Chicago Teachers Union
Chicago Students Return To Classrooms — But Some Already Sent Home To Quarantine: ‘This Whole System Has Been A Mess’
Wednesday marks the first day of in-person Chicago Public Schools classes after five days of cancellations — but not everyone is on board with the return to school.
After Initially Canceling All Classes This Week, Little Village’s Spry Elementary Decides To Reopen With Some Kids Remote Learning
The reversal was announced Tuesday after CPS and the teachers union reached a deal to resume in-person learning across the district.
Little Village’s Spry Elementary Cancels Classes All Week As Teacher Says Nearly All Of School Is Quarantined
Officials said the school is closed because of “expected staffing levels." One teacher said 15 of the school's 18 classrooms are in quarantine.
CPS Students Don’t Face A COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement For Now, City’s Top Doc Says
Dr. Allison Arwardy's comment on school nurses during a hearing with alderpeople drew a rebuke from the Chicago Teachers Union.
Chicago Parents ‘Fed Up’ With Clashes Between CPS, CTU — And Some Plan To Leave The District
Block Club spoke to parents across the city. Some want kids at home during the COVID-19 surge, and others want kids in schools — but most agree there should have been a plan before this week.
Chicago Teachers Say They Want To Return To Classrooms, But They Need Better COVID-19 Safety Measures
CTU members voted to return to remote learning, saying the COVID-19 surge makes in-person learning too risky. "I want to be with my students more than anything, but we need safety, we need better choices from our district," one teacher said.
Chicago Teachers May Refuse To Work In Schools Starting Wednesday Amid COVID-19 Surge
The return from winter break comes as the city is experiencing a record surge in confirmed cases and after parents grappled with a chaotic student testing program.
Teachers Union Calls For In-School Vaccines, Testing After Elementary School Staffer Dies Of COVID-19
Classroom assistant JonL Bush died of coronavirus, prompting calls for more vaccine and testing in schools. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said those demands are "not driven by science and data."
After Student And Security Guard Shot Outside South Side School, Kids Need More Help Healing From Trauma, Parents Say
The shooting happened last month outside Wendell Phillips Academy High School as classes were letting out. Now, school leaders are asking: Are temporary counselors enough?
Chicago Had A Long List Of Disengaged Students. Did Efforts To Reel Them In Pay Off?
The district flagged about 70,000 students as at risk of disconnecting from learning — and directed schools to track them down.
Parents, Teachers Want West Side School Shut Down After Coronavirus Outbreak: ‘We Will No Longer Accept No Plan’
Several people at Jensen Elementary School tested positive for coronavirus, and more than 200 people have been exposed.
Summer School In Chicago Was Billed As A Big Deal. But Data Is Scarce On How It Went
Summer programs varied significantly across campuses, with some schools hosting 20 or more opportunities while others offered just one.
Some Chicago Schools In High-Poverty Areas Lost 1 In 7 Teachers To Layoffs
Most schools with three or more teacher layoffs were shrinking campuses. At least seven of the 22 schools are considered “underutilized” by the district.
Southwest Side Charter School Shifting To Remote Learning After 3 People Contract COVID-19
The Acero Schools Zizumbo campus will close to in-person learning for two weeks, per an agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union.
Chicago Schools Are Fully Reopening For The First Time In More Than 500 Days. Here’s What To Know
Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey said the union has no intention of blocking the start of the school year. But it will continue to “ring alarms” about what he described as safety shortfalls, he said.
Talks Between City And Teachers Union Are Stalled — But Teachers Will Still Return To Classrooms Aug. 30
Nearly all CPS students will return to full-time in-person learning this fall, in line with a state resolution.
Limited Access And Low Enrollment: Chicago Parents Criticize ‘Confusing And Chaotic’ Virtual Academy Process
CPS will offer a limited Virtual Academy for students with specific medical needs this fall, but so far plans are fuzzy, signups are tepid and parents have been left pressing each other for details.
Chicago Fell Behind On Plans For Students With Disabilities During COVID-19. New Data Shows The Depth Of The Problem
The pandemic year has uprooted support for students with disabilities in Chicago and nationwide, creating a backlog of Individualized Education Programs that could lead to widening academic gaps for students in need of special education services.
Citing Student Trauma From Violence And Pandemic, Chicago Educators Call For School Budget Redo
Educators argued the district should spend more on student support personnel, such as counselors.
Chicago Public Schools Will Require Masks When Classes Resume — But 3 Feet Of Distancing Not Guaranteed
The state school board has said masks can be optional for vaccinated students and teachers. But local district can set stricter rules.
