Chicago Public Schools

Another day, another CPS downgrade

By Ted Dabrowski
10/02/2012
Last week, Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the credit rating of Chicago Public Schools. Today, it’s Fitch Ratings that’s downgrading CPS. The school district’s credit rating now sits at A with a negative outlook, the same rating given to Illinois, which has the lowest rating of all 50 states. According to Fitch, the downgrade was caused by the district’s deteriorating...

CTU strike deal leads to CPS credit downgrade

By Jonathan Ingram
09/28/2012
On Thursday, Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the credit rating of Chicago Public Schools. The school district’s credit rating now sits at A2 with a negative outlook, the same rating given to Illinois, which has the lowest rating of all 50 states. According to Moody’s, the downgrade reflects CPS’s weakened financial condition, caused primarily by the facts that:...

Open letter to Mayor Rahm Emanuel

09/25/2012
After nearly a year of collective bargaining and a seven day strike, you have reached a tentative agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union.

A meditation on the Chicago Way

By Paul Kersey
09/20/2012
A few parting observations, lessons to be learned, and things to watch in the future: Any positives in the contract?  Yes, but…  It is hard to find positives in the contract, but for what it’s worth: Chicago had one of the shortest school days and years in the US.  The school day is a bit longer and...

Study Guide: Chicago Teachers Union strike

By Chris Andriesen
09/18/2012
Institute Experts on the Chicago Teachers Union Strike A meditation on the Chicago Way The CTU strike has ended and a lot of people are asking: “what happened?” Five things you need to know about Chicago Public Schools Five critical facts to keep in mind during the CTU strike. Cheat Sheet: Chicago Public Schools A...

Chicago Teachers Union: Tentative agreement – A short summary

By Paul Kersey
09/17/2012
Last week bargaining teams from the Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Teachers Union reached an agreement on broad terms of a contract that could end the strike.  The agreement hit a snag over the weekend when the union’s Board of Delegates voted to extend the strike until at least Wednesday, in order to give themselves...