New Survey of 608 LSC Members Reveals Strong Foundation for Local Decision-Making in Chicago Public Schools — and Guides Next Phase of Support

Mar 9, 2026

CHICAGO — A unique survey confirms the vital role Local School Councils (LSC) play in preserving community-based decision-making, and identifies where continued investment could make it stronger. The 2025-26 LSC Engagement Survey, released by The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund), included respondents from 64% of the 511 public schools in Chicago with active LSCs — a critical anchor for school stability and community trust.

The Fund conducted the survey from August to November 2025 in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Office of Local School Council Relations and Department of Principal Quality, with responses of 608 LSC members representing 325 public schools in Chicago. This research informs The Fund’s ongoing commitment to understanding what LSC members experience and what they need to strengthen relationships among principals, parents, teachers, and community members.

LSCs are school‑based governing bodies in CPS that typically comprise six parents, two community members, two teachers, one non‑teaching school staff member, up to three students, and the principal. LSCs approve school budgets, select and evaluate principals, and oversee their schools’ Continuous Improvement Work Plans — three-year strategic plans that CPS requires every school to develop.

“Chicago’s LSCs model is a national example of what community decision-making for public schools can look like,” said Heather Y. Anichini, Ed.D., president and CEO of The Fund. “These surveys clarify how we can invest in LSCs in ways that reflect their needs and strengthen local governance that is unique to Chicago’s public schools. The findings will continue to shape how we support LSC members and their school leaders going forward.”

To complement the survey data, The Fund held five focus groups in early February 2026 with 36 LSC members representing 35 schools. The focus groups largely corroborated the survey findings

Top findings from the LSC Engagement Survey include:

LSC members learn about their councils through school‑based and personal connections: 60% of respondents reported hearing about their LSC from school staff, current council members, or their principal.
LSCs members see their councils as strong bridges between school and community: 75% of respondents said their council does a good job of connecting with community members and considering their input.
Members generally have strong relationships with their principals: 83% of respondents agree that they work well with their current school leader.
LSCs view themselves as strategic partners in their schools’ direction: Respondents ranked “monitoring and approval of the CIWP” and “approving budget decisions” as the two top responsibilities of councils.
Several factors leave Chicagoans hesitating to join their LSCs: When asked about reasons that made them or people they know hesitate to join their council, respondents cited the time commitment for being a member (64%), lack of knowledge about schools (38%), negative associations with a previous LSC (22%), and language accessibility (6%).
LSC members feel prepared and supported, but a sizable minority think more training would be helpful: 86% reported feeling clear on their roles and responsibilities, and 79% know where to go for support, but a third (32%) thought more training would be beneficial. In open responses, members most often requested practical, hands-on training in several areas, including budget oversight, principal evaluation, and meeting management. Many also asked for clearer onboarding for new members; role-specific guidance for chairs and student representatives; and simplified, more accessible training formats.

In addition to the LSC Engagement Survey, The Fund provides programs to strengthen LSC effectiveness and relationships between principals and their councils. These include the LSC Working Group, which brings together parents and community members to design solutions to common challenges and develop tools that support the principal evaluation process.

In advance of the 2026 LSC elections on March 18, The Fund also held the LSC Election Accelerator Series — comprising virtual and in-person workshops — to help principals, assistant principals, parents, and community members reduce council vacancies and increase community engagement. More information about The Fund’s programs to support LSCs and school leaders is available in its 2025-26 Program Summary report.

“Over 20 years of research shows that principals have an outsized impact on student outcomes,” said Anichini. “That’s why it’s so important to ensure that LSCs function well and have collaborative, productive relationships with their school leaders.”

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. Its data-driven strategies increase the number of strong leaders in Chicago’s public schools. The Fund’s program, policy, and partnership efforts are designed to meet school leaders where they are, to accelerate their growth, and to enable their retention.