Families in South Chicago were stunned to learn that Epic Academy, a small charter high school serving about 250 students, may close before the end of this school year. Parents were only informed in mid-September, even though the school notified CPS in August that it was facing declining enrollment and rising costs. The school board will vote on closure this week — a move that could displace hundreds of young people with almost no time to prepare.

If Epic closes mid-year, it will be the first time in recent memory that a Chicago charter school has shut its doors before summer. Teachers and students describe the school as a tight-knit community where staff stay for years and where families choose Epic because it consistently posts stronger graduation and college enrollment outcomes than nearby schools. To rip that away mid-year would cause chaos for families, disrupt college applications for seniors, and break the trust students have in their schools.

Even more troubling, CPS renewed Epic’s charter in May for two years. Parents and teachers are asking: how did the district not know this crisis was coming? CPS says its review only examines past audits and does not assess future financial health — leaving families in the dark until disaster strikes.

Epic’s leaders say they believed they could stay open until 2027 by selling their building, but that plan has fallen through. Now, students are left to carry the consequences of financial decisions they did not make.

We call on Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, the CPS Board of Education, and Epic Academy’s Board of Directors to guarantee that Epic Academy remains open through the end of this school year at minimum. CPS must also ensure transparent oversight and immediate planning for students’ futures so families are not blindsided again.

Students deserve stability, not uncertainty. No child should be forced to change schools overnight because of failed finances and poor planning.

Sign this petition to demand that Epic Academy stay open through the year and that CPS put students first.