Chicago Teachers Union

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Sep 04 Clips for September 2012 Stephanie Gadlin, Various
Apr 18 CTU in the News April 2012
Mar 09 CTU In the News: January 2012 – March 9, 2012 Stephanie Gadlin, Various media
Sep 16 Brizard-Lewis Conversation Full Audio Linda Lutton, WBEZ 91.5 Chicago Public Radio Full Audio via WBEZ 91.5's Linda Lutton
Sep 12 A One-Man Stimulus Package Matt Farmer, Gapers Block Like some ne'er-do-well nephews whose rich aunt just died, the bosses at CPS headquarters are suddenly flush with cash.
Sep 11 Going glove to glove with Mayor Emanuel Joel Hood, Chicago Tribune Old-school educator and Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis standing up to City Hall
Aug 23 CPS Teachers Union, Board at Raise Impasse Lacey McCraney, MSNBC For the first time in 17 years, Chicago Public School teachers likely will start the school year without the raise they voted on in their contract.
Aug 22 Talks between CPS, teachers hit snag Joel Hood, Chicago Tribune Negotiations between Chicago Public Schools and the teachers union hit a snag late Monday, when the two sides failed to come to agreement over teachers' raises and other concessions by the school district.
Aug 22 Talks break down between teachers union and CPS over pay raise Rosalind Rossi, Chicago Sun-Times Talks between the Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Board of Education over a four percent pay raise hit a dead end Monday, forcing teachers to make some tough decisions in the days ahead, CTU officials said.
Aug 23 Chicago Teachers Seek Compromise On Raises Progress Illinois The Chicago Teacher’s Union made public its list of proposals, after a round of negotiations with the Chicago Board of Education, that included accepting lower cost-of-living increases rather than do away with any increase.
Aug 23 CPS, Teachers Union Pay Raise Stalemate Continues Chuck Sudo, Chicagoist Talks have broken down between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union on negotiating a cost of living wage increase, meaning teachers will enter the school year without a pay raise for the first time since 1994.
Aug 19 Community group has a rally for "better school day" Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune Community organizations planned to rally in support of Chicago Teachers Union's call for a "better school day" Thursday afternoon.
Aug 18 Call for improved education in Chicago Public Schools Theresa Gutierrez , ABC Chicago The Chicago Teachers Union and some activists want a focus on quality, instead of quantity, in Chicago Public Schools. They have launched a campaign for what they call "a better school day."
Aug 17 CTU argues for better – not longer – school days Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune [CTU President Lewis] wants CPS to cut down time spent on standardized tests, which she says consume up to 20 percent of instruction time during the school year...
Aug 17 Teachers Blast Merit Pay Proposal Edward McClelland, NBC Chicago Ward Room The Chicago Teachers Union blasted Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to reward high-performing principals with merit pay, saying it could bring about the same kind of cheating that took place in Atlanta...
Aug 12 CTU President: Tax Hike a Band-Aid; Your Zip Code Determines CPS Resources Fox Chicago News, Fox Chicago News Lewis said the tax increase is a Band-Aid over a much deeper problem. She said spending cuts to CPS were made without consultation with the people who actually know where the fat in the budget is.
Aug 12 Public Schools Address The Budget Shortfall Nada Shamah, Southwest News Herald “It is troubling that while they are firing teachers in neighborhood schools, the unelected and unaccountable school board decided to increase funding for charter schools and refused to renegotiate agreements with banks...” said CTU President Karen Lewis.
Aug 11 Last Night’s CPS Budget Hearings: A Seemingly Done Deal Patty Wetli, Roscoe View Journal
Aug 11 Teachers, parents sound off on Chicago schools budget Linda Lutton, WBEZ
Aug 11 Reserve Fund an Answer for CPS, a Question for Others Rebecca Vevea and Crystal Yednak, Chicago News Cooperative
Aug 10 CPS questioned on budget, tax hikes Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune
Aug 11 What CPS' 2012 Budget Means For Rahm Sally Ho, Progress Illinois
Aug 11 CPS public hearing focuses on tax hike proposal John Garcia, WLS- Channel 7 Chicago
Jul 21 Government by Sound Bite Curtis Black, Newstips, Community Media Workshop Newstips by Curtis Black reports on Mayor Emanuel's media-driven approach to dealing with the City's unions.
