Leftist Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) has declared the era of school closures, consolidation, and “privatization” over, lumping private alternatives to the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU)-backed education system into what he called a model of “torment and torture.”
Johnson made the declaration Monday while announcing the expansion of 15 Sustainable Community Schools. The event doubled as an attack on Illinois Secretary of State and newly announced mayoral candidate Alexi Giannoulias, though Johnson never mentioned his opponent by name.
Giannoulias entered the 2027 race Sunday and said Chicago must confront the financial reality of operating 145 schools with more empty seats than students. He did not call for mass closures. He proposed a parent- and community-driven review of underused schools paired with additional investments in students and staff.
Johnson responded from the stage with CTU President Stacy Davis Gates beside him.
🚨WATCH: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson declares an end to school privatization, insisting he is saving Chicago from "a model of torment and torture." pic.twitter.com/sZ5mVd3TXq
— Off The Press (@OffThePress1) August 3, 2026
Johnson said:
“The days of school closures, consolidation and privatization has ended, officially. And to anyone, billionaire or not, that believes that you can take us back to a model of torment and torture, you got another thing coming.”
The mayor’s use of “privatization” deserves attention. Johnson did not distinguish between private schools, charter operators, outside contractors, or other forms of school choice. He condemned the entire concept alongside the controversial 2013 closure of nearly 50 Chicago public schools under former Democrat Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Private schools, however, give families an alternative when the public system does not meet their children’s needs. Illinois once helped lower-income families access those schools through the Invest in Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program. Donors received tax credits for contributions to organizations that awarded scholarships to eligible students attending qualified non-public schools and technical academies.
That program expired on December 31, 2023. Johnson’s declaration makes clear that parents should not expect Chicago’s political leadership to welcome a replacement anytime soon.
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The mayor wants to keep every public school open regardless of enrollment while expanding the Sustainable Community Schools model favored by the CTU. Those schools provide academic, health, and social services through partnerships with community organizations.
Paying for the expansion presents a much bigger problem.
Johnson’s plan depends on another $150 million from Springfield at a time when Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is already dealing with a severe budget crisis. Gov. J.B. Pritzker(D) has said the state does not have the money. Without it, CPS could be forced to make deeper cuts or rely on short-term borrowing.
Giannoulias criticized the Chicago Board of Education for passing a nearly $10 billion budget that assumes the state will provide that $150 million.
“Instead of adopting the CPS CEO’s proposed budget, which included some staffing cuts, the CTU-linked members jammed through this alternative budget, which avoids any hard choices about structural changes. That’s not leadership. I will work with the board president to advocate for more funding. But we have to start with a more responsible budget. Glittery possible revenue is not responsible.”
Johnson’s answer was that questions about how Springfield would find the money should be directed to Pritzker.
That leaves Chicago taxpayers with a mayor promising that no school will close, no consolidation will occur, and no private alternative will threaten CTU’s preferred system. The funding plan amounts to demanding another $150 million from a governor who has already said no.
Parents choosing a private, charter, magnet, or selective-enrollment school are not subjecting their children to “torment and torture.” They are making decisions based on what works for their families. Johnson’s political allegiance remains with the system, the union, and the next demand for taxpayer money.
Editor's Note: President Trump is fighting to ensure America's kids get the education they deserve.
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