Chicago Schools Stay Remote, Negotiations With CTU Remain Stalled

CHICAGO — Public school officials late Wednesday pushed back the start of in-person learning again as negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union remain deadlocked.

"We are disappointed to report that at this time, no deal has been reached between CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union leadership. We will extend the cooling-off period for the final time through the end of the day on Thursday to allow for further negotiations tonight. Students will remain in remote learning Thursday," CPS officials said in a letter to parents.

Students were not scheduled to attend classes on Friday, giving the two sides more time to strike a deal on conditions for reviving in-person learning for the first time since March.

While CTU and CPS have agreed on many safety protocol issues, the negotiations remain stalled over teacher vaccinations, allowing teachers living with people who have pre-existing conditions to teach remotely and establishing coronavirus metrics that determine when in-person learning would be permitted.