Case: Board of Education of the City of Chicago v. U.S. Department of Education

1:26-cv-02795 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: March 12, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

The Board of Education of the City of Chicago (CPS) filed suit against the U.S. Department of Education and its officials on March 13, 2026, in the Northern District of Illinois. CPS alleged that the Department of Education (ED) unlawfully discontinued approximately $17 million in remaining Magnet School Assistance Program (MSAP) funding on September 26, 2025, effective September 30, 2025. The discontinuation was allegedly based on violations of Title VI and Title IX related to CPS's "Black Student Success Plan" and its guidelines supporting transgender and gender nonconforming students, which were the subject of Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigations opened in March and April 2025. CPS claimed that ED failed to follow required procedural protections under civil rights laws, demanded policy changes within three days, and denied adequate reconsideration procedures despite CPS's ongoing cooperation with the OCR investigations. The complaint included seven counts alleging violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), due process violations, and ultra vires actions. CPS sought declaratory and injunctive relief to restore the MSAP funding and require proper procedures.

The case was assigned to District Judge John F. Kness.

As of April 14, ED has yet to file a response. This case is ongoing.

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Summary Authors

Jinan Abufarha (3/17/2026)

Maddy Ligon (4/14/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72457719/parties/board-of-education-of-the-city-of-chicago-v-us-department-of-education/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Givan, Yasemine Christine (Illinois)

Graham, Bonnie Little (Illinois)

Wills, Brandi Nicole (Illinois)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Givan, Yasemine Christine (Illinois)

Graham, Bonnie Little (Illinois)

Wills, Brandi Nicole (Illinois)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-02795	Complaint Board of Education of the City of Chicago v. United States Department of Education	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72457719/board-of-education-of-the-city-of-chicago-v-us-department-of-education/

Last updated April 14, 2026, 7:05 p.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT filed by BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO; Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-24846723. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit 4, # 6 Exhibit 5, # 7 Exhibit 6, # 8 Exhibit 7, # 9 Exhibit 8, # 10 Exhibit 9, # 11 Exhibit 10, # 12 Exhibit 11)(Givan, Yasemine) (Entered: 03/13/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 2 View on PACER 4 Exhibit 3 View on PACER 5 Exhibit 4 View on PACER 6 Exhibit 5 View on PACER 7 Exhibit 6 View on PACER 8 Exhibit 7 View on PACER 9 Exhibit 8 View on PACER 10 Exhibit 9 View on PACER 11 Exhibit 10 View on PACER 12 Exhibit 11 View on PACER	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO by Yasemine Christine Givan (Givan, Yasemine) (Entered: 03/13/2026)	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026
3	MINUTE entry before the Honorable John F. Kness: Counsel for Plaintiff in this newly filed case contacted court staff to explain that the complaint contains an error in the signature block. Plaintiff may simply refile the corrected complaint without needing to seek leave. But the refiled complaint must not be otherwise substantively amended unless Plaintiff wishes to avail itself of the amendment-by-right provision of FRCP 15(a)(1); if so, the refiled complaint must be entitled "Amended Complaint." Otherwise, the refiled complaint must be denoted on the docket as "corrected." Mailed notice. (exr, ) (Entered: 03/13/2026)	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026
4	CORRECTED COMPLAINT filed by BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit 4, # 6 Exhibit 5, # 7 Exhibit 6, # 8 Exhibit 7, # 9 Exhibit 8, # 10 Exhibit 9, # 11 Exhibit 10, # 12 Exhibit 11)(Givan, Yasemine) (Entered: 03/13/2026)	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026
	CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable John F. Kness. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Daniel P. McLaughlin. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 2). (aw, )	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026
	CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1(b), a United States Magistrate Judge of this court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action. If all parties consent to have the currently assigned United States Magistrate Judge conduct all proceedings in this case, including trial, the entry of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings, all parties must sign their names on the attached Consent To form. This consent form is eligible for filing only if executed by all parties. The parties can also express their consent to jurisdiction by a magistrate judge in any joint filing, including the Joint Initial Status Report or proposed Case Management Order. (aw, )	March 13, 2026	March 13, 2026
5	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO by Brandi Nicole Wills; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24852185. (Wills, Brandi) (Entered: 03/16/2026)	March 16, 2026	March 16, 2026
6	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO by Bonnie Little Graham; Filing fee $ 150, receipt number AILNDC-24852371. (Graham, Bonnie) (Entered: 03/16/2026)	March 16, 2026	March 16, 2026
7	MINUTE entry before the Honorable John F. Kness: Motions by counsel for leave to appear pro hac vice 5, 6 are granted. Mailed notice. (exr, ) (Entered: 03/17/2026)	March 17, 2026	March 17, 2026
15	Withdraw as Attorney	April 10, 2026	April 10, 2026
16	Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney	April 13, 2026	April 13, 2026

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Illinois

Case Type(s):

Education

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 12, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The Board of Education of the City of Chicago (CPS), which operates 630 schools serving over 300,000 students.

Plaintiff Type(s):

City/County Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

KIMBERLY RICHEY

LINDA MCMAHON

LINDSEY M. BURKE

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

Other Dockets:

Northern District of Illinois 1:26-cv-02795

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Relief Granted:

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Impoundment (mandatory spending)

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Board of Education of the City of Chicago v. U.S. Department of Education, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47906/ (last updated 4/14/2026).