Explore our content

All types | All dates | All authors
Chicago Teachers Union
Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
5:18pm
Tue Apr 16

CTU Report Examines Culture Of Fear, Disinvestment Among Schools Targeted For Closure

Chicago Public Schools plans to close 54 schools in June, but a new Chicago Teachers Union study raises questions about whether the district has the capacity to close that many in such a short time, given its issues with closing at least one of four schools last year.

Once Englewood’s Simon Guggenheim Elementary closed last year, only 37 percent of its non-graduating students enrolled at the designated receiving school, Carrie Jacobs Bond Elementary, according to CTU’s “A Tale of Two Schools” study.

Also, CPS has yet to account for 23 former Guggenheim students, the study added.

“To lose any student, let alone that many ... it’s just dangerous, and it just baffles me how CPS thinks that this is a good plan, when for the past 10 years or so, when these school closings started, they’ve never been able to get it right, because it’s not right,” said Action Now Executive Director Katelyn Johnson.

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
11:48am
Tue Apr 16

West Siders Hold Nearby Charters Responsible For Emmet Elementary's Shrinking Enrollment

Emmet Elementary School’s utilization rate is 66 percent, higher than a handful of other Austin neighborhood schools.

Even still, the Chicago Public Schools wants to close it at the end of the year, and that decision continues to puzzle some West Side community members and parents who spoke out against the action before Emmet’s final community meeting last night.

“Unfortunately we have an administration with this corporate ideology of privatizing education that uses our data to punish schools rather than use them as tools to go ahead and improve our children’s education,” said Dwayne Truss with the Austin Community Action Council. “And that’s wrong.” Read more »

PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
5:39pm
Mon Apr 15

Chicago Teachers Union Plans To Intensify Political Activity, Push For New Voters (VIDEO)

Education

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) is preparing to intensify political activity and push for new voters with a citywide campaign against Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the mayoral-appointed Chicago Board of Education. According to CTU President Karen Lewis, the union could begin canvasing for new mayoral candidates, and selecting nominees for Illinois’ political offices, as early as next week.

Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
5:06pm
Wed Apr 10

Unions Unite, Issue Joint Report Against School Closings

Members and leaders of three unions representing workers in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system criticized the city’s recent round of school actions in a joint report issued Tuesday, saying school closings hurt children, struggling neighborhoods, and working families.

They’ve called on the Chicago Board of Education, CPS and Mayor Rahm Emanuel not to close any schools.

“Strong schools are supposed to create strong neighborhoods,” said SEIU* Local 1 spokeswoman Izabela Miltko. “We all believe that Chicago needs to protect and invest in its children and not tear apart communities, tear apart schools.”

Read more »

PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
12:57pm
Fri Apr 5
1 comment

CTU Takes Lawmakers On Eye-Opening Bus Tour Of Communities Affected By School Closures (VIDEO)

Education

The Chicago Teachers Union led a bus tour of blighted neighborhoods slated for school actions Thursday, providing legislators, stakeholders and members of the press with a first-hand glimpse of communities they say are being “destabilized” by Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) school closures.

PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
8:22pm
Wed Apr 3
1 comment

Debate On CPS School Closures Heats Up At Chicago Board Of Education Meeting (VIDEO)

Education

There was no shortage of heated words today at the Chicago Board of Education’s monthly meeting as Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett presented her final school closure plan. Parents, teachers and activists all urged board members to consider the consequences the school actions will likely have on Chicago's communities.

PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
11:22pm
Wed Mar 27

Thousands Take To Downtown Chicago Streets In Protest Against CPS School Closures (VIDEO)

Education

More than 7,000 protesters descended upon downtown Chicago today in protest of school closures and related actions by the Chicago Public Schools system. Progress Illinois was there for the action.