Leftist Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) has unleashed a rhetorical broadside against parental choice in education, declaring the era of school closures, consolidation, and “privatization” officially over. In a stunning display of allegiance to special interests, Johnson lumped private alternatives to the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU)-backed education system into what he astonishingly called a model of “torment and torture.”
Johnson's fiery declaration came on Monday during an announcement for the expansion of 15 Sustainable Community Schools. The event also served as an unmistakable attack on Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who recently entered the 2027 mayoral race, though Johnson carefully avoided mentioning his opponent by name.
Giannoulias, stepping into the mayoral contest on Sunday, had voiced a pragmatic necessity for Chicago to confront the stark financial reality of operating 145 public schools with more empty seats than students. While he stopped short of advocating for mass closures, Giannoulias proposed a parent- and community-driven review of underused schools, coupled with strategic investments in students and staff – a sensible approach seemingly at odds with Johnson's union-first rigidity.
But common sense received short shrift. With CTU President Stacy Davis Gates conspicuously by his side, Mayor Johnson launched into his polemic.
“The days of school closures, consolidation and privatization has ended, officially,” Johnson proclaimed. “And to anyone, billionaire or not, that believes that you can take us back to a model of torment and torture, you got another thing coming.”
The mayor's alarming use of “privatization” warrants careful scrutiny. Johnson made no distinction between private schools, charter operators, outside contractors, or other forms of school choice. Instead, he painted the entire concept with a broad, damning brush, equating it with the controversial 2013 closure of nearly 50 Chicago public schools under former Democrat Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Yet, the reality is that private schools offer a vital lifeline for families when the public system fails to meet their children’s needs. Illinois once provided crucial support for lower-income families seeking these alternatives through the Invest in Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program. This initiative allowed donors to receive tax credits for contributions to organizations that awarded scholarships to eligible students attending qualified non-public schools and technical academies – a true win for parents and students.
That successful program, unfortunately, expired on December 31, 2023. Johnson’s recent declaration makes it unequivocally clear that Chicago parents should harbor no expectation of the city’s political leadership embracing a replacement anytime soon. Their allegiance lies with the system, not with the children or their families.
The mayor's vision remains fixed on keeping every public school open, regardless of enrollment figures, while simultaneously expanding the Sustainable Community Schools model, a program heavily favored by the CTU. These schools are designed to provide academic, health, and social services through partnerships with community organizations.
However, the financing for this ambitious expansion presents a much larger problem – one Johnson conveniently glosses over.
Johnson’s plan hinges on securing another $150 million from Springfield, even as Chicago Public Schools (CPS) grapples with a severe and escalating budget crisis. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) has already stated unequivocally that the state does not possess the requested funds. Without this additional capital, CPS could be forced into deeper cuts or a reliance on risky short-term borrowing, placing an even greater burden on already struggling taxpayers.
Giannoulias rightly criticized the Chicago Board of Education for rubber-stamping a nearly $10 billion budget that brazenly assumes the state will provide the demanded $150 million – a glaring example of fiscal irresponsibility.
“Instead of adopting the CPS CEO’s proposed budget, which included some staffing cuts, the CTU-linked members jammed through this alternative budget, which avoids any hard choices about structural changes. That’s not leadership. I will work with the board president to advocate for more funding. But we have to start with a more responsible budget. Glittery possible revenue is not responsible.”
Johnson’s dismissive response? He insisted that questions about how Springfield would magically find the money should be directed to Governor Pritzker. Apparently, accountability for Chicago’s budget is someone else’s problem.
This leaves Chicago taxpayers with a mayor who vows that no school will close, no consolidation will occur, and no private alternative will be allowed to challenge the CTU’s preferred system. The funding plan is little more than a demand for $150 million from a governor who has already delivered a clear “no.”
Parents who choose a private, charter, magnet, or selective-enrollment school are not subjecting their children to “torment and torture.” They are making conscious, responsible decisions based on what they believe works best for their families and their children’s future. Mayor Johnson’s unwavering political allegiance, however, remains squarely with the entrenched system, the powerful union, and the next exorbitant demand for taxpayer money – a stark reminder of who truly holds the reins in Chicago, and it isn't the parents.
