Campaigns and electionsPolitics & PolicyChicago Mayoral Election 2023

Comparing Chicago’s 2023 mayoral candidates on 5 key education issues

By 
Mauricio Peña
and
Becky Vevea
 | March 21, 2023, 5:10pm UTC
Graphics by Thomas Wilburn
Two men running for Chicago mayor shake hands after a recent forum.
Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and former teacher and union organizer Brandon Johnson differ vastly in how they would approach public schools. They will face each other in the April 4 runoff.  (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune / Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Chicago voters are facing a choice between two mayoral candidates with vastly different backgrounds and views on education. 

Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas has a long record managing urban school districts as an appointed bureaucrat. His opponent, Brandon Johnson, is a former middle school teacher and Chicago Teachers Union organizer.

The next mayor will be the last to have control of the school district before it transitions to being governed by an elected school board. The city’s runoff election will be held on April 4.

Here is a side-by-side breakdown on where Vallas and Johnson stand on five key education issues:

Mila Koumpilova contributed to this report.

Mauricio Peña is a reporter for Chalkbeat Chicago covering K-12 schools. Contact Mauricio at mpena@chalkbeat.org. Becky Vevea is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Chicago. Contact Becky at bvevea@chalkbeat.org.  

The Latest
How Colorado’s school funding formula rewrite would impact districts it’s designed to help the most

The immediate financial impact on districts' budgets, especially for rural schools the formula is designed to help, would likely be a mixed bag, superintendents say.

By 
Jason Gonzales
 | May 3
Over 7,000 AI cameras will be installed across Newark schools this summer

District leaders say the new cameras are meant to make schools safer and will not result in an invasion of privacy.

By 
Jessie Gómez
 | May 3
Colorado approved $24 million for migrant students. Here’s how much each school district will get.

Districts enrolled a total of 8,085 newcomer students after the October count and through Feb. 29.

By 
Yesenia Robles
 | May 3
NYC to restore a controversial admissions boost for Manhattan students, chancellor says

The announcement set off alarm bells for school integration advocates, who worry it could roll back progress diversifying several high-demand schools.

By 
Michael Elsen-Rooney
 | May 3
Convenient for parents and a financial boon for districts: Public schools bring preschool in house

By the fall, the Cherry Creek district will offer preschool at every elementary school.

By 
Ann Schimke
 | May 3
Chicago’s new Academy for Local Leadership looks to prepare possible school board candidates and education advocates

The Academy for Local Leadership launched its inaugural class in March ahead of Chicago’s shift to a partially-elected school board.

By 
Reema Amin
 | May 3