# Chicago School Board Election

> Chicago voters elect first fully elected school board in city history.
- Title: Chicago School Board Election · Chicago Sun-Times | Shortify
- Summary: Chicago voters elect first fully elected school board in city history. Chicago voters will elect 20 school board members and a president in November 2026 for…
- Keywords: chicago, school board, election, public schools, chicago public schools, school board president, school board seats, chicago board of education, voter registration, early voting, school board election, chicago school board
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/09/21/what-you-need-to-know-about-chicagos-historic-school-board-election
- Published: 2026-09-21T11:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: chicago, school board, election, public schools, chicago public schools, school board president, school board seats, chicago board of education, voter registration, early voting, school board election, chicago school board
## Chicago School Board Election
Chicago voters will elect members for the city’s first fully elected school board this fall.
## 20 Seats Up For Grabs
All 21 seats on the Chicago Board of Education are up for election with 43 candidates plus three write-ins.
## Two Votes Per Voter
Each eligible Chicagoan can cast two votes: one for school board district representative and one for school board president.
## Early Voting Starts Oct 1
Early voting begins October 1 at Downtown Voting Supersite and Chicago Board of Elections Offices.
## 20 Electoral Districts
Chicago is divided into 20 electoral districts for school board representation with 1a through 1z.
## School Board President
Four candidates are running for school board president with citywide election.
## 315,000 Students
School board members oversee education for about 315,000 children across more than 600 schools.
## Board Powers
Board members make financial decisions, hire a CEO/superintendent, and vote on school closures and academic calendars.
## 2024 Hybrid Board
Chicago’s school board was partially elected and partially appointed after November 2024 elections.
## Term Lengths
Half the board serves four-year terms while the other half serves two-year terms starting in 2028.
## 2021 Elected Board Bill
The bill creating Chicago’s first fully elected school board passed in 2021.
## 2024 Partial Election
In 2024, half the board was elected while the other half remained mayoral appointees.
## 2026 Full Election
Chicago voters will elect all 21 school board members in November 2026.
## School Board History
Chicago has appointed school board members since 1995 with a nomination process before that.
## Key takeaway

Chicago voters will elect 20 school board members and a president in November 2026 for the city's first fully elected school board.