Jul 21 CPS reverses course on controversial teacher applicant survey Rosalind Rossi, Education Reporter, Chicago Sun-Times Chicago Public Schools officials Thursday did an abrupt about-face on implementing a controversial teacher-applicant test and said TeacherFit scores would no longer be used to automatically blacklist potential teachers.
Jul 21 Sun-Times: Even a mayor is a parent first Editorial, Chicago Sun-Times “We understand why he would choose a school with small class sizes, a broad rich curriculum that offers world languages, the arts and physical education, a focus on critical thinking..."
Jul 21 Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke, Chicago Reader Charter schools are the fastest-growing part of Chicago's public education system, but how they spend our tax money is mostly a secret, say Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke of the Chicago Reader.
Jul 21 Mind Games at CPS Rosalind Rossi, Chicago Sun-Times Sun-Times blasts CPS for TeacherFit surveys that disqualify candidates.
Jul 11 For the Record: Chicago Teachers Union strike votes Sarah Karp, Catalyst Chicago Catalyst Chicago's Sarah Karp sets the record straight.
Jul 09 Laid-Off Art Teachers Turn to Their Craft to Express Themselves Jessica Reaves, Chicago News Cooperative, New York Times National coverage of Art Teachers: Redefined, the show of displaced art teachers' work initiated by CTU members.
Jul 05 No deficit of caring with these educators Lolly Bowean, Tribune reporter, Chicago Tribune Teachers often targets in public debate, but their contributions go far beyond test scores
Jun 23 WBEZ Cheat Sheet: Teacher protests and executive salaries [AUDIO] Linda Lutton, WBEZ Wednesday was the first regular meeting of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's hand-picked Board of Education. Teacher protests greeted the new board members, and executive salaries were on the docket.
Jun 22 No pay hike for CPS teachers, but executives are getting raises? Rosalind Rossi, Chicago Sun-Times Newly installed Chicago School Board members Wednesday will be asked to approve six-figure salaries for new Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard and four other new top executives that represent raises over what their predecessors were paid.
Jun 22 CPS teachers protest decision to rescind pay raise Sarah Schulte, ABC 7 News Teachers protested on the same say the school board was set to consider raises for its top executives--salaries that Mayor Rahm Emanuel defended Wednesday
Jun 20 Seven other unions join teachers to negotiate lost raises Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune Seven other unions have now joined teachers in asking Chicago Public Schools officials to negotiate rescinded salary increases.
Jun 22 CPS may grant residency waiver for high-ranking official Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune Mayor Rahm Emanuel has endorsed the two-year waiver so that Tim Cawley, the third-ranking CPS executive, can continue to live in Winnetka.
Jun 22 Teachers picket school board over rescinded raises Muriel Clair, WGN The board decided last week to deny teachers and other union employees the annual 4 percent raises promised in their union contracts.
Jun 22 Teachers protest as Brizard contract gets approved Linda Lutton, WBEZ The Board of Education approved Brizard's contract late Wednesday, after two and a half hours behind closed doors. His base pay will be $250,000 annually.
Jun 22 CPS chief Brizard gets a contract — unlike predecessors — and a raise Tara Malone and Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune Heads under Daley purportedly didn't have written deals, and this one is based on student performance
Jun 22 Chicago Teachers Union Protests CPS Executive Pay Raises, Chicago School Board Fox Chicago News Hundreds of teachers from the Chicago Teachers Union protested at Chicago Public School headquarters Wednesday as the board approved raises for six executives, days after the board denied teachers a 4 percent raise.
Jun 22 Teachers picket board meeting over denial of raises Tara Malone and Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune On a day teachers picketed over being deprived of their contracted raises, theChicago Public Schools Board today approved contracts for the city’s top two school administrators paying more than previously for the positions.
