An Update on Reopening Chicago Schools

On March 1st, after weeks of discussion and debate between the Chicago Public Schools, Lori Lightfoot, and the Chicago Teachers’ Union, elementary schools reopened in the city for opt-in in-person learning. The last wave of students, those in 6th to 8th grade, was welcomed back into schools on March 8th. Though the return to in-person learning has not gone as well as many CPS administrators had hoped, they are still confident that a return to normalcy is closer than ever.

Results from CPS data that were released in mid-March did not meet early expectations. Though in-person learning was reinstated, only 49,281 students that were given the in-person option returned to schools, leaving a total in-person attendance of 21%. This was about 10,000 students less than administrators predicted. To add to the negative effects, 1 in 3 of the in-person students were taught by remote teachers, according to a CPAA survey taken by 195 of the 415 elementary schools. It should also be noted that the students that returned to in-person learning and had teachers in the classroom were skewed heavily towards white students and students living in Chicago’s north and northwest neighborhoods.

Current discussions between CPS and the CTU have revolved around the reopening of CPS high schools. Many CPS administrators have been pushing for an April 19th reopening to match the start of the last quarter of the school year, which they announced officially on March 16th. However, the CTU made a statement that they have not been a part of the high school reopening discussion as desired, and that there are many issues left to be addressed, including information about vaccine availability for school staff and the current amount of elementary students back in school. It was later revealed that the president of the CTU, Jesse Sharkey, had seen the CPS announcement before it was released, and CPS made the edits she had suggested. This momentary win for CPS didn’t last too long though, as earlier this week they misplaced a reported 6,000 vaccine doses. Many teachers in the CTU are even afraid to reveal their vaccination status, in fear of losing their CPS accommodations that protect their loved ones.

It’s clear that the school system in Chicago has always been politically charged, but perhaps more so than ever during the pandemic. Parents and teachers are both suffering the effects of extended remote and hybrid learning periods, especially in minority communities. To add to the uncertainty, as of today, the CDC still has not determined fully whether or not any of the vaccines available offer complete protection against virus transmission to the unvaccinated. The solution to this complex and gargantuan problem may be murky, but at the very least, both sides should make strides toward honesty and transparency sooner rather than later.

Nate Hall, Tutoring Coordinator
nate@testprepchicago.com
312-848-1266

Chicago Teacher Strike

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) have yet to reach an agreement over teachers’ contracts. As a result, CTU voted on Friday, September 27, to authorize a strike. The strike itself will take place next week on October 17, 2019, adding a new level of urgency for both parties as the days grow closer and closer.

However, in the past, authorized strikes haven’t always led to a strike since the immense inconvenience a strike inevitably poses leads parties to reach an agreement before the actual date. Many are hopeful that this will be the case. On the contrary, if an agreement is not met, CTU (and their 25,000 union educators) are prepared to follow through. In addition, Park District employees have also recently agreed to participate in the strike, adding even more fuel to the fire.

Within the contractual agreement between CPS and CTU, teachers are requesting higher salaries, lower student-to-teacher ratios, and more nurses, librarians, and special education professionals. CPS is trying to accommodate these requests, but so far, their offers were unsatisfactory. While the idea of a teacher strike isn’t desirable for either party, it would hopefully expedite negotiations.

Thousands of CPS families and community members are equally invested in a resolution between the school district and the union. Closed schools mean students wouldn’t have a place to go during the day, and now that Park Districts are joining in, the displacement of tens of thousands of students seems a likely and very scary possibility for Chicagoans. Young students would require childcare, and older students would miss out on extracurricular activities and athletics. Students receiving free or reduced lunches will be without a school-provided meal, adding financial strain to Chicago families.

Additionally, Test Prep Chicago courses offered at CPS schools and Park Districts will need be rescheduled should there be a strike. Our courses will continue once the strike ends and we will add make-up classes to the end of any course affected by the strikes.  While CPS and CTU are bargaining to find the best results, which will empower teachers to better serve their students and school communities, we hope they are able to do so very soon. 

Lauren Lynch, Tutoring Coordinator
lauren@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266