New Watchdog Report Reveals Lavish Educator Travel Spending Even As Most CPS Students Fail To Meet Basic Reading And Math Standards

Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 1:45 P.M. ET. 5 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor: Englebrook Independent News,

CHICAGO, IL.- In the midst of a decades-long conversation about education equity in America’s cities, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has triggered fresh controversy after its internal watchdog released a report documenting more than $7.7 million in teacher and staff travel spending during fiscal year 2024, even as the district continues to struggle with chronically low proficiency in reading and mathematics.

Travel Spending Skyrockets;

     According to the Office of Inspector General (OIG), CPS’s overnight travel expenditures more than doubled from about $3.6 million in the final pre-pandemic school year to roughly $7.7 million in 2024.

     The report cites numerous examples of travel that appeared to stretch, or outright violate, district policies, reflecting what the watchdog called “questionable, excessive, and even exorbitant” spending. Highlights include:

• A principal reserving a $400-per-night Las Vegas suite for himself and his spouse, arriving two days before the conference at district expense, even though the conference was being held at a different hotel.
• A teacher spent $4,700 to stay a whole week at a luxury Hawaiian resort for what was listed as a four-day professional seminar.
• Eight CPS schools spent over $142,000 on 15 staff trips to Finland, Estonia, Egypt, and South Africa; 13 of the 15 trips were not pre-approved as required.
• A planned Egypt staff trip costing more than $20,000 was canceled only after CPS raised compliance red flags.

     The watchdog further noted that CPS’s travel policies were “riddled with holes,” lacking precise controls or a centralized review process. The district acknowledged that an influx of federal COVID-19 relief funding likely contributed to the increase in travel.

     Despite this spending, CPS faces a significant budget deficit and has laid off custodians, crossing guards, cafeteria staff, and other essential workers.

A Tale of Priorities And Politics;

     The contrast between lavish travel and bleak academic results has sparked criticism of Chicago’s political leadership, a city long governed by Democratic administrations.

     Critics argue that the scandal reveals a deeper problem in how Democratic-run urban districts manage their systems: bureaucratic comfort and vendor relationships appear to supersede accountability to parents and taxpayers. For families watching their children fall further behind academically, the idea that public funds were spent on international trips and luxury hotels has been nothing short of infuriating.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Record Under Scrutiny;

     The scandal also casts an unforgiving spotlight on Mayor Brandon Johnson, who, before taking office, built his political identity as a CPS teacher and a top Chicago Teachers Union organizer demanding more taxpayer dollars for schools. Johnson repeatedly argued that CPS was underfunded and that educators needed greater financial support. 

     Yet under his leadership, the OIG now reports that unapproved, excessive, and noncompliant teacher travel spending has only grown, suggesting a troubling dynamic: the mayor’s longstanding political loyalty to the teachers union has coincided with weakened oversight and a permissive environment in which wasteful spending flourished. For many critics, the pattern raises a stark question: how can a mayor who campaigned on equity and accountability preside over a system in which public dollars are used for luxury trips? At the same time, students remain unable to read or do math at grade level.

Reforms Underway And Many Questions Unanswered;

     The OIG’s recommendations include:

• Overhauling travel policies with more specificity and enforcement.
• Creating a centralized “Travel Review Committee” or dedicated travel desk.
• Implementing advanced ERP systems that flag inconsistent or non-approved expenses.
• Strengthening audit requirements for staff trips.

     CPS has since announced a freeze on most overnight travel beginning in late October 2025.

     But broader questions linger:

• Will staff who exploited the system face real consequences?
• How will CPS ensure taxpayer money is redirected toward tutoring, intervention, and classroom instruction?
• Can CPS leadership reform the culture that allowed this spending to flourish?
• And most critically, how long will Chicago students continue to bear the consequences of misplaced priorities?

Implications For A Democratic-Run City;

     Chicago’s political leadership frequently champions public education, equity, and accountability. Yet the travel-spending scandal resonates as a case study in how those ideals can break down in practice.

     For many observers, the scandal illustrates that, despite political rhetoric, too many officials in Democratic-run cities appear disconnected from their constituents’ struggles. When resources intended for children are redirected to international trips and luxury accommodations, it sends a clear message: the system serves itself first.

     Public trust, already strained, may depend on whether meaningful, transparent reforms follow.

     At a time when most CPS students still cannot read or perform math at grade level, the revelation that more than $7.7 million was spent on questionable travel is difficult, if not impossible, to defend. The watchdog report reveals a troubling pattern of lax oversight, weak internal controls, and administrative priorities fundamentally misaligned with student needs.

     For Chicago’s students, parents, and taxpayers, this is a decisive moment. The following steps, taken by CPS or not, will determine whether this episode becomes a turning point or merely another chapter in a long pattern of mismanagement.

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor for Englebrook Independent News. All factual information, figures, examples, and quotations referenced in this piece were drawn from reporting and data published by the Chicago Public Schools Office of Inspector General, CPS public statements, and major independent outlets, including WBEZ Chicago, Chalkbeat Chicago, CBS News Chicago, NBC Chicago, and the Illinois Policy Institute.