Jun 23 After Rejecting Teacher Raises, CPS Set To Approve Pay Hikes For Executives Huffington Post [CPS Board] voted last week to rescind four percent pay raises for teachers and union school workers, the Chicago Board of Education today is expected to approve salaries for the newly installed [CPS] CEO Jean-Claude Brizard and four other top executives
Jun 23 1,000 CPS teachers protest canceled raises while execs get higher salaries Rosalind Rossi, Chicago Sun-Times Despite the protests of teachers angered over withdrawal of their raises, the city’s new School Board agreed Wednesday to pay five new top school executives more than their predecessors.
Jun 22 School Board Approves Record Salaries for CPS Leaders Rebecca Vevea, Chicago News Cooperative A week after Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s hand-picked Board of Education voted against granting teachers a 4 percent contractual pay raise, the panel approved raises for CEO Jean Claude Brizard and other top Chicago Public Schools executives.
Jun 22 School Board to Approve Pay Raises for Brizard, Other Executives? Chuck Sudo, Chicagoist The Chicago School Board will meet today to vote for pay raises for Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard and four other school system executives.
Jun 22 Chicago teachers protest CPS executive pay raises Bill Cameron, WLS 890
Jun 17 Parents Stand By Chicago Teachers Mary Ann Ahern and Rosie Powers , NBC Chicago Ward Room A group of 15 parents gathered at Price Elementary, 4357 S. Drexel, on Friday morning to rally in favor of the four percent annual raises the new Chicago Public Schools board turned down this week.
Jun 21 Teachers Union Joins Pride Parade Rebecca Vevea, Chicago News Cooperative For the first time ever, the CTU will be one of the more than 240 organizations marching in the 41-year-old parade.
Jun 15 Chicago Public Schools board rescinds teacher raises, angers union Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah and Tara Malone, Chicago Tribune Mayor Rahm Emanuel's handpicked Chicago Public Schools board drew a battle line between the new administration and the teachers union ... when it voted Wednesday to rescind the 4 percent annual raise due to teachers and other school union members.
Jun 17 Teachers Union Facing Crucial Decisions Rebecca Vevea, Chicago News Cooperative The newly seated Chicago Board of Education may have won the first battle with Chicago teachers this week when it rescinded a 4 percent pay raise, but it may also have ended a relatively peaceful era in labor relations...
Jun 17 Rahm Emanuel defends decision to cancel 4 percent teacher raises FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter/fspielman@suntimes.com, Chicago Sun-Times Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday defended the decision by his handpicked school board to cancel 4 percent pay raises for Chicago teachers.
Jun 15 New Illinois Law: Education Reform or Mere Distraction? Julie Woestehoff, Public school parent advocate, Chicago, The Huffington Post From the way our esteemed Illinois politicians and their supporters have been preening the past couple of days, you'd think they had cured cancer or ended racism. Nope...
Jun 12 A Bake Sale for the Mercantile Exchange Curtis Black, Newstips.org Despite nearly $1 billion in profits last year, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange is crying about the recent state tax hike — and community groups across the city feel their pain.
Jun 10 Board meeting Wednesday to consider teacher raises Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune Brizard said he won't take bonus
Jun 13 New force in Illinois quickly pushes state toward school reform Ray Long, Chicago Tribune Stand for Children wins over billionaires, lawmakers in just a few months
Jun 10 As Mayor Daley cashes in, ousted teacher gets cut off Ben Joravsky, Chicago Reader
Jun 09 After 3 days, Chicago heatwave about to end Stacey Baca, ABC-7 News Chicago "Our freshmen and juniors are trying to take their final exams in this heat. They are looking very bad, very exhausted. I'm very concerned about them," said [teacher Eric Kutz from Richards Career Academy].
Jun 08 Teachers union seeks details of Brizard's contract Chicago Tribune Union says it will file a Freedom of Information Act request to get details before CPS chief's pact is approved
Jun 08 Temperature soars to the 90s — inside a CPS classroom Rosalind Rossi, Chicago Sun-Times As temperatures soar in Chicago and CPS classrooms, Rosalind Rossi asks important questions about CPS's commitment to safe learning environments during the summer months.
