversing a decision to cut special services after opposition from the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The archdiocese said, “We are pleased to announce that Chicago Public Schools will resume special education instructional services for students in Chicago Catholic schools beginning Monday, April 20. Services will be provided through the Friday before Memorial Day, May 22, as originally planned.” Statement of 16 April.
“We appreciate the efforts of CPS CEO Dr. McClain King and his staff to restore these vital services,” the archdiocese said. “We also appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from parents and others in recent days. The Archdiocese looks forward to working with CPS in the coming months to ensure that students with disabilities receive the educational support they need and deserve, whether they attend public or non-public schools.”
After this the news comes The Archdiocese said An April 10 statement said Chicago Public Schools abruptly ended its funding for services provided to students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) more than a month before the end of the school year. The archdiocese said CPS informed them of the funding suspension without warning during Holy Week, after verbally confirming that funding would continue through the end of the year “at the latest by March 25.”
Affected services will include academic support services such as math, reading and writing for students with learning disabilities.
The archdiocese said in a previous statement that repeated efforts were made to reach an “amicable solution” King “No response received.” It also said CPS had eliminated IDEA funding for Catholic-only schools.
Cardinal Blaise Cupich condemned the sudden suspension of the program, which he described as a “shocking and possibly discriminatory action by the CPS” and “an insult to Catholics.”
“For more than 175 years, our schools have helped lift families out of poverty and produced well-prepared and civically engaged graduates,” Cupich said. “We do this at a much lower cost than other systems and we are proud of our students and teachers who work every day to serve them. We are grateful for every effort CPS makes to fix this crime.”
King’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
