Chicago public schools blow millions on travel while students can't read at grade level

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A scathing report from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) revealed that the school system spent a staggering $14.5 million in "excessive" travel expenses in FY 2023 and FY 2024 combined.

The report comes as data shows that just 30.5% of students in grades 3–8 were proficient in reading, and just 18.3% of students were proficient in math in the spring of 2024.

"It is a sad commentary on just how far our city has fallen and how bad the leadership is," Chicago pastor Corey Brooks told Fox News Digital. "These individuals believe that spending money on themselves benefits our educational system more so than spending it on the children who so rightfully deserve it."

"In our neighborhood, there's a 6% reading proficiency," Brooks added. "And now you're talking about the overall for Chicago being 30%, that is something that needs to be spoken by everyone who is in power."

The CPS OIG report showed that the school system spent $7.7 million in FY 2024 alone, a 2,467% increase in travel expenses from FY 2021’s $300,000 spending. Pre-pandemic spending from CPS was still dramatically lower, showing $3.6 million in travel expenses for FY 2019.

CPS OIG's report also reveals school system officials took lavish trips to Las Vegas, Egypt, Finland and South Africa.

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