Jun 07 Another Marshall Plan Matt Farmer, Huffington Post
May 27 Troublemakers School a Hit with Chicago Activists Howard Ryan, Labor Notes CTU members along with Sisters and Brothers from other Unions gear up for upcoming fights at the 2011 Troublemakers School.
May 26 Chicago Teachers Union says ‘swaps’ payments sap schools David Roeder, Business Reporter, Chicago Sun-Times Four investment banks are costing the Chicago Public Schools $35.9 million in annual interest payments tied to so-called swaps contracts that have turned “toxic” for taxpayers, the Chicago Teachers Union charged Wednesday.
May 25 CPS Board approves appointment of Brizard Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah and Tara Malone, Chicago Tribune Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis recently sat down with Brizard and said she hopes they can work together. Lewis lauded his educational background and charisma, though she faulted the fact...
May 23 CPS releases recess guidelines Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune Chicago Public Schools released a guideline laying out what schools need to do to carve out time in the school day for a 20-minute recess break.
May 21 Behind Grass-Roots School Advocacy, Bill Gates Sam Dillon, New York Times In some cases, Mr. Gates is creating entirely new advocacy groups. ... It is bankrolling many of the Washington analysts who interpret education issues for journalists and giving grants to some media organizations.
May 19 Austin Woes Are Capped by Decision to Fire Teachers and a Student Protest Meribah Knight, New York Times After discovering last week that nearly a quarter of their teachers were being dismissed, students at Austin Polytechnical Academy decided to take extreme action. Holding secret planning sessions under the guise of a robotics team meeting, they plotted.
May 18 Teachers conference focuses on strategies for more activism on education Cassandra West, Catalyst-Chicago Teacher activism, “reframing” the public debate on education and skepticism regarding teacher evaluation were among the topics at the recent Chicago Teachers Union’s annual School Improvement Conference.
May 18 CEO Jean-Claude Brizard on Chicago Tonight Chicago Tonight with Carol Marin, WTTW: Chicago Tonight Mayor Emanuel's controversial pick for Chicago Public Schools CEO, Jean-Claude Brizard, sits down with Carol Marin to talk about his experience and vision for students and teachers here.
May 17 Group teaches students how to play at recess Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune As parents fight to bring back recess in Chicago's public schools, a California-based non-profit has launched a pilot program in nine city schools aimed at teaching students how to play at recess.
May 16 Sun-Times Editorial: Emanuel’s first job: Fix Chicago schools Sun-Times Editorial Board, Chicago Sun-Times "Today, the day Emanuel becomes Chicago’s first new mayor in 22 years, we’d like to highlight the one issue that warrants Emanuel’s attention before all else: improving Chicago’s public schools."
May 09 NPR's John Merrow: What do teachers want? John Merrow, Taking Note blog This was written by John Merrow, veteran education reporter for PBS, NPR, and dozens of national publications. He is president of Learning Matters, a non-profit media production company, and his latest book is The Influence of Teachers .
May 09 New CEO, Chicago Teachers Union president meet Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune Incoming schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard had his first meeting with Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis Monday, and here's the good news--neither was wearing boxing gloves.
May 06 CTU calls bill language ‘atomic bomb’ Kristen McQueary, WBEZ Last-minute changes in SB7 spark debate.
May 06 An open letter to Chicago Public Schools' new CEO Ben Joravsky, Chicago Reader The Reader's Ben Joravsky gives some advice to the incoming CEO.
May 04 Jean Claude Brizard Blames Past Union Trouble on Personality Clash Rosalind Rossi, Chicago Sun-Times [JC Brizard claims] he may have had a “personality’’ conflict with the head of the Rochester teachers union but his relationship with rank-and-file teachers in New York is “actually quite good” — despite a 95-percent no-confidence vote.
May 03 Progressives On The Move In Chicago City Council Progress Illinois CTU endorsees among the City Council's "Progressive Caucus"
May 03 New CPS leader discusses goals, challenges Joel Hood and Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune "I'm not sure where it went awry, I think it began to happen the first year," Brizard said
Apr 29 On the clock, calendar -- How long have Chicago students spent in school? Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune
Apr 25 Parents fight school merger in Logan Square Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune
Apr 25 Reaganomics will bring our cities to ruin David Sirota, Salon Journalist David Sirota criticizes the Chicago model of privatization and selling of public assets.
