1 in 4 Chicago schools fail in new inspections spurred by dirty schools reports

Chicago Public Schools officials say their efforts to improve school cleanliness are working, but data they released late Tuesday showed that one in four schools still failed "blitz" inspections despite heightened awareness prompted by Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Just ahead of Independence Day, CPS released school-by-school summary results of inspections by central office staffers and employees of Aramark and SodexoMAGIC, which have major contracts to clean and oversee facilities services in the school system.

CPS officials still would not release copies of the new inspection reports, though.

Following the news reports of filthy conditions at many Chicago schools, 306 of the 408 schools examined between April and the last day of school passed, according to CPS.

That's an improvement from an earlier round of inspections but still represents just three of four schools making the grade.

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