June 16, 2025
CHICAGO — A new survey of nearly 900 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) principals and assistant principals shows a notable rebound in job satisfaction — but also reveals a troubling drop in the number of school leaders who feel adequately supported to do their jobs. The 2025 Principal and Assistant Principal Engagement Surveys, released last Friday by The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund), reached a 72% participation rate among district principals and have already been shared with CPS leadership to inform planning for the year ahead.
Overall, 70% of principals now report being satisfied in their roles, a six-point increase from the previous year and a strong recovery from post-pandemic lows. But the data also offers a clear warning signal: Only 52% of principals said they have the resources and support they need to succeed — a sharp 11-point drop from last year, and likely a reflection of the growing complexity of the role amid shifting district conditions.
“This year’s results are a call to both celebrate and act,” said Heather Y. Anichini, Ed.D., President and CEO of The Fund. “School leaders are showing renewed optimism, but they’re also sounding the alarm. If we don’t address their need for real, responsive support, we risk losing the very people driving progress in our schools.”
Additional findings include:
- Strong network relationships: 86% of principals say they receive feedback from their network chiefs and deputies.
- Instructional time is under pressure: Over half of school leaders said that more time for instructional leadership would significantly improve their satisfaction.
- Chronic absenteeism is a widespread concern: 60% of principals and 51% of assistant principals report that absenteeism is significantly affecting their school communities.
The Fund has already briefed CPS leadership on the survey findings, including CEO Pedro Martinez and members of the interim executive team. Discussions are underway to identify ways the data can help guide resource decisions, professional learning, and leader development.
In response to the findings, The Fund is:
- Launching a second cohort of the Malott Educator Fellowship, which includes a focus on combating chronic absenteeism.
- Expanding Professional Learning Community supports and resource coaching.
- Equipping school leaders with new tools to strengthen Local School Council engagement.
“These results underscore what school leaders have been telling us for months: Their jobs are getting harder, not easier,” said Anichini. “We’re committed to making sure this data drives tangible change, not just conversation.”
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About the Principal and Assistant Principal Engagement Surveys
Since 2014, The Fund has invited all of Chicago’s public school principals to participate in its annual Principal Engagement Survey. The survey, which is available for any Chicago public school principal to complete, gauges principal experience during the previous school year to better understand principals’ needs citywide. The Fund then uses the survey results to inform its program and policy work to support Chicago’s school leaders.
In 2022, The Fund introduced the Assistant Principal Engagement Survey. The survey similarly seeks to understand the experiences and needs of all of Chicago’s public school assistant principals. The findings help inform the organization’s current programming and improve the supports it provides to assistant principals throughout the year. The survey results also shape The Fund’s aspiring principal pipeline strategy.
The Fund commissions the surveys as the lead collaborator of The Chicago Principal Partnership, a collective that includes CPS, principals, nonprofit organizations, funders, universities, parents, and community members who are committed to strong school leadership. The National Business Research Institute independently administers the surveys. ChicagoPrincipals.org, The Chicago Principal Partnership’s online portal, houses a selection of the data from the surveys that is publicly available.
About The Chicago Public Education Fund
The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves Chicago’s public schools by investing in the talented educators who lead them. The Fund is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, underscoring its enduring commitment to collaborating with partners across Chicago’s education sector to redefine school leadership in the city.
Media contact: Nelson Gerew, ngerew@thefundchicago.org.