Hundreds of Chicago Catholic School Students Lose Tutoring Support

Federal funding issue between Chicago Public Schools and Archdiocese leaves over 800 students without specialized instruction.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:54pm

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More than 800 students attending Catholic schools in Chicago are set to lose their federally-funded tutoring and specialized instruction support starting next week. The issue stems from a funding dispute between Chicago Public Schools, which administers the federal program, and the Archdiocese of Chicago, which oversees the Catholic schools. Both sides are blaming the other for the sudden loss of services that many students, including those with special needs, rely on to succeed in the classroom.

Why it matters

This funding dispute could have a significant impact on hundreds of vulnerable students, many of whom have special needs or learning disabilities, and who have come to depend on the extra academic support provided through this federal program. The loss of these services could set back their educational progress and make it more difficult for them to thrive in a regular classroom setting.

The details

The federal funds that paid for the tutoring and specialized instruction services are administered by Chicago Public Schools, but the program serves students at Catholic schools across the city. According to the Archdiocese, the cost of the program for the remaining two months of the school year is around $1.2 million. CPS claims the Archdiocese overspent its allocated funds, while the Archdiocese says CPS gave them just 10 days' notice that the funding would be cut off.

  • On March 25, the Archdiocese was told the services would continue through the end of the school year.
  • Starting Monday, April 14, 2026, the tutoring and specialized instruction services will be discontinued for over 800 Catholic school students in Chicago.

The players

Javi Perez

A 5-year-old student at St. Ann School in Pilsen who has been diagnosed with autism and relies on the federally-funded tutoring and specialized instruction services that are now being cut.

Kinberlyn Esparza Perez

Javi's mother, who says the loss of these services will have a big impact on her son's learning and behavior.

Greg Richmond

The superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago, who says the Archdiocese is prepared to go to court to try to restore the funding.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS)

The school district that administers the federal funding program, which CPS claims the Archdiocese overspent.

Archdiocese of Chicago

The Catholic school system that oversees the schools affected by the loss of federal tutoring funds, which they say CPS is unfairly targeting.

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What they’re saying

“It not only gives him a chance to be a part of his regular class, but also means he's getting the extra support he needs.”

— Kinberlyn Esparza Perez, Mother of student Javi Perez

“I believe it's going to have a big impact on his learning, his behavior. So it's very concerning.”

— Kinberlyn Esparza Perez, Mother of student Javi Perez

“We don't run the program. We don't receive the funds for the program. We try to stay in touch with CPS to be helpful and know what's going on.”

— Greg Richmond, Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Chicago

“Throughout the current fiscal year, District officials repeatedly alerted Catholic school administrators that their spending trajectory was outpacing the funding allocation; they were on track to exhaust their allocated share of federal funds before the end of the school year.”

— Chicago Public Schools

“They told us March 25. The services would continue through the end of the year. And then out of the blue we were told they were ending today.”

— Greg Richmond, Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Chicago

What’s next

The Archdiocese of Chicago says it is prepared to go to court to try to restore the federal funding for the tutoring and specialized instruction services that are being cut.

The takeaway

This funding dispute between Chicago Public Schools and the Archdiocese of Chicago over a federal program that supports hundreds of vulnerable students, many with special needs, highlights the challenges facing schools and the importance of ensuring equitable access to educational resources. The sudden loss of these critical services could have a significant impact on the academic progress and well-being of the affected students.