Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced a fiscal year 2013 (FY13) supplemental capital budget that includes an upfront investment of $155 million in welcoming schools to provide children with the resources they need to thrive and succeed in the classroom such as air-conditioning, libraries, and computer and science technology upgrades.

“These investments, in every welcoming school this fall, will help ensure that every child in every neighborhood in Chicago has access to a high-quality education that prepares them to succeed,” said CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett. The proposed FY 13 supplemental capital budget includes funding for investments that will provide access to enhanced learning environments at welcoming schools, including:

• A library in every school
• iPads for all students in grades 3-8
• Enhanced safety technology, such as cameras and entry screening equipment
• Improved ADA accessibility
• Improved food service capacity through enhanced lunch rooms and food services as needed to accommodate and service the new welcoming school student body

All of these investments will be listed school by school for the public to review in an interactive web application CPS will launch on Monday. The public will be able to view by visiting www.cps.edu/qualityschools.

The proposed supplemental capital budget totals $364 million. In addition to the $155 million designated for investments in welcoming schools, remaining funds will go toward investments in new co-located schools, Office of Strategic Support Services schools, new common core textbooks, facilities upgrades to accommodate the expansion of full-day kindergarten and a new food service point-of-sale system. The budget will go before the Board of Education at its April 24 meeting. For additional information on the supplemental capital budget please visit www.cps.edu.