VIEW SURVEY RESULTS HERE
CHICAGO — A new survey of 1,033 Chicago voters, conducted by Embold Research on behalf of The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund), finds that Chicagoans place strong trust in the educators closest to students, have significant questions about CPS finances, and are still getting up to speed on the historic November election for the Chicago Board of Education (CBOE).
This trust in school-based educators sets the stage for current opinions on decision-making authority within CPS. Specifically, 76% of respondents trust teachers to look out for the best interests of Chicago students, and 72% say the same for principals. This makes teachers and principals the most trusted voices in Chicago public education. Notably, trust in principals has risen by 17 percentage points over the past year — the largest gain among all individuals or groups measured in the survey.
That confidence creates a clear preference for decision-making authority. When it comes to decisions that affect individual schools, respondents favor local, principal-led decisions by nearly 3-to-1 — with 48% saying principals should be the main decision-makers on school issues, while 16% choose the central office and 16% favor the CBOE.
“The 3-to-1 preference for local decision-making reflects a clear belief that the people closest to students are best positioned to make responsive choices,” said Dr. Heather Y. Anichini, CEO of The Fund. “This finding is a powerful reminder that strong local leadership is essential to thriving schools, particularly in times of fiscal uncertainty.”
Alongside strong beliefs about leadership, respondents have serious questions about CPS finances. Only 26% are confident CPS is spending taxpayer dollars effectively, which is down from 33% in 2025. The decline follows the August 2025 passage of the first budget by a partially elected CBOE.
Respondents are almost evenly divided on what approach should be taken to solve the $732 million structural deficit, with 51% believing CPS needs more funding and 49% believing the district needs to spend its money more effectively. When asked which actions they would support to close the budget deficit, 59% chose reducing central office spending, and 24% chose reducing school budgets and staff. Taking out a loan to close the gap was the least-supported option, chosen by only 6%.
“Chicagoans don’t view the budget conversation as a simple choice between cuts and new revenue,” Anichini said. “They’re telling us that both fiscal responsibility and continued investment in students matter. People want to see resources directed to what works, and they want confidence that those resources are being managed well.”
Voter awareness of the upcoming Board election is improving, but more outreach is needed. Only 59% of respondents are aware that there will be an election for CBOE members this November, and 61% say they definitely will vote. Of those who do not definitely plan to vote, 52% say more information about the candidates would make them more likely to do so.
“This is a historic moment for the city, and Chicagoans are telling us they want to participate,” Anichini said. “The opportunity in front of us is to make sure they have the information they need to do that.”
Additional findings include:
There is a disconnect between public perception and parent experience in public schools. Just 17% of respondents give CPS an A or B grade overall. Among parents, 27% give CPS an A or B grade overall, while 71% give the school or schools their own children attend an A or B.
More respondents say CPS has gotten worse over the past year (41%) than say it has improved (13%).
A majority of respondents say they would be more likely to support board candidates with prior CPS experience, including those with experience as teachers, parents, principals, or graduates.
Methodology
Embold Research conducted this survey from May 14 to 26, 2026, among 1,033 registered voters in Chicago. Researchers recruited respondents using dynamic online sampling and stratified the sample to reflect the city’s population. The team performed post-stratification on age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, and the 2024 presidential vote. The modeled margin of error is ±3.2%.
About The Chicago Public Education Fund
The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund) is a nonprofit organization that strengthens Chicago’s public schools by investing in the educators who lead them. Each year, The Fund invests more than $2 million in programs that develop and support school leaders in hundreds of schools citywide. The Fund also conducts research and shares data to inform critical decisions in and about Chicago’s public schools. For 25 years, The Fund has been a trusted partner to school and district leaders across Chicago.
Media Contact
Brooke Rayford
Senior Manager of Communications
brayford@thefundchicago.org
The Chicago Public Education Fund