Chicago public schools serving wealthier families charge higher fees, which yield bigger budgets for better resources, a report from Catalyst Chicago finds.
But some CPS schools in lower income and minority neighborhoods either charge less fees or no fees at all. These schools have smaller budgets for additional resources and extracurricular programs.
Catalyst Chicago reviewed the internal budgets of several CPS elementary and high schools and found that schools that don’t collect school fees receive almost no additional school funding from students, while schools that do, sometimes charge families up to $500 per student.
To some, the result is inequality, Catalyst reports. Some schools get additional funds near $600,000, while other schools serving low-income, minority students see little to no additional funds from students. But CPS maintains that having each school manage and keep its own funds is the fairest approach.
Read more on student fees at Catalyst Chicago.