Apr 16 Chicago’s school day will get longer, Rahm Emanuel pledges Abdon M. Pallasch AND Rosalind Rossi, Chicago Sun-Times
Apr 12 Emanuel Seeks Donations up to $50K for Inaugural Dan Mihalopoulos, Chicago News Cooperative
Apr 12 CPS drop Beidler-Cather merger plan Noreen Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Breaking News
Apr 12 Teachers Unions Debate Education Reform in Springfield Mike Flannery, Fox Chicago With a legislative deadline approaching, leaders of Illinois’s two biggest teachers unions vowed to fight any attempt to limit their right to strike.
Apr 11 Sun-Times Editors Agree with CTU: Bring back recess to help students Editorial, Chicago Sun-Times
Apr 11 Collective Bargaining Threatened in Ohio and Wisconsin, Illinois Next? Edweek, Progress Illinois, Illinois Statehouse News
Apr 07 Unions Move In at Chicago Charter Schools, and Resistance Is Swift Rebecca Vevea, New York Times/Chicago News Cooperative
Apr 06 Mayor-Elect Emanuel Gets Tough on Unions, CTU Gets Creative On Solutions
Platform Summary
Apr 01 Parents, students protest CPS school closings Joel Hood, Chicago Tribune Protest drew several hundred area parents, most expressing shock and anger that their children's schools had been targeted.
Mar 08 Chicagoland Residents Defend Teachers and Pensions in Tribune Letters-to-the-editor Chicago Tribune
Mar 07 Interim CPS chief plans for the long haul but hasn't talked to Rahm Emanuel Joel Hood, Chicago Tribune Mazany is advocating for eliminating many of the policies Huberman put into place, a move he says will create a more level playing field across the city and better prepare students for global competition.
Feb 23 Faceoff with teachers union awaits Emanuel Joel Hood, Chicago Tribune After a campaign fueled with contentious rhetoric, many wonder what the relationship between CTU and the new mayor will look like.
Feb 24 WBEZ Cheat Sheet 2-24-2011 Linda Lutton, WBEZ Cheat Sheet is Eight Forty-Eight's monthly guide to Chicago School Board meetings. Last month Chicago’s Board of Education approved some new charter schools. This month, the question was where to put the students.
Feb 25 Chicago 8th-graders score near bottom in national science tests Rosalind Rossi, Chicago Sun-Times As CPS emphasizes reading and math, which are subject to standardized tests, over science and social studies; Chicago students science scores plummet.
Feb 22 Charter school says it's private, though it gets millions in tax dollars Joel Hood, Chicago Tribune A Chicago charter school that has received more than $23 million in public money since opening in 2004 is arguing that it is a private institution, a move teachers say is designed to block them from forming a union.
Feb 18 Laid-off Teachers Express Pain in Art Katie Drews, Chicago Sun-Times/Chicago Union News “We want to call attention to the fact that injustice is happening with Chicago Public Schools ... let them know that there are policies out there that are ruining people’s lives,” said Cezar Simeon (displaced teacher)
Feb 18 CPS Racial Disparity Grew Under Daley Rosalind Rossi, Chicago Sun-Times The disparities between black and white students, and between Latino and white students, have only grown larger under Daley, creating a “two-tier” public education system, according to the analysis by Pauline Lipman and Eric “Rico” Gutstein.
Feb 17 Chicago Teachers Union gets a new chance to contest 2010 firings Joel Hood, Chicago Tribune An independent arbitrator will hear a bargaining complaint filed by the CTU that claims CPS fired nearly 1,300 teachers in summer 2010 in direct retaliation against the union for not agreeing to cut $100 million in wages and benefits.
Feb 10 Seventy-seven Percent of Chicagoans Want an Elected School Board Parents United for Responsible Education, PureParents.org CTU and community partners are organizing to get Chicagoans what they want--and need.
