How the new CTU contract could affect school life

Members of the Chicago Teachers Union have approved their contract with Chicago Public Schools. It now goes for a vote on April 24 to the Chicago Board of Education, which is expected to OK the four-year, $1.5 billion deal.

For parents, it’s important to know these were the first talks in 30 years in which the CTU could bargain over issues outside the classic bread-and-butter topics of salary and benefits, such as class size. CTU fought hard for these expanded bargaining rights in Springfield.

As a result, there are more elements in this agreement than in the past that could be felt in the classroom.

Here are quick highlights of what’s in the final deal, with a focus on what may affect daily life in schools:

• Class sizes: Lower class-size limits for all grades, including dropping from 32 to 25 for kindergarten; when that cap is exceeded, extra educator support will be available from a $40 million pool. Kindergarten classes with 23 or more students will automatically get an assistant teacher to work with the lead teacher.
• Pre-K assistants: At least one assistant teacher will be assigned for every pre-K classroom.
• More staff positions: 300 counselors, 215 special education case managers, 90 librarians, 68 tech coordinators, 24 fine arts teachers and 30 bilingual teacher assistants will be added by 2028. CPS estimates staffing could increase by 800 to 900 over four years.
• Play ball: More money will go for sports to pay for uniforms, equipment, buses to travel to competitions and funding to boost coach stipends.
• Community schools: CPS will add 50 more “sustainable community schools,” up from 20, which will work with community partners to bring extra academic, health and social supports into existing schools.
• Learning languages: CPS will add three new dual-language schools and three new world-language programs per year.
• LGBTQ+: CPS will hire “gender support coordinators” and require that preferred employee names and pronouns be used at all times. Any student dress codes must be inclusive of a diversity of gender expressions.
• Field trips: All students eligible for free and reduced lunch can attend field trips at no cost.
• A greener CPS: CPS and CTU will create a Joint Green Schools and Climate Change Preparedness Committee. CPS will add solar panels at 30 schools, composting at 25 schools and scratch kitchens at 25 schools.
• Resources for unhoused students: CPS and CTU will create a Joint Housing Committee to coordinate City of Chicago housing services for students who are unhoused. CPS families will get priority for Chicago Housing Authority housing and rental assistance.

Source: Chicago Teachers Union