We finally know where the COVID relief money meant for struggling students actually went—and it wasn’t to the classrooms. It was stolen to fund a lifestyle of pure luxury for school officials.

Chicago Public Schools just got hit with a brutal watchdog report — and taxpayers have every right to be furious.

Over the past six years, CPS employees racked up $23.6 million in travel expenses at 5-star hotels, international trips, luxury resorts, and Vegas conferences — many never approved and some blatantly abused.

We’re talking:

• $945-a-night Vegas hotel rooms

• “Professional development” trips doubled as South African safaris, hot-air balloon rides, and camel tours

• $4,700 Hawaiian vacations labeled as seminars

• Round-trip flights costing over $1,000

• A principal bringing their spouse to celebrate their anniversary — on taxpayers’ dime

• Over 600 employees flocking to Vegas for seminars but skipping the exact same one when it was offered in Chicago

All while:

Only 2 in 5 CPS students read at grade level

Only 1 in 4 meet math proficiency

Teacher absenteeism stays sky-high

The spending exploded when federal pandemic funds arrived — money meant to help kids recover from massive learning loss. Instead, it helped fund luxury trips.

CPS finally announced a travel freeze in October