Education in the U.S. is subject to huge disparities in opportunity (the “opportunity gap”): some groups of students have incredible experiences while a much larger group is subject to extremely limited in-school and life experiences. These educational opportunities are directly linked to students’ socioeconomic status, and what happens outside schools is more influential than what happens inside.
CTU members are overjoyed at the outpouring of solidarity we’ve received from groups and individuals throughout the country, and even worldwide! Connecting and taking inspiration from others who share our struggle builds our power.
You’ve heard, “It takes a village to raise a child.” SCS are the embodiment of that saying – they are community hubs designed to provide wraparound academic, health, and social support for the entire community beyond the traditional 9 am – 3 pm school day. By leveraging community assets, resources, and external partnerships to provide comprehensive community care, SCS brings students, parents, educators, school staff, community members, and service providers together in a coordinated effort to promote neighborhood health and well-being. It is a community-led, community-driven approach to educational justice and equity.
Cities across the United States, including Minneapolis, Portland, Denver, Seattle and Oakland have decided they will no longer employ police within the schools.
Chicago should join them.
On this episode of CTU Speaks!, co-hosts Tara Stamps and Jim Staros invite David Stovall, professor of criminology, law, and justice at the University of Illinois-Chicago, into the studio for a discussion of the outlandish things Paul Vallas has said about teaching Black history. This is an informative deep dive into the explicit and not-so-explicit appeals to white supremacy that Vallas employs and the larger meaning of these attacks on teaching Black history.
The CTU has worked closely over the last three years with a committed group of advocates to demand better for our students. CPS has been forced to release more funds for special education for schools throughout the city. Use the information below to advocate for your principal to claim and properly use the funds CPS has been forced to allot.
The Chicago Teachers Union is an organization of educators dedicated to advancing and promoting quality public education, improving teaching and learning conditions, and protecting members’ rights. Meet our officers, learn about our mission and learn more about how we operate on the About Us page.
CTU endorsed candidates have track records demonstrating that they are education champions. Your vote is your voice. Together, we build our power.
The Chicago Teachers Union exposes the falsehoods and inequities created by an education policy that, rather than being held publicly accountable, is controlled by the profit-minded corporate community.
Why do CTU members fight for students? What motivates them to prepare for a possible strike? This 2018 update to CTU’s 2012 report, The Schools Chicago’s Students Deserve provides a counter-narrative to the corporate agenda on education. SCSD 2.0 highlights the many racist inequities that have continued, or in some cases worsened, since 2012. CTU has a track record of fighting for reforms to change these realities, which is why Chicagoans continue to trust the CTU more than the Board of Education, more than Mayor Emanuel and more than any “reformer” backed by billionaires and corporate foundations.
On May 22, 2013, The Chicago Board of Education voted to close 50, “turn around” five, and co-locate 17 elementary schools. Faced with widespread opposition to these actions, CPS promised hundreds of millions of dollars in capital improvements and transition supports for schools receiving students from closed schools. However, CTU’s examination of the evidence finds that the promises made to receiving schools were hollow in many cases and only partially fulfilled in others.
We must demand that the “Invest in Kids” voucher program be closed down as quickly as possible. Invest in Kids, under the guise of providing scholarships for private schools, is effectively diverting public funds away from our already underfunded public schools.
This month, our legislative/political team is tackling two big issues for our schools and members. Read the update, followed by a list of quick things you can do to help keep public dollars in our public schools.
The Organizer will work with labor, environmental, and community allies to sustain and expand a grassroots Green Schools Campaign in Chicago. This is a full-time in person position, based in the Chicago area with one day a week at CJI offices.
On Nov. 15, CTU members across the district demonstrated to CPS their ingenuity, wherewithal, and need to teach outside the confines of the Skyline curriculum with teacher-created content instead. On that day, educators taught indigenous history, elevated homelessness awareness month, and engaged newcomer students.
During her 27 years as an educator, Lorca Elementary School teacher Jill Kehoe has developed a passion for travel — and the unique opportunity to share her adventures and what knowledge of the world with her students.
CPS has proven itself to be fiscally irresponsible and reckless with limited tax dollars. Chicago students deserve better. Even without the new revenue proposals put forth by the Chicago Teachers Union, CPS can stop wasting money on expensive contracts that produce shoddy services.
Educators, families and community leaders at Instituto demand charter operator stop stalling and negotiate a contract that provides supportive and sustainable classrooms for educators and students
CPS needs to start addressing climate change and environmental racism immediately. While CPS must create a long-term plan to incorporate our vision for transformative green schools, CPS must not delay in taking steps necessary to secure funds and make critical green upgrades.
Topics: Giving Tuesday, Thanksgiving message, contract campaign kickoff, Instituto rally for a fair contract and more!
Topics include: REACH Appeals, parental leave update, Skyline webinar, UAW rallies, join a committee and more!
This resolution was adopted unanimously at the September 27, 2023 meeting of the CTU House of Delegates.
There is little evidence to support the CPS claim in a letter to parents: “We believe that every community deserves an excellent neighborhood high school that will give your children the skills and knowledge they need to achieve their dreams.” The opposite is true. Through poor planning and racist policy decisions, CPS has deliberately undermined Englewood’s neighborhood high schools.
The Chicago Teachers Union argues for proven educational reforms to dramatically improve education of more than 400,000 students in a district of 675 schools. These reforms are desperately needed and can head Chicago towards the world-class educational system its students deserve.
