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Chicago Public Schools says it plans to pay for a new teachers contract by refinancing $100 million in existing bonds. District officials say that could save $42 million, but a government watchdog group said it could ultimately hurt the district, whose debt has been downgraded by bond-rating agencies — twice by one of those agencies — because of its financial position. (Tribune)

Chicago Public Schools says its plan to fund year one of the new Chicago Teachers Union contract includes reducing "administration, finance and operations spending in the central office, avoiding cuts to classrooms as promised by CPS, the Board of Education and Mayor Emanuel." (press release)

Negotiations to resolve a teachers' strike in the Chicago suburb of Evergreen Park are expected to continue. (Northwest Herald)

A union representative and the Evergreen Park School District 124 superintendent can’t agree on whether the two sides made any headway this weekend. (Tribune)

IN THE NATION
A company called K12 Inc. wants to open virtual charter schools across Florida, saying they would expand students’ options. The move has raised the ire of school district officials in some counties. (Miami Herald)

Alabama Department of Education said Friday that it would investigate reports that high school teachers in Montgomery had altered students’ grades to help them pass classes. (The New York Times)

Along the socioeconomic spectrum in New York City’s student population, there is a corresponding vocabulary gap for children beginning in kindergarten.