Chicago Public Schools Spend Millions on Travel Amid Low Reading Proficiency

CHICAGO, Ill. — November 24, 2025 — Chicago public schools have reportedly spent millions of dollars on travel expenses while many students continue to struggle with reading at grade level, according to officials and recent reports. The spending on travel has drawn criticism amid ongoing concerns about student academic performance in the district.

The issue was highlighted in a recent Fox News report that detailed the district’s financial priorities, noting that despite significant expenditures on travel, student literacy rates remain a challenge. A Chicago pastor described the $14.5 million spent on travel as “excessive,” underscoring the tension between budget allocations and educational outcomes.

The report did not specify the exact impact of the travel spending on other areas of the school budget or provide detailed statistics on student reading proficiency. However, the juxtaposition of high travel costs and low reading achievement has sparked debate about resource management within the Chicago public school system.

This development comes amid broader discussions about education funding and priorities in urban school districts, where balancing operational costs and academic support remains a complex challenge. Officials have yet to comment publicly on the travel expenditures or outline plans to address the literacy concerns.

The situation in Chicago reflects ongoing national conversations about how best to allocate educational resources to improve student outcomes, particularly in reading and literacy, which are foundational to academic success.