Family Updates: Additional Meal Sites and Election Day 2020
Dear CPS Families,
With less than one week to go before the first day of school, we are working around the clock to ensure our students are ready to learn successfully at home. This includes helping more families get online through Chicago Connected and making sure children will have everything they need to thrive, including continued access to healthy meals.
Increasing the number of meal sites across the city
CPS has served more than 21 million grab-and-go meals to families since spring, and while students are learning at home through at least the first quarter, we are committed to providing meal service to our students.
Beginning Tuesday, September 8, we will have more than 450 meal sites for the 2020–21 school year. Students, parents, or guardians may pick up free meals at the nearest school from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please find the nearest meal distribution site using this map which will be updated this Friday with the latest set of meal sites. If families are unable to visit a meal site in-person, the district will continue to provide free delivery for those who need additional support.
The district’s 277 summer meal sites will be closed this Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7 so that our nutrition staff can spend Labor Day at home with their families.
Schools will be closed on November 3 in observance of Election Day. Classes will now be in session on Veterans Day, November 11.
Earlier this summer, Governor Pritzker signed legislation making Election Day, November 3, a state holiday in Illinois and requiring K-12 schools to be closed to ensure all Illinoisans are able to vote and fully participate in our democracy.
Veterans Day, November 11, which is normally a day off for students and staff, will now be a regular instructional day to ensure students do not lose invaluable instruction time. The Chicago Board of Education approved of the calendar change during the August Board meeting. While schools will be closed in observance of Veterans Day on November 3, we will honor our veterans with a moment of silence and students will be provided with instructional activities recognizing the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans on November 11.
We appreciate your continued patience, engagement, and support, and look forward to beginning another successful school year with our students on Tuesday, September 8.
Sincerely,
Janice K. Jackson, EdD LaTanya D. McDade
Chief Executive Officer Chief Education Officer
Chicago Public Schools Chicago Public Schools
