Schools, teachers reach high school in-person learning deal

CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Teachers Union and the city’s school district reached a tentative agreement Thursday that could lead to high school students returning to class for the first time in more than a year.

The union’s House of Delegates was scheduled to meet to review the agreement and vote on whether to recommend union members accept the new deal.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot says the agreement means that for the first time since March 2020, public school students in all grade levels will have access to in-person learning.

Terms of the agreement haven’t been released. It comes after teachers refused to report to work to prepare for high school in-person learning for a second day.

Union officials say among the sticking points prior to the agreement were accommodations for teachers with health challenges, the difficulties of limiting close contacts in high schools where students switch classes regularly and the union’s desire for the city to open vaccine eligibility to those 16 and older.

Union leaders, in an email to members, said the rank-and-file high school steering committee voted unanimously to recommend to delegates that they approve the tentative framework.