Chicago Teachers Union claims ‘impasse’ over COVID-19 school reopenings

By Patrick Andriesen

08/19/2021

The CTU president said there was an impasse, with union leaders and Chicago Public Schools administrators divided on quarantine policies and remote learning options for students. School administrators said the union is ‘rejecting the science for their own gain.’

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago Public Schools hiring 2,000 staffers, but might be missing 100,000 students

By Patrick Andriesen

08/11/2021

The Chicago Board of Education approved a $9.3 billion budget that hires 2,000 new, permanent staff using temporary COVID-19 federal aid. There are also concerns about whether 100,000 students will return.

TAGS: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Chicago schools mandating masks regardless of COVID-19 shot status

By Noah Shaar

07/26/2021

Chicago Public Schools will require all students and staff to wear masks inside school buildings this fall. CPS’s mask mandate ignored the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines that advise masking indoors only for unvaccinated people.

TAGS: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, masks

Feds charge former Chicago principal with taking $200,000 in school overtime scheme

By Patrick Andriesen

07/16/2021

A former Chicago Public Schools principal convinced her employees to falsely charge for overtime and give her the money, claiming it would go for school expenses. Charges state she instead paid her mortgage.

TAGS: corruption, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, fraud

Where are Chicago parents at the bargaining table?

By Mailee Smith, Ann Miller

02/09/2021

With the Chicago Teachers Union finally deciding students can return to classrooms, parent groups are clamoring to be heard. Unfortunately, Illinois law prohibits them from having much say about schools reopening.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, reopen, strike

Chicago students falling behind as city, teachers’ union squabble

By Ann Miller

02/05/2021

The Chicago Teachers Union has more demands before it will tell members to return to classrooms. Chicago’s mayor says the teachers’ union has a final offer.

TAGS: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

FAQs: What Chicago teachers should know before going on strike

By Mailee Smith

02/02/2021

Chicago Teachers Union is poised to go on strike for the fourth time in nine years. Here’s what Chicago Public Schools teachers need to know before joining a strike.

TAGS: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

Chicago teacher strike threat grows as elementary students miss return

By Brad Weisenstein

02/01/2021

With an agreement close but the Chicago Teachers Union refusing to budge, elementary students missed what was to be their first day back in 10 months. Now the fourth strike in nine years is imminent.

TAGS: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

Potential CTU strike about boosting power of nation’s teachers’ unions

By Mailee Smith

01/30/2021

The Chicago Teachers Union prided itself as the vanguard for a rash of nationwide teacher strikes following its 2012 walkout. It’s using the same playbook in 2021.

TAGS: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

Chicago Teachers Union idles students, threatens 4th strike in 9 years

By Brad Weisenstein

01/27/2021

All of the evidence supports getting Chicago students back in the classroom after more than 10 months. The Chicago Teachers Union is refusing to let teachers accompany them.

TAGS: COVID-19, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike