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Summary

In 2013, Chicago students, teachers, and community members protested the planned closure of 54 public schools by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Board of Education. The campaign used marches, rallies, sit-ins, and student strikes to oppose the closures, which disproportionately affected Black neighborhoods. Despite widespread opposition, the Board voted to close 49 schools on May 22, 2013, and the campaign failed to prevent the closures.

Background

On March 21, 2013, Chicago Public Schools officials announced a plan to close 54 schools to address a $1 billion deficit and improve education. The plan would affect 30,000 students and cost 300 teachers their jobs, with 90% of affected students being Black. Opponents argued closures would harm communities, force students to cross gang lines, and cost as much as they saved.

What happened

On March 21, parents, teachers, and students protested outside the home of Board of Education President David Vitales [source: nv-database]. The Chicago Teacher’s Union (CTU) held a rally on March 27, where hundreds marched to Daley Plaza and blockaded LaSalle Avenue, disrupting rush hour traffic; police made over 50 arrests [source: nv-database]. On April 2, parents and activists rallied outside Mayor Emanuel’s office, urging him to walk the route from closing schools to receiving schools [source: nv-database]. On April 24, students, teachers, and parents protested outside CPS headquarters; students boycotted the PSAE test and formed a chain around the board meeting room but were pushed out by security [source: nv-database]. In May, public hearings were held [source: nv-database]. On May 20, groups including Chicago Students Organizing to Save Our Schools began a three-day march from the South and West sides to downtown; protesters occupied city hall lobby, and twelve were arrested for blocking elevators [source: nv-database]. On May 22, the Board voted to close 49 schools; CEO Byrd-Bennett removed four schools from the list [source: nv-database]. The campaign failed to stop the closures, but participants said they would continue with shifted goals [source: nv-database].

Key people & organizations

  • Mayor Rahm Emanuel
  • Chicago Board of Education
  • District CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett
  • Chicago Teacher’s Union (CTU)
  • Voices of Youth in Chicago
  • Blocks Together
  • Chicagoland Researchers and Advocates for Transformative Education
  • Chicago Students Organizing to Save Our Schools

Tactics used

The campaign combined public demonstrations, marches, sit-ins, and student strikes to draw attention to the disproportionate impact on Black communities and to disrupt normal operations, aiming to pressure decision-makers through visible civil disobedience and coalition-building. [source: nv-database]

Outcome

Verdict: lost.

The campaign achieved 0 out of 6 points for specific demands, as 49 of 54 schools were closed, but it survived and grew, earning 3 out of 10 total points. The closure proceeded despite protests, indicating a lost outcome. [source: nv-database]

Lessons

  • Coalitions between students, teachers, and community organizations can amplify a campaign’s reach and legitimacy.
  • Disruptive tactics like blockades and sit-ins can generate media attention and public pressure, but may not overcome entrenched political will.
  • Framing the issue around racial and community impact can mobilize broader support.

Sources

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

  • nv-database — grounding: primary — license: link-only
  • Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via worker_casestudies_v2.py

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