CPS cuts disability support for Catholic students

More than 800 students with disabilities in Chicago’s Catholic schools are set to lose federally funded academic support after Chicago Public Schools ended services earlier than expected, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago.

In an April 10 statement, the Archdiocese said CPS terminated services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) roughly two months before the end of the school year. Church officials said CPS had indicated as recently as March 25 that the support would continue through the academic term.

The affected services include federally funded instruction, such as tutoring in math, reading, and writing for students enrolled in Catholic schools across the city. The Archdiocese warned the abrupt decision would create “severe hardship” for families who rely on the support.

“For more than 50 years, students with disabilities who attend nonpublic schools have had the right to receive federally-funded academic support services,” the Archdiocese said. “The decision by CPS to end these services means students with learning differences will lose important academic support services, such as tutoring in math, reading, and writing. Needless to say, this will create severe hardship for the hundreds of students who qualified for these services and who are relying on these services through the end of the school year.”

Church leaders also questioned whether Catholic schools were being singled out. The Archdiocese said it was not aware of similar service interruptions affecting other nonpublic institutions and raised concerns about potential unequal treatment.

“It is not clear why Catholic schools are being treated differently,” the statement said, adding that such actions could raise constitutional questions if one religious group is disproportionately affected.

CPS, which administers federal IDEA funds locally, informed the Archdiocese in early April that services would end immediately, citing funding constraints. Church officials challenged that explanation, noting that federal funding had been allocated for the full school year and questioning whether those resources were properly managed.

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, strongly criticized the move, stating: “We cannot allow this shocking and possibly discriminatory action by CPS to stand, not only given its affront to Catholics, but even more so since this injustice would disenfranchise the students we serve.”

He added, “For more than 175 years, our schools have helped lift families out of poverty and produced well-prepared and civically engaged graduates. We do so at a cost far below that of other systems and are proud of our students and the teachers who work every day to serve them. We owe them every effort to right this offense by CPS.”

The Archdiocese said it is considering filing regulatory complaints or pursuing legal action if services are not restored.

As of Friday, CPS had not publicly responded to the allegations. According to the Archdiocese, attempts to reach district leadership, including CEO Macquline King, have not received a reply.