The Chicago Teachers Union came to a historic agreement with the Chicago Board of Education last week with big wins for teachers.
For the first time in 15 years, the contract was signed without a teachers strike.
The contract with the Chicago Board of Education spells out new benefits for teachers: pay raises, smaller class sizes, more paid parental leave, expanded staffing and more.
Those big wins won’t come cheap—changes are estimated to cost roughly $1.5 billion over the next four years.
“It charts a new direction of investment, expansion of sustainable community and dual language schools, increased staffing and a focus on reparatory equity to provide the educational experience Chicago students deserve no matter what neighborhood they live in,” said the Chicago Teachers Union in a press release.
Read on for a list of what parents should know about changes to the Chicago Teachers Union contract.
Big changes coming to Chicago schools
More support for teachers often translates to more support for students in the classroom. Chicago’s educators have been vocal about reducing class sizes, adding more bilingual educators and increasing support staff.
Another focus of the contract is securing protections for teachers and students under fire by the Trump administration. The contract contains language in support of students with disabilities, teaching culturally relevant materials and sanctuary schools procedures.
The Chicago Teachers Union compiled a list of important changes coming to Chicago schools:
Changes for students in the classroom
- Doubling the number of libraries and librarians in schools.
- Enforceable and smaller class sizes for all grade levels.
- Ensuring social workers and nurses serve students in every school, every instructional day.
- Doubling the bilingual education staffing supports for students.
- Additional staffing, curricular and enrollment supports for Early Childhood education students and programs.
- Creates 215 more case manager positions district-wide to support students with disabilities.
- Increasing the number of Sustainable Community Schools from 20 to 70 over the course of the agreement.
- Allows the district, union, city and agencies to coordinate to provide housing support, section 8 vouchers, rental assistance and affordable units to CPS families in need.
- A focus on fixing lead, asbestos and mold in old school buildings and upgrading to green energy practices.
- Protections for academic freedom, Black history, and culturally relevant curriculum.
- An additional $10 million annual investment in sports programming.
- Protections for academic freedom that enshrine educators’ ability to teach Black, indigenous, and other history.
- Continuation of Sanctuary School procedures.
- A new article that creates LGBTQIA+ safe schools.
Changes for teachers outlined by the contract
- A cost of living adjustment of 17% to 20% compounded (tied to inflation) over the four years of the contract.
- Enshrines 12 weeks paid parental leave, equal parental, personal illness and supplemental leave rights for support staff to teachers.
- Provide new steps that compensate veteran educators for their experience.
- Increases in prep time for clinicians, elementary and special education teachers.
- Expanded benefits for dental, vision, infertility and abortion care, gender-affirming care, hearing aids, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and chiropractic services.
