Current Issue

School closings

As CPS prepares to close a record number of schools, the fate of students and communities is in question.

teachers strike

May 17, 2013

Almost buried in the whirlwind of news on school closings is the Chicago Teachers Union election, in which challenger Tanya Saunders-Wolffe is seeking to oust current President Karen Lewis.

November 01, 2012

Chicago Public Schools teachers recently took to the streets for the first time in a quarter-century to protest the new teacher evaluation system alongside more traditional bread-and-butter issues. But amidst the polarizing debate as to whether striking was the right thing to do, we lost sight of the big picture.

October 29, 2012

With students back in Chicago’s schools, many people are looking for lessons from the teachers’ strike. Some, including the Chicago Tribune editorial page and wealthy venture capitalist Bruce Rauner, have already recommended that the city double-down on its attempts to weaken the Chicago Teachers Union with more school closings and charters.

October 29, 2012
October 10, 2012

Highland Park's elementary and middle school district has assembled a contingency plan with the Park District and other organizations to provide programming for some of its 4,500 students, assuming the teachers go on strike.

October 04, 2012

School has been in session for just about a month and teachers in three districts across the Chicago area have gone on strike. Two more may be on the way. (WBEZ)

October 03, 2012

A second major bond-rating agency has downgraded Chicago Board of Education debt following last month's Chicago Teachers' Union strike. Fitch Ratings changed the rating from A+ to A, and said the outlook remains negative. In a statement Tuesday, the agency said the labor agreement negotiated to end the strike calls for increased costs to Chicago Public Schools at a time of "highly stressed operations.'' (NBC Chicago)

September 25, 2012

At a press conference convened Tuesday by Advance Illinois, representatives from numerous education reform groups laid out their post-strike agenda for Illinois schools.

September 18, 2012

Claiming some major wins and gearing up for a renewed battle against school closings, Chicago Teachers Union delegates voted on Tuesday to suspend the strike. Classes will resume Wednesday morning, a relief for parents who had supported teachers but were ready for the strike to end.

Leaving the meeting, delegates looked happy and said they felt victorious. “We are happy to be able to go back with dignity,” said Adam Heenan, the delegate from Curie High School. 

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