The Chicago Public Schools teachers declared a strike Sunday night, shutting down public education in Chicago indefinitely as union and district officials wrangle over a new contract.

No union teachers will be in schools beginning this morning and most will be closed. However, a few buildings will remain open under a safety net plan from CPS called "Children First."

Under that plan, 144 buildings around the city will remain open from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., but under state law, instruction cannot be provided to students. Instead, principals, assistant principals, schools central office staff and non-union CPS employees will man the buildings. They will provide breakfast and lunch free of charge and guide the students in "positive activities."

Find an open school near you here: www.cps.edu/childrenfirst

A number of park district facilities will also be open, providing free programming for kids from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., but no meals will be served. Parks offering special programming near downtown include:

• Sheridan Park in University Village
• Fosco Park on the Near West Side
• Dvorak Park and Harrison Park in Pilsen
• Union Park in the West Loop
• Seward Park on the Near North Side
• The Lincoln Park Cultural Center

Both CPS and park district locations are requiring advance registration for programming. Register online here:

A number of other locations will be open as well. An interactive map shared by the Mayor's office laying out many of the locations is available here:

Watch for more updates here and at our sister newspaper, chicagojournal.com.