Chicago committee schedules first meeting on Black student achievement

Chicago’s Black Student Achievement Committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting on November 12 and is charged with overseeing the district’s plan for Black students, Chalkbeat reported.

The school board’s notice schedules the meeting for 6 p.m. at the CPS Loop Office, 42 West Madison Street. The committee’s remit is to oversee the rollout of the district’s five-year Black Student Success Plan, according to Chalkbeat.

Committee member Michilla Blaise told Chalkbeat that introductions and laying the groundwork for the group’s 2027 work are priorities for the meeting. The outlet also reported that the committee is to receive an update from district officials on the plan.

Chalkbeat reports that the plan was introduced in February 2025 and that some advocates have been frustrated by the delay in starting the committee’s work. Blaise told the outlet that reopening the application process after residents missed an earlier deadline contributed to the delay.

Fellow member Valerie Leonard told Chalkbeat she wants the committee to track district progress. She also wants attention to math and reading outcomes and to students’ access to academic opportunities.

The board’s meeting notice sets aside public participation after roll call, with a limit of five registered speakers and ten minutes for the segment in total. In its notice, the board said advance registration had closed and that same-day in-person observer registration depends on seats becoming available.