Feb 09 Rahm's Money and Clout Used to Buy Anti-Public Worker Ads Early and Often, Sun-Times, Chicago Reader Hollywood and Big Business contribute massively to fund campaign.
Feb 01 Why It's Easy For Emanuel To Take On the Unions Edward McClelland, NBC Ward Room Emanuel has taken nearly a million dollars from donors to Stand for Children Illinois, a group that supports Performance Counts.
Jan 18 The case for electing Chicago's school board 848, WBEZ CPS is the country’s third-largest school system. The mayor has the power to select the head – or CEO – of CPS and appoint members to the board that oversees the entire system.
Jan 15 Shouts, guitars, frustration at charter school forum Tribune Reporter, Chicago Tribune "People are being lied to about charter schools and their performance," said Nathan Goldbaum, a Chicago Teachers Union coordinator.
Jan 13 Mayors, CPS, And Springfield Micah Maidenberg, Progress Illinois Since early December, many threads of the mayoral debate about schools, students and teachers have touched upon the "Performance Counts" billStand For Children group.
Jan 13 Stand For Children's Hefty Haul Adam Doster, Progress Illinois The rush to revamp tenure rules and reform performance evaluations for Illinois' teachers slowed down a bit this month.
Jan 09 How to be taken seriously as a reformer (don't be an educator) Gregory Michie, The Washington Post-Answer Sheet In the current upside-down world of education policy, there's one foolproof strategy for being taken seriously as a reformer: Make sure you're not an educator.
Jan 07 Unions Condemn FBI 'Fishing Expedition' Howard Ryan and Jane Slaughter, Labor Notes CTU passes resolution against FBI raids on Union members.
Jan 07 CPS defends its handling of layoffs Joel Hood, Chicago Breaking News Center Attorneys for Chicago Public Schools presented oral arguments this morning in their appeal of an October ruling that the district mishandled the layoffs of nearly 750 tenured teachers to solve budget woes.
Jan 07 CPS defends its handling of layoffs Joel Hood, Chicago Breaking News Attorneys for Chicago Public Schools presented oral arguments this morning in their appeal of an October ruling that the district mishandled the layoffs of nearly 750 tenured teachers to solve budget woes.
Jan 07 Chicago Public School District appeals ruling on teacher layoffs Emily Wilensky, WBEZ CPS and the union were in appellate court today. The district is appealing a federal judge's October decision that the district improperly fired more than 700 tenured teachers.
Jan 05 Teachers union: Elect school board members, not appoin Wendell Houston, Chicago Defender Teachers, parents, students and community groups are urging state legislators and Chicago’s next mayor to revamp the current school board to include elected members.
Jan 04 Chicago Public Schools blasted for improper spending, use of clout-WBEZ 91.5 Linda Lutton, WBEZ 91.5 The Chicago Board of Education was spending lavishly on such items as liquor and flowers, even as the school district was bracing for a budget crisis.
Jan 04 Teachers unions unveil plan for tenure reform, but stand firm on strike rights Jim Broadway, Catalyst Chicago The clash of education reform proposals in the Illinois House and Senate appears unlikely to be resolved by January 11, but it’s likely to be a hot item throughout the spring legislative session.
Jan 02 Teacher evaluation should focus on improving instruction Taryn Tawoda, Catalyst Notebook Illinois has a good opportunity to be creative and provide leadership in the development of new evaluation systems for teachers...
Dec 30 In the News: Coalition demands elected school board; CPS at 'fork in the road' Cassandra West, Catalyst Chicago The Chicago Teachers Union is among seven organizations demanding that Chicago move to a 13-member elected school board that would strip the next mayor of the power to appoint board members...
Dec 29 Coalition Calls for Representative, Elected School Board Karen Jordan, ABC 7 News A coalition of teacher, parent, student and community groups (including the Chicago Teachers Union) called today for an representative, elected school board to run the Chicago Public Schools.
Dec 29 Teachers Union: Voters Should Pick School Board Nancy Harty, WBBM/CBS The head of the Chicago Teachers Union says voters – and not the mayor – should decide who runs the school district.
Dec 29 Education leaders want elected school board (VIDEO) Jae Miller, WGN News Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis, along with parents and community leaders are demanding a change in public education and calling for the return of an elected school board instead of an appointed one.
Dec 29 Teacher coalition calls for elected school board Tara Malone, Chicago Breaking News [A] coalition of teachers, community leaders, parents and students on Wednesday said the city's next leader should not control public education as Mayor Richard Daley has for most of his 21 years in office.
Dec 29 Mayoral candidates split on elected Chicago school board idea John Chase and Jeff Coen, Chicago Tribune-Clout Street The major candidates in the Chicago mayor's race are split on today's proposal that the city’s school board be elected instead of appointed by the mayor, though none of them embraced the plan wholeheartedly.
Dec 21 Billionaires Target Teachers—and Take the Gloves Off in Illinois Howard Ryan, Labor Notes A billionaire gang headed by Bill Gates and Eli Broad wants to convert America’s public schools, with its $600 billion in annual public expenditures according to the Department of Education, into a corporate-owned test-score factory.
Nov 19 Grassroots voices on Chicago schools Curtis Black, Community Media Workshop Fifteen years of mayoral control has failed to improve Chicago Public Schools, yet leading mayoral candidates are promising more of the same – or worse.
Dec 17 In the News: CTU holds mayoral forum Rebecca Harris, Catalyst Notebook CTU holds mayoral forum
Dec 17 Hey Big Spender Curtis Black, Community Media Workshop Stand For Children just opened its Illinois office, but it’s sure moving fast. In October, the new Illinois office of the Oregon-based advocacy group dropped big bucks — $635,000 — on eight legislative races
Dec 15 Critics force CPS to table charter vote Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Breaking News After hearing from a roomful of critics Wednesday, Chicago Public Schools decided to withdraw proposals for four new charter schools and plans to expand existing ones...
Dec 14 Illinois lawmakers considering plan to limit tenure, strike rights Jim Broadway, State School News Service A hastily formed committee of the Illinois House of Representatives will hold hearings in Aurora this week with an agenda threatening to erode tenure and other job protections enjoyed by educators...
Dec 14 Should teachers be allowed to strike? Hunter Clauss, WBEZ An Illinois House subcommittee is expected to hold public hearings this week. They’re looking at how to limit the ability of teachers' unions to strike.
Dec 09 Rahm Signals He's Ready For More CPS Turnaround Schools Micah Maidenberg, Progress Illinois At a press conference on Tuesday, Rahm Emanuel wouldn't commit to sending his children to Chicago Public Schools upon their return to town, sparking a round of criticism from rivals Gery Chico and Miguel del Valle and a spate of press about the issue.
Dec 09 Debates join ballots on Chicago's mayoral campaign stage Kristen Mack and Jeff Coen, Chicago Breaking News Three forums are on tap next week, including next Thursday's education forum hosted by the Chicago Teachers Union.
Dec 07 The Upcoming Education Reform Fight Adam Doster, Progress Illinois On Friday, the Chicago Democrat announced the formation of an eight-member bipartisan working group named the "House Special Committee on Education Reform."
Dec 07 Emanuel opts out of most forums Abdon M. Pallasch, Chicago Sun-Times [J]ust about all of the major candidates for mayor, except the former White House chief of staff, have agreed to sit side-by-side at community forums and take questions from voters or panelists.
Dec 02 When Corrections Don't Count Michael Miner, Chicago Reader In a time-honored but sorely outdated tradition, the Tribune buries a couple of real boners about Rahm and Ron Huberman.
Dec 02 Chicago, N.Y.C., And Public School Leadership Micah Maidenberg, Progress Illinois CTU is already on record as wanting an educator to take the reins at the school district after the mayoral election.
Nov 15 Charter School Push Out Students Sarah Karp and Linda Lutton, Catalyst-Chicago and WBEZ
Nov 10 Stakeholders want an educator to head CPS Kyle Jahner, Chicago Journal Many spoke, but a consistent message emerged: They want a say in the next leader of Chicago Public Schools so an educator will be selected over another business-minded boss selected by the mayor.
