Chicago Teachers Union Demands Special Legislative Session for School Funding

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) held a rally on Thursday, urging Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to convene a special legislative session focused on school funding. The rally took place outside the picket line, with support from school staff represented by UNITE HERE Local 1.

CTU officials warned that without new revenue sources, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) may face severe budget cuts, potentially leading to the cancellation of two weeks of school or the layoff of an additional 1,700 staff members. This follows nearly 1,000 cuts already made, including case managers, special education teachers, and classroom educators. CTU Vice President Jackson Potter described the situation as 'unsustainable.'

In response, CPS stated that it is not considering shortening the school year. Governor Pritzker has not yet indicated whether he will call a special session, although he noted that Illinois has increased education spending by $3 billion in the latest budget.