How Change Happens
Chicago didn’t just get a new school board. It got a new set of responsibilities, for the people serving on it, for the communities they represent, and for anyone who believes public education should work for all young people.
ALL Chicago was founded on a simple observation: caring about a system isn’t the same as knowing how to change it. People across this city are deeply invested in their schools. What they need are the tools, the access, and the civic infrastructure to make that investment count.
We prepare aspiring school board members and community leaders, equip communities with civic education, and build the governance capacity that makes good public education possible.
Chicago’s governance is being built right now. We intend to shape it.
IN THE PUBLIC CONVERSATION
What Chicago
Owes Its Students
In Crain’s Chicago Business, ALL Chicago Executive Director Bridget Lee makes the case for what effective governance should require of Chicago’s first fully elected school board, especially for students furthest from opportunity.
Key Programs
Fellowship Program
A hands-on leadership development program for aspiring school board members and education advocates interested in understanding public school governance and civic engagement.
Community Empowerment
A community-based program committed to building strong connections between communities and their school board representatives.
Professional Learning
Civic education and governance-focused training tailored for current school board members, nonprofit organizations, and education leaders.
Mission
Through the Fellowship, we prepare civic leaders for effective school board service. Through the Governance Compass, we give the board a shared framework for what good governance looks like. Through Community Empowerment, we build the capacity of parents and community members to engage their elected board with confidence.
These three lines of work connect: governance that is prepared, principled, and accountable to community creates the conditions for every Chicago student to succeed.
Our vision: a Chicago where all students, especially those furthest from opportunity, benefit from school boards and local leaders who are knowledgeable, engaged, and committed to equitable education.
Statement of Neutrality
The ALL Chicago program was established in response to the recent transition in CPS governance from a seven-member appointed Board of Education to a 21-member elected Board of Education. As a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization, this initiative is designed exclusively to provide educational information to community members interested in understanding school board governance and engaging in education advocacy. The program does not endorse candidates, engage in lobbying, conduct campaign activities, or provide support for any political campaigns.