Nov 04 Huberman to Step Down
Nov 01 Press Releases
Oct 20 Congressmen Tell CPS to Use Education Jobs Money to Rehire Fired Teachers Progress Illinois The dispute between the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union over teacher firings took another turn yesterday.
Oct 04 Judge sides with union in Chicago teacher layoffs Azam Ahmed, Chicago Tribune In a blow to the Chicago Public Schools, a federal judge on Monday sided with the Chicago Teachers Union by ruling that last summer's layoffs of more than 700 tenured teachers was handled improperly.
Oct 04 Court rules Chicago Board of Education illegally fired teachers Court Orders Board and Union to Work Out Recall Rules
Oct 04 CPS Hits 20th Day without Accounting for Teacher Rehires and School Staffing, CPS Denies 100% of Union Grievances In spite of receiving $100 million from the U.S. Department of Education to rehire 2,000 teachers and support personnel fired during the summer of 2010 and a pending lawsuit disputing the legality of those firings ...
Oct 01 Throwing Kryptonite in our Schools Fox News Chicago CTU Staff Coordinator Jackson Potter dispels the "Superman" myths on Fox News Chicago
Sep 23 CPS “By the Numbers” – Admits They Only Hired Back 25-50% Experienced and Tenured Teachers CPS Responds to CTU Staffing Survey
Sep 22 Hundreds Crowd Daley Center to Tell Daley and CPS To Do the Right Thing Parents, Teachers, Students Demand Equity, Small Classes, and Recall of Cut Teachers
Aug 12 House of Delegates Votes “No” to Concessions Delegates Show their Strength through Unity at Emergency Meeting
Aug 11 CTU Calls on CPS to Do the Right Thing: Hire Back Cut Teachers and Support Personnel
Jul 20 Important Message from the President
Jul 07 American Federation of Teachers National Convention
Jul 20 CPS Teachers and Staff If you have been terminated in violation of your contract rights, please attend the weekly meetings at RAINBOW/PUSH.
Jul 14 What is Going on at the Merchandise Mart?
Aug 03 Video: CTU Pickets the Board of Education 7-28-2010 Chicago Teachers Union Files Suit Against Chicago Public Schools
Aug 27 CPS Firings Target Highly Qualified Tenured Teachers Only 13% May Return to the Classroom.
Aug 24 CTU and Allies, "Put TIF Money Back into Schools!" State Representative John Fritchey Announces Plan to overhaul TIFs
Aug 20 CPS to Hold Some Class Sizes to 28 CTU Holds the Line and Board Does Not Talk Concessions
Aug 18 Court Fast Tracks CTU Lawsuit Against the Board of Education
Aug 15 President Lewis Defends CPS Teachers Karen G.J. Lewis, president, Chicago Teachers Union, The Chicago Tribune States Chicago Tribune Editorial Board Hit "New Low" in Rant
Sep 10 President Lewis on Chicago Newsroom President Lewis joins The Reader's Ben Joravsky and The Tribune's Eric Zorn to Discuss Mayor Daley's Record on Schools
Sep 08 National Board Certified Teacher "Redefined" out of Her Job Ben Joravsky, The Chicago Reader Chicago Reader Profiles NBCT Who May Be Forced to Go on Food Stamps and Medicaid
Jul 28 Over 100 Picket the Board of Education to Fight the Cuts to Staff and Services
Jul 28 Show Huberman We Mean It! STOP THE CUTS THAT HARM CHILDREN, TEACHERS and COMMUNITIES!
Jul 24 Over 200 Energized and Ready to Organize at the CTU "Save Our Schools" Summit
Jul 24 Board Refuses to Change Direction on Staff Cuts, Even if CTU Finds Waste
Jul 23 Chicago Teachers Union Bargaining Team Meets with the Board of Education: Day 1 A Statement from the President of the Chicago Teachers Union, Karen Lewis
Jul 20 Will Your Neighborhood School be Next on the Board of Education's Chopping Block?
Jun 13 New force in Illinois quickly pushes state toward school reform Ray Long, Chicago Tribune Stand for Children wins over billionaires, lawmakers in just a few months