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Mayor Lightfoot’s appointed Board of Ed rejects ending racist school policies
The mayor's handpicked school board refuses to address or remedy persistent discriminatory policies that target Black and Brown schools and educators for layoffs, closures and termination. CHICAGO, April 8, 2021—A federal judge has set a date of June 8 for a...
Older Press Releases
Judge to set trial date in case charging CPS with racial discrimination in school turnarounds
Lightfoot, who once defended investment firm Merrill Lynch against discrimination charges, has opportunity to address and remedy persistent racism in the school district that she leads. 1:30 p.m. Thurs., April 8: Virtual hearing on trial date, settlement conference....
CTU high school teachers raise safety concerns as reopening bargaining continues
Lightfoot acknowledges spike in positive COVID cases among young Chicagoans, rejects vaccine for students 16 and older, yet plans to reopen high schools in two weeks. 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 7: Virtual press conference with high school teachers, community allies,...
After decades-long struggle, Pritzker signs bill restoring CTU bargaining rights
Repeal of despised 1995 Amendatory Act gutting bargaining rights for CPS unions at last eliminates restrictions on CTU's ability to advocate for students and families. CHICAGO, April 2, 2020—Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement...
Lightfoot’s Board of Ed refuses to fund COVID tests for CPS students at charter schools
As health officials raise alarm about rising COVID rates, CPS students in charter schools could be denied access to critical safety and mitigation tool unless District reverses course. CHICAGO — Surveillance testing is an essential tool to monitor the current state of...
Staff at two more charter schools announce their intent to join the CTU
Charter educators seek to unionize in order to amplify teacher voices at work and reduce staff turnover CHICAGO, March 29, 2021 — Teachers, paraprofessionals, and other staff at two more charter schools — Christopher House and Intrinsic — have both announced in recent...
Vaccination scandal in Chicago Public Schools
CHICAGO, March 23, 2021—CTU President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement in response to a City of Chicago report that 6,000 vaccines meant for Chicago Public Schools teachers and staff were reallocated away from the district: “After listening to the mayor...
Civil rights suit filed against Chicago Public Schools for racially discriminatory school actions going to trial
Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who once served as defense attorney in a racial discrimination suit against investment firm Merrill Lynch, is now presented with the opportunity to address racism in the school district that she leads. CHICAGO, March 22, 2021—A federal judge last...
Less than 25 percent of CPS students have returned to in-person learning
The figure is even less than the small number initially expected as Chicago’s public school students and families continue to demand improvements to remote learning, and deserve every penny of $1.8 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds to recover and reimagine...
CTU responds to CPS bargaining claims
CPS email to parents distorts status of negotiations, undercuts input from students, parents, educators. CHICAGO, March 16, 2020—Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey issued the following statement to rank and file CTU members tonight in response to this...
CPS must invest nearly $2 billion in federal support on equity, pandemic recovery
Federal relief must confront massive inequity and trauma intensified by pandemic, focus efforts on hard-hit Black and Brown school communities, and support immigrant, homeless and special education students. CHICAGO, March 10, 2021—Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s handpicked...
CTU Speaks! Podcast
Our podcast, CTU Speaks! is hosted by Andrea Parker and Jim Staros. We’ll chat about our union, enforcing our contract, and our fight for the schools our students and educators deserve.
