Every year in Chicago, parents, teachers, and community members get a chance to shape what happens in their local public school-not through a vote in a citywide election, but through something quieter, more personal: the Local School Council (LSC). These councils are the real decision-makers for individual schools. They hire principals, approve budgets, set academic goals, and even decide whether a school stays open. And if you’ve ever wondered how to make a real difference in your child’s education, running for the LSC is one of the most direct ways to do it.
What Is a Local School Council?
A Local School Council is a group of seven members elected by the school community to govern each public school in Chicago. Four members are parents, two are community residents, and one is a teacher. All are elected every four years, with elections held in February. The council has real power: it approves the school’s budget, signs off on the principal’s contract, and sets the school improvement plan. Without an LSC, a school can’t operate.
It’s not a ceremonial role. In 2023, LSCs approved over $1.2 billion in school funding across Chicago. They voted to open 17 new programs in STEM, arts, and bilingual education. They also voted to close or restructure 12 schools that didn’t meet performance targets. This isn’t just about meetings-it’s about outcomes.
Who Can Run?
You don’t need a degree in education or years of experience. You just need to meet three basic requirements:
- You must be a resident of Chicago.
- You must be eligible to vote in Illinois (so you can’t be currently incarcerated).
- You must be a parent, guardian, or community resident connected to the school.
Parents and guardians automatically qualify to run for the parent seats. Community members don’t need to have kids in the school-they just need to live in the school’s attendance boundary. Teachers run for the one teacher seat and must be employed at that school.
There are no background checks, no application fees, and no political experience required. The only thing you need is a reason to care.
When Do Elections Happen?
LSC elections happen every four years in February. The next one is on February 18, 2026. That’s today. You have less than 24 hours to file if you want to run.
The filing period opens in early January and closes on the last Friday of January. Ballots are mailed out to parents and guardians by mid-February, and voting closes the third Thursday of February. Results are certified by the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) office within a week.
If you miss the deadline this year, the next chance isn’t until 2030. That’s five years of decisions being made without your voice.
How to File to Run
Filing is simple, but you have to act fast. Here’s how:
- Visit the CPS LSC Elections page and download the candidate petition form.
- Get signatures from eligible voters in your school community.
- For parent seats: You need 10 signatures from parents or guardians currently enrolled at the school.
- For community seats: You need 10 signatures from residents living within the school’s attendance boundary.
- For teacher seats: You need 10 signatures from full-time teachers at the school.
- Submit the signed petition to the CPS LSC office by 5 p.m. on the last Friday of January.
You can drop off petitions in person at 42 W. Madison Street, Suite 1400, or mail them. No online submission is available. If you’re unsure about your school’s boundaries, use the CPS School Finder tool to confirm.
What Happens After You File?
Once your petition is accepted, you become an official candidate. CPS will list your name on the ballot. You’ll get access to a campaign guide that includes rules about spending, signage, and outreach.
You can spend up to $1,000 on your campaign. That’s not much-but it’s enough to print flyers, make phone calls, or host a small meeting. You can’t accept donations from outside groups or corporations. Everything must come from you or your immediate circle.
Most candidates win by showing up. You don’t need a fancy website. You need to talk to parents at drop-off, leave a note at the front desk, or host a coffee hour after school. People want to know: Why do you care? What will you change?
What Do LSC Members Actually Do?
Once elected, you’ll meet once a month during the school year. Meetings last about two hours. You’ll review the school’s budget, hear from the principal, and vote on key decisions.
Here’s what you’ll vote on:
- Whether to hire, renew, or fire the principal
- How to spend the school’s $1-$3 million annual budget
- Whether to adopt new curriculum or hire additional staff
- Whether to extend school hours or change the school calendar
- Whether to approve a school improvement plan
One LSC member in Austin, on the West Side, helped redirect $80,000 from administrative overhead to hire two new reading specialists. Another in Englewood pushed to bring in a mental health counselor after students reported high anxiety levels. These weren’t big changes. But they were real.
You won’t be making citywide policy. You’ll be making decisions that affect 300 or 500 kids-exactly the kind of impact that lasts.
Common Myths About Running
People avoid running for LSC because they believe things that aren’t true.
- Myth: You need to be a teacher or school administrator. Truth: Over 70% of LSC members are parents with no education background.
- Myth: The principal controls everything. Truth: The principal reports to the LSC. The council can vote to not renew a principal’s contract.
- Myth: It’s too time-consuming. Truth: Meetings are monthly. Preparation takes 2-3 hours per month. Most members balance this with full-time jobs.
- Myth: Only wealthy or connected people win. Truth: In 2022, 40% of winning candidates had never run for office before. Many won because they showed up consistently at school events.
What If No One Runs?
If no one files for a seat, that seat stays vacant. CPS fills it by appointment. That means the school loses a voice. And if no one runs for the teacher seat, the principal picks someone from staff. That’s not democracy-that’s a rubber stamp.
Some schools have no LSC at all because no one ran. Those schools get less funding. They get fewer programs. And they’re more likely to be closed.
Your silence doesn’t protect your child. It leaves them vulnerable.
Where to Get Help
The CPS LSC Elections website has all the forms, deadlines, and guides. You can also call the LSC office at (773) 553-1700.
Local nonprofits like Parent Organizing Network and Chicago Schools Policy Project offer free workshops on how to run. They’ll help you write your platform, design flyers, and prepare for questions.
You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to care enough to show up.
Why This Matters
Chicago’s public schools serve over 300,000 students. That’s more than the population of Portland, Oregon. And every one of those schools has a council made up of people like you-parents, neighbors, teachers-who decided to step forward.
When a school has an active LSC, test scores rise. Teacher retention improves. Parent involvement doubles. Kids notice. They see their parents at meetings. They hear them ask questions. They learn that their education matters.
Running isn’t about politics. It’s about power. The power to say: My child’s school matters. And I’m going to make sure it works.
Can I run for the LSC if I don’t have a child in the school?
Yes. You can run for the community member seat if you live within the school’s attendance boundary. You don’t need to have a child enrolled. Many community members run because they care about the neighborhood’s future. They want safer streets, better after-school programs, or a stronger local economy-and they know schools are central to that.
Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to run?
No. You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen. You just need to be a resident of Chicago and eligible to vote in Illinois. That means you can’t be currently incarcerated. Legal residents, including those with green cards or DACA status, can run and vote in LSC elections.
How much time does being on the LSC take?
About 2-3 hours per month. That includes one two-hour monthly meeting and time to review budget documents or talk to parents. Most members fit it around work and family. Some use lunch breaks. Others attend meetings after dropping off kids. It’s manageable if you treat it like a recurring appointment.
Can I run for more than one seat?
No. You can only run for one seat at one school. You can’t run as both a parent and a community member. You also can’t run for multiple schools. This keeps the system fair and focused on local representation.
What if I’m not good at public speaking?
You don’t need to be. Most LSC decisions are made by reviewing documents and voting. You’ll speak up when you have questions, but you’re not expected to give speeches. Many members are quiet at first and gain confidence over time. What matters more than speaking is listening-and showing up.