CHICAGO (WLS) Chicago Public Schools announced Tuesday that it has set a target date for high schoolers to return to in-person learning for the start of the system s fourth quarter.
In a statement tonight, the Chicago Teachers Union said there is no agreement, claiming the district put out information preemptively. But the CPS parents who spoke to ABC7 hope the target date gets set in stone. This is a step forward in a big way for the city of Chicago, said Rev. David Griggs, a CPS parent. We feel like this is us getting our life back, said Willie Preston, another CPS parent.
CHICAGO (WLS) Thousands of 6th through 8th grade Chicago Public school students returned to the classroom Monday.
This comes after kindergarten through 5th graders returned to in-person learning last Monday morning, and now CPS has its sights on getting high schoolers back, too.
CPS CEO Janice Jackson, along with teachers and staff, welcomed some students back to Richardson Middle School on Chicago s Southwest Side.
WATCH | CPS CEO welcomes middle school students back to classroom
Chicago Public Schools CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson, Chief Education Officer LaTanya D. McDade greet returning students All elementary grade students that want an option for in-person instruction have an option for in-person instruction, which is good, Jackson said.
Some teachers at Brentano Math & Science Academy bundled up and set up tables and computers outside so they could still teach virtually.
Washington joined other teachers on a Zoom call Tuesday morning after they said the district threatened to dock pay for staff if they do not show up to class. No one is saying that we do not want to go back into the buildings, Washington said. The mayor and her Board of Education are trying to paint a picture that teachers do not want to go to work. We are working. We are working harder now than ever before.
We need to build this path forward, and we started with that today, Mayor Lightfoot said. This model sets us up to see rolling closures, as many other schools have experienced, which does not benefit the struggling parents. This model is not sustainable for kids, said Evan Gillum, a teacher and CTU member.
CTU has also questioned why more teachers than appear needed are being told to report back to work. At Davis, the staff was present while students were not. Is the goal to support kids who need the support and aren t doing well with remote learning or is the goal to march every person back into the buildings because that s what they want? asked Chris Geovanis, CTU member.