Take the 5-minute CPS survey to help end SQRP
SQRP, CPS’ racist school rating policy, has been on hold during the pandemic. That’s a good thing. But we need to make sure this punitive system never raises its ugly head again.
Mayor’s CPS team agrees that testing, vaccines are path to safety — but won’t ramp up tests or shots
CHICAGO, November 30, 2021 — Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement today in wake of a press conference with Mayor Lightfoot’s top doc and CPS CEO: Science and sickness is telling us some ugly truths: this global pandemic is not...Thankful for the strength and wisdom of solidarity
A Thanksgiving message from CTU President Jesse Sharkey to rank and file CTU and CTU-ACTS members: The holidays are typically a time for reflection and a time to express our thanks and contemplate our vision for the new year. I’m feeling especially thankful this year...Nothing is more important than the trust and safety of our children
A message from CTU President Jesse Sharkey to CTU rank and file members: I received a phone call at 7 a.m. today from CPS CEO Pedro Martinez about the pending release of a deeply disturbing report of grooming, sexual abuse and cover up at Marine Leadership Academy. As...Nothing is more important than the trust and safety of our children
Nothing is more important than the trust of our children, and nothing is more reprehensible than the violation of that trust.
Nothing is more important than the trust and safety of our children
CHICAGO, Nov. 19, 2021 — The Chicago Teachers Union issued the following statement today following reports of sexual abuse and misconduct at Marine Leadership Academy: Our union has zero tolerance for sexual misconduct. Nothing is more important than the trust of our...
Today we celebrate our PSRPs, the beloved backbone of our schools
love your PSRPs today. Give them their flowers and their tribute while they are still here with us, with a bouquet, a special meal or gift, or simple acknowledgement of the tremendous difference they make in our lives.
Educators demand relief from mayor’s handpicked ed board as CPS starves schools of staff, supports
Mayor’s CPS team promised to move $535 million out of $2.6 billion in COVID relief to schools, but students see no resources or relief on the ground as COVID rates tick back up. 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17: Press conference on chronic lack of cleanliness,...Lightfoot CPS team ignores acute shortages of staff, resources, supports at Lawndale school — and schools across district
Tuesday day of action across CPS will flag chronic issues of school safety, staffing, cleanliness, with no relief from $2.6 billion in federal COVID funds. 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16: Press conference with CTU rank and file, officers. B-roll opportunity: parent...The Grievance Department is hiring!
We’re hiring a Field Representative! This position serves the entire Chicago Teachers Union membership to help members address contract violations. The duties include, but are not limited to, addressing and investigating member concerns, counseling members on...
Access to vaccines for CPS students now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination severely limited in South Side communities
We cannot have any kind of dysfunction from the mayor and her CPS leaders around getting our youngest students vaccinated.
Our advocacy led to the creation of part-time clinician positions in CPS
This week, we learned that CPS will create part-time (0.5) Psychologist and Nurse positions for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year. We know that nearly two years into this pandemic CPS students need additional support. The additional nursing and psychological services will address the unprecedented need among our students and relieve the pressure on existing CPS clinicians already facing extraordinary caseloads.
CTU to vax kids Friday as families scramble for COVID shots — and mayor’s CPS team rejects expanding school vax access
Poor city planning kicks off another round of vaccine ‘Hunger Games’, as Lightfoot refusal to step up vax in schools leaves Black and Brown students in the lurch for easy access to lifesaving shots. NOON press availability, FREE vaccine event from 12:00 p.m. –...
Closing schools to allow time for vaccination appointments is the right move
The more that CPS, in partnership with our union, addresses the totality of safety and wellness, the more hope we provide our students, and their families and communities.
Every teacher needs a Ms. Wolfolk
The CTU’s We Care mentorship program seeks to mentor, support, and retain Black educators, helping them become the best teachers they can be.
7A Thurs: CTU to test students for COVID as Lightfoot CPS team abandons promise to test weekly
Ten weeks into school year, Mayor’s CPS team still failing to test all students registered for COVID tests, as new numbers show District vax plan is failing to get shots to eligible students. 7:00 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 4: Press availability at testing action with...CPS averaging only 34 vaccinations a week across four regional COVID vaccination sites
CHICAGO, Nov. 3, 2021 — With children ages 5-11 now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, information obtained from Chicago Public Schools through the Freedom of Information Act reveals that fewer than 1,000 of all eligible students ages 12-17 have been vaccinated at...Our advocacy has led CPS to reduce REACH, invest $10 million in staffing
Chicago Public Schools, like much of the nation, is in the middle of an acute labor shortage. Educators are already desperately overworked and do not need the additional burden of high-stakes, high-stress teacher and clinician REACH evaluation or PSRP evaluation....
The power of engaged members and coalitions: Legislature passes key paycheck protections, tighter school closure moratorium
Passing bills in the General Assembly is never easy — as our 10-year fight to win an elected school board shows — but it is an even harder lift during the two-week fall veto session. That is why I am thrilled to report success this year on three pieces of key legislation that your support and advocacy helped pass during the just-completed fall session.
Mayor Lightfoot can reverse enrollment drop by at last investing in real equity
CHICAGO, October 27, 2021 — Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement today in wake of news that CPS enrollment dropped this year by 10,000 students: Today Mayor Lightfoot’s CPS team admitted what we’ve raised the alarm about for...
CPS Health Insurance Open Enrollment Oct. 25–Nov. 5
We’re forwarding it to you just to make sure you’re aware that CPS’ open enrollment window is open, so if you’ve been wanting to make any changes to your health insurance coverage, now is the time to act!
As mayor ignores COVID testing failures, Camras Elementary CTU members organize testing, vax on-site
Nine weeks into school year, Camras has seen testing twice — with a third session botched when tester arrived with no supplies. 7:30 a.m., Monday, October 25: Press conference and B-roll with CTU educators, officers, school community members, SEIU Local 73. Camras...Support HB 2778 for COVID paycheck and benefit protections
House Bill 2778 would guarantee that all school districts treat educational employees fairly and promote economic recovery while helping to ensure schools remain safe for those who learn and work in them.
