Chicago School Overcrowding Is Evidence of Funding Problem

Published June 1, 2007

Dear Editor:

The parents of Hurley Elementary School students have every right to be upset about their children being “multi-tracked” [“Parents, students: CPS proposal on wrong track,” March 30]. Year-round school is probably a good idea, but CPS should do it because it improves educational outcomes–not because it alleviates school crowding.

Overcrowding is largely a product of Chicago’s inequitable funding system. Schools like Hurley don’t get as much money per student as other schools in Chicago because CPS decides how much to give based on teacher and administrator salaries rather than number of students. CPS should consider a more equitable, per-pupil funding system, rather than burden parents with paying for their shortcomings.


Michael Van Winkle ([email protected]) is legislative specialist for education policy at The Heartland